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Author Guidelines

Welcome to PNG University of Technology Press – Manuscript Submissions Portal.
We publish high-quality scholarly and creative works that advance knowledge, reflect the diversity of research in Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, and engage with global academic and general audiences. PNGUoT Press accepts both academic works (monographs, edited volumes, textbooks, research reports) and creative works (fiction, creative nonfiction, novels, short-story collections, poetry, and other literary forms). Authors are invited to submit proposals or full manuscripts for consideration.

All submissions will be screened for scope and quality. Those meeting the Press’s standards will proceed to peer review before an editorial decision is made.

1. Author Guidelines

Before you submit, please review the following carefully. Submissions that do not comply with these guidelines may be returned for revision before review.

1.1   Scope of Publications

We consider:

  •    Scholarly monographs
  •    Edited volumes
  •    Textbooks and teaching resources
  •    Technical manuals and research reports
  •    Creative works of literary merit: fiction (novels, novellas, short stories), creative nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid   forms
  •    Works that preserve or promote Indigenous knowledge, languages, and cultural heritage

       Subject areas include (but are not limited to):

  • Engineering, Science & Technology
  • Agriculture & Environment
  • Business, Economics & Management
  • Education & Social Sciences
  • Humanities & Culture
  • Indigenous Knowledge & Language Studies
  • Literary & Creative Writing

1.2 Manuscript Length

  • Full scholarly monograph: 60,000–120,000 words
  • Short monograph / technical guide: 25,000–40,000 words
  • Edited volumes: minimum 6 chapters from different contributors
  • Novels & long-form fiction: typically 60,000–100,000 words (flexible by genre)
  • Short-story collections and poetry: submit a representative selection plus a statement of intent

1.3 Formatting & Style

  • Submit in DOCX or ODT format; LaTeX submissions accepted as a ZIP archive with all source files. For creative works, an additional PDF of the finished manuscript is helpful for layout preview.
  • Follow the Chicago Manual of Style for scholarly works unless otherwise agreed; creative submissions should be cleanly formatted and include a title page.
  • Use 12-point Times New Roman (or a readable serif), double-spaced for prose manuscripts, with 2.5 cm margins. Poetry may use single-spacing as appropriate.
  • Number pages sequentially. Use consistent chapter and heading styles.
  • Submit figures, tables and artwork as separate high-resolution files (TIFF, JPG, PNG, minimum 300 dpi). Provide captions and permissions.
  • If you are submitting images, maps, musical scores, or multimedia, include a list of files and the preferred placement in the text.

1.4 Language & Editing

Manuscripts must be in clear, grammatical English. Authors may be required to use a professional language-copyediting service prior to acceptance (the Press can provide recommendations).

1.5 Ethical Standards & Permissions

  • Obtain written permission for any third-party content (photos, illustrations, datasets, extensive quotations) prior to submission.
  • Research involving human subjects or animals must include ethics committee approval in line with applicable laws. Provide the approval reference and a brief ethics statement.
  • The Press screens manuscripts for plagiarism using iThenticate/Turnitin or equivalent tools.

1.6 Licensing & Open Access

Authors may indicate a preference for:

  • Open Access (Creative Commons licences available; author may need to pay an OA fee or provide justification for institutional funding)
  • Traditional Copyright (all rights reserved with a publishing agreement)
    Declare your preference at submission; the Editorial Office will discuss options upon acceptance.

2. Submission Preparation Checklist

All submissions must meet the following requirements:

  1. Submission complies with the Author Guidelines above.
  2. Work has not been previously published and is not under review elsewhere.
  3. Title page includes: full title, subtitle (if any), author name(s), institutional affiliation(s),and  ORCID IDs (if available).
  4. Abstract (150–300 words) and 5–7 keywords included. For creative works, include a short synopsis (150–300 words) and a brief note on intended readership.
  5. Manuscript follows Press formatting and style requirements.
  6. All figures, tables, maps and supplementary files uploaded separately with clear file names and captions.
  7. All references checked for accuracy and completeness.
  8. Permissions for third-party content obtained and documented (attach permission evidence where possible).
  9. Ethics approval statement (if applicable) included.
  10. Conflict of interest and funding statements included.
  11. Author biographies (100–200 words each) provided.
  12. Suggested reviewers list (optional, 3–5 names and institutional emails) included for scholarly works.
  13. Acknowledgements section completed.
  14. For creative submissions: an author’s statement about the work, and (if applicable) a short marketing note describing audience and comparables.

3. Book Proposal Form (Required for Proposals; optional for full manuscripts)

If you are submitting a proposal rather than a full manuscript, please include the following in a single PDF:

  1. Title and subtitle.
  2. Author(s): name(s), affiliation(s), contact email, ORCID.
  3. Synopsis: 300–500 words summarizing the book’s aims and central argument or plot (for fiction).
  4. Full Table of Contents with chapter summaries (100–200 words per chapter).
  5. Word count estimate.
  6. Market & audience statement (see Section 4).
  7. Comparable titles (3–5), including ISBNs and brief notes on how your book differs or adds value.
  8. Sample chapter (one chapter for scholarly/technical works; for fiction, a representative excerpt of 3,000–7,000 words or first 3 chapters).
  9. Author CV and short biography (100–200 words).
  10. Any available endorsements or prior reviews (if previously self-published).
  11. Statement of permissions obtained or required.
  12. Preferred license (Open Access/Traditional).

4. Market, Audience & Marketing Information (Required)

To help the Editorial Team and Marketing assess reach and positioning, include a brief statement (250–500 words) addressing:

  1. Target readership (academics, students, professionals, general readers, regional vs. international).
  2. Primary subject codes or keywords for discoverability.
  3. Geographic markets (Papua New Guinea, Pacific region, international English-speaking markets).
  4. Competing or comparable titles and why your book will sell against them.
  5. Suggested academic courses or professional audiences where the work might be adopted.
  6. Any author platforms or networks (e.g., professional societies, mailing lists, social media presence) that will aid promotion.
  7. For creative works: note if the manuscript is suitable for book clubs, festivals, or awards; and whether you have plans for readings, translations, or adaptations.

5. How to Submit

  1. Log in or create an account on this Press site.
  2. For proposals: choose New Submission → Proposal and upload the Book Proposal PDF and any sample chapter(s).
  3. For full manuscripts: choose New Submission → Full Manuscript and upload manuscript and supplementary files.
  4. Complete the form fields (title, abstract/synopsis, author details, keywords, license preference).
  5. Review and confirm submission. You will receive an automatic confirmation email.
  6. If submission is incomplete, the Editorial Office will contact you to request the missing items.

6. Peer Review & Decision Timelines

We endeavour to be transparent about timeframes. Typical timelines are:

  • Initial editorial screening: within 14 days of submission.
  • External peer review: scholarly submissions usually take 8–12 weeks (depending on reviewer availability); creative submissions may use editorial review or external readers and typically take 6–10 weeks.
  • Editorial decision (first decision): typically within 12 weeks from submission for scholarly works; creative works may be faster depending on format.
  • Revision stage(s): time requested from the author varies; minor revisions are usually returned within 2–6 weeks; major revisions may take 2–4 months.
  • Production timeline (post-acceptance): 4–12 months depending on complexity (copyediting, typesetting, permissions, proofing).
    Note: these are estimates. The Editorial Office will provide more precise schedules at acceptance.

7. Peer Review Process

All scholarly manuscripts undergo:

  • Editorial screening for scope and quality.
  • Double-blind peer review by at least two external experts (where appropriate).
  • Editorial decision: accept, revise & resubmit, or reject.
    For creative works, peer review may involve editorial assessment plus external readers with expertise in the genre.

8. Contract & Rights

If a manuscript is accepted, authors will receive a standardized publishing agreement that covers copyright, licensing, royalties (if applicable), and rights reversion. For Open Access works, the agreement will specify the chosen Creative Commons licence and any fees or funding arrangements.

9. Privacy Statement

The names and email addresses entered in this Press site will be used solely for editorial, peer review and production purposes. PNGUoT Press stores personal data securely and complies with the Papua New Guinea Data Protection Act where applicable. Authors may request corrections or removal of personal data by contacting the Editorial Office.

10. Supporting Resources

  • Downloadable Word Template – [Download Link]
  •  LaTeX Template and Guide – [Download Link]
  • Book Proposal (MS Word) Template – [Download Link]
  • House Style Guide – [Download Link]
  • Figure & Image Submission Guide – [Download Link]
  • Permissions Checklist & Model Release Form – [Download Link]

Contact & Queries
For submission questions or to discuss an idea before submission, contact:


Editorial Office – PNGUoT Press
Email: uni.press@pnguot.ac.pg