Workflow Charting for Textbook Authors

Whether drafting a first edition or revising a textbook, it's a big, complex undertaking. 

It's not easy to keep track of all the many tasks, most repeated in a particular sequence for each chapter and section. These steps of the writing-revising process can add up to hundreds of individual tasks that could be easily overlooked without efficient tracking.

The video below briefly outlines the method that has worked well for me. 

Making check marks on a workflow progress chart make me happy. I hope you'll find happiness the same way!

Please download the handout before watching the video.

Click here to download the handout.

Click here for the video (if you don't see the player below).

Workflow Charting for Textbook Authors from Kevin Patton on Vimeo.

Reading a copyedited manuscript

I just ran a across a recent article about how how to decipher the "redline" copy an author receives from a copy editor.  If you're not used to the process, it can be quite confusing at first glance.

The article by Carol Saller does a great job of introducing the basics.  Although I've been dealing with such redlines for many years, the article a few tips that I found useful.  So whether you're new at the game or a seasoned author, I recommend:

Deciphering a Redlined Manuscript
Carol Saller
Lingua Franca (The Chronicle of Higher Education). 16 Jan 2012.  Accessed 17 Jan 2012.
http://my-ap.us/zuJ7eL

Tip: You can follow Lingua Franca, a blog about language and writing in academe, by clicking the "subscribe" link at the bottom of the right column next to any article in the blog.