LPM Publishing Guidelines for Single-Author Publications
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Overview
PLANNING THE BOOK
Getting Started
- Publication Proposal Form
All authors should submit a completed Publication Proposal Form. (This form is available online as an HTML file and as a downloadable MS Word file.) Be specific about scope, audience, benefits, and so on. - Table of Contents and Sample Chapter
You should include a proposed table of contents or outline and a synopsis or a sample chapter with your Publication Proposal Form. Please send your proposal and materials to:Timothy C. Johnson
Executive Editor for LPM Publishing
American Bar Association
321 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL 60610
312/988-6092 - Review and Approval (or Rejection)
The proposal is subject to LPM Publishing Board approval. You will be notified of the board's decision. If approved, LPM Publishing will assign a project manager to help you develop a publishable work in a timely manner. Approval of the proposal does not guarantee publication. LPM Publishing reserves the right to reject completed manuscripts if they have not, in the board's opinion, met the Section's publishing objectives. - ABA Publication Agreement
After a proposal is approved, Timothy Johnson will send you a publication agreement. It grants the ABA certain rights to the work and must be signed before production can begin on the manuscript. Under this agreement, you retain the right to use portions of your work in future scholarly or professional publications. The LPM Publishing Board may authorize payment of royalties to you as the primary author (or authors); this arrangement, if applicable, will be outlined in your agreement. - Reimbursement of Expenses
In extraordinary circumstances, the board may reimburse certain author expenses. If you incur expenses in the preparation of a publication that you feel should be reimbursed, you must submit them in advance for approval to Timothy Johnson. Because these expenses must be absorbed within the budget and pricing of the publication, they must be considered before they are incurred. LPM Publishing will furnish you with a written authorization.
Project Manager
- After LPM Publishing has approved the proposal, a project manager will be assigned to work with you in developing your manuscript. You will establish a timetable for completing the project and are encouraged to adhere to your schedule. Because the Section publishes many books every year, you may lose your priority in the production line if you do not stay on schedule. You must make quarterly status reports to your project manager.
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR FINAL MANUSCRIPT
Hard Copy of Manuscript Submissions
- Authors should submit completed manuscripts on 8 l/2 x 11 paper, typewritten, double-spaced, and paginated.
One copy should be sent to your project manager.
One copy should be sent to Timothy Johnson.
Permissions
- You are responsible for obtaining written permission for use of materials from other sources. ABA Publication Policies & Contracting staff will supply you with appropriate forms to use if you need them.
Exhibits
- To make the work more reader-friendly, include case examples, graphs, charts, checklists, and "how-to" exhibits whenever possible. Please submit originals of any exhibits. Clearly mark, both within the manuscript and on the back of the exhibit, where the item should appear.
Footnotes, Etc.
- Footnotes are discouraged; however, if they must be included, footnotes as well as bibliographies should be typed, double-spaced, on 8 1/2 x 11 plain white bond, separate from the manuscript text and numbered consecutively within chapters. If you are submitting your manuscript on diskette, do not embed your footnotes within your word processing files. Be sure to include all necessary information, including full article title, author name, full publication name, date of publication, volume or edition number, publisher name, and place of publication.
What Happens After You Submit Your Manuscript
- Review
Upon manuscript submission, the project manager, in consultation with the LPM Publishing Chairs and ABA Book Publishing staff, will assign reviewers to read and edit the manuscript for technical and substantive content. - Reviewer Comments
Reviewer comments will be relayed to you by the project manager or by Timothy Johnson. You should incorporate all comments into the text and submit subsequent drafts to the project manager and to Timothy Johnson. It is not uncommon for manuscripts to require several drafts.
After You Revise the Manuscript
- Approval
After you revise the manuscript and it is approved by your project manager, it will be forwarded to the LPM Publishing Chair, who must sign off on the manuscript before it is approved for publication. Once approved, LPM Book Publishing staff will begin the editing and production process. - Style Editing
The manuscript will be edited for style, to bring the publication into conformance with standard Section publication format, consistency, and readability. A freelance style editor will be assigned to the book. The editing will be done in coordination with you, and you will be given the opportunity to review any substantive editorial changes. If costs are incurred in this process, they will be absorbed in the pricing of the book.
GETTING PRINTED
What Happens Now?
- Production
LPM Book Publishing staff is responsible for book production, including cover design, typesetting, layout, and printing.You will have the chance to review page proofs at least once before the book is printed.
SELLING THE WORLD'S GREATEST BOOK
We Have the Last Word on . . .
- Marketing
LPM Book Publishing will be responsible for marketing the book, including promotion, titling, pricing, and distribution activities. - Cover Design, Text Layout, and Title
These elements, which are so critical to the marketing of the book, will be prepared by LPM Book Publishing, in coordination with the author. The board will have final approval on all marketing matters.
But, Can't I Help?
- Yes. You can send Jo Ann Ekblad, Director of Sales and Marketing, in LPM Book Publishing a list of contacts who would be interested in reviewing your book. They will be incorporated in a marketing plan for your book, which he will develop. You will be advised of these marketing efforts, including promotional copy, target markets, and advertising media. You will also be provided with whatever materials you need to spread the word among interested parties, including groups to which you belong or to whom you are speaking. Jo Ann Ekblad can be reached at the ABA at 312/988-6084, or via e-mail at ekbladj@staff.abanet.org.
Complimentary Copies
- Authors will receive 25 free copies of their work. Subsequent copies may be purchased for 40% off the regular price.
Good Luck!
- We look forward to working with you!
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Contact Timothy Johnson at the American Bar Association, LPM Book Publishing, 321 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60610; ph.: 312/988-6092; fax: 312/988-6030; e-mail: tjohnson5@staff.abanet.org.
