The one thing almost all ELT material writers have in common is this: at some point in their lives, they were teaching English as a foreign/second language.

So how do you get into materials writing ?

There are many ways, but first you have to decide who you want to write for. The reason for this is simple: there are two main markets for ELT writers - international and national.

No doubt John and Liz Soars could not have imagined the worldwide popularity of their Headway series, which has sold over 10 million copies. But there are other less known bestsellers on the National Curriculums in Greece, Turkey, Spain, etc, which have often been co-written by native-speaking ESL/EFL teachers.
The point here is this: there are plenty of opportunities for anyone with a creative streak and a need to see their name in print.


1. First you need an idea.
Preferably something with a different angle. It could be a course book, a resource book, even a dictionary. But it has to stand out.

2. Then write up a submission.
It doesn't need to be a 400-page thesis, just a concise submission detailing:

- Rationale (2-pages) In particular:
- Who is it aimed at?
- What approach/methodology does it adopt? (Communicative? Task-based? Lexical? Structural?)

- Outline (2-pages) In particular:
- Structure?
- Topics?
- Supplementary materials (Teacher's Book? Student's Book? Workbook? Audio-cassettes?)

- Sample Materials (20 pages max) In particular:
- One whole unit
- Tapescripts?

- Your CV/Résumé (2-pages) Detailing:
- Your ELT qualifications and experience
- Any publishing credits
- Any instances in which you have given papers / training sessions.

3. Draw up a list of possible publishers.
And the contact person in each of those publishing companies.

4. Prepare a 30-second telephone pitch.
Just in case you get put on the spot.

5. Approach a publisher.
Most of the main US and UK ELT publishers have international offices. Governments also have their own National publishing offices. The approach can be done in writing, by telephone or in person.

- ALWAYS include a Stamped Addressed Envelope to cover return postage of your manuscript

- ALWAYS include your name and contact details on the front of the manuscript

- NEVER spiral-bind the manuscript. Many publishers will want to photocopy it for other people to read. Spiral binding prevents this.

- NEVER hassle a publisher straight after submitting a manuscript. Allow a minimum of 6 weeks before you recontact the publisher to track the progress of your manuscript. Publishers often hold on to submissions for months.

A few myths dispelled….

1. If I send it in, who am I to stop them from stealing it?
Publishers are aware of your rights. And theirs. Many new ideas are subconsciously spawned at the same time, often by the same catalyst. Your bright idea for a new Task-Based-Lexical-Approach might be one of six proposals on an almost identical theme that a particular publisher is considering at any given time. What is more, ideas are not copyright. And at the end of the day, if it's not out there for consideration, no one is going to consider it.

2. Only books written with an 'international' readership in mind are successful.
Nonsense. Many local and independent publishers and writers around the world have done exceptionally well out of publishing English course materials for national markets. Just because OUP, CUP, Pearson ESL or Macmillan-Heineman are not interested, doesn't mean that the Spanish Department for State Education, or its Greek equivalent, wouldn't be.

3. ELT publishers - like their cousins publishing mainstream fiction - are inundated with unsolicited manuscripts.
Not true. Very few publishers will turn down a no-strings-attached offer to view a great new idea that could potentially make them a lot of money. Nevertheless, an initial telephone / written inquiry is still the preferred approach.

4. If I can get it noticed via a gimmick, it will more likely be read.
Surely you mean, 'more likely be discarded as amateur'? Fluorescent covers do more to annoy than impress. Stick to the industry formatting standards, and let your content do the talking.

How to get your teaching ideas published A Writer's Guide to Education Publishing Jean Stangli ORDER NOW !