Introduction

Please read each page to streamline your efforts!

On behalf of the UME Publishing Team, welcome. We hope that you find the following resources useful as you navigate your way through the publishing process.

If you are new to the FastTrack process, or even if you have published with UME before, please take the time to read each page in the sections listed in the left hand sidebar. We will take you step-by-step through the process - from your initial draft to your finished publication - as we address the most common questions and concerns that authors have raised.

This guide is divided into six parts:

If you have any questions along the way, please feel free to reach out to any of the team. You will find our contact information on the main Publications page.

Ready to get started? Continue to the tab Minimum Timeline from Draft to Publication.

Minimum Timeline from Draft to Publication

✔ Please note that each project is different. Times vary based on circumstances.

When approaching a publication project, please be aware that a number of factors can contribute to the average time it takes between manuscript submission and publication. These include the number of projects already in the pipeline, as other Extension professionals may be submitting drafts at the same time, and the length of each, as it will take longer to edit and lay out an Extension Curriculum than a Factsheet. Additionally, some projects may be more appropriate for publication at a particular time of year, such as before spring planting or after the harvest.

The sample timetable below assumes that a project is submitted to FastTrack on January 9, 2023, and the managing editor and layout and publication specialist can work with the document as soon as they are available. It also assumes that all recommended deadlines are met by all parties involved. These are covered in The Editing Process.

MONTH	DATE	AUTHOR	REVIEWERS	EDITOR	DESIGNER
JAN.	MON. 9		Provide feedback
	MON. 16
	MON. 23
	MON. 30			Edits to UME standards
FEB.	MON. 6
	MON. 13
	MON. 20
	MON. 27	Reviews edits, and revises draft
MAR.	MON. 6
	MON. 13
	MON. 20
	MON. 27
APR.	MON. 3
	MON. 10
	MON.. 17
	MON. 24				Formats and Publishes
MAY	MON. 1				Formats and Publishes

Be sure to consult Choosing the Right Publication Type for Your Manuscript. If you are satisfied with your choice of publication type, continue to Author’s Responsibilities.

Choosing the Right Publication Type for Your Manuscript

✍️ Authors have a broad range of publication types from which to choose. Select the one that fits your document best. Note that the page values represent published document lengths.

Extension Brief (EBR): A short (2-page) summary of a very specific topic/subject including an idea, method, practice, policy/rule, principle, program, research summary, tool, etc.
Factsheet (FS): An expanded overview of a topic/subject (3-12 pages) providing more in-depth and complete information than an Extension Brief.
Extension Bulletin (EB): A comprehensive collection of information (>12 pages) on the topic(s)/subject(s) that provides a broader understanding and specifics than a factsheet. Could also be a compendium of factsheets.
Extension Manual (EM): A detailed technical instructional guide on a specific topic or program.
Extension Curricula (EC): A comprehensive set of planned instructional materials, e.g. lesson plans that include learning goals.
Lesson Plan (LP): A detailed description of the development, implementation, and evaluation of a specific learning objective.
Web Based (WB): Distance learning resources that provide instructional support on a topic/subject. This includes instructional blogs, presentation slides, instructional websites, etc.

Author’s Responsibilities

✍️ The following checklist provides important responsibilities for each submitting author. Note that they occur at various points along the submitting for publication timeline.

Author’s Responsibilities Checklist
▢ Does your publication meet accessibility standards?
▢ Have you contacted your potential reviewers before submitting your draft to FastTrack?
▢ Have you uploaded all drafts related to your manuscript to FastTrack?
▢ Have you addressed all of the managing editor's concerns within the established timeline(s)?
▢ Have you created a brief summary (100 to 270 characters) of your publication?
▢ Have you submitted a brief description of each image submission?
▢ Have you provided keywords and UME website resource tags?
▢ Have you provided the original document files… If someone else laid out and/or formatted your publication? If you used Excel or PowerPoint to create an image or graph?

Download (filliable pdf)

The Writing Process >