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Stay up to date with the events and knowledge that are shaping the publishing industry.
Lighting the Fire!! The Harlem Renaissance’s Queer Publication
The Harlem Renaissance was “surely as gay as it was black.” As we bring in 2024’s celebration of Black History month, it feels only right to shine a light on the voices that have been deliberately lost to time. In 1920, the world witnessed the inspired boom of art,...
Is SkyNet Taking Over? AI-Generated Articles Are Popping Up Left and Right
Yes, it’s hyperbolic to say that the machines are truly taking over as James Cameron predicted almost 40 years ago in The Terminator, but everyday seems to bring more and more news stories about AI infiltrating another industry. Publishing is not immune to this...
How to Organize an Author Event as an Independent Author
After your book is written, your hope as an author is for your work to reach interested readers and grow a fan base. But how do you establish connections and locate those readers? One effective approach is to arrange events such as live readings and panel discussions....
Hardbacks or Paperbacks: What’s the Right Choice for You?
While the common consensus is that publishing is moving further and further into the ebook market, physical media is still alive. Sales of physical books saw increases in 2020 and 2021 thanks to the pandemic lockdown, and while sales were overall down 6.5 percent in...
How Long Should My Novel Be?
When you set out to write anything for publication, one of the key things you should ask yourself is “how long should this be?” There are several things that factor into answering this question, from age demographic to genre to narrative form. No matter what you’re...
How to Procure a Cover Designer for Your Book
You should never judge a book by its cover, but that won’t prevent potential readers from passing over your book if they don’t like its cover artwork and design. So how can you commission a book cover that both attracts readers’ attention and accurately communicates...
Before You Start Writing Your Book: Twenty Things to Consider About Your Story
Are you considering writing a book? Maybe you have a vague idea of a story you’d like to tell, but you aren’t quite sure, or maybe you have a solid idea of what you want to write, but … What might you be missing? When I started writing my (still unfinished) book a few...
Technically Speaking – Part 2
Part I of this two-part post focused on the five major steps to successfully approaching a technical writing project without a technical background. Now, in this second installment, we’ll focus on the list of 10 tips and tricks to successfully making that project...
Word Count in Novels: Is It Important?
Word count — it’s a simple enough thing — write the words and count them. But do word counts really matter when you are writing your novel, and is book length an important thing to consider before publishing? Although there’s no absolute answer, and there’s always an...
How to Be a Good Beta Reader: Reading in Exchange for Critique
What Is a Beta Reader? A Beta Reader is asked to read an author’s work when they’ve finished their original edits, but before the professional editing has begun. They help the author handle big-picture questions regarding story, pacing, plot, character, etc. While...
What’s in a Name? How to Make Sure Your Book Title Looks and Smells as Sweet as a Rose
Maybe I’m showing my age here, but when I was a young adult, I loved going to Barnes & Noble to peruse the new book titles to see what spoke to me. We’re told not to judge a book by its cover, but a cool title on said cover is always helpful in catching the...
Can Glasstree Break Through the Traditional Publishing Model?
There has been a revolution in the publishing industry in the last ten years. For better or worse, publishing has become easier thanks to the growing popularity of self-publishing. In a 2015 article on her website, Jane Friedman, CEO and Co-Founder of Open Road Integrated Media, described the many of the ins and outs of this new self-publishing method....
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Nikki Lazenby
Each month, we will interview one employee to get their opinions on the publishing industry, hear what it’s like to work at Technica, and learn a little bit about them. This month we are interviewing Nikki Lazenby, senior managing editor here at Technica. She is a noted hip-hop enthusiast and, when not at work, enjoys being seen at the same events as J....
Re: A Reminder about Email Etiquette
Email is the most common form of communication among editors, reviewers, and authors. This mode of exchange has almost completely replaced traditional forms, such as in-person meetings or phone conversations, because of its worldwide efficiency and ease. Just as we keep up with advances in our specific fields, we must do the same in communication....
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Danielle Pattee
Each month, we will interview one employee to get their opinions on the publishing industry, hear what it’s like to work at Technica, and learn a little bit about them. This month we are interviewing Danielle Pattee. She worked in journals production for three years before joining the editorial staff at Technica, and brings with her a unique perspective of...
What does PLOS ONE’s decline mean for open access?
Open access has been one of the biggest talking points in the publishing industry for the last decade—and it’s not hard to see why. Open access articles seem to be viewed more often than articles available behind subscription paywalls. In fact, the Wellcome Trust reports that open access articles are downloaded 89 percent more than articles in subscription...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Chris Moffitt
Each month, we will interview one employee to get their opinions on the publishing industry, hear what it’s like to work at Technica, and learn a little bit about them. This month we are interviewing Chris Moffitt, an associate editor and the blog supervisor here at Technica Editorial. He’s a UNC graduate currently finishing his master’s in library...
A Copy Editor’s Nightmare: Five of the Most Common Mistakes
Everyone makes mistakes, even copy editors. If you’re submitting a manuscript or paper, though, you should make every effort to check your work and, if possible, have someone else check it, too. While it’s not always true that a clean manuscript is a good manuscript, you’re making a first impression on anyone who reads the file so, just as you would dress...
#WhyImThankful to Work in the Publishing Industry
To celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday this year, some of the staff at Technica Editorial would like to share why they are thankful to work in the publishing industry. As a member of the publishing industry, I will always be thankful for the opportunities to meet and establish ongoing relationships with a variety of different editors and authors from all...
Some Helpful Tips for Effectively Training New Editors
As an editorial assistant, you may find yourself frequently training new editors. The tips provided here can help ease a scholar’s transition into an editor role as well as reinvigorate already established relationships to ensure lasting success. Establish Your Role as an Editorial Assistant This starts with an introductory call, perhaps with screen...
“Making Peer Reviews More Sensitive and Meaningful to Authors”: #WhatILearned
Although reviewers are aware of the time and energy authors spend preparing their work, factors such as stress and impatience sometimes lead to less than ideal commentary. Kakoli Majumder, a Senior Writer and Editor at Editage Insights, has studied this issue and presents some helpful tips in her Peer Review Week webinar, “Making Peer Reviews More...