Scholarly publishing is dependent on research that advances our understanding of the world. Monographs, a long-form research publication focusing on a single topic or issue, are key to the advancement of many areas of knowledge. They are a comprehensive contribution to a single scholarly subject, playing a crucial role in disseminating in-depth research and fostering intellectual discourse across disciplines.

Here, we’ll give the definition of what a monograph is, unpack its scholarly importance, share how to access them online for free, and show authors how to write one.

What is a monograph?

A monograph, derived from the Greek words “monos” (single) and “grapho” (to write), is a specialized work that focuses on a single subject, topic, or theme. Monographs are the result of extensive research undertaken by a single or small group of authors. They can either be short-form (approx. 70–110 pages) or full-length (approx. 250–300 pages). The page count of a monograph count can vary greatly depending on the research scope, however.

Monographs are distinct from edited books, another type of scholarly publication. Both publication types differ primarily in authorship, structure, and scope or thematic focus. Whereas monographs deal with a consistent argument from one point of view, edited books are curations bringing together diverse perspectives focusing on a theme.

How to identify a monograph

The easiest way to identify a monograph is by cross-checking a few features of the book.

• Name on front cover: Is it standalone, or followed by “(Ed.)”? The latter indicates the name refers to an editor, not an author.
• Contents page: Is it divided into distinct yet related chapters under a single topic, or into thematically interlinked but topically diverse standalone chapters by various authors?
• Research focus: Is there a clear hypothesis or argument outlined in the introduction? Is a single topic consistently dealt with throughout the book, with a clear conclusion at its end?

How is a monograph structured?

Different monographs across different publishers tend to follow a similar, if not identical structure.

The following elements are consistent with academic monographs.

• Title page with name of author and publisher
• Contents page
• List of abbreviations (if required)
• Preface (optional)
• Introduction explaining the topic and main research question
• Main body divided into chapters exploring different aspects of the topic
• Conclusion with results, findings, and implications or future directions
• Bibliography and references list
• Appendix
• Index or keyword index

Monographs vs journal articles

Similar to a monograph, journal articles also examine specific research questions. However, the scope of this examination differs greatly between the two research publication types.

Journal articles are limited by their length. There is no explicit word or page count for journal articles, but they are naturally much smaller than monographs because they serve to summarize knowledge and study findings in the most concise and time-effective way possible.

Monographs are more of an invitation to pause and reflect. Authors can explore their research question extensively and integrate analyses of complex developments over extended periods of time for a more comprehensive picture of issues.

Importance in scholarly book publishing

As a publication type, the monograph is the cornerstone of scholarly book publishing. It is the primary form used by authors to explore topics in-depth and expand upon a research thesis in a long-form style.

Academic book publishers publishing monographs provide a platform for authors to communicate their ideas and findings. For authors, publishing a monograph with a reputable academic publisher not only brings visibility to work but also helps career progression and establishes author credibility.

A lot of academic book publishers still follow traditional book publishing models, enabling readers to access research by directly purchasing a physical book. However, hybrid models involving traditional publishing processes and open access practices are slowly becoming more widespread in scholarly book publishing.

Open access publishing has increased in popularity in recent years, made possible by Creative Commons licenses. These licenses enable authors to benefit from global reach, with research being made accessible to anyone, anywhere, for free. As a result, open access monographs benefit from the increased visibility made possible by such accessibility.

Connecting academia with the public

Monographs serve as a bridge between the academic world and the public. Often, they take complex data or theoretical knowledge and turn it into information that general readers can understand.

When published as open access, monographs further support public accessibility to knowledge. The ways in which we interact with scholarly materials such as monographs are becoming increasingly digitized. Open access publishing models act as platforms for monographs to reach the public through already optimized digital avenues, offering more equitable access to research.

Scientific monographs published as open access also contribute to the principles of open science. Open science is a global movement making scientific research and its outcomes freely accessible to everyone. Scientific monographs published as open access adhere to the principles of open science, helping to democratize access to research and promote equitable resource distribution.

How to write and publish a monograph

For a lot of authors, it is highly desirable to write and publish a long-form book that positions themselves as a leading authority in their subject field and facilitates scholarly discussion.

Publishing a monograph helps establish author visibility and credibility, potentially leading to all sorts of career opportunities in terms of grant funding and collaboration.

However, writing and publishing a monograph is a long process with many aspects to consider. Let’s go over some of the key considerations to bear in mind when approaching how to write and publish a monograph.

Formulate a strong, convincing research thesis

An idea or argument is the foundation of a book. A good research thesis supports the intellectual progression of a book, ensuring it feels coherent and logical as it formulates its unique scholarly perspective.

Writing a good research thesis requires authors to identify research gaps and come up with an original, convincing argument. Is the research necessary in the current cultural or historical context? Does it provide answers to pressing issues within the author’s subject field? These are just some of the questions authors should be asking themselves when formulating their research thesis.

A research thesis should also be clear and easy for authors to communicate. Authors should be able to summarize their thesis in 2–3 sentences, if not for readers, then at least for personal reference. Being able to summarize an argument efficiently helps authors keep the topic manageable and research aims focused.

Understand it’s a long process

Writing a monograph is not something that happens in the span of a few weeks. The process demands extensive reading around certain topics. Any knowledge gained from this process then needs to inform the research direction of the monograph.

Academic monographs can take several years to write. Even academics who complete the research and writing stages for a monograph within a year are still drawing on many years of experience and intimate specialist knowledge to make that process smoother.

Create a roadmap for each stage of the process (research/planning, writing, and publishing) to ensure that you remain on course and see the complete working trajectory.

Make several revisions

The first draft of a monograph is almost certainly not the final version. Chapter rewrites and the addition of new sections to expand upon ideas are inevitable when writing a long-form scholarly work.

Authors should keep a record of the different versions of their monograph. Any revisions can then be easily identified should they need to be removed or revisited in light of new research developments.

Turn a PhD thesis into a monograph

Turning your PhD thesis into a monograph can be productive as there is already a solid foundation to build a book from.

However, a PhD thesis will need to be adapted to a broader audience. Authors therefore need to cut or amend extensive literature reviews or footnotes to accommodate general readers and ensure that the work isn’t too long or overly academic.

It’s likely that the tone will need to be adjusted, too. The audience for a PhD thesis is usually a small number of academic experts. When writing a monograph, authors should keep the general reader in mind while also appealing to those with a potential interest in their research areas.

Choose a suitable publisher

Many publishers support the publication of academic monographs. Not every publisher will be suitable for an author’s monograph, however.

Authors should identify publishers that publish books that are similar or at least complementary to their own. Doing so will ensure that the book reaches the right audience, benefiting research visibility and subject authority in the long term.

When a suitable publisher has been identified, authors need to write a book proposal that appeals directly to this publisher, outlining why they are right for publishing the monograph. Authors may give an example of a publisher’s previous publications and explain how their book complements their publishing catalogue while contributing to academia and the progression of knowledge within certain fields.

Publishing a monograph with MDPI Books

Thinking of publishing an academic book? Want your research to benefit from increased visibility and global reach?

MDPI Books accepts submissions of scholarly monographs. See our Publish With Us page for more information on MDPI Books’ author focus and high-quality and rapid publication, book processing charges (and how to find funding), and guidelines for book manuscripts.

If you’ve already read this information and want to begin the process, submit a book proposal to MDPI Books today.