Although subject content is the most critical element in a manuscript, such factors as clear writing, good photographs and drawings, and overall neatness contribute to a favorable evaluation.
1. Manuscripts should be approximately 2,000 words in length. Please send an electronic text file to firstname.lastname@example.org and include a postal address in your e-mail. You may also submit the file on CD to
Susanne Peckham, Managing Editor
PO Box 8623
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
2. When describing project construction, keep procedure to a minimum, but emphasize complicated steps that may need clarification. Stress the project's instructional value--tell what the student will learn. Provide essential facts and details, but don't waste words.
3. If you have any questions about the appropriateness of a manuscript idea, please e-mail us with a brief description. Our editors will evaluate your idea and let you know if we think you should proceed with preparation of a manuscript for our consideration.
4. Graphics: Photographs, drawings, charts, graphs, and other graphics add life and interest to an idea, enhance the appearance of an article, and often tell more than the text itself. Artwork should be included, no matter the topic of the article, if at all possible. Photos of individuals, especially students and teachers actively engaged in activities related to the article are desired--but avoid a "posed" look. Include information (photo caption) that identifies and describes photos.
Electronic images: Only high-quality digital photos are acceptable. If using a digital camera, set it to its highest resolution (largest file size). Do not embed images in your Word document. Send images as separate files saved in EPS, TIFF, or JPEG format.
Photographs: Color prints, slides, transparencies, and black-and-white prints are acceptable. Photos must be in sharp focus, have good contrast, and be free of dirt and fingerprints.
Project articles: Include drawings of projects that require construction. CAD renderings and drawings in ink on white paper are acceptable. Keep in mind that original drawings will likely be reproduced electronically with a 50 percent or more reduction. Weight and integrity of lines are very important. Please include a close-up photo of the completed project.
5. Other submissions: Besides full-length articles, we also publish and pay honorariums for cartoons, humorous anecdotes, brain teasers, and crossword and other kinds of puzzles that can be useful for educators in our fields. Short, helpful hints for managing the lab or classroom are also accepted, as are essays of opinion on issues in our fields. Letters and news stories on awards, contests, and significant program or personnel events are welcomed and published as appropriate without payment to authors. Please follow guidelines as described for article manuscripts and artwork when submitting this kind of material.
Manuscripts will be acknowledged upon receipt and will be reviewed by the editors within six to eight weeks of receipt. Following this review, you will be notified of our decision concerning publication. Honorariums for published manuscripts (not including letters and news items) are paid at the time of publication, at rates based on the length and nature of the topics covered.
Just as the editors of Tech Directions respect any and all ideas submitted to us as belonging to the contributor, you should submit manuscripts to only one publication at a time. Also, do not submit text, photographs, drawings, or other items that are taken from books, magazines, or other copyrighted sources without first securing specific permission.
Tech Directions publishes articles in the following areas:
©2013 by Tech Directions Books/Prakken Publications, Inc.
Show off your students' projects and classroom activities on the cover of Tech Directions!
We're looking for photos of students actively engaged in an activity, making a project, testing their creations or working out ideas together.
Pictures should be in color and have a vertical format (taller than wide) to fit the cover. If using a digital camera, set it to its highest resolution (largest file size). Or, use a standard 35 mm camera—that’ll work, too. Try to avoid posed pictures--spontaneous shots work best!
Photos will be used at 8" x 11", 300 dpi, CMYK.
Save electronic images in jpeg format and e-mail to email@example.com. Or, if taking 35 mm photos, mail them to:
PO Box 8623
Ann Arbor, MI 48107
Please call 800-530-9673 x303 or e-mail if you have any questions.
Guidelines for Book Authors
Tech Directions Books/Media specializes in books for educators and students in career-technical (vocational) and technology education, in addition to publishing titles of interest to people working in related industrial fields. (Our technical areas include automotive technology, construction trades, computer technology, design/drafting, electricity/electronics, lab management, machine shop, manufacturing, robotics, welding, and woodworking.) We welcome your submission of a manuscript proposal.
We are especially interested in proposals for books, software, and videos of interest to machinists and Machines Trades Education technology studentsplease contact us with your ideas!
Please include the following in your proposal:
Format: Manuscripts should submitted as electronic text files. Photographs should be in sharp focus and have good contrast. Drawings should be in ink on white paper or on disk in EPS format. CAD plots are acceptable.
Submit your proposal to:
Managing EditorTech Directions Books
Prakken Publications, Inc.
P.O. Box 8623
Ann Arbor, MI 48107-8623
(734) 975-2800 x303
Book proposals will be reviewed within eight weeks of receipt. Following our review, we will notify you of our decision regarding your proposal. Please include a stamped self-addressed envelope to help us return materials to you, should that be necessary.
TECH DIRECTIONS Guidelines for Authors
Tech Directions welcomes submissions from professionals in technology, CTE, and applied science education. Our magazine features materials of interest in all subject areas in these fields, for teachers and administrators from elementary through postsecondary years. In particular, we invite articles related to teaching techniques, classroom projects, laboratory/classroom administrative procedures, and issues facing the field.