Comments on Reassigned Time: In Today's News...

Congrats on the book contract. Also, I've thought...

2007-03-03T15:17:00.000-05:00

Congrats on the book contract. Also, I've thought this before (because my mom also sends me cards "signed" by my cat for birthdays, etc.,), but this reminds me: your mom and my mom should hang out. I swear, it's like they'd be best friends :)

Undine brings up a good point--if you do ask, you ...

2007-03-02T05:56:00.000-05:00

Undine brings up a good point--if you do ask, you want to be very sure about them first. And I should clarify that the reviewer knows the author but the reviewer remains anonymous if he/she wants.

Typically (in my field) you don't ask the potentia...

2007-03-01T22:43:00.000-05:00

Typically (in my field) you don't ask the potential reviewers first, since that could put them in an awkward position. Those reviewing manuscripts are asked whether they want to reveal their names to the author or not, and if the review is less than complimentary and you know the small pool of people from whom the reviewers were drawn, the situation could be awkward.

In my field, you provide names of people and check...

2007-03-01T10:42:00.000-05:00

In my field, you provide names of people and check with them first. If you don't check with them first, it's kind of seen as a slight and the reviews end up not so good. You want to pick folks that are well known for the subject area you're working with, but also ones who will be receptive to writing a good critical review. Hope that helps!

For the record, I also just loved this post and yo...

2007-03-01T10:17:00.000-05:00

For the record, I also just loved this post and your discussion of your mum brought tears, too. She sounds lovely. And your characterization of her is awesome.

I don't see any problem with asking people, though...

2007-03-01T07:43:00.000-05:00

I don't see any problem with asking people, though I agree that dissertation committee members shouldn't be on the list. Book manuscripts aren't reviewed blindly anyway (at least not in the social sciences), so eventually the reviewers will know the author regardless.

Oh, man, sisyphus, you are a book-contract-seeker ...

2007-03-01T00:50:00.000-05:00

Oh, man, sisyphus, you are a book-contract-seeker after my own heart....!

On the one hand I hope you will do good things in ...

2007-02-28T23:44:00.000-05:00

On the one hand I hope you will do good things in the Potter fashion, but on the other, it would be more interesting for us reading your blog if you had the powers of Voldemort, no?

What did the contract look like?? How exciting! Was it gold plated with lots of big academic stamps and seals? (Don't disillusion me, I need it for survival.)

The comment about your mom brought on tears for me...

2007-02-28T23:02:00.000-05:00

The comment about your mom brought on tears for me, too! My parents don't really get what I do either, but last year when I got tenure and my book was published, they were *SO* supportive and elated--it really felt wonderful. I think it was the book more than anything that they were really proud of. My mom actually read then entire thing, even though she never reads anything at all (let alone anything academic).

In any case, I wanted to answer your question about reviewers: I think you're not supposed to ask people before including their names on a list. Maybe some people do ask, but I was told that this was not advisable and that I shouldn't include on the list people who were on my dissertation committee. In fact, one committe member later told me that a press had asked her to review it (even though she wasn't on my list), but that she declined b/c she thought it would be inappropriate (I assume they didn't know she'd been on my dissertation committee).

I'm in philosophy, though I would think that the standards are similar in other areas of the humanities. Then again, this press was reviewing my manuscript *before* offering me a contract, so maybe that somehow makes a difference in how the process works (or what the expectations are).

By the way, I love your blog and often really enjoy the posts you say will be "boring"!

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Such good news a...

2007-02-28T22:37:00.000-05:00

First of all, CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Such good news about the contract.

And your mom's sweet note brings tears--I love that confidence. I look forward to writing something that prophetic....

Finally, I just sent in some names. I was way too freaked out to ask permission first. I sent them too many--that was my insurance against my own fear that someone would say no...

Last of all, CONGRATULATIONS on the contract!! Hurrah!