Article Submission Guidelines for Pottery Making Illustrated
Pottery Making Illustrated provides
well-illustrated, practical, how-to instruction for all skill levels on
all aspects of ceramic art—handbuilding, throwing, firing and glazing
techniques, as well as step-by-step projects, information on tools,
equipment, safety and more. Here are some guidelines on how you can
contribute.
Who Writes for Pottery Making Illustrated?
We're
looking for pottery/ceramics instructors, workshop leaders, and/or
professional potters with information that would be of interest to our
readers. Writing for PMI provides you with an opportunity to share your
knowledge, experience and expertise with over 20,000 fellow studio
potters.
Types of Articles and Departments
Articles
should focus on materials, processes, techniques, projects and related
subjects, and should be presented in an easy-to-understand,
well-illustrated format, for advanced intermediate to advanced level
potters. Our readers want substantive how-to information about anything
connected with making pottery throwing, handbuilding, glazing, clay and
glaze technology, kilns and firing, design, equipment, safety, studio
setup and projects. We do not publish product comparisons, reviews of
professional ceramic shows, artist profiles, articles advocating unsafe
procedures, or projects for children younger than high school age.
Manuscript Preparation
Prepare your manuscript for Pottery Making Illustrated as follows:
- Limit manuscripts to 1000–2000 words in length.
- Write concisely about a process, technique or project.
- Describe processes and procedures in sequential, step-by-step format.
- Be brief but don't omit any pertinent information. Anticipate readers' questions.
- Include all clay and glaze recipes. Cite generic ingredients whenever possible.
- Submit your manuscript in Microsoft Word electronically on a disk.
- Put your name, address, phone number and e-mail on the title page, and consecutively number each page of your manuscript.
- Safety
is of the utmost concern since many of our readers have not had the
opportunity to receive instruction on safety issues in the studio. When
possible, please provide health and safety information.
Image Requirements The
quality of images is very important in determining manuscript
acceptance. Any images submitted for publication should be in focus,
properly exposed, with a full range of contrast and full depth of
field. Here are some additional guidelines:
- Format: We
require professional digital images for publication. Digital images
should be delivered as uncompressed four-color (CMYK), 300 dpi image
files with a minimum print size of 5 inches (preferably tiff or eps
format). Image files should be burned to a CD and mailed to our
editorial offices with your complete submission. Images can also be
uploaded to our ftp site. Uploaded files must be stuffed or zipped. For
instructions and settings, call (614) 895-4213 or email editorial@potterymaking.org. Color photocopies and laser prints are not suitable for publication.
- Guidelines for strong step-by-step photograph:
Take close-up images that focus clearly on what is happening in each
step. Clear the background of any studio clutter. Take photographs from
the same angle/on the same axis for consistency. Shoot in a well-lit
area but use diffused lighting to avoid harsh shadows. If the photo
shoot is spread out over multiple days, wear the same clothing
throughout photo shoot for consistency.
- Graphics:
Use drawings, charts and tables as visual aids where applicable. We may
redraw images or reformat tables and graphs for style. Place each
graphic element on a separate sheet of paper. Label all graphic
elements with an identifying number. Submit a separate sheet with the
corresponding numbers and captions.
Image Captions Include
all captions on a separate sheet of paper. Each image or graphic
element must have a caption. Make sure image file names clearly match
up with caption numbers. Captions for processes and techniques should
describe the activity shown. Captions for finished ware should include:
the title, dimensions, specific ceramic medium (earthenware, porcelain,
etc.), forming/glazing techniques, cone number and firing process (pit
fired, high fire, raku, etc.).
Credits Provide
a brief one or two sentence biography about yourself and include an
e-mail address, web address, fax number or postal address if you want
direct reader feedback. Our authors have indicated that this has been a
valuable tool. If images or illustrations were provided by a third
party, include her/his name so proper credit may be published. It is
your responsibility to obtain the rights for any photographs,
illustrations or other third-party materials submitted.
Article Production Manuscripts
are edited first for style, grammar, punctuation, technical accuracy
and then to meet layout requirements. Because changes may occur up to
the time the magazine is on press, we can't provide final proofs;
however, galley proofs are available on request. Pottery Making Illustrated
uses professional designers and production personnel to provide article
layout and design. Please do not send any layout or design work, just
concentrate on the content, photos, illustrations and the writing.
Sending a Complete Submission Please
send a complete submission including one copy of your manuscript
(electronic and hard copy) and related materials (images, caption list
and drawings), but be sure to keep a copy for your records. Include a
self-addressed, padded envelope with sufficient postage if you would
like your materials returned. Slides should be sent in flexible plastic
slide sheets. Protect your slides, transparencies or prints with
cardboard and mark the package “Contains Photographs—Do Not Bend.” Send
all materials with a cover letter either first-class or priority mail
to:
Bill Jones, Editor Pottery Making Illustrated 600 N. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 210 Westerville, OH 43082
Evaluation and Acceptance When
your submission arrives, it will receive immediate attention. A member
of the editorial staff will acknowledge receipt and ask for additional
information or images if necessary. Once the submission is complete,
the editors will consider it for publication. Acceptance decisions are
made at monthly review meetings. Publication contracts for accepted
feature articles will be mailed at that time. Submissions not accepted
will be returned promptly. The average time from acceptance to
publication is between two months and one year, depending on article
length and subject. Feature authors and artists are notified
approximately one month prior to publication.
Copyrights We
ask for exclusive worldwide rights for the text (both print and
electronic versions, including but not limited to publishing on demand,
database online services, reprints or books), and nonexclusive rights
for use of the photographic materials in print or electronic media.
This nonexclusive agreement allows for the continued use of the
photographic material in any way the artist chooses after the article
has appeared in Pottery Making Illustrated.
Payment When
your article is published, you'll be paid at the current rate of $0.10
per word for text and $25.00 per image or graphic illustration.
Copies of Your Article Following publication, you'll receive two complimentary copies of the magazine containing your article.
For More Information If you want to learn more about submitting content to Pottery Making Illustrated, you may reach us at:
- Pottery Making Illustrated, 600 N. Cleveland Avenue, Suite 210, Westerville, OH 43082
- Telephone (614) 895-4219, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. (EST)
- Fax (614) 891-8960
- Email bjones@ceramics.org
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