I want to give a paper at an academic conference. I don't know if my topic is appropriate. Is it OK to write the workshop organizers to ask?

Question

It's a prestigious conference on a certain period in the ancient world. But my topic, although it involves the period, also connects to later developments, which provide evidence for the earlier ancient state that are not preserved from the period itself. Is it proper decorum to email and ask, "Is this the sort of thing that is appropriate for your workshop?" before actually writing an abstract?

Answer 1

You do not send out a separate query or proposal in advance like that. IF there is a "call for papers," you submit according to their specific requirements within the dates they are accepting such proposals.



Many of the more prestigious academic conferences INVITE presenters of published papers. If no "call for papers," you cannot submit anything anyway as presentations are by invitation only.

Answer 2

Just  go ahead and write the abstract and submit it.  Writing an abstract doesn't take much time or effort.  They will let you know if it is appropriate in due course.

Answer 3

You can, but you may not get much of an answer. The way these usually work is that the organizers will send the abstracts out to others in the field (anonymously), who will rate the abstracts. Your topic sounds fine to me- but it will depend on how well the abstract is written. Get someone to look at it before you send it in. 

Answer 4

You should work with a faculty adviser to ensure it is appropriaye and formatted correctly.