This seminar series then addresses the various written artifacts in writing and publishing. Then, this describes a typical publishing cycle. Finally, this also addresses the publishing implications of digital contents—including multimedia.

The Written Artifacts

The common written artifacts are the following related to academic writing.

Query letter: A cover letter offering topic ideas and a professional author introduction

Book prospectus: An overview of the domain area, objectives of the book, possible audiences, suggested titles, academic value, other textbook competitors, table of contents, sample chapters, CVs, schedule, and projected page count

Academic paper: abstract, key words, introduction, literature search, body, discussion, conclusion, references (usually APA), assignments, glossary of terms, and acknowledgments

Academic textbook / reference book: foreword, introduction, chapters, glossary of terms, citations, imagery, and accompanying site

Some people use a “templating” strategy for written artifacts that are used regularly. These are used for consistency and comprehensiveness of details. Having a template also enhances organizational structure. A template is a tool and should not be restrictive. Within the form, there should be plenty of creativity.

The Academic Writing and Publishing Cycle

Essentially, the process begins with a proposal. The proposal usually goes from the writer to the editor or publisher with an idea. If one wants, one can say it starts even earlier, with a request for proposals for a particular manuscript or special issue. If a writer does the query, he or she uses a query email or letter. If there is an affirmative response by the editor, then the writer drafts an article or chapter or manuscript. This “mss.” should not be sent to any other proposed publication.

Once the editor receives the draft mss., he / she scrubs if of identifiers and sends it out to peer reviewers for blind peer or professional reviews. The editor will offer professional critiques, too. The paper may be accepted outright with no changes (rare). The paper may need to be revised and resubmitted. Or the paper may be outright rejected if it is too far beyond the pale of the quality expected. (Publishers do not have the time usually to hand-hold novice authors, so it helps to have manuscripts as developed and revised as possible.) Then, if the mss. may be publishable with necessary changes, it is sent back to the author with the anonymous comments for revision.

Once a paper has been finalized and sent in, some more legal considerations come into play. Here, the author(s) has to sign over regional or world rights. The publishers review all the images and citations and make sure that there are no mistakes that could be legally iffy. The manuscript is type-set and edited, and proofs (formerly known as “tear-sheets”) will be sent to the authors for minor changes.

The work goes to press (in paper or electronic forms) and then is published and distributed, with the publisher providing the majority of publicity. Authors may also advertise their works on their wikis, blogs, and social sites. They may also advertise their works when they make presentations at various conferences. If the work is digital, the publisher generally takes on the responsibility of making sure the work is available into perpetuity, even as technologies evolve and works become obsolete based on the “slow fires” of technologies. If the work is a print one, it remains in its current form until all the copies are sold and the information becomes outdated.

Going Digital

Most manuscripts include tables, charts, diagrams, and even screenshots that are nested in the text. Some more complex works may involve multimedia such as slideshows, videos, and audio files.

Digital imagery must be original and accurate (not mis-representational). This may not infringe on others’ designs. These should also be fully accessible (Section 508-compliant), with alt-texting, captioning, and clear labeling. These digital files must follow technology standards for full accessibility.

Digital imagery for Web use only needs to be 72 dpi, RGB and may be .jpg or .gif, usually. If images have to be prepared for print, these have to be 250 – 400 dpi, CMYK, and .tif or .eps.

(The next part talks about some of the follow-on effects of publishing and offers some ways to conceptualize how supportive a workplace is in terms of publishing.)