::WordPlay Teen Writing Project::

www.wordplaybr.com

 

 

 

 

The Editorial Process

 

Major Disclaimer: The following questions are a resource for your.  They are not strict rules for how your group’s zine is to be compiled.  We suggest that you create a timeline for yourselves that allows ample time for the overall steps of collecting, editing, sequencing, proofing, designing, printing, and releasing.  We also suggest that you designate roles and check in on progress for assigned tasks at regular meetings.

 

Phase 1 // Collecting Work

  • Have you clearly articulated your submission guidelines and posted them?

  • Have you made it clear to contributors how to submit their work?

  • Have you gotten the word out through announcements, fliers, personal contact, etc. to potential contributors?

  • Have you followed up relentlessly?

  • Have you gotten waivers signed by all potential contributors with contact info?

 

Phase 2 // Selecting Work

  • Have you met with the editorial board to debate, discuss and create a written statement that includes: who the target audience is for your ZINE, who you’d like the ZINE to speak for, what you’d like the ZINE to speak for and what you’d like it to speak against?

  • Have you made copies of all your submissions for each “deciding” editor and given a clear deadline for reading all of the work?

  • Have the deciding editors met to discuss each piece briefly and make a decision as a group (according to guidelines you’ve laid out for the ZINE) about what pieces will be included in your ZINE?  (Please anticipate the length of the ZINE – it should be no more than 20 pages, or 40 pages including the backs of pages.)

  • Have you written down which pieces will be included and have you collected those pieces in a folder to be kept in a safe place?

  • Have you alerted your contributors in a considerate way about whether or not they were accepted for publication?

  • Have you sought out additional work (writing and artwork) if it becomes clear that more submissions are needed?

 

Phase 3 // Editing Work

  • Have you had an editor or group of editors read the work and make written editorial suggestions (clarify content, extend or shorten pieces, change grammar or style, visual form) on the pieces?

  • Or, have your editors made structural/mechanical edits themselves to the pieces? (It is not okay to change the content of anyone else’s writing.)

  • Have you given the editorial suggestions back to contributors with a clear deadline for revised pieces?

  • Or, have you given your edited versions back to authors for their approval/changes?

  • Have you followed up and collected the revised pieces?

 

Phase 4 // Typing and Sequencing of Work

  • Have you gotten typed versions of all the edited pieces to be published, saved digitally, as individual documents, in one place? (You may also choose to print handwritten pieces, or a mixture of handwritten and typed.)

  • Have you printed those out and met with editors to decide how the work will be grouped through the ZINE?  Will there be sections, what will define them?

  • Have you created an on sequence/order for the work and written down that order?

  • Have you sought out additional work (writing and artwork) if it becomes clear that more submissions are needed?

  • Have you chosen a title for the ZINE?

 

Phase 5 // Proofreading, Final Content

  • Have you had proofreaders who’ve never seen the work before read over each piece to look for typos or errors?

  • Have you made the corrections to the pieces?

  • Have you spelled contributors names correctly?

  • Have you written, revise and proofread an introductory letter/statement from the editors?

  • Have you gathered all of the copy for the inside jacket (WordPlay and Big Buddy information, funder credits, names of editorial board members, school info, etc.) and given them to Anna H. to proof?

 

Phase 6 // Design

  • Have you gathered all of your visual images?

  • Have you decided on the general layout of the ZINE (size paper, binding, basic “look”)

  • Have you picked artwork for front and b ack covers?

  • Have you sequenced artwork to accompany writing?

  • Have you designed each page carefully, using either cut and paste “hands on” layout, or a layout program, keeping it somewhere safe from harm as you go?

  • Have you avoided unintentional blank, white spaces?

 

Phase 7 // Printing

  • Have you allowed ample time for printing and assembly of ZINES? (Anna Hirsch will provide more info about how we will print.)

 

ZINES to printer APRIL 6th

 

Printer’s proofs will be made available to the editorial boards the following week. 

Final edits on the printer’s proofs will be due APRIL 18th.

 

Phase 8 // Release and Distribution

  • Have you planned a release event, invited contributors and general audience for ZINE?

  • Have you created a plan for who will receive copies of ZINES and how extra copies will be given out?

 

Release events during week of May 6th

 

Collective release party at Fresh Heat May 10th

 

***

 

Also, keep in mind the deadline for submissions

to the City-Wide Anthology, Friday May 11th

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anna Hirsch

WordPlay Publications Manager

225-388-9737 (office)

314-650-0224 (cell)

mysongtrabong@gmail.com