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New 2015 TAA Fall Webinars – Improve Your Skills

TAA fall webinar seriesNow is the perfect time to start thinking about and planning your fall writing projects. Whether you are interested in learning the steps for developing a textbook, creating an online presence to build your academic brand, educating yourself on textbook royalty audits or publishing agreements, or how to write clearer academic pose, TAA’s fall webinar series for textbook and academic authors has you covered. Join us as various industry experts share their expertise on academic and textbook writing topics. Sign-up early to reserve your spot! Not a TAA member? Learn more about member benefits and join today.


Tips for Writing an Effective Textbook: Developing Your Manuscript with Your Publisher

Date: Thursday, October 8, 4-5 p.m. ET

One of the first steps after signing with a publisher is to begin working with the publisher’s content developer. The content developer is your day-to-day contact and guides you through the writing process. In this webinar, Ann Greenberger from Greenline Editorial Services will cover the steps in developing a textbook–from first draft to final revised manuscript–and tips for successfully creating a powerful product. Topics include: writing the first draft, the development plan, market and competition, pedagogy, photos and figures, digital content, and supplements. Register


Expressing Yourself Clearly in (Academic) English

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2-3 p.m. ET

Is English not your first language? When you submit an article to a peer-reviewed journal do the reviewers advise having the article professionally edited? Does the information you’re imparting get lost among the words or tangled in syntax? When writing for publication in any field, and particularly in academia, being able to convey your ideas and information clearly and accurately is critical. In editing academic writing for many years—with a niche in working with ESL authors—I’ve noticed a number of common mistakes that, with a little practice and attention, can be easily corrected or overcome.

Whether you’re a non-native speaker of English or simply want to learn tips for polishing your prose and expressing yourself clearly, this webinar, presented by Jane Mackay, Owner/Editor of Janemac Editing, will teach you how to recognize typical problems and give you techniques for fixing them. Register


What is a Textbook Royalty Audit and How Do I Know If I Need One?

Date: Tuesday, October 27, 10-11 a.m. ET

Learn the steps involved in a textbook royalty audit and how to determine if you should conduct one to assert your contractual audit rights with this one-hour webinar presented by Juli Saitz, CPA, Managing Director of FTI Consulting. A royalty audit can provide answers to the many questions authors have about their royalty payments and the distribution of their books, including:

  • I have two titles, but I thought Book A was a better seller than Book B. Why is Book B generating higher royalties?
  • A friend found a copy of my book in Brazil, I never knew about a Portuguese version! Am I being paid for that?
  • How are my royalties being calculated when my book is packaged and sold with other books or content?
  • How am I being paid when a custom book is printed with some of my chapter content along with other content?
  • My book was ranked in the top 5 on Amazon.com! Why haven’t I seen an increase in my royalty payments?
    Register

Negotiating (or Renegotiating) Your Textbook Publishing Agreement: A Creative Focus on Business Terms

Date: Thursday, November 12, 4-5 p.m. ET

While there are many aspects of an author-publisher relationship, the key component is your textbook publishing agreement. Publishing agreements determine the responsibilities of each party, as well as the deliverables, dates, revenue sharing in the form of royalties, and many other key elements. In this webinar, Sean Wakely, Founder and Principal Advisor at Academic Author Advisers, will focus on the non-legal, negotiable business terms of publishing agreements, such as deadlines, royalty rates, art and illustration rendering, permissions, advances, grants, and responsibilities for supplements, and how you can position yourself to negotiate more favorable outcomes. Register

Please note that all ​content on this site ​is copyrighted by the Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA). Individual articles may be re​posted and/or printed in non-commercial publications provided you include the byline​ (if applicable), the entire article without alterations, and this copyright notice: “© 202​4, Textbook & Academic Authors Association (TAA). Originally published ​on the TAA Blog, Abstract on [Date, Issue, Number].” A copy of the issue in which the article is reprinted​, or a link to the blog or online site, should be mailed to ​K​im Pawlak P.O. Box 3​37, ​C​ochrane, WI 5462​2 or ​K​im.Pawlak @taaonline.net.