This last entry of this series focuses on finding the resources which may be good “homes” for a particular author. The following then are some of my favorite tips.

Evolving Informal to Formal

One way in this modern age of publishing is to evolve the informal to the formal. One example of this is the writing of a blog and turning that opportunity to writing articles and then maybe chapters and maybe books.

Reading / Writing

Another strategy is to see what one enjoys reading. Some of the best writers for a publication have spent years reading that publication as a connoisseur and a fan. It helps to read widely and immerse in the field. However, if there is a “chemistry” between a writer and a publication, then that might mean that there is hope for a possible publication.

Editors do change and move on. Visions of a field do change. What this means is that people should take the opportunities as they arrive.

The Snowball Strategy

Another strategy is a common one from qualitative interviewing, and this is the “snowball” strategy. What this involves is the exploitation of others social and professional networks…so you move from one source to another. An editor may suggest a colleague at a different publisher. Or an author may have a great experience working with another publication.

Exploiting Electronic Information

Electronic mailing lists in a particular field, professional organizations with web presences, electronic publications and their ads, announcements on professional sites, all may be great places to look for possible homes for a manuscript.

And Books

Books, whether they’re in print or electronic, still publish a wide swath of academic writing. These should not be counted out. While their publishing cycle takes longer than for e-journals, these offer ways to reach a broad audience, depending on the reputation and reach of the press.

Ready, Set…

The last part of this presentation focuses then on the various faculty and asks them some pointed questions. Are they truly ready to move forward?

Are you self-confident whether or not your work is published? (Don’t “shut down” from writing and work when facing rejection. Rejection comes with the competitive, rough-and-tumble field.)

Do you handle publicity / pressure / competition / rejection / various opinions well? Do you accept suggestions for improvement positively?

Can you commit the time and energy to a writing project and see it through to the end? (Do you have the patience to collaborate with others virtually in order to see your writing to press?)

Do you have something new and fresh to offer to the field? To multiple fields?

Do you have ways to parlay the paper into a presentation for a professional conference?

Do you know the rules of the game well enough to play?

Are you protective enough of professional relationships to proceed into the publishing realm? Can you cultivate trust-based connections across institutions, cultures, ethnic groups, and nations, for long-term constructive engagement?

This will be a fun workshop come early 2010!

(This is the last of a 6-part series on academic writing and publishing.)