FAQ: Writing for CASE

Why should I become a CASE author?

By sharing your ideas and expertise, you will be helping colleagues on other campuses, contributing to the depth and breadth of the profession, adding to your own professional stature on your campus and within the advancement profession, and developing greater awareness of your campus.

What opportunities are there to write for CASE?

CURRENTS magazine

• CURRENTS, CASE's award-winning magazine, runs feature articles on a variety of issues important to advancement professionals, including trends in the field, case studies from different institutions, and information from research and surveys conducted by CASE's research division.
• Each issue of CURRENTS also includes two regular columns of 900 to 1,100 words. They are "Talking Points," which addresses current issues in education or advancement, and "Office Space," which looks at the advancement workplace.
• The tone of CURRENTS articles is journalistic and conversational (as opposed to academic).
• CURRENTS readers are professional members of CASE in all of the advancement disciplines and at all institution types.

CASE White Papers

• The new CASE White Paper initiative is designed to provide in-depth analysis or report on research findings related to a single aspect of advancement.
• Targeting senior-level advancement professionals, white papers may be conversational or more academic in tone, may include charts and references, and will typically be 2,500 to 10,000 words in length.
• CASE White Papers serve senior-level advancement professionals in all of the advancement disciplines and at all institution types.

CASE books

• CASE publishes practitioner-written books on a variety of topics for advancement professionals at all levels and in all disciplines. Some books are written by a single author while others might have multiple authors guided by a volunteer editor.
• The length, format and delivery mechanism for CASE books will vary by book.
• CASE books serve all levels of advancement professionals, from newcomers to senior professionals, in all disciplines and at all type of institutions.
• Writing and editing styles are informal, direct and jargon free.

I have an idea for a CURRENTS article or column, a CASE White Paper or a CASE book. What should I do?

Please fill out the online proposal form to submit your concepts. The editors prefer to receive proposals rather than finished manuscripts.

How do I know whether my topic is best suited to an article, a white paper or a book?

If you're unsure, please submit your topic for review by the CASE editorial staff. If your proposal is accepted, then CASE will recommend the most appropriate format.

What happens after I submit my story proposal?

You will receive an immediate acknowledgement of your proposal.

CURRENTS: The editors will discuss the story idea and get back to you to let you know if they are interested in commissioning an article. If the story idea is accepted, an editor will send you a commissioning letter and contract specifying what information he or she would like the article to include, the length of the article, deadline for delivery and other details. Space limitations mean that the editors cannot accept every good idea they receive. In some cases, they might ask you to be a source in a larger story or they may keep the idea on file for future editorial planning.

CASE White Papers: CASE staff will review all proposals internally and may share them anonymously with select advancement professionals. You will be notified as soon as possible about a decision.

CASE books: CASE staff will review all proposals internally and may share them anonymously with select advancement professionals on campuses. If your proposal is promising, you may be asked to fill out a more detailed outline of the book before we make a final decision. Once a book proposal has been accepted, you will receive a contract that describes your working relationship with the editorial staff, including a projected delivery date for sending manuscripts to CASE.

What factors are considered when reviewing proposals for CURRENTS articles, white papers and books?

Decisions are based on what best serves CASE members and on what other articles or titles may be in the publishing pipeline.

What style does CASE prefer?

CASE follows the Associated Press Stylebook in most cases. Authors will be provided with more specific guidelines upon request.

CASE strives for a personal, informal writing style and a lively, conversational tone. Avoid education jargon and the passive voice. Remember that editorial space is at a premium-review your manuscript carefully and condense it as much as possible before you send it in.

What goes into the editing process?

CURRENTS: The CURRENTS editorial department looks to professionals for their advancement expertise, not necessarily their skills as writers. The editors are prepared to take any strong idea and help you shape it into an article that's appropriate for readers. In some cases, the editors work extensively with the writer to strengthen the article's structure, content and language. At other times, the editors need only make small changes for clarity, length and style. In either case, the editors always send the manuscript back to you for review before publication.

CASE books and white papers: A CASE editor will work with lead writers and editors (and chapter authors in some cases) to edit the copy for substance and to conform to CASE's style. Often, the CASE editor will return a manuscript to the author to ask for additional content, make final checks for accuracy, and generally prepare the manuscript for production. CASE requires authors to submit their proposals exclusively to CASE until a final agreement has been set.

What happens if you don't approve my proposal?

You are free to submit your proposal to other publishers.

How long does the process usually take?

CURRENTS and CASE White Papers: It may take a month or more before CASE follows up with you regarding your proposal. If your story idea is accepted by the magazine, you will typically have at least four to six weeks to provide a manuscript. In most cases, the article will appear in CURRENTS three months after the manuscript is received and accepted for publication.

CASE books: It may take a month or more before CASE follows up with you regarding your proposal. It may take an author six to 18 months to prepare a manuscript, and it can take six to eight months to progress from an author's complete manuscript to a printed book. The final timeline often depends on the availability of authors, who typically are working practitioners.

Does CASE pay authors?

CASE strives to collaborate with authors who have useful information, unique perspectives, and valuable experiences to share with their professional colleagues in education advancement and are motivated primarily by their interest in contributing to advancement's body of knowledge rather than payment. All lead authors/editors receive complimentary books and a discount on future purchases of their books.

What if I have further questions before developing my proposal?

CURRENTS: Please contact Liz Reilly, CURRENTS editor-in-chief, at reilly@case.org or +1-202-478-5648.

CASE books and white papers: Please contact Julie Schorfheide, director of CASE books, at schorfheide@case.org or +1-202-478-5667.

Can I use information from CURRENTS, white papers and books in other materials or publications?

CASE owns the copyrights to material it publishes but in most circumstances is happy to grant individuals and organizations permission to reprint excerpts from CURRENTS, white papers and CASE books.

CURRENTS: Please email the following information to epiel@case.org or fax to +1-202-387-4973, attention CURRENTS: your name, company or institution, address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address; the title of the article you wish to reprint and the date of the issue in which the article appeared; audience for whom the reprint is intended; and the circulation of the publication in which the reprint will appear.

CASE books and white papers: Please email the following information to books@case.org or fax to +1-202-387-4973, attention CASE Books: your name, company or institution, address, telephone and fax numbers, and email address; the title or a description of the text you wish to reprint; and the document in which you wish to reprint the information.