A Guide for Special Issue Editors

Thomas Rowlandson, The Consultation, 1785. Hand-colored etching and aquatint. National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. Accession No. 1945.5.212

Editing a Special Issue for the European Review of History is a rewarding opportunity to bring together new perspectives on Europe’s past, from the early modern to the contemporary period. To help you navigate the process smoothly, we’ve put together this preliminary guide for Special Issue editors.

Working with the Editorial Team

Once your proposal has been accepted, you’ll be assigned both a sub-editor and a member of the editorial committee as your main points of contact. If your project changes substantially from the original proposal, please keep in touch with the committee and address their feedback in your revised plan.

Preparing Your Issue

• Workshops and discussions: We encourage you to hold workshops or meetings with your contributors to ensure the collection is coherent and intellectually unified.

• Read carefully: Special Issue editors are expected to read the version submitted to the journal (not just earlier drafts). All papers should be submitted in as close to a publishable state as possible and at the same time. Please let us know early if you anticipate delays.

• Style and referencing: Articles should follow our individual article guidelines on referencing and style.

The Introduction

The introduction is an essential part of the review process and must be submitted with the articles, not afterwards. Remember to anonymise it fully, avoiding references to contributors by name. Instead, refer to authors as “Author A,” “Author B,” etc.

Submitting Articles

All articles—including the introduction and conclusion—must be submitted separately via the Taylor & Francis submission site. If your Special Issue isn’t listed there, please go ahead and submit anyway. Alongside submission, editors should also send the editorial committee a list of article titles, authors, and the proposed running order.

Word Limits

We’re flexible with length. Articles can run up to 10,000 words, though we recommend editors aim for 9,000 words (excluding footnotes) at the first stage.

Peer Review

All contributions, including the introduction, will undergo double-blind peer review. Our approach is constructive, but it’s important to note that not all submissions may be accepted. Editors play a vital role in guiding contributors—especially early-career scholars—through revisions and feedback.

Early Online Publication

Individual articles can be published electronically in advance of the full issue under “Latest Articles.” However, the introduction and conclusion will only appear once the Special Issue is released in full.

Promoting Your Special Issue

We’re keen to promote Special Issues widely. Our Social Media Editor, Ruby Rutter (ruby.rutter@manchester.ac.uk), can work with you to design a cover image and generate publicity across our channels.

Timelines

Publication dates depend on the smooth progress of submissions and revisions. Major resubmission requests can cause delays, but we’ll work closely with you to find a suitable publication slot if needed.

Key Points Checklist for Special Issue Editors

• Stay in touch with your assigned sub-editor and committee contact.

• Hold workshops/discussions with authors to ensure coherence.

• Submit the introduction together with the articles.

• Anonymise all texts, including the introduction.

• Upload all pieces separately via the Taylor & Francis site.

• Send the editorial committee a list of article titles, authors, and running order.

• Aim for 9,000 words (excluding footnotes); max 10,000.

• Expect double-blind peer review; some articles may be rejected.

• Guide contributors—especially early-career scholars—through revisions.

• Articles can appear online early, but the full issue (with intro/conclusion) publishes together.

• Contact Ruby Rutter for cover image design and social media promotion.

• Keep to agreed timelines to avoid publication delays.