WORLDviews call for papers

As many of you know, the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International publishes two scholarly journals, Journal of Nursing Scholarship and WORLDviews on Evidence-Based Practice. A special issue of WORLDviews on Evidence-Based Practice is planned with the theme Use of Technology to Advance Evidence-Based Practice and Patient Outcomes. Click here for a call for papers with details. Deadline is 31 May. Please forward the information to anyone you know who may be interested. (WORLDviews is the number one-ranked nursing journal in last year's ISI/Thompson Journal Citation report.)

The mysteries of cover design

Worth a read is the great piece in a recent issue of The Wall Street Journal about cover design for books and the process publishers use. The author describes the process—there were nearly 50 revisions—for the bestselling The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. What's important to note is that the publisher and executives had very specific feelings and positioning they wanted to convey with colors, design and type.

Many authors approach their publishers with ideas. (Some publishers ask, some don't. Very few authors are granted "cover approval.") And often, authors have a very set idea of what they want their cover to be. However, as an author, trust your publisher to know how to sell and market your book—the cover and title being the two biggest pieces of that equation.

When most publishers go into the cover-design process, the editor is there to ensure that the design accurately reflects the book's content and intended audience. The publisher and sales teams are there to ensure the cover will reach people in the marketplace and help sell the book, and the marketing (and publishing teams) are there to ensure the cover works for the category, type of book and reader. Are all authors thrilled about their book cover? No, but if you trust your publisher and know they have a process, you might find that they didn't miss the mark.

Positioning, pricing, color, category, paper, interior design—all fall into what publishers call "look and feel." These pieces, together, help build a successful product—even if you don't like the ultimate cover design.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

A bit of a break

Wow, I didn't mean to take such a long hiatus from blogging. (If we have a challenge at STTI, it's that we produce so much incredible programming. We've been looking at all our programming—including online continuing education—and I'm thrilled with the opportunities we have.) In the meantime, not a day has gone by that I didn't think about something I wanted to share with you all about nursing, publishing, success and the challenges we face. Look for me to get caught up, and don't hesitate to e-mail me with questions, comments or topics you'd like to see me cover!

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

More for nurse authors

You'll notice I've added some additional resources for nurse authors to the right-hand column. These sites and organizations aren't always as active as you'd think, but they all represent resources if you're looking for answers.

* International Academy of Nursing Editors (INANE): Meets yearly, alternating between the United States and abroad, and serves as a great resource for editors of nursing journals. If you're editing a journal or new to being a nurse author or editor, this group is for you. You can ask questions via a Yahoo! group or mailing list. Their annual conference is coming up August 11-13 in Australia.

* Nurse Author and Editor: Free quarterly online publication from Wiley-Blackwell with articles and information relevant to nurse editors. Free sign-in for back issues of the newsletter.

* MedInfo Now blog: Daily blog from the editors at MedInfo Now, the folks who bring us the Doody Literature Review. MedInfo Now aggregates book reviews, new publications, relevant articles and more for researchers. MedInfo is a useful way to see what competitive titles are out there if you're considering publishing on a topic. The blog features tips, tricks and a book nearly every day.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

Conferences and links for nurse authors

Lots going on this summer, starting with STTI's 21st Annual International Nursing Research Congress, which is happening right now in Orlando, Florida. Don't miss several relevant sessions for nurse authors:

• Editors of both STTI journals are speaking on how to get published and navigate the journal world.
• JNS editor Susan Gennaro is speaking on how to publish successfully when English is not your first language.
• STTI book acquisitions editor Janet Boivin and author Cindy Saver will talk about book publishing and how to create a proposal and get your idea noticed by a publisher.

Cindy Saver is also signing her new book, The Anatomy of Writing for Publication , published this month by STTI. Saver brings together 15 of the top experts in the field for the most up-to-date guide to how to be a successful nurse author. From selecting a journal and writing a research paper to promoting your work and using social media, her book represents the most accessible book for anyone looking to navigate publishing. And I don't just say this because I published it and wrote a chapter. :-)

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

Penguin Guide to Online Marketing

It’s no secret that publishers are doing less and you, the author, are becoming more directly responsible for the success of your book. Budgets are tight (yes, you’ve heard this, I know) and, frankly, marketing dollars don’t always pay off the way we’d like. I’ll have more to say in the next few months about the nuances of self-marketing your book—what works and what makes sense for you. In the meantime, here’s a hugely valuable resource, especially if you’re a beginner. Penguin Group USA produced this marvelous—and free—Author’s Guide to Online Marketing (downloadable PDF) a few years ago, and there's something to learn in every line. Your homework? Figure out how to put it to work for your book—and for you.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.

Bringing it

I was walking through an airport the other day and saw a huge ad on a window with the headline, “Bring It.”

I love this phrase. We talk all the time about what knowledge, skills and nuances people bring to a discussion. What perspectives, attitude and even prejudices do people have? What do they bring to the table? Which all begs the question, what do you bring?

What do you bring to the table, to the discussion? Am I upbeat? In a good mood? Do I laugh enough? Do my positive contributions offset my uncanny abilities to burn toast and mangle the French language? More importantly, a potential publisher or acquiring editor is looking at what you bring. It isn’t just the author platform or what you know. What do you bring to a relationship? To your work? To your patients? Because it is about you. It’s about what you bring.

What can you contribute every day? What challenges are you up to facing? Can you bring it?

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.