Feeling Anxious Because Your Manuscript is 2 Weeks Overdue? It could be worse.

Ari Meermans · Aug 5, 2017

From The Chronicle of Higher Education: Yes, Your Manuscript Was Due 30 Years Ago. No, the University Press Still Wants It.

David W. Congdon was recently reviewing the contracts he had inherited as a new acquisitions editor at the University Press of Kansas when he came upon a project due in 1987.

Mr. Congdon offered the author a chance to void the contract and to absolve himself of responsibility for the dangling project. But the writer declined, saying he would finish the manuscript instead. Both parties did acknowledge that the book on political science might need some updating.

"There’s only so much energy an editor can put into trying to track down a project and reach conclusions," Mr. Congdon said. "There was kind of a mutual sense, ‘If you’re ready to get back into this project and keep working on it, you’re welcome to do so.’ It’s a valuable project, and it’ll be worthwhile. I am hopeful that it will come to fruition."

While this appears to be a common experience for university presses, Jennifer Crewe, director of Columbia University Press notes:

"A commercial house would probably not have the same patience, maybe, but often university presses will stick with somebody and are pleased when they get the book."

Yes, commercial houses operate much differently, but the article should help some in putting that two weeks in perspective. Besides, the article is actually an interesting and humorous read.

Feeling Anxious Because Your Manuscript is 2 Weeks Overdue? It could be worse.

Ari Meermans

MacAllister's Official Minion & Greeter