We’re now about halfway through the 2014 Open Call for Proposals for the 33 1/3 series, and as is the case every call, a number of questions from potential authors have surfaced. Below I’ll attempt to answer these in a way that will benefit everyone who might be considering submitting a proposal. If you have follow up questions, please feel free to ask them in the comments.
It’s been exciting receiving your proposals so far; keep ’em coming!
xo Ally Jane
FAQs:
Q: Is it ok if my sample chapter is under 2,000 words? I don’t see much sense padding it out if I can get to the point in 1,500 words. Or will that count against me?
A: Try to get as close to 2,000 words as you can. But your proposal will still be considered if you can only get to 1,500.
Q: I am working on a proposal for a jazz record for the series… is that a non-starter? It is a record that, I would argue, deserves a place in the 331/3 series. And….Can one submit a proposal for a book that is a bout two records that could be considered companion pieces?
A: A Jazz record might be a hard sell for our market but I’d still consider it. I’d prefer to keep in line with the series model and have each book cover one single album.
Q: On the CV when you ask for complete contact information, does that mean the names of editors you worked with, phone number and website? If so, what if the editors that you worked with are no longer there?
A: Just your contact information will be fine.
Q: Do you want CVs to be comprehensive, or condensed versions? (i.e. Would you prefer academics to exclude service and advising activities from the submitted CV?
A: A condensed academic CV listing related books, courses taught and articles will suffice.
Q: How much time usually passes between final manuscript submission and publication, if selected of course?
A: The books will be published about 8 months after a final manuscript is submitted.
Q: Perhaps a stupid question but when it says “professional CV / resume” under #1 on the proposal requirements, you mean like a standard CV covering education / work experience (ie. what I do 9-5, Monday to Friday)? Or is this to be a “writing-centric” CV focusing on writing experience?
A: A standard CV will be fine if it includes your writing experience. Please list everything that might be relevant.
Q: Could you please clarify what you mean when you say the deadline “Must be between July 2014 and June 2015,″ specifically whether June 2015 is included in the writing period – can an author pick a deadline of June 30, 2015? Thanks.
A: Yes, June 30th, 2015 is an acceptable deadline. Anytime between July 1, 2014 and June 30th, 2015.
Q: I have 3 documents (resume, book into, everything else). Can I send them attached to one email, or do you want these all merged into one document?
A: Please merge them into one document.
Q: May we propose books based on a film’s soundtrack (with multiple artists) or score (by a single artist)?
A: Yes.
Q: Any particular reason no Fugazi album has made it into the series?
A: No particular reason! Submit away!
Q: Will you consider proposals by more than one author?
A: Yes
Q: A quick question regarding part 2 of the proposal package…the “brief 50-500 word summary of each chapter.” Does that mean 50-500 words per chapter (which I what I have been putting together), or 50-500 words for the entire table of contents?
A: Yes, 50-500 for each individual chapter.
Q: Is this call for both published and unpublished authors?
A: Both.
Remember, prospective authors: You only have about two weeks left to submit your proposal on a deadline of Monday, March 3, 2014 at 9am ET. Good luck!
Sorry to repeat a question, but are you looking for works of exclusively academic criticism or will works that include fictional narratives (like the volumes on Music from Big Pink or Fear of Music) be considered as well?
We are looking for all sorts of approaches, not just academic criticism.
Related to this question but not explicitly answered by it: “Q: May we propose books based on a film’s soundtrack (with multiple artists) or score (by a single artist)?
A: Yes.”
Can we propose books based on an album that is a collection/anthology, by several artists? (Especially one where the curating/compiling of said anthology is a key topic of discussion/exploration/criticism)
Thanks so much!
Yes, you can propose an album that is s collection/anthology.
For a collaborative proposal, would you like 500 words each or total for number six?
500 words for each author.
Quick question:
Will you be doing the same thing as in previous years, where the long list of all the albums submitted is posted shortly after the deadline date… and then a while later the “cut down” list is posted to show who made it past the first round of cuts, etc.?
I really enjoy that part, lol
Yes, a version of that!