Chat with an Editor

Submitted by mwidner on Sun, 2010-12-05 10:17

About:

  • shaping an article submission
  • selecting a publisher
  • drafting a cover letter
  • following style guides
  • corresponding with editors
  • ethical dilemmas
  • trends in scholarly publishing
  • and other issues in journal publishing

For the past ten years, in an effort to help younger scholars 
submitting their work to journals, the Council of Editors of Learned 
Journals, an Allied Organization of MLA, has sponsored "Chat with an 
Editor" at the MLA Convention. With so many requests from editors and 
authors to keep this program going, the MLA has stepped forward to officially sponsor these sessions, which will now take place in the room the MLA maintains for certain associated organizations.

The service gives scholars the opportunity to meet one-on-one with an 
experienced editor to discuss any aspect of the publication process. It 
is not an article vetting service, but rather a chance for authors to 
obtain advice on any aspect of writing, submitting, and publishing a 
journal article, in a neutral and friendly atmosphere. Advisors and 
advisees will meet in Room 408-A of the Los Angeles Convention Center. (Please note the chats will not take place in the book exhibit hall). In recent years, about half of the advisees have been graduate 
students and half have been assistant professors, postdocs, adjunct or part-time professors, and 
independent scholars.

What this service is:

  • A chance to meet editors in a low-key, informational situation.
  • A way to better understand the intricacies of scholarly publishing.
  • A way to broaden your contacts and connectons in a particular field
  • A means to further collegiality and scholarly exchange in our profession.

What this service is not:

  • A substitute for a job interview at the MLA.
  • An alternative to going through a journal’s normal referee process.
  • Something that should be treated casually, i.e., please do not make an appointment if you think you might have to change it, and if you cancel please let the Chat Coordinator know in a timely fashion.

SCHEDULE OF CHAT ADVISORS

Friday January 7
9-10 Leslie Kreiner Wilson, Americana: The Journal of American Popular Culture

10-11 Thomas Beebee, Comparative Literature Studies

11-12 Karen Alexander, Signs: Journal of Women in Culture and Society

12-1 Logan Browning, SEL: Studies in Englsih Literature




Saturday Jan 8


9-10 Davis Wiseman, Hispania
10-11 Anna Faktorovich, Pennsylvania Literary Journal
11-12 John Bryant, Leviathan
12-1 Pamela McCalum, ARIEL

MAKING YOUR RESERVATION

To reserve a free 20-minute meeting time, email Professor Nicholas Birns of Eugene Lang College, The New School, at birnsn@newschool.edu. Supply your name, affiliation, and position 
(graduate student, assistant professor, independent scholar, etc.), and 
indicate three times in order of preference (1 = most preferred), or 
indicate that any time is okay.

The last day to make a reservation is Saturday, December 18. You will receive 
confirmation of your meeting time by December 20-22 at the latest, or 
somewhat earlier if the slots "sell out" and the schedule can be 
finalized. Once the schedule is full, a wait list will be made, and 
these advisees will be given meeting times as cancellations create new 
openings.

Because of the popularity of this program, it is advisable to make 
your reservation as soon as possible.