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Cash for Citations: The Newest Scam in Scholarly Publishing
“Publish or Perish” tends to be the unfortunate moniker of the scholarly publishing world nowadays. Experts have to publish their work (and in the right journal, mind you) to get the citations and recognition needed to advance in their field. This mindset has of...
AI’s Role in Peer Review
We’ve almost talked to death the topic of ChatGPT’s authorship role and the ethics of authors using it and other AI tools to produce manuscripts in past blog posts. Yet, this doesn’t change the fact that AI continues to infiltrate every step of the scholarly...
Interior Book Design: Guide to Formatting, Layout, and Design
When it comes to interior page formatting, it's important to keep in mind that programs such as Microsoft Word and Google Docs may not be the most suitable tools for designing your book. It takes more than just a few clicks to transform your typed pages into a...
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...
What Does ChatGPT Bring to the Editorial World?
On March 16, 2023, ACES, The Society for Editing, hosted a webinar on ChatGPT, calling on the expertise of Samantha Enslen (former ACES board member and writer) and Corinne Jorgenson, COO of Redpoint AI Engineering and Consulting. Enslen and Jorgenson gave a general,...
Getting the Word Out: Social Media Tips and Tricks for Authors
Whether you love it or hate it, there’s no denying that in today’s world, social media is an integral part of how information is spread across society—and that very much includes authors who are looking to share their work with an audience. This opens the door for a...
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...
Who are the Peers in Peer Review?
So much of scholarly publishing has been built on the promise that articles are reviewed and recommended by peers. For most journals in science research, authors tend to go through a rigorous peer review process before their paper comes close to publication. Yet, recent reports have indicated problems in the peer review process. Earlier this year,...
Keys to Managing Misconduct Accusations
It should come as no surprise to anyone reading this that misconduct is as prevalent in scholarly publishing today as it has ever been. There are whole websites and blogs dedicated to finding wrongdoing in this industry. When you are the scholarly publisher, how do you proceed when potential wrongdoing is first brought to your attention? The first step in...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Harry Weisbecker
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 Harry Weisbecker, who is currently working his first publishing job here at Technica. He has enjoyed the two-plus years of experience he has received and owes...
All Hail the Open Access Button
Scholarly publishing has seen numerous innovations over the last few years. With journals branching more and more into open access and self-publishing options, publishers are always looking for a new way to stay ahead of the curve. The latest trend being employed by publishers: internet browser extensions. Within the last five years, multiple...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Rachel Wright
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 Rachel Deary, a senior editor and occasional copyeditor here at Technica Editorial. She never imagined choosing this career, but enjoys her work and helping...
Get to Know the Technica Staff: Anne Brenner
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 Anne Brenner, who has served as an associate editor at Technica Editorial for the past four years after having graduated from UNC Chapel Hill in 2011. She is...
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...