In the early 1990s the Canadian Association for the Study of Language and Learning (CASLL) established a forum for the publication of scholarly works related to the professional concerns of its members. This arm of CASLL was called the Inkshed Publications Initiative (IPI). A group of Inkshed members from Winnipeg volunteered to administer the venture and to serve as the Edito- rial Board. Those involved at the time were: Laura Atkinson, Sandy Baardman, Neil Besner, Pat Sadowy, and Stan Straw.

As a group we oversaw the publication of five books (three monographs and two edited volumes):

• Writing Instruction in Canadian Universities (R. Graves, 1994)
• Contextual Literacy: Writing Across the Curriculum (C. Schryer & L. Steven, eds., 1994)
• Critical Moments in the Rhetoric of Kenneth Burke: Implications for Composition (M. Behr, 1996)
• Two Sides to a Story: Gender Difference in Student Narrative (S. Rogers, 1996)
• Integrating Visual and Verbal Literacies (W. F. Garrett-Petts & D. Lawrence, eds. ,1996)

Those of us remaining from the original publication collective have not had the time to consider another publication. Orders for the existing books continue to come in, and I continue to fill the orders and deposit the cheques. Our balance as of July 2000 is just over $4,400, which is enough to print another book if anyone were willing to take on the task.

When we were putting together the first book, the entire task was new to most of us. As an aid to putting together subsequent books, I recorded the process used. Although we modified it somewhat for each publication, the things to do list was a helpful guide. I am including that original list here to help members get an idea of what is involved in publishing a book. I am not including it to scare people away from the idea of being involved in the world of publishing. The publication of these books was a lot of work, surely, but it was a rewarding experience, one that helped us to appreciate very sincerely the work involved in the creation of any printed work. If you are interested in taking up the work of the publications initiative, please contact me (via email at sadowyams.umanitoba.ca) for further details.

INKSHED BOOK PUBLISHING PROCEDURES

1. Put out a call for proposals
2. Receive manuscript proposal
3. Copy proposal to three reviewers Receive reviews
4. Decide collectively concerning acceptance If rejected, inform author and file all materials
5. If accepted, inform author and continue steps below
6. Set up a timeline with author
7. Set up a timeline with publication collective
8. Send Letter of Understanding to author (Re: copyright, royalties, etc.)
9. Receive initial draft of manuscript
10. Edit manuscript for content changes required
11. Inform author of content changes required
12. Receive second draft
13. Continue to edit drafts for content until satisfactory
14. Contact printing companies for quotes re: budget information (e.g., print run, cover style, paper type)
15. Make final decisions about which printing company will print the work
16. Make final decisions (in writing) with printer regarding style choices, costs, specific requirements
17. Write introduction, if needed
18. Decide which style guide will be used (e.g., APA/MLA/Chicago)
19. Copy edit the entire manuscript- introduction, acknowledgements, pref ace, footnotes, tables, figures, captions, reference list, etc.
20. Check each reference item for complete ness and style formatting
21. Compare reference list to items refer enced (manually or later via indexing procedure)
22. Make final decision (with author) con cerning exact title
23. Solicit author information--names, birth date, etc
24. Apply for ISBN number for the volume
25. Apply for Cataloguing data
26. Receive ISBN number
27. Receive Cataloguing data
28. Prepare title page
29. Prepare data/ISBN etc. page
30. Copy edit data/ISBN page
31. Decide on all graphics (photographs, tables, figures) required
32. Prepare a file of Headings and Captions for all graphics that will later need to be glued on vertically
33. Make camera-ready finals of all graphics
34. Decide cover colour(s) and design
35. Solicit photograph for back cover if needed
36. Prepare copy for back cover Copy edit back cover--double check ISBN for accuracy
37. Prepare initial mock-up of entire cover at real size
38. Solicit cover designs
39. Select preferred cover design elements
40. Receive sample of finished cover
41. Approve final cover
42. Decide if indexing will be content index, author index, or both
43. Mark indexing codes for every chapter Review/double check indexing codes for every chapter
44. Mark indexing codes for introduction, preface, acknowledgements, footnotes, captions, etc.
45. Mark indexing codes for reference list (authors only).
46. Generate each index (each chapter, pref ace, references, etc.) separately to detect errors, then delete the trial index (the Define Index code prompt AND whatever was generated ) from the bottom of each file. Before you start, list each file in order on paper and cross each file out as you complete it.
47. Note on a separate sheet any double sur names (e.g. two different Smith refer ences)
48. Prepare the formatting codes for the final document
49. Import formatting codes into each sub section (each chapter, preface, etc)
50. Format all footnote pages
51. Format reference pages
52. Print a copy of the document and check it for formatting errors
53. Fix all formatting errors
54. Combine all copy into one file
55. Adjust page numbering codes and chap ter header codes if necessary
56. Prepare formatting for index (in col umns) at very end of document
57. Decide on Table of Contents (TOC) layout
58. Format TOC pages)
59. Mark all copy with TOC codes
60. Generate TOC and check for accuracy and appearance
61. Generate index
62. Amend index concerning duplicate surnames of authors
63. Finalize all formatting and print a final copy
64. Glue on logo to any pages) where logo is needed
65. Glue on final graphics to final pages
66. Glue on final headings and/or captions to final pages
67. Recheck entire document for any discrepancies
68. Fix whatever is fixable
69. Put together (in a box) the cover design, manuscript, colour details, paper type de tails, print run details, etc.
70. Contact printer to pick up the whole thing for printing
71. Celebrate then sleep
72. Rejoice when you receive the final prod uct
73. Send six copies to author
74. Send two copies to National Library of Canada for Legal Deposit
75. Receive Legal Deposit receipt and file it
76. Complete and submit information forms for Canadian Books in Print and Quill and Quire
77. File all correspondence, etc. concerning the volume
78. Mail copies to members, subscribers, potential reviewers, etc.

 

 

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