STEP 1: Something worth writing about?

            * what is the news?

            * why is it news and who is interested?

            GREAT!

 

STEP 2: Decide on initial authorship & responsibilities:

  1) Authorship

            * who discovered the news?

            * who was financially responsible?

            * who generated what data? old or new data?

            * who is the project leader?

            * need theoretical support?

            - reward?         X        

            - a favor returned?       X

            * can't decide? try alphabetical

            BE CONFIDENT: THINK BIG: work & write with the best

 

2) Lead Author is often Responsible

            * take charge

            * develop an outline

            * assign responsibilities

            * identify tasks and set deadlines

            * get buy-in from others

            * direct efforts with follow-up calls

 

STEP 3: Organize your thoughts

             * what data do you need

            * anything missing? what can you do?

            * facilitate meetings

            * coordinate work of others

            * enough resources? drafting, photography, etc

 

STEP 4: Analyze audience

            * what is your objective in writing?

                        to inform or to persuade?

                                    Not "just the facts, Ma'am

            * assess interest and probable reaction

                        any bias in readers?

            * primary and secondary readers?

                        more than one paper;

                        different sections;

                        need to know arrangement

 

STEP 5: Chose your media

            * journal or book chapter or book?

                        * big story try a general journal

                        * specialty story try a specialty journal

                        * international vs national journals

            * which journals susceptible to your topic?

                        * which journal are many of your references from

                        * evaluate backlogs & costs (reprints & page charges)

            * many workshops/symposia get published as special issues of journals or books

 

STEP 6: Organize your document

            * the formal outline

            * the random list

            * idea wheel

            * decide page lengths & numbers of figures for various sections

            * don't just let your paper grow (it could get pretty ugly)

            * if more than one author decide

                   a) first draft method or

                  b) assigned section tasks

 

STEP 7: The First Draft

            * mystery novel? or News Cast?

            * use the descending method of presentation

            * move from big-picture conclusions & recommendations to more specific and support detail

            * a purpose statement is a prose table of contents describes what readers will learn if they keep reading

            * a message statement provides readers with the most important info

                 a) What is the news?

                 b) Why is it news? the so what of the story

                 c) How do you know? how do we believe you

                 d) What Next? what are the implications

            * organize the document: white space/ data/ figures

 

STEP 8: Subsequent Drafts

            * pay attention to paragraph structure: news cast method

            * sentence structure: controls flow, use active voice (read out loud)

            * technical accuracy (get it right)

            * examine the layout and visual effect (try journal mock-up)

            * your final draft is considered a first draft by everyone else

 

STEP 9: Getting it reviewed

            * get an internal review: use experienced professionals

            * don't choose a friend, unless the friend and you can handle personal communication well (let go of your ego)

            * almost always take comments and act on them:

                        if you think a reviewer is wrong, consider that you communicated your thoughts poorly

            * send it off to an editor in excellent shape, be professional

            * your external reviews can hurt, reviewers generally want to help, but politics is a way of life

            * don't argue with the editor, be agreeable, compromise

 

STEP 10: The page proofs

            * often with electronic publishing, your accepted and final computer version is close to what will be published

                        major changes after submittal could cost $$$$

            * your electronic version however is only the penultimate stage

            * the page proof stage is the ultimate version; a stage of utmost importance;

            * very little time is given: you are both excited and worn down

            * go over two times: for type setting spelling, and for final accuracy and meaning;

                      check titles and figure captions

 

STEP 11: To Pay or not to Pay

            * page charges and vanity press: this is a business

            * reprints: the bigger the paper the more it costs

            CONGRATULATIONS

            & watch for the fallout!