Skip to Main Content

Atla Open Press: Books@Atla Open Press

This guide provides information for authors, prospective authors, readers and editors of the publications of Atla Open Press

Summary

Books@Atla Open Press' editorial workflow for Scholarly Editions can be visualized in four stages: Recruitment and Proposal Review, Manuscript Submission, Editing, and Production and Publication. 

Glossary
CfP – Call for papers
EiC – Editor-in-Chief
EBL – Editorial Board Liaison
KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing
OMP – Open Monograph Press
POD – Print-on-demand

Acquisition

The editorial board is responsible for actively soliciting new projects and for reviewing proposals, including the selection and assignment of peer reviewers. The EiC is responsible for initial communications with prospective authors and volume editors. 

  1. The editorial board evaluates the publishing landscape within the Press' scope, identifies opportunities within it, brainstorms topics for monographs and edited volumes, and recruits potential authors and volume editors for these topics, using all appropriate channels at their disposal to distribute CfPs.
  2. The EiC responds to email inquiries from prospective authors and volume editors, offering guidance as necessary toward submission of a formal proposal.
  3. Once a formal proposal is received in OMP, the EiC makes an initial assessment of the submission to determine its suitability for further review.
  4. If the proposal warrants consideration, the EiC initiates the editorial board's peer review procedure.
  5. The EiC notifies the submitter of the decision and, if a full manuscript has been invited, assigns the submission to the EBL.
  6. Atla Staff, in consultation with the EiC and the author or volume editor, prepares an author or volume editor agreement. This is provided to the author or volume editor for signature, along with a copy of the manuscript preparation guidelines.
  7. For an edited volume, Atla Staff also prepares author agreements for chapter authors and provides them with the manuscript preparation guidelines.

Development

EiC receives the completed manuscripts and uploads them to the dedicated Google Drive space. The EBL in consultation with the EiC and volume editor, if applicable, initially reviews the manuscript for suitability for publication. Atla Staff is responsible for engaging a cover artist, production designer, and a proofreader for all accepted manuscripts.

  1. The completed manuscripts are received by email at openbooks@myatla.org. Atla staff upload all received files into the Google Drive space set up for the volume.
  2. The EBL reviews the manuscript and makes a recommendation to the editorial board whether to move it to the editing and revision stage and proposes a division of labor for the editing process to the board, if warranted. The final division and timeline for editing is approved by the EiC.
  3. Once a manuscript has been accepted for editing and revision, Atla Staff contracts with a cover artist, proofreader, and production designer to produce the work after editing and revision has been completed.
  4. The liaison editor works with the author or volume editor to identify potential advanced readers to provide promotional blurbs.
  5. SCDIM advances volume to the Copyediting stage in OMP.

Editing

Atla staff are responsible for movement of manuscript content into Atla's Google Drive, creation of the copyright and title pages, finalization of the cover, and preparation of final page proofs for publication. The liaison editor is responsible for working with the author or volume editor to finalize content.

  1. SCDI prepares the OMP discussion boards for the volume and loads manuscript content into Google Drive.
  2. The liaison editor (and volume editor, in the case of edited collections) review(s) manuscript(s), suggesting needed changes and leaving comments in Google Docs. When finished, they notify the author(s) via the chapter-specific threads on the OMP discussion board.
  3. The author(s) review(s) editorial changes and comments, accepting/rejecting changes and responding as necessary. When finished, they notify their editor(s) via the chapter-specific threads on the OMP discussion board.
  4. The editor(s) and author conversations continue until all tracked changes and comments are resolved.
  5. In the case of a single-author volume, non-liaison members of the editorial board are notified that the manuscript is ready if they want to review prior to proofreading. (For edited collections, the combined review of the liaison editor and the volume/series editor(s) is sufficient to advance the manuscript to proofreading.)
  6. When the full manuscript is ready, with all edits made and changes accepted, SCDI is notified that the volume is ready for proofreading. 
  7. The liaison editor in consultation with SCDI confirms accuracy and consistency of all copy, formatting, and markup (with special attention to tables and images). 
  8. The liaison editor, author/volume editor, and SCDIM meet to discuss cover designs. The SCDIM engages a designer to prepare alternatives.
  9. Upon receipt of cover alternatives from the designer, the liaison editor, author/volume editor, and SCDIM meet to select a design. The SCDIM provides feedback to the designer and receives the final design files for inclusion in the final layout.
  10. The SCDIM prepares copyright and title pages as Google Docs, placing these in the "Front Matter" folder of the volume's folder within the Google Drive.
  11. When all chapters have been indicated ready for layout and the cover has been finalized, SCDI advances the submission to the production stage in OMP and sends the manuscript to a contracted proofreader and any advanced readers.

Production and Publication

A contracted designer will complete the layout of the book in InDesign. The EBL and the author or volume editor/chapter authors review and approve final page proofs. Atla staff are responsible for publishing the new volume to the Books@ website, making it available through Amazon, and ordering author and editor copies. The editorial board is responsible for identifying outlets for review and for promoting the release.

  1. Upon receiving the proofread manuscript, the SCDIM delivers the files to the contracted designer. 
  2. Once the page proofs are ready, the liaison editor and the author or volume editor/chapter authors review the page proofs for accuracy. Chapter authors will be given one week to review their page proofs; editors and authors of single-author volumes will be allowed three weeks to review page proofs. Review is for typographical and layout corrections only.
  3. Once authors and liaison/volume editors have completed review, the designer makes any required changes and notifies the SCDIM when the files are complete.
  4. SCDI loads final galleys and populates metadata in OMP and KDP, initiating the 72-hour KDP review period.
  5. When notice is received from KDP that the book is live in the Amazon marketplace, SCDI updates the catalog record in OMP to include the POD link and publish the book through OMP.
  6. The EiC sends a draft newsletter announcement to the SCDIM. The SCDIM finalizes the announcement and submits it to connect@atla.com.
  7. The editorial board in conversation with the author or volume editor identifies journals from which to solicit reviews. Atla staff assist in determining whether any require physical review copies.
  8. The SCDIM compiles a list of physical copies needed for identified review outlets, contributing authors' and editors' institutions, and for placement on deposit at Atla's offices.
  9. The SCDIM places the required order with Amazon for print copies. 
  10. Editors use other channels at their disposal to promote the book and direct authors and volume editors to the Atla LibGuide for suggestions to promote their own work.

Version

Books@Atla Open Press Scholarly Editions Workflows and Procedures for OMP 3.1.2
Prepared March 2020
Last revised February 2023

Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.