editorial challenges and solutions presented by marcos ramos, bankruptcy and insolvency committee...
TRANSCRIPT
Editorial Challengesand SolutionsPresented byMarcos Ramos, Bankruptcy and Insolvency Committee
Marc Goldstein, Real Estate Litigation and Condemnation Committee
Solutions• Get organized
– Annual plan with deadlines for all content• It’s not a secret plan—share with others
– Frequently used materials should be readily accessible• ABA Guidelines• Past issues• Copyright agreement templates• Checklists
Solutions• Recruit and cultivate a good team of editors
– Friends and colleagues at your firm and others
– Graduating law students– Good writers (sometimes) make good
editors– Rely on reputation of ABA to impress
people to take on jobs they might not otherwise do
Solutions
• Be critical: Evaluate your content-generation structure and make necessary changes.
• Leverage your subcommittee structure to generate content in the first instance.
Solutions
• Just ask. Anyone, anytime. –You would be surprised at how
many people see writing for the ABA as a significant benefit.
–Distribute Listservs to seek authors and article ideas.
Solutions
• Discuss content-generation ideas with your committee’s editorial board, past editors, or Content Management Committee contacts.
Solutions• Deadlines, deadlines, deadlines!
–Set them (earlier than is really necessary).
–Warnings about them (earlier than should be necessary).
–Impose them (within reason). –Live with them (editors too).
Solutions
• Use calendar reminders.• Have an organizational call at the
start of each newsletter cycle.• Don’t rely only on email—it’s too
easy to dodge.
Solutions
• Get orientation. Sooner rather than later.
• There are a lot of policies, guidelines, webpages, content managers, and other editorial matters.
• Use your Section of Litigation staff editors/liaisons. Feel free to ask questions. They are there to help you.
Solutions
• Keep in touch with your Content Management Committee contact. They will be able to help you with various problems.
• Learn the publication guidelines: Deadlines, word counts, and so on.
• Familiarize yourself with the Section Editor’s Handbook. Check in on the Editor’s Resource Center webpage.