Writing author guidelines?

["Geoff Hart (by way of \"Eric J. Ray\" <ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com>)" <ght -at- MTL -dot- FERIC -dot- CA>]

Bob Hoffmaster is looking for <<Any suggestions where/how to gather
good ideas describing what to include, etc in "Author's Guidelines".
I need to compose a rather detailed set of guidelines for potential
authors in the social sciences/journalisim to follow while preparing
and submitting their completed manuscripts.>>

Head down to any good university library and check out the journals
section in your field. You'll quickly find a few journals similar to
the one you're planning, and you can probably adapt their guidelines
quite painlessly. Since many of these journals have been in business
for decades (some for as long as a century), you can bet they know
what they're doing and have come up with guidelines that stood the
test of time. Beyond that, many major professional societies (e.g.,
American Chemical Society (sp?), Institute of Electrical and
Electronics Engineers) have their own detailed guidelines that are
available free of for little cost.

But avoid creating guidelines that are longer than a page or two;
authors won't read them unless they have no choice but to publish in
your journal. Keep it short and sweet, and emphasize the points that
will make the most difference to you and your client. Sometimes a
simple message like "we use the Council of Biology Editors style
guide" will save you pages of writing.
--Geoff Hart @8^{)}     Pointe-Claire, Quebec
geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca

"Patience comes to those who wait."--Anon.

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