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Golden Fig Books: An Independent Bookstore Feature to Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day
An Independent Bookstore is defined as a bookstore that is independently owned and not a part of a larger corporation. In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day, which is recognized on the last Saturday in April, I have reached out to a local independent bookstore...
The Art of the Book
Depending on the corners of the internet you inhabit, the algorithm might show you, like it does for me, crafty videos of people using paper, twine, glue, cardstock, leather, and all manner of other things to make and bind their own books and journals. Book binding,...
Human Nature: What Human Help Can Do That AI Cannot
In today’s world, artificial intelligence (AI) is, slowly but surely, becoming just as much of a staple to the publishing industry as the internet. Its advantages include allowing the writing and editing processes to become faster, more streamlined, and, in some...
Technica Attends the 18th Annual Bookmarks Festival
Early on September 23, Andy Hill, Claire Lee, and I headed to Winston-Salem for the 18th annual Bookmarks Festival of Books and Authors on behalf of Technica. Bookmarks, a literary arts nonprofit, was established in 2004 in tandem with the annual Bookmarks Festival of...
Right to Read: Intellectual Freedom Panel Discussion
On Sunday, October 1, 2023, I attended the Chapel Hill Public Library’s “Right to Read: Intellectual Freedom Panel Discussion” in honor of Banned Book Week. Aside from the discussion, I also enjoyed the free snacks, a free copy of Raina Telgemeier’s Drama courtesy of...
The 2023 Peer Review Week is Almost Here!
Peer review has always been an important, behind-the scenes piece of the publication puzzle. An annual week to celebrate and explore its complexities is well deserved! A couple of decades ago, academic and scientific peer review looked much different from today....
Google’s New AI Search Changes the Game for Publishing
We may still be a few decades away from HAL 9000 and the Terminator wreaking havoc on the humanrace (fingers crossed!), but AI continues to infiltrate and change the publishing industry. We’ve already writtenabout how AI in the form of ChatGPT is changing all the...
What Exactly is Ghostwriting?
If you’re anything like me when you hear the word ghostwriter, one of two things pops up. First, there’sthe 1990s PBS television series where a literal ghost who writes helps a group of teenagers solve mysteries (sadly,we won’t be doing a deep dive into that forgotten...
5 Tips to Become A Better Writer
Are you a novice writer just starting out in the realm of digital content, or are you a seasoned expert seeking tips on writing better? As a word nerd who is currently working on her own book, here are a few of my favorite writing tips you can use to hone your...
Writing Prompts to Unlock Your Creativity
Ideas may seem hard to come by, whether you're attempting to start a new writing project or are experiencing writer's block in the middle of one. Writing prompts are invaluable. Use this list of creative writing prompts to flex your creative writing muscles as you...
Academic Journal Submission Tips
Many academics will submit their work to academic journals at some point in their careers. For those pursuing tenure, success in publishing may be the most important factor determining whether they receive promotion and tenure. Few will understand the thought...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: James Gheen
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 James Gheen, an editorial assistant from Durham, North Carolina and aspiring fantasy and science fiction writer. How did you get started in the publishing...
Can Science and Social Media Coexist?
A new fight is brewing in the world of scholarly publishing and it is centered on ResearchGate. For those who don’t know, ResearchGate is arguably the world’s largest social media website for scientists and science writers—used by some 60 percent of academics. In September 2017, the International Association of Scientific, Technical, and Medical Publishers...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Taylor Kane
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 Taylor Kane, an editorial assistant and Orange County, North Carolina native. This is your first full-time job. What drew you to working in the publishing...
Charleston Library Conference Recap: Publication Ethics, Collaborations, Copyright, and Piracy
Earlier this month, I traveled to the Charleston Library Conference: Issues in Book and Serial Acquistion on behalf of Technica Editorial. The weeklong event ran from November 6 through November 10 and featured numerous receptions, a vendor showcase, poster session, and concurrent sessions on topics in library management and the publishing industry. The...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Drew Martin
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 Drew Martin, an Orange County, NC native who returned home to work as an Associate Editor for Technica. This is your first publishing job. What have you...
ISMTE Recap: Predatory Journals, Journal Tools, and Copyright Bootcamp
The September 8, 2017 meeting of the ISMTE local group featured four presenters who were all attendees of the recent ISMTE North America Conference in Denver, Colorado. Each of the four touched on different issues brought up during the conference’s panel discussions. Jodi Harrell of Research Square was the first speaker and began by discussing certain...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Bonnie Goslen
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 Bonnie Meyer, an editorial assistant who started working with us after graduating from UNC this May. This is your first publishing job. Did you always want to...
Cambridge University Press and the Issue of Censorship in China
Noted UK-based publisher Cambridge University Press (CUP) recently came under fire after removing over 300 articles from The China Quarterly, a leading scholarly publication in Chinese studies. The articles that were blocked discussed topics including the 1989 massacre at Tiananmen Square, Mao Zedong’s Cultural Revolution and its disastrous aftermath, as...
ISMTE Recap: Open Access, Sense About Science USA, and Preprints
Last week, the International Society of Managing and Technical Editors held its annual meeting in Denver. The event marked a 10-year anniversary for ISMTE, and organizers rose to the occasion, packing the schedule full of thoughtful, engaging presentations on topics that were relevant at both the industry and the individual publisher levels. This year’s...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Chloe Tuck
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 Chloe Tuck, a managing editor at Technica. When she’s not at work, she’s either performing improv comedy or working on a screenplay. This is your first job in...