By Adam Chapnick and Christopher Kukucha. In the academic world, the process for choosing a publisher for your first manuscript is clear: seek out the presses with the best reputation in your field and find a good fit. As strange as it sounds to those outside the Ivory Tower, your primary goal is neither to sell a lot of copies, nor to make a lot of money. More...
Choosing the right contributors
By Adam Chapnick and Christopher Kukucha. The primary feature that differentiates an edited book from a typical academic manuscript is the diversity of its author contributors. Each chapter is typically written by one or more scholars, some of whom – in these days of electronic communication – have never even met in person. More...
Managing the co-editor relationship
By Adam Chapnick and Christopher Kukucha. Our last post discussed the benefits and drawbacks of working with a co-editor. If, or once, you have decided to go that route, you will face a series of new challenges: approaching the right person, establishing an effective working relationship, and dealing with potential conflicts. More...
The pros and cons of editing a collection of essays
By Adam Chapnick and Christopher Kukucha. The professional risks are too great for a junior scholar, but for more senior scholars it can be a worthwhile experience. More...
Pros and cons of writing a book chapter
By Adam Chapnick and Christopher Kukucha. Publishing a book chapter with a university press is generally seen as less prestigious than a peer-reviewed journal article, but it can be a better experience. For new scholars, it can certainly be a less daunting process. More...
Why most book projects benefit from collaboration and critique
By Adam Chapnick. As a recovering control freak, I edited my first collection of essays on my own. The project took significantly longer than expected, and was much more challenging than I had anticipated, but it was successful in the end. More...
The Scholarly Edition: an inside look at scholarly publishing from the editors’ perspective
By Adam Chapnick. A little more than two years ago, I attended a conference on Canada and its place in the world. When I got back, I had an idea. More...
Saying no to the imposter syndrome
By Liz Koblyk. Last week, I turned down CBC’s The Current. I’d been invited to comment on how job seekers can navigate the world of short-term employment. Instead of jumping at the chance, I immediately said no, offered the names of two other potential panelists, and went back to work. More...
Imposter syndrome & holiday parties
By Liz Koblyk. It turns out that a lot of people relate to the imposter syndrome. Great! We can all enjoy one another’s company at our self-deprecation party, all the while being plagued by our private thoughts that we don’t deserve to be at the party. More...
Write every day (or don’t!) to be a successful writer
By Isabeau Iqbal. “You should publish this,” is something academics frequently and flippantly say to one another. When I was a graduate student and keen to decipher what this meant, I sought writing advice from books and workshops. More...