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MLA Publishing

Suggestions for Publishing Support

To top of page Introduction

As a potential author, you may have an idea that you think is unique or that provides new insight on an established topic. But you may be nervous about transforming your idea into print, because you are afraid you will not find the time or support you need to produce a good publication. Many good ideas are never shared, because potential authors are not aware of the support resources available to them. Sharing ideas enhances the practice and the profession of medical librarianship. This is the essence of the publications program of the Medical Library Association.

The following tips and resources are designed to help you as a potential author to identify and obtain the necessary financial and practical support you need to transform your ideas into publications.

To top of page People Who Can Help You

Publishing does not have to be a solitary activity. There are a number of people who may be able to assist you at various points in the process, including:

  • Library staff members
  • Library volunteers
  • Student workers
  • Library colleagues with complementary expertise and resources
  • Commercial service providers such as document delivery services, graphic artists, etc.
  • Employers (a sabbatical or leave of absence may be necessary for some projects)
  • MLA Books Panel members
  • MLA's copublisher
  • MLA mentor (see below for more information)

Types of tasks that could be performed by others:

  • Surveying the literature and obtaining copies of publications on your topic
  • Organizing the bibliography
  • Requesting information and thanking respondents
  • Preparing letters, drafts, or final copy
  • Entering, tabulating, and analyzing data
  • Generating art, graphs, and tables
  • Evaluating content and organization of material
  • Consulting in areas in which you lack expertise

To top of page Publishing Mentors

The MLA Mentor Program is a new initiative designed to provide guidance to first-time and inexperienced authors. Using the newly established MLA mentors database, an author can search for a mentor with expertise in publishing, either generally or with MLA specifically. Mentors are previously published individuals who voluntarily join the database to advise others throughout the publication process.

Mentors and new authors will decide together what form their relationships will take. It is expected that the author and mentor will develop an ongoing, collegial relationship over a period of time.

Activities that might be performed by a mentor include:

Pre-acceptance
  • Serve as a sounding board for ideas
  • Review initial proposal
  • Suggest additional topics for a more comprehensive treatment
  • Identify other reviewers with expertise in the topic
  • Assist in the decision to use additional authors
  • Assist in the development of schedules
Post-acceptance
  • Explain contract expectations
  • Provide impartial feedback for editing disputes
  • Suggest tactics for dealing with late authors
  • Identify peer reviewers for finished manuscript

The goal of the a publishing mentor is to provide flexible and individualized support to new and potential authors in the publishing program. Mentors are not required, nor can authors be guaranteed of working with a mentor of their choice.

To top of page Tips From Authors

Brown, J. The joys and challenges of writing a book [an interview with MLA author Patricia F. Anderson]. MLA News 2003 May.

Jarvis, M. An interview with an MLA author [Ruth Holst}. MLA News 2001 January [PDF].

Kane, L. Book publishing survival tips. MLA News 2004 January.

To top of page Resources for Finding Funding

Books

Anderson C. Write grants, get money. Worthington, OH: Linworth Publishing, 2002.

Bauer DG. The "how to" grants manual: successful grantseeking techniques for obtaining public and private grants. 4th ed. Phoenix, AZ: Oryx Press, 1999.

Burke MA. Simplified grantwriting. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2002.

Burke J, Prater CA. I'll grant you that: a step-by-step guide to finding funds, designing winning projects, and writing powerful grant proposals. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann, 2000.

New CC, Quick JA. Grantseeker's toolkit: a comprehensive guide to finding funding. New York, NY: Wiley, 1998.

Website

National Library of Medicine. Publication grants. [Web document]. Bethesda, MD: The Library. [cited 8 Jun 2004].

Pappas C. Grant resources. Internet Resources. MLA News 2004 June/July.

To top of page Resources for Proposal Writing

Books

Coley SM. Proposal writing. 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2000.

Herman J, Herman DL. Write the perfect book proposal: 10 that sold, and why. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley, 2001.

Lyon E, Kern N. Nonfiction book proposals anybody can write: how to get a contract and advance before writing your book. New York, NY: Perigree, 2002.

Mettee SB. The fast track course on how to write a nonfiction book proposal. Sanger, CA: Word Dancer Press, 2001.

Articles

Molfese VJ, Karp KS, Siegel LS. Recommendations for writing successful proposals from the reviewer's perspective [Shop Talk]. J Res Adm 2002;33(3):21-5.

Schuman PG, Harmon C. From book idea to contract. Libr Admin Manage 1997;11(1):19-25.

To top of page Resources for Writing

Books

Barzun J. Simple and direct. 4th ed. New York, NY: Quill (HarperCollins), 2001.

Burchfield RW, Fowler HW. The new Fowler's modern English usage. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press: 2000.

Giltrow JL. Academic writing: writing and reading in the disciplines. 3rd ed. Peterborough, ON, Canada: Broadview Press, 2002.

Glatthorn AA. Publish or perish - the educator's imperative: strategies for writing effectively for your profession and your school. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin Press, 2002.

Gordon RS. The librarian's guide to writing for publication. Lanham, MD: Scarecrow Press, Inc., 2004.

Fondiller SH. The writer's workbook: health professionals' guide to getting published. 2nd ed. Toronto, ON, Canada: Jones and Bartlett, 1999.

Moxley JM. Publish, don't perish: the scholar's guide to academic writing and publishing. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishing, 1992.

Rabiner S, Fortunato A. Thinking like your editor: how to write great serious nonfiction - and get it published. New York, NY: Norton, 2002.

Turabian KL. A manual for writers of term papers, theses, and dissertations. 6th ed. Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 1996.

Whitcut J, Partridge E. Usage and abusage: a guide to good English. New York, NY: Norton, 1997.

Articles

Burr SL. Negotiating the book contract. The Writer 1996;109(7):13.

Jackson ME. Becoming a published author: eight simple steps for librarians. Libr Admin Manage 1997;11(1):11-4.

Palmer PR. Librarians as authors, part I: strategies for success. The Southeastern Librarian 1995;45:4-6.

Websites

Bartleby.com. [Web document]. [cited 10 Dec 2003]. Classic reference texts available free of charge such as Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, Strunk's Elements of Style, and Roget's II: The New Thesaurus.

Medical Library Association. MLA style manual. [Web document]. Chicago, IL: The Association. [cited 10 Dec 2003]. Presents guidelines for all MLA publications.

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