TLS
Submission Guidelines
The Last Straw is largely a reader written publication. Donated articles
and photographs are always and sincerely welcome on any topic relating
to straw-bale and natural building and extending into other aspects
of sustainable design and construction, materials and products, energy
systems, water and waste management systems.
Letters to the Editor are also encouraged. Remember, your input is what
keeps TLS up-to-date, functional and relevant! We work with offerings
respectfully, though we may have to edit, postpone or decline their
use. The Last Straw Team reserves editorial responsibility for the contents
of the journal.
While we
have assigned a theme to each of the issues of TLS, we always have
space for articles on other topics and welcome submissions on any subject
at any time.
TYPE STYLE
It would be helpful and save time on this end if copy was created using
Times font, 14 pt, no bold, no colors, no underlining except for web
sites, and no indentations for paragraphs. Don't take time to reformat
copy you receive from others; we can do that here. We've set up some
format, spelling and other rules we could share if you want.
WORD COUNT
Word Count - with 30 pt heading
• text only 900 words fills one page
• text/two photos 500 words fills one page
• text/two photos and no heading on second page 1000 words fills
two pages
• text/one photo 700 words fills one page
If several photos are used in an article and captions are added to the
photos, the space for text is reduced accordingly.
EDITING
The TLS Managing Editor (Joyce Coppinger) and the issue Editor or Guest
Editor do not edit content except to correct grammar, spelling and punctuation.
If clarification is needed or other changes in submissions are felt
to be needed, the TLS Managing Editor/Editor will contact the person
submitting the text (author and TLS correspondent) to discuss possible
revisions.
PHOTOGRAPHS,
DRAWINGS AND ILLUSTRATIONS
Photographs, drawings and illustrations submitted will be enhanced by
Satomi Lander, TLS Layout/Graphics; if photographs, drawings and illustrations
are not of print quality, Satomi and/or Joyce will contact the person
submitting the photo to arrange for other graphics. Final layout is
the responsibility of the Managing Editor. If errors are noted after
the issue is published, please notify the Managing Editor so that corrections
can be made before the issue is placed online. Errata can always be
included in the subsequent issue.
We ask that you send in captions for photographs, drawings and
illustrations. We also like to give photo credits, so if the photos
you submit are from someone other than yourself, please include the
name of the photographer.
Photos, drawings and illustrations are accepted in 300 dpi jpg or tiff
format. Please do not download or copy photographs and illustrations
from web sites. Color photographs are accepted; they will not appear
in color in the print issue but will be included in the online version.
Photo size should be about 4x3".
If the image is for the issue's cover, a larger sized photo and higher
resolution will be required.
THE
LAST STRAW JOURNAL
TLS TEAM
CORRESPONDENTS
Correspondents are responsible for providing at least one feature article
and one project report or other article per issue (4 times a year).
In addition, the correspondents help collect "Regional Rumblings"
from straw bale associations, web sites and other media. It would be
up to each correspondent to decide if they wanted to write this content
themselves, or solicit it from others (or any mix of the two). TLS correspondents
are selected by the Managing Editor and are paid under a written contract.
COLUMNISTS
Columnists are responsible for providing text for two-columns or more
(photos can be included). TLS correspondents are selected by the Managing
Editor and are paid under a written contract. Correspondents, columnists,
and guest editors under contract with The Last Straw will receive a
lifetime subscription.
GUEST EDITOR
Guest Editors are responsible for providing content for 37 pages of
a single issue. This includes submissions by the TLS Correspondents
and Columnists, in addition to content gathered and/or written by the
guest editor, or submissions from contributors. The TLS Managing Editor
provides content for pages 38 (Sponsors), 39 (Roles in the Hay), 40
(Calendar of Events). The Guest Editor works the TLS Managing Editor
on the cover, Table of Contents page, and other pages of the issue.
The Guest Editor is compensated based on the fee allowance remaining
after payments are made to Correspondents, Columnists and Book Reviewers
under the terms of a written agreement.
REVIEWERS
Those contributing or requested by the TLS Editor to contribute a Book
Review or Product Review will be compensated in the amount of $25 per
review under the terms of a written agreement. Reviewers will receive
one copy of the issue in which their review appears.
CONTRIBUTORS
Contributors submitting unsolicited content to The Last Straw receive
a one-year online or print copy subscription beginning with the issue
in which their contribution appears. Additional copies of the issue
in which their contribution appears are available at no charge. Those
submitting text should include a brief bio including contact info.
PROJECT
PAGE
Reading through back issues of TLS, we observed that one of the informative
and enjoyable features was the inclusion of many photographs and short
descriptions of building projects. We’d like to revive that special
flavor in future issues of The Last Straw journal. To encourage you
to send in your own Project Page entry and to help you get the ‘paperwork’
done, we share this
form to use in submitting a Project Page for future
TLS issues.
FUTURE ISSUE THEMES AND DEADLINES (subject to change)
Because of delays in publishing during 2007-08, we have omitted submission
deadlines and publication dates. If you are interested in submitting
an article or any other content for a future issue of TLS, please do
so at any time. The issue themes and scheduling are subject to change.
#61
The Women of Strawbale and Natural Building. Issue #10 of The Last Straw
featured women in the strawbale community. We’ll revisit some
of them and tell you about others who are now involved.
#62
Putting a Project Together - How to work with codes officials, architects,
engineers, contractors and subcontractors, lenders and funders, real
estate agents and appraisers, suppliers and all those involved in putting
a project together.
#63
Commercial and Industrial Buildings of strawbale and natural materials.
Office, retail and industrial, schools, churches, barns, post offices,
police stations, work shops, nature centers, among others.
#64
Designing and Building for Accessibility and Health. Seeking solutions
for accessible, nontoxic environments for all.
#65
Building in the Round. Design and construction of round, hexagonal,
octagonal buildings; round wood building; space use ideas for round
buildings.
#66
All about Bales and Baling - Types of bales (hemp, wheat, oats, rye,
rice, grasses and others), sizes of bales (small rectangular, jumbo),
and baling machines and equipment. And more.
#67
Retrofitting
existing structures with bale walls and other natural building systems.
#68
Natural Building and Ecotourism, How natural building can be
discovered through ecotourism and how ecotourism can benefit from natural
building.
#69
The Natural
Building Professional, The role of the straw-bale and
natural building professional in building a sustainable environment.
#70
Impacts on
the Environment, What are the impacts of strawbale and
natural building on the environment? R-values, embodied energy, life-cycle
analysis, testing and research, unanswered questions.
#71
The Men of
Strawbale and Natural Building. TLS #10 and #61 featured
the women – now the men are spotlighted!
#72
Educational
Programs and Opportunities. Where can you find classroom
and hands-on education and training; internships and apprenticeships
- what to look for as an intern or apprentice, what a contractor or organization
is looking for. Developing curriculum for CEU and educational institutions.
#73
Let’s Get Plastered. All about plastering materials, methods,
testing, durability in different climates.
#74
Past, Present
and Future. What has and hasn’t worked. What are the
Emerging Trends. Where’s Strawbale and Natural Building Headed?
Merging with the mainstream, rating programs, funding sources.
#75 – Staying Natural.
Becoming the norm without losing the natural benefits
of strawbale and natural building.
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