A r c h i v e d  I n f o r m a t i o n

The Publication Process

We offer a number of publication services:

* Coordinating and tracking the OERI media products plan;

* Planning and designing manuscripts;

* Writing;

* Editing;

* Typesetting and layout;

* Designing and graphics;

* Printing; and

* Distribution.

MIS provides customer service in two areas: publication services, including reviews, edits, and production assistance; and outreach services, including development and implementation of dissemination strategies through multimedia products, mass mailings, conferences, exhibits, and meetings.

The Author

Authors and project officers handling contract reports are responsible for quality and accuracy.

But they also have another specific charge: to make sure their manuscripts are complete and have received the required approvals (e.g., POC review, peer review, adjudication, assistant secretary's approval). Changes made beyond this point cost time and money. If you are not through developing manuscripts when you submit them to MIS, the manuscripts have no business in MIS. For details on what you should do before submitting a manuscript or disk for typesetting to MIS, see Submitting a Manuscript to MIS—A Checklist. For details on no edit or camera copy submissions, see Submitting a Completed Publication to MIS—A Checklist. For details on electronic desktop publishing submissions, see Submitting a Completed Publication to MIS—A Checklist. For details on submitting negatives, see Submitting Negatives to MIS—A Checklist. No changes will be made after editing.

Editor's primary task is reviewing the manuscript for format and consistency, not accuracy of data. He or she makes sure that:

* manuscripts are complete;

* manuscripts are organized;

* basic writing mechanics (e.g., grammar, punctuation) are correct;

* content is objective;

* transitions between sections are logical;

* format, titles, and references are consistent;

* usage of numbers is consistent from one part to the next; and

* language is clear and direct.

Editors spot check addition in tables and consistency between data in tables and data in other parts of the manuscript. However, MIS editors are not responsible for the accuracy of data; this responsibility lies with authors and their program offices.

When preparing your manuscript, please refer to the checklists , or call us if you have any questions.

MIS will perform preliminary edits upon request, with return of the edited manuscript constituting completion of the job.

The following are the different degrees of examination an editor might give to a manuscript. If no specific level is requested, an editor will automatically do a light edit. If a more substantive edit seems necessary, the editor will point out to the author the problems and possible solutions and will make the extra changes if this is appropriate.

Light Edit (Level 1)

Editor will correct for

grammar,
punctuation,
spelling,
capitalization, and
format consistency.

Moderate Edit (Level 2)

Editor will correct for everything in level 1, plus

adherence to OERI style,
logic,
wordiness,
transitions,
consistency of data,
references,
passive voice, and
simple format design.

Substantive Edit (Level 3)

Editor will correct for everything in levels 1 and 2 and will

reorganize, if necessary,
rewrite whole paragraphs or parts of sections,
write introductions, transitions, conclusions, and summaries, and
design the complete manuscript.

No Edit

Occasionally a program office will request that a manuscript receive no edits from MIS staff. The program office will deliver camera copy of these manuscripts to MIS. An editor will still examine the manuscript to be sure its section titles agree with the table of contents, the manuscript is paginated and single spaced, copy is crisp, and cover art is completed. All normal administrative steps will be followed.

Other Steps

Whatever level of edit a manuscript receives, it must also go through a number of administrative and production phases. How many and what kind depend on the type of publication, its priority, its audience, its cost, and other factors. These steps together usually take longer than the editing itself.

Administrative steps	Production steps
logging and tracking	designing the format
reporting on status	typesetting and layout
developing a dissemination plan	proofing pages
processing printing requests	preparing finished graphics and cover art
disseminating the printed piece	proofing camera copy
	assembling and folioing final camera art

After editing your manuscript, the editor will go over it with you, reviewing the editorial suggestions and revisions.

If you are word-processing camera copy, you will be involved until you deliver the final copy to MIS. If your manuscript is being typeset, usually the last time you see it will be as camera copy, when you will proofread and sign off on the final product.

However, since editors are responsible for all phases of manuscript production, you may call your editor at any point for an update on your manuscript's progress.

A series of steps occurs:

* you resolve all questions with the editor;

* you take the manuscript and have the changes made on your disk;

* you return the marked manuscript and a clean printout, along with the corrected disk or camera copy to the editor;

* the editor will have camera copy made of your manuscript (unless you are to provide such copy); and

* the editor will get the manuscript printed.

How Long Does It Take?

The two categories listed below reflect best estimates of times required for MIS to prepare publications, CD-ROMs, and other products for the Government Printing Office (GPO) to produce them. The first category is the average time for production and the second reflects the time it could take, if problems occur or other emergency products require the time of MIS staff, GPO representatives, or contract printers/product makers.

These are not hard deadlines, but guidelines. Every project is unique, with unique opportunities and problems requiring individual attention. In general, products with the fewest requirements will be the quickest completed. (Examples of situations requiring extra time: disks that won't open, fonts that are missing, or contain unnecessary files;* camera copy that is faded or has wrong or missing page numbers; and drafts that require heavy editing, typesetting, special covers, artwork, or other services).

[ How To Use This Guide ]

[ Preparing The Publication ]