Throughout your academic career, you’ll ask for feedback from many people other than your writing partner. As outlined above, especially if your writing partner is not an expert in your field or subfield, you will likely want to get a set of “expert” eyes on your piece before submitting it for peer review.

But, all too often, junior scholars hesitate to contact senior (or established) scholars in their fields for two interrelated reasons. First, they assume that this “ask” is burdensome and they don’t want to be perceived as demanding, ungrateful, or presumptuous. As a result, they also believe that the only appropriate time to ask for feedback is at the polished stage.

However, many colleagues are happy to help shape others’ research. Using the principles from the feedback form can help you lower the “ask,” by asking the reader to read in limited ways.

Here's what to keep in mind before you contact senior colleagues and tips on how to go about doing so in the most respectful way possible.

Before Contacting a Reviewer: Have a Reason for Asking That Person, Specifically (Typically Someone You’ve Met in Real Life)

Because you have a long-term writing partner who will typically be able to give you feedback on many of the argumentative and stylistic dimensions of your pieces, you want to have a specific reason for asking someone else to read your writing. Some examples might include:

• They’re an expert on your topic, you think they’d be favorable to the analyses you offer/claims you make, and you want to ensure that experts agree your piece is valuable and accurate
• They’re an expert in your field and you want to see if they think an idea you have merits the type of piece you plan to write (validating a book-length project idea before writing the book, for instance)
• They’re an expert in your field and you want to ensure that you’re situating yourself properly with respect to the existing theory
• They’ve published in the journal you’re hoping to target and can read with an eye to their style and readership

Note: I recommend sending the piece to one person at a time.

How to Contact The Reviewer:

Query The Reviewer in Advance

Never send a piece of writing to someone without asking first; doing so is extremely presumptuous. Instead, write a short email well before you think the piece will be ready. Doing so allows the reviewer to realistically assess whether they will have time to devote to reading your project.

Initial Query Email Checklist

Your email must:

• Announce why you chose this person specifically (“because of your expertise in…”; “because of your familiarity with expectations for X journal…”)
• Describe the shape the project will be in (abstract, complete first draft, final polished draft)
• Briefly lay out specific feedback you’re seeking, limit 2 (argument, convincing analyses, structure)
• State your firm deadline (if any) or the lack thereof
• If applicable: lay out target outlet(s)

Sample Initial Query Emails

Below, I’ve included three sample query emails you can use as models for your own. Please do NOT copy them directly. Rather, use them to help you understand the moves such emails need to make and some potential ways to do so.

Sample Query Email 1

This email is best for scholars you have met and potentially talked about the topic of your piece with, but who have not seen you present on said topic.

Dear [name],

It was great to meet/see you at [conference/venue].

I’m writing because I’m finishing up a draft of an article titled [title goes here], which I intend to submit to [journal]. Since you’ve published extensively on [topic], I wanted to see if you’d be able and willing to review a [first/second/final] draft of the manuscript, which I expect will be done in/on [time/date]. In particular, I’d be most interested in knowing [specific feedback. e.g. whether my argumentation is sound; whether my analyses are convincing; if the types of claims I am making contribute something of significance to (field/topic)]. [If applicable: Because this is still an early-stage draft, I wouldn't expect you to comment on lower-order concerns such as style or word choice.] I am hoping to submit the article to [journal] by [deadline—at least one month out]. Would you be able to offer this feedback on my article before I submit it for peer review? I completely understand if you’re unable to do so for any reason.

      Most Sincerely,

      [Your Name]

Sample Query Email 2

As you will see below, this email is best for articles or book chapters that grow out of a conference paper the senior scholar saw you present. It also works well if you do not have a deadline for submission of the piece.

Hi [name],

It was wonderful to meet you at [conference] a few weeks ago and to chat about [specific topic]. I will be thinking more about [the question you asked me/the conversation we had] as I work more on this material in the coming weeks and months.

I'm writing because I am working to revise and expand the conference paper I delivered into a full-length article for publication in [journal]. Given your expertise on [topic] [NOTE: or other reason you're asking her, specifically!], and your familiarity with the conference-length version of my argument, I was wondering if you would be willing to offer feedback on an article-length manuscript, which I expect will be ready by [date]. I don't currently have an external deadline for submission of this article, so I would be happy to receive comments on whatever timeline works best for you, if you’re able to review this draft.

[This is where you insert the specific feedback you want, if you can articulate it at this point. e.g. Specifically, one of the most challenging elements for me in developing this project has been (challenge goes here). So, I'd be particularly interested in feedback on the article's [specific element goes here, like logical development, theoretical framework, analyses, etc.] Of course, if you're unable to offer such feedback, I completely understand. 

Again, it was a pleasure to meet you and I hope our paths cross again at a conference in the near future.

Best,

[Your Name]

Sample Query Email 3

Similar to query email #2, this template works well if you are contacting a scholar who has seen you present material. It contains useful language if you do have a firmer deadline and if one of your main priorities would be to ask for input about suitable publication outlets.

Dear [Name],

[nice opening statement... I hope your semester's going well/it was great to see you at recent conference/thanks for sending me announcement about special issue, etc.]

I'm writing because I'm finalizing an article manuscript [based on material you saw me present at (venue)]. I was wondering if you would be willing to review the manuscript before I submit it to a journal. In particular, I'd be especially grateful for feedback on [specific elements like argument development, evidence, etc.]. Also, since I'm still relatively new to our field's publishing landscape, I'd be interested to hear your take on the outlets for which such a study would be suitable.

I expect that the article will be finished on [date] [and I was hoping to have it revised and submitted to a target journal before (event, such as annual review) on (date)]. Might you be able to review the article and provide feedback in this time frame?

If you're not able to, I totally understand. In any case, I hope all is well and I look forward to our paths crossing again in the near future.

      Sincerely,

      [Your Name]

Working with Their Response

You will likely get one of three responses to your initial query. Here’s how you respond in each case.

“Sure, send it whenever”

Reply thanking the reviewer and confirming that you’ll send it when it’s ready.

“I can do it but only on a certain timeline”

This is valuable information and your response will depend on the reviewer’s timeline. Here’s what to do:

If the reviewer needs the piece earlier than you planned to send it, ask yourself whether you will realistically be able to submit it on their timeline.

• If you will be able to do so, confirm that you will send it to them by the date they stated and inform them if you think the state of the piece will be different (i.e. “I’m not sure I will have the conclusion fully finalized by then, but would still greatly appreciate your feedback on the argumentative development.”)
• If not, thank the reviewer for considering reviewing your piece and say that it sounds like the timeline will not work out this time.

If you have a firm deadline and the reviewer will not be able to meet it, thank them for considering reviewing the piece and say that the timeline will not work this time.

“I can’t do it” or “I am not the right person”

Thank the person for their time and use their feedback (if they said they are not the right person) to identify other potential reviewers.

When You Send the Draft, Use Principles from The Author Feedback Form

When reaching out to colleagues, you typically want to ensure they have the key information from the feedback form so that they know the scope of what you’re asking. Even if you covered these topics in the initial query email, be sure that the email you send with the draft addresses:

• What is this piece? (part of a larger project?)
• If not a final, polished draft: what is its stage and what, if anything, should the reviewer ignore?
• What, specifically, you’d like the reviewer to focus on? (argument, evidence choice,
• Any specific questions you have for the reviewer (limit 2!)
• Your timeline