Write for The New Planner

Do you have insights into an important international planning project or trend? Have your byline appear in APA's online publication for students and new professionals, The New Planner. We need case studies and feature articles — penned by student and new professional APA members — for the Spring 2008 issue. Stipends are available for features and case studies selected for publication.

Guidelines for Submissions

Deadlines for the Spring 2008 issue

March 31, 2008 — Deadline for submitting your idea and rough outline for consideration to TheNewPlanner@planning.org

April 18, 2008 — Deadline for submitting final versions of articles selected for the Spring 2008 publication

The editor, Natalie Macris, invites APA student members to contact her about the following:

• Feature articles: Explore current planning issues, document new research, or explain planning techniques
• Case studies: Examine one or more planning projects, explain lessons learned from on-the-ground planning efforts
• Book reviews: Share your thoughts on a planning book that shifted your perspective, motivated you, or informed you about something you didn't know before
• Campus spotlights: Report on a project, activity, or program undertaken by your planning student organization or discuss a hot topic on your campus

Editor Natalie Macris invites APA's non-student members to contact her about articles on career development, including:

• Networking and interviewing skills
• Polishing your resume
• Finding the best fit
• Dealing with career transitions
• Making the most of a summer internship
  

Submissions and Inquiries
To develop the international planning theme of the Spring 2008 issue, we are particularly interested in articles that report on non-U.S. planning projects, approaches, and trends, addressing topics such as:

• How planning practices abroad differ from approaches used by U.S. planners
• How another country's terrain or culture creates unusual planning issues
• How a particular planning project unfolded and what lessons it might hold for U.S. cities
• How an international student exchange or work experience expanded your understanding of an important planning issue

Writing Guidelines
Feature articles / Case Studies / Book Reviews
Accuracy and proper attribution of sources are essential. Authors are responsible for fact-checking their articles prior to submission, noting all sources, and obtaining written permission to use any copyrighted material.

Other suggestions:

• Use a clear, non-technical style
• Avoid jargon and explain acronyms on first reference
• State the importance or timeliness of the topic near the beginning of the article
• Describe your experience with the topic, if applicable, near the beginning of the article
• Focus on how a program or technique has worked or on how new research may apply to planning practice
• Provide political and economic context

Feature articles / case studies

• Length: 1,000 to 2,000 words
• Divide text into shorter "chapters" to make online reading easier
• Include supporting graphics (i.e., photos, maps, charts, etc.) to add interest (see specifications, below)

 
Book reviews

• Length: 200 to 500 words
• Include all publication information
• Check some of the excellent websites for tips to writing good book reviews

Campus Spotlights
Campus spotlight articles may be more informal than other articles, but must contain information of interest to students and new professional planners across the country.

• Length: 200-500 words
• Include specifics of event or program (dates, location, etc.)
• Supporting graphics (i.e., action shots, webpages, etc.) add visual interest and further describe the event, etc.

The New Planner follows The Chicago Manual of Style.

Images
Submit all images separately with reference points within the text.

• Supporting graphics (charts, graphs, maps, etc.): Submit as separate .pdf, .gif, or .jpg files
• Photographs: Submit as separate .gif or .jpg files no larger than 500x300 pixels. Resolution of 300 dpi preferred.

Stipend
Student authors of feature articles and case studies chosen for publication will receive a stipend of $50.