YouthLight Publication Guidelines

 

Outline, Chapter Titles and Other Headings

 

1. Before you proceed, we recommend you start with an outline of your proposed manuscript. We understand that this outline may change as your book progresses. The following is a sample outline. Note that you do not need to use these titles and headings. There are provided here for you to see a sample format only.

 

Proposed Title, Sub-Title and author(s) names as they should appear on the front cover

 

I.                     Dedication (optional)

II.                   Acknowledgements

III.                 Table of Contents

IV.                 Chapter 1: Introduction (this will be a title heading)

A.      Overview (these will be center headings)

B.       The Need for This Book (these will be side headings)

C.       How to Use This Book

1.        Before You Begin (these will be paragraph side headings)

a.

b.

2.        Discussion Questions

3.        Follow-Up

4.        Other Suggestions

V.                   Chapter 2: Helping Children with Apathy (Strategies 1 – 24)

A.      Activity 2.1: I’m So Tired of . . . .

B.       Activity 2.2: Motivational Moments

VI.                 Chapter 3:

VII.               Chapter 4:

VIII.             Chapter 5:

IX.                References

X.                  Appendix A: Tips for Parents

XI.                Appendix B:

XII.              References

XIII.            About The Authors

XIV.            (Overview Statement for Back Cover—usually 3-4 paragraphs)

 

Note that in this outline, you must avoid having only one subordinate item under any other item. This will transfer to your headings. For example, do not include only one side heading under a center heading (see below for an explanation of headings).

 

Use your outline to help you plan your manuscript for development. Once you are finished, take all the Roman Numerals, letters and numbers out of your outline, omit anything more subordinate than center headings. This list will become your Table of Contents. We will add page numbers as we design your book.

 

Send us your proposed title and this outline, as complete as you can make it, so that we can offer any suggestions we might think of for you. This feedback can be much more helpful to you in the earliest stages of your writing.

 

2. As you develop your manuscript, incorporate each item of your outline using the following guidelines.

·         Chapter or section titles (items marked by roman numerals in your outline): These titles should be about 24 points in Times New Roman, or the equivalent size in another font. Center each title and bold. Use title case capitalization. Start each title on a new page. Also, give an extra return under the title before you begin writing. It is usually best to provide at least a half-page (or more) of text providing an overview of the chapter or title before inserting your first center heading.

 

·         Center headings (items marked by capitol letters in your outline): Like titles, these headings are centered, bolded and title cased. However use 18 point size font. Then, start your text on the next line.

 

·         Side headings (items marked by numbers in your outline): If you have two or more headings under a center head, make them side headings. Use left justification, bold, 14 point font, and title case. Then, start your text on the next line.

 

·         Paragraph side headings (items marked by lower case letters in your outline): If you have two or more headings under a side head, make them paragraph side heads. Capitalize only the first letter of the first word of this title, except for proper names and other words that are normally capitalized. Bold the heading and end it with a period. Then, add one space and start your first sentence on the same line if possible.

 

General Manuscript Hints

 

  1. Use a common 12-point font such as New Times Roman. Unless you are purposefully trying to show us how you want certain words or pages to be designed, please stay with one font.

 

  1. Use single spacing for your text and block each paragraph (i.e., no indenting).

 

  1. Avoid the common error of quotation mark placement by ensuring that they are placed after a period, question mark, exclamation point, comma, etc, rather than before it. For example, place your quotation marks like this: “Unresolved grief and loss is one of the most common underlying causes of chronic anger in young people.”

 

  1. Use only one space after periods, question marks, exclamation points, and colons. If you end a sentence with a quotation mark, add the space after the quotation mark.

 

  1. In most all cases, avoid underlining. The exception to this lies in tables or activity pages where an underline identifies the title over a column of terms. Instead of underlining, use italics.

 

  1. Avoid the use of words like get and got. Also don’t use “pass out” to describe how someone should hand out, share or distribute something.

 

  1. Use APA style of in-text referencing and also with your References section. Note that each item on your References page(s) should use italics instead of underlining to indicate journal and book titles, etc. Also, please single space within each reference, but add an extra return before the next item.

 

  1. Be sure to include some strong references for statements you may make in your text. Avoid saying things like “research suggests,” “most educators realize,” “it is obvious that,” or any other general opinion without giving examples of citations. Also, minimize using internet websites as references. Web content and web site addresses often change so frequently that it can be a nightmare trying to keep up with these changes during each reprinting of your book.   We recommend you use ERIC Clearinghouse, Psych Abstracts or some other reputable search source for professional documentation.

 

  1. Ensure that you have received a written copy of permission from any Copyright holder of any items you used or adapted in your book. This includes strategies, titles, strategies, activities, worksheets, photos, or any other items you will be using that you acquired from another source.

 

  1. It can helpful to us if you provide us with your own design of pages that include charts, activities, or clip-art. Even if we redesign what you provide, your sample will help us to visualize what you had in mind for its look.

 

  1. Number the pages, even though this will probably change later, so that we can communicate with you efficiently as we work together with you.

 

  1. Be absolutely certain to keep a back-up copy of your work.

 

Activities

 

Books that include activities, especially those that include reproducible worksheets, tend to sell well.  There are many formats that can be used for laying out activities. One way is to simply describe in paragraph form, how to lead the activity. Another way is through a lesson plan format. Lesson plans are readily identifiable by professional educators and other helping professionals. The following is a sample format that we use frequently in our books.

 

Activity 2.3: The Conflict Can (24 pt. font and bold)

 

Grades (18 pt. font and bold for all side headings, then go to 12 pt. font and no bold for numbers & text)

 

Materials

1. Include ‘Photocopy of  the Worksheet “(your worksheet title) ” for each student”  if needed.

2.

 

Overview (usually one sentence in length)

 

Objective(s) (add “s” only if needed here)

1.

2.

 

Proceedures

1.

2.

3.

 

Discussion Questions

1.

2.

3.

 

Follow-Up (or Extension, or Variation - use one)

Following this page may be a reproducible page or pages of worksheets for young people. Note that the number of this activity indicates the 3rd lesson plan in Chapter 2.

Submission Guidelines

 

We suggest you start by sending us a outline for your book using the form shown above. Also, include some samples of items you’ve written for any section in the book. These items will help us ensure you are on the right track. They will also allow us to acquire a clearer understanding of  your project so we can provide creative suggestions for you early in the development of you manuscript.

 

Please do not send every section of your book, one at a time, for us to review. We prefer to work very closely with you in the beginning of your manuscript development. Then, once we have given you the “all clear,” go ahead and complete your manuscript. Feel free to contact us if you have any other questions along the way.

 

When you complete your manuscript, have someone else to edit it for you line by line. Also, make sure you have conducted a spell-check and grammar-check using your computer. In general, please ensure that your manuscript is as clearly written, clean of errors and organized as you can make it. Then, send it as an attachment to Dr. Bob Bowman at bbowman@youthlightbooks.com. Make sure the entire manuscript is sent as one document. If you have developed your book in pieces, you will need to combine them before submitting it to us.

 

Use of Specialty Art or Photography

 

Most books we publish are completed using our own graphic designer-artists. We have graphic artists who do their own drawings, use high-quality clip art, and professional photography as needed by a manuscript. We rarely need to hire outside artists or photographers to provide high quality visual components for our books.

 

In rare cases, however, the use of specialty art or photography may be necessary. In such cases, we will work out with you who and how an artist will be found for your project. Since paying for this type of artwork or photography is the responsibility of the author, you will need to pay for the cost of this work at the time it is completed.

 

Deadlines

 

We will need to work out a schedule of deadlines for you as soon as possible after we have all signed our publishing contract. Depending upon your own ability to develop your manuscript, and our varying priorities, we will work together with you to establish deadlines which need to be adhered to if we are to proceed efficiently.