Enrichment · Arts and Creativity

Every piece cleared,
every page proofed.

A literary magazine is a dozen small deadlines with one printer at the end. Track every accepted piece with its author’s permission and editing status, run the production steps in order, and compare the printer’s quote with the budget. The checklist flags pieces you cannot print yet and anything not final as proofs come due.

Start an issueWhat you get

Issues

The worked example is made up: a spring issue of 12 pieces with two permissions missing, proofs due in nine days and a quote $60 over budget, and an earlier online issue that is complete. Records save on this device only; authors appear by initials.

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What you get

Enrichment · Arts & CreativityFree

What you finish with
A record per issue with magazine, issue, theme, format, print run, budget, quote, proof and release dates; each piece with title, author initials, genre, permission and status; nine production steps; counts of pieces final and permissions in; the cost per copy; flags for missing permissions, pieces not final near the proof date and a quote over budget.
Who it is for
Student editors of literary magazines and their faculty advisers in middle school, high school and college.
Format
Browser checklist with a saved record per issue. Prints an issue’s status, every issue as a table or a blank checklist; downloads a spreadsheet (.csv) to share with the staff; exports and imports a file.
Access
Free. No account, no sign-in and nothing to install. Everything you type stays in this browser; nothing is sent to Caveat.
Where it lives
The Arts & Creativity space in Caveat Enrichment.
Support
Questions about access, an order or a correction: team@caveatacademic.com.

How to use it

  1. Set the dates working back from release: proofs, edits, decisions, submissions.
  2. Read submissions without names and record votes.
  3. Collect a permission from every author before layout.
  4. Edit with each author, then proofread the layout twice.
  5. Get the printer’s quote in writing and plan the launch.

Start an issue

The production line

From call to launch1Calldeadline and limits2Readwithout names3Decidetell everyone4Permissionsevery author5Editwith the author6Layouttwo proofreaders7Printquote in writing8Launchcopies and a readingFrom call to launch1Calldeadline and limits2Readwithout names3Decidetell everyone4Permissionsevery author5Editwith the author6Layouttwo proofreaders7Printquote in writing8Launchcopies and a reading
Permissions come before layout: a piece without one can hold up the whole issue at the printer.

Who owns the work

Students own the copyright in what they write and draw. A permission form gives the magazine the right to publish a piece, in print, online or both, usually while the author keeps all other rights. Schools often require a parent or guardian’s signature for students under 18; follow your school’s form.

Getting the cost down

Printers price by page count, paper, color and quantity. Pages usually come in multiples of four for a stapled booklet, so a 26-page layout costs the same as 28. Black-and-white inside with a color cover, or a slightly smaller run, often brings a quote under budget.

Sources

  1. U.S. Copyright Office. Copyright Basics (Circular 1): copyright belongs to the author from creation (copyright.gov).
  2. Student Press Law Center. Guidance for student publications on copyright and permissions (splc.org).
  3. Columbia Scholastic Press Association and National Scholastic Press Association. Resources for student literary magazines (cspa.columbia.edu; studentpress.org).
  4. National Council of Teachers of English. Program to Recognize Excellence in Student Literary Magazines (ncte.org).

The worked example is made up. Follow your school’s publication and permission policies. Nothing you type is sent to Caveat. Support: team@caveatacademic.com.