Guest Editor Proposal Form

Thank you for your interest in guest editing!

Please read the following guidelines and then fill out the proposal below. If your proposal is selected, you will be contacted by the journal. If you would prefer to download and complete a document version of this proposal form, please click here. 

SAGE is focused on providing Guest Editors with a smooth and enjoyable experience through all stages of their Special Collection journey. We understand the concerns that may come with considering being a Guest Editor; however, SAGE's journals team is here to support you every step of the way, with a strong set of tools, dedicated promotions, and more available as needed.

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Guest Editor Role and Responsibilities

As a Guest Editor, you’re the starting point for the research in your Collection, and also the one credited for its success after publication.

• You’ll refine the topic and specific research areas for the Collection, directing the conversations and bringing focus to new and essential research.
• You’ll use your experience and subject knowledge to selectively commission articles from experts in your network, with guidance and promotional assistance from the SAGE team.
• You’ll be the first to see all abstracts and articles, as you make the initial decisions on whether research could be suitable for the Collection.
• You’ll play a pivotal part in helping the research make the widest global impact possible.

Additional responsibilities may vary depending on the journal, and full details will be provided. Learn more about the process with SAGE and the benefits of being a Guest Editor here.

Special Collection Guidelines

Special Collections are selections of high-quality articles on topics of current interest, organized by Guest Editors who are recognized experts in their field. Running a Special Collection can:

• Provide an enduring association between you and your topic chosen, as the research featured will be read for years to come.
• Boost the impact of your work, by providing increased exposure and expansion of your research network.
• Provide practical experience of journal editing, and deeper insights into how the peer-review process ought to work. This can streamline the publishing process for the Guest Editor in the future, and lead to additional roles.

All Special Collection articles, including commissioned papers, will undergo full, independent peer review, in line with SAGE’s ethical and peer review and publishing policies.

• There is no guarantee of acceptance, even for invited papers. The journal’s Editor and/or Publisher have final authority on editorial content. Papers that do not fit the scope of the journal or standards for peer review may be desk-rejected.
• Open access content is freely available to everyone, but is not without costs. As such, most journals charge an Article Processing Charge (APC) and all accepted manuscripts will be charged this fee. Each journal’s APC is listed on its website. View our full list of journals.
• Discounts are sometimes available based on need – please view our discount policy for more information.

Special Collection Proposal Form

By submitting this form you are agreeing to be contacted about this opportunity. Please refer to our Privacy Policy for more details.

All fields marked with an asterisk are required.

Please provide as much information as possible to enable us to fully evaluate your proposal and work with you to develop the idea into a Collection. Proposals lacking sufficient detail, that do not meet our requirements, or which lack a good standard of English, will not be considered. All Special Collection proposals are subject to approval by each journal’s Editorial Team. We will contact you if we are able to move forward with your proposal. 

View an example of a completed proposal.

View our top tips for a successful proposal.