How To Publish A Book Chapter In Scopus

For many researchers, the word “Scopus” is synonymous with academic validation. It is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious citation databases. Having your work indexed in Scopus doesn’t just mean your paper exists; it means it is searchable by thousands of institutions and millions of scholars worldwide.

While many focus on publishing journal articles, book chapters are an increasingly popular and effective way to get indexed. A well-written chapter in a Scopus-indexed book can lead to higher citations, better university rankings, and a stronger professional reputation.

However, the process isn’t always straightforward. You don’t “submit to Scopus”—you submit to a publisher that Scopus trusts. Here is your comprehensive, 1,500-word guide on how to navigate this journey successfully.

1. What Does “Scopus-Indexed” Actually Mean?

Before we dive into the “how,” we must clarify the “what.” Scopus is owned by Elsevier, but it doesn’t just index Elsevier books.⁴ It indexes content from thousands of publishers, including Springer, Taylor & Francis, Routledge, and Wiley.

For a book chapter to be indexed in Scopus, two things must happen:

1. The Publisher must be approved: The publishing house must follow strict ethical and quality standards.
2. The Book Series must be indexed: Many publishers have specific series (like “Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering”) that are pre-approved for Scopus indexing.

If you publish a chapter in a book that is part of an indexed series, your individual chapter will eventually appear in the Scopus database with its own unique identifier.

2. Phase One: Finding the Right Opportunity

You cannot simply write a chapter and hope someone publishes it. You need to find a project that is already “in the works.”

Look for the “Call for Chapters” (CFC)

Most Scopus-indexed books are edited volumes. A Volume Editor (usually a senior academic) puts together a proposal and gets it approved by a major publisher. They then put out a “Call for Chapters.”

• Where to look: Check academic portals like WikiCFP, Conference Service, or specialized LinkedIn groups.
• The “Scopus” Tag: Look specifically for calls that state: “The book will be submitted to Scopus for indexing.” * A Note of Caution: No publisher can guarantee Scopus indexing (as Scopus makes the final decision), but reputable publishers have a 99% success rate if the series is already indexed.

Target Indexed Book Series

If you want to be proactive, research which book series in your field are already in Scopus. For example:

• Computer Science: Lecture Notes in Computer Science (LNCS).
• Engineering: Advances in Intelligent Systems and Computing.
• Social Sciences: Routledge Studies in [Your Field].

3. Phase Two: The Proposal and Abstract

Once you find a Call for Chapters that fits your research, your first step is to submit a proposal. This is usually a 300–500 word abstract.

How to Write a Winning Abstract

The Volume Editor is looking for two things: quality and fit.

• The Hook: Start with the specific problem your research solves.
• The Methodology: Briefly explain how you arrived at your conclusions.
• The Connection: Explicitly state how your chapter fits the theme of the book.
• The Bio: Include a brief professional biography. Highlighting your previous publications or your PhD candidacy can build trust with the editor.

Don’t be afraid to email the Volume Editor directly if you have a question about whether your topic fits. A quick, professional inquiry can save you weeks of work on a chapter that might be outside their scope.

4. Phase Three: The Writing Process

Acceptance of your abstract is a “green light” to start writing the full chapter. This is where the real work begins. To ensure your chapter passes the final review and makes it into Scopus, follow these structural rules.

Tone and Depth

Unlike a journal article, which is often a narrow report on a single experiment, a book chapter should be more comprehensive. Think of it as a “mini-treatise” on a specific sub-topic.

• Literature Review: Chapters are often expected to have a more robust literature review than papers.
• Originality: Even if it’s a review chapter, it must offer a new perspective or a new framework of understanding.
• Length: Usually between 6,000 and 10,000 words, depending on the editor’s guidelines.

Technical Guidelines

Every major publisher (Springer, Elsevier, etc.) provides a Style Template. Use it.

• If you are in STEM, use the LaTeX template if provided.
• If you use Word, ensure your headings are consistent (Level 1, Level 2, Level 3).
• Images: Ensure your figures are high-resolution (300 dpi minimum). Scopus-quality books will reject grainy or “borrowed” images from the internet.

5. Phase Four: Navigating Ethics and Permissions

This is the stage where many first-time authors get stuck. If your chapter includes a graph, a table, or a long quote from a previously published work (even your own!), you must deal with Permissions.

The Permission Trap

Most publishers own the copyright to the papers they publish. If you want to reuse a diagram you published in an Elsevier journal for your Springer book chapter, you likely need a license.

• Tool to use: Most publishers use RightsLink. It’s an automated system where you request permission to reuse content.
• Cost: Often, if it’s for an academic book, the fee is waived, but you still need the formal “License Agreement” to show your editor.

Plagiarism and Self-Plagiarism

Your chapter will be run through software like iThenticate or Turnitin.

• Self-Plagiarism: You cannot copy and paste large sections of your previous papers. You must re-phrase the ideas and cite the original source.
• Similarity Score: Aim for a similarity score of less than 15% (excluding references).

6. Phase Five: The Peer Review Cycle

Just because the Volume Editor liked your abstract doesn’t mean your chapter is “in.” It must undergo double-blind peer review.

1. Submission: You upload your draft to a portal (like Editorial Manager or OCS).
2. The Wait: This usually takes 2–4 months.
3. The Verdict: You will receive one of four results:

• Accept as is (Rare)
• Minor Revisions (Common)
• Major Revisions (Common)
• Reject (Avoidable if you followed the scope)

Handling Revisions Like a Pro

When you get your reviews back, don’t take them personally. Even senior professors get “Major Revisions.”

• The Response Table: Create a table. In the left column, put the reviewer’s comment. In the right column, describe exactly what you changed.
• Be Gracious: Even if a reviewer misunderstood your point, thank them for their “insightful comment” and clarify the text so the next reader won’t be confused.

7. Phase Six: Production and Proofreading

Once your chapter is officially accepted, it moves to the publisher’s production team. This is where the “Academic Chapter” turns into a “Scopus Publication.”

The Contributor Agreement

You will be asked to sign a contract. This is a legal document where you usually transfer the copyright to the publisher. Read it carefully, especially the parts about Open Access. Some publishers charge a fee (APC) to make your chapter free for everyone to read, but standard publishing is usually free for the author.

Checking the Proofs

A few weeks later, you will receive “Galley Proofs.” This is your last chance to catch errors.

• Check the spelling of all authors’ names.
• Check that your ORCID iD is correct. (This is vital for Scopus to link the chapter to your profile).
• Check that the math equations and special characters rendered correctly.

8. Phase Seven: The Waiting Game (Indexing)

This is the part that causes the most anxiety. You have the physical book in your hand, but when you search Scopus, your chapter isn’t there. Don’t panic.

The Timeline

1. Publication: The book is released.
2. Processing: The publisher sends the metadata to Scopus.
3. Indexing: Scopus verifies the content and adds it to their database.

• Average Time: This usually takes 3 to 6 months after the book is published.

What if it doesn’t appear?

If 6 months have passed and the book isn’t on Scopus:

• Contact the Volume Editor to ensure they have sent the final data to the publisher.
• Check if other chapters from the same book are indexed.
• Use the Scopus “Missing Content” form on their website to request a manual review.

9. Why Some Chapters Fail to Get Indexed

To ensure you aren’t disappointed, avoid these common pitfalls:

• Predatory Publishers: Some “publishers” claim to be Scopus-indexed but are actually on “Beall’s List” of predatory journals. Always verify the publisher’s reputation.
• Scope Mismatch: If your chapter is about “Marine Biology” in a book titled “Advances in Cloud Computing,” Scopus may flag it as “out of scope” and refuse to index that specific chapter.
• Lack of References: Scopus is a citation database. If your chapter doesn’t have a solid list of academic references, it might be classified as “non-citable material” (like a preface or editorial) and skipped.

10. Maximizing the Impact of Your Scopus Chapter

Publishing is only half the battle. Now you want people to read it.

• Self-Archiving: Check your publisher’s “Green Open Access” policy. Most allow you to upload the “Pre-print” or “Accepted Manuscript” to your university repository or ResearchGate.
• Social Media: Share the DOI on Twitter (X) and LinkedIn.
• Citation Building: If you write a follow-up journal article, cite your book chapter. This helps “bootstrap” the chapter’s visibility in the Scopus ecosystem.

Summary Checklist

Step	Task	Importance
1	Verify the book series is currently in the Scopus Source List.	Critical
2	Submit a highly relevant Abstract to the Volume Editor.	High
3	Use the Publisher’s Template from day one.	High
4	Secure Permissions for all reused figures/tables.	Legal Requirement
5	Address all Peer Review comments with a Response Table.	Critical
6	Ensure your ORCID is linked during the proofing stage.	High (for Indexing)
7	Monitor Scopus 3–6 months post-publication.	Final Step

Final Thoughts

Publishing a book chapter in a Scopus-indexed volume is a marathon of patience and precision. It requires more than just good research; it requires an understanding of the academic publishing “machinery.”

By choosing the right publisher, following the style guides meticulously, and staying proactive during the indexing phase, you can add a powerful credential to your CV that will serve your career for decades.