Writing for Publication is web page intended as a tool for helping museum professionals write literature useful for the field, and find and work with a publisher. It contains bibliographic and web based references to texts and tutorials that contain information about improving writing and editing skills, on understanding the publication process and what publishers are seeking, and to citations on the craft of writing by and about authors. The Writing for Publication web page aims to contribute to a climate that stimulates and rewards the creation of new and relevant professional literature.
Beset from all directions by a radically changed environment, museums
are being forced to rethink long-held assumptions and ways of operating.
To help meet these challenges, practitioners must continually
update their knowledge with current literature. Rich sources of such
information are museum practitioners themselves, and the research studies,
theses and dissertations generated by universities. (www.siris.si.edu
Select “Specialized Research Bibliographies) Yet, often this information is
largely unknown by others in the profession, or is presented in formats that
are not conducive to serving the information demands of workers in the 21st
century. For example, significant
but fugitive information can be found in the final project reports submitted
by recipients of federal grants to the funding agencies.
Seed money provided by the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA),
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the National Science Foundation
(NSF), and the Institute for Museums and Library Services (IMLS) is
specifically intended to stimulate innovative work. In many cases, models of >best
practices=
result from these investments. But,
because the scope of the reporting is so narrow, the information does not flow
to those who could benefit from it.
To encourage museum practitioners to transform their knowledge into published manuscripts responsive to
the ever-changing demands of the field requires the creation of a
nurturing climate. Such an
environment would contain tools and opportunities that include lists of useful
resources, courses to help potential authors learn the craft, on-line
journals, list serves, sabbaticals, research grants, mentoring opportunities
and recognition ceremonies.
Arana, Marie, editor. "The Writing Life: Writers on How They Think and Work". Washington, DC: The Washington Post, 2003. ISBN 1-58648-149-5
Altamira Press “Guide to Preparing a Book Perspective” http://www.altamirapress.com/RLA/Submission/
Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb, & Joseph M. Williams. The Craft of Research (Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995).
Faigley, Lester & Jack Selzer. Good Reasons with Contemporary Arguments (Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Inc., 2000).
Lefcowitz, Allan and Philip K. Jason. Creative Writer's Handbook (NY: Prentice Hall, 1996).
Greenbaum,
Sidney. A College Grammar of English (NY: Longman, 1989).
Gustafson, Elaine D. and Sandra E. Knudsen, “Technically Speaking: Publishing, Focus on Reality” in Museum News 73 (September / October 1994): 52-55.
Harman, Eleanor and Ian Montagnes, editors. The Thesis and the Book (Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2000). ISBN 0802062938
Newby,
Michael. Structure of English (Cambridge: University Press, 1987).
Plimpton, George, editor. Paris Review: Writers at Work www.parisreview.com
_
_ _ _ _ . Citations to Paris
Review volumes in which authors talk about their work themselves:
http://www.parisreview.com/history.htm
Rankin,
Elizabeth. The Work of
Writing: Insights and Strategies for Academics and Professionals.
(San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, 2001).
Smedley, Christine and Mitchell Allen. Getting Your Book Published (Newberry Park, CA: Sage Publications, 1993).
Stapp, Carol and Joanne Hirsch. Writing for Professional Publications: Advancing the Museum Profession through Self-Development. (Washington, DC: American Association of Museums Technical Information Service, 1995).
Strunk, William, and E.B. White, and Roger Angell. The Elements of Style. (4th Edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon, 2000).
Ueland, Brenda. If You Want to Write: A Book about Art, Independence, and Spirit (Saint Paul: Graywolf Press, 1987).
Weil, Stephen E., “Copyrights and Wrongs” in Museum News 72 (July / August 1993): 40-43.
Williams,
Joseph M. Style: Ten Lessons in
Clarity and Grace (7th
Edition, NY: Longman, 2002). ISBN:
0321095170
Zinsser, William. On Writing Well: An informal guide to writing nonfiction (NY: Harper and Row, 1985).
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http://www.english-forum.com
Some of the ‘Selected
References’ listed above were previously gathered for use in the Writing
for Publication workshop, an intensive
professional development program, co-sponsored by the Smithsonian Fellowships in
Museum Practice program (http://museumstudies.si.edu/fmp.htm)
and the John F. Kennedy University Department of Museum Studies (http://www.jfku.edu/libarts/mms.html)
and held in Orinda, California during November 2001. The workshop was
generously funded by the Smithsonian Institution Women’s Committee (www.smithsoniancraftshow.org/women.htm).
We gratefully acknowledge the contributions to this web page by the Writing for Publication workshop faculty: Christina Kreps, Denver University Museum Studies Program in Anthropology and editor of Museum Anthropology; Jane Lusaka, American Association of Museums; Caroline Newman, Smithsonian Institution Press; Marjorie Schwarzer and William MacGregor, John F. Kennedy University Museum Studies Department; Susan Walters, Altamira Press; Alison Warriner, California State University, Hayward; and Stephen E. Weil, Smithsonian Center for Education and Museum Studies.
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