“The Process of Submitting Call for Papers Proposals”, As Told By Picture Book Characters
Posted October 23, 2015 by Katie Caskey
Step 1: You find the Call for Papers.
It even aligns perfectly with your particular area of research and interest! You excitedly save the link to your bookmarks tab. This is something to seriously consider. Then the daydreaming begins. What if your proposal was accepted? You could be a published author in an academic journal! You have arrived!
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Step 2: You realize you actually have to write this proposal!
Can anyone say “writer’s block”? While the prompt was most likely engaging and thought-provoking when you chose it, those original inspirations have quickly vanished into a cloud of confusion and self-doubt. How will I ever get this done when I have all of my other class work to do? Should I even be submitting something when I don’t have a degree yet? Am I an academic fraud? Don’t feel bad…we’ve all had these thoughts. The important thing is moving through this phase without completely halting all productivity. Even if all you can muster out of your overwhelmed and overworked brain is one sentence or idea or source per day, at least you are moving forward.
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Step 3: Research.
I call this the “buried in books” phase. Yes, I realize that most research is now digital, but I prefer the alliteration of my phrase to “buried in a library database”…it has a more poetic ring. Indulge me. However you choose to pursue your research, it is arguably the most important part of writing a successful proposal. Selection committees want to see that you have substantial evidence to back up your inventive and enlightening thesis. You don’t need to have found and annotated every source you plan to use, but you need a good understanding of what kinds of sources you have, what you still need to find, and where to successfully locate said sources. This is the leg work part…it’s a marathon, not a sprint. Plan accordingly, and you may find yourself enjoying this process.
Step 4: Putting pen to paper and writing the darn thing!
You’ve collected enough sources to choke a horse. You have a clear thesis, and you know what you hope to accomplish with this paper. Congratulations! You’ve made it farther than many do. Now comes the exciting (and terrifying) part. It is time to confront the blank page in front of you and write the first draft of your proposal. Take courage and don’t fear…this is only a draft. You don’t have to be perfect. Heck, you don’t even have to make complete sense. Just start writing. Get the ideas that you have collected and stored over the last few weeks (or maybe months) from your mind onto your paper.
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Step 6: Revision, revision, and revision AGAIN!
As tedious as it seems, we all know by now that revising, rewriting, and reworking is perhaps THE most important part of any writing process (even if you’re just writing a grocery list). Ask the opinion of others whose work you admire. But also trust your own instincts. Step aside, and then return to the paper with fresh-ish eyes, making sure the brilliance you have in your head translates well to the paper.
Step 7: It is time! Show them what you’ve got to offer. Give them the gift of your work.
You’ve come to the deadline. You have refined your proposal. You are confident with your work and proud of what you’ve produced. Now, click submit and, as Elsa has taught us all, “Let. It. Go!” Rest easy knowing you have done all you can do to represent your work in the best light possible. If your proposal is accepted, congratulations! And if not, congratulations all the same! You have successfully completed a rigorous academic practice, and what you have learned will only help you improve next time. Press on, and good luck!
