T+D is an official publication of ASTD, a not-for-profit association of professionals in the field of workplace learning and development. T+D is a monthly magazine available to ASTD national members as part of their dues, and by subscription as well as single-copy sales.
Our readers are highly educated professionals and line managers working in all aspects of learning and development—delivering training, instructional design, talent management, coaching, performance improvement, leadership development, organizational change, informal and social learning, and more. They range from new practitioners to seasoned executives in business, government, academia, consulting, and sales.
Our goals are to
- provide useful, how-to information on current best practices through case studies
- share new technologies and their applications
- report emerging trends
- discuss relevant and pivotal issues to the field
All published material is copyrighted and becomes the property of ASTD. Authors will be expected to sign a standard copyright release form. Failure to sign the release will result in the rejection of the article. Time constraints do not allow us to send galleys or other edited forms of manuscripts to authors. Manuscript submission implies that authors agree with our policies.
Like most magazines, we have a policy against double submissions. Please do not submit a manuscript that is under consideration by another publication or that has been accepted or published elsewhere. We also do not accept submissions that have appeared on websites.
We do not publish speeches, theory, opinion, dissertations, or internal reports. We also do not accept submissions that promote a specific product or service, or disguised press releases.
T+D does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. We ask that all potential contributors query the appropriate editor in advance (see editors’ contact info below). Please include a one-page outline or 100-word (maximum) overview of your proposed submission.
To improve your chances of being published, please read several recent issues of T+D to get an idea of the content and tone.
Our editors will read the outline or overview and make suggestions to help you write your article appropriately. That does not guarantee acceptance for publication.
- Within four to six weeks, we will notify you of our decision to accept or decline your submitted manuscript.
- We cannot guarantee a publication date, but most articles appear two to three months after acceptance.
Our review process is based on the following points:
- Information and analysis. Does the article deliver the promised facts? Are your ideas supported, examined, and brought together into a cohesive body of work?
- Balance. Does the author present alternative sides of an issue?
- Originality. Is the topic presented with a fresh, new perspective?
- Audience appeal. Will the article capture and retain readers' interest? Does it address our audience? Is it current, relevant, and useful? Does it tell readers how to be more successful at work? Does it provide implementation guidance? Does it increase the reader’s business acumen?
- Veracity. Is the article accurate and truthful?
Submissions may only be sent via e-mail. See email address designations below. General submissions can be sent to submissions@astd.org.
Feature Articles
T+D publishes five or six feature articles a month. Features are case studies, articles on current trends and best practices, or articles discussing relevant issues in the industry. Features should be no more than 1,900 words (not including sidebars, which are welcome). Sidebars should be no more than 250 words each. See our editorial calendar. Email: pketter@astd.org
Departments
In addition to feature articles, T+D also accepts submissions for the following departments:
Mailbox: Readers' reactions to items in T+D and their opinions on issues relevant to the field of workplace learning and performance. Any length, may be subject to editing. Email: mailbox@astd.org or pketter@astd.org
Fundamentals: The practical nuts and bolts of training and development for new training professionals. Articles focus on presentation skills, meeting management, creativity training, group-process techniques, training delivery methods, performance appraisals, and more. 1,250 words. Email: scastellano@astd.org
Development: Designed for learning professionals, these tips and topics of interest are intended to enhance your personal and career development. 1,250 words. Email: pgaul@astd.org
Learning Blueprint: Timely tips, guidelines, and resources related to the design and creation of learning programs and initiatives, in a brief, practical format. 1,100 words. Please contact editor for format guidelines. Email: pgaul@astd.org
Case in Point: Case studies of workplace learning and performance initiatives implemented within ASTD’s Communities of Practice; capture best practices from these communities. 1,250 words. Email: scastellano@astd.org
Re:Search: News on the latest research on workplace and business topics of interest from ASTD, universities, workplace-related think tanks, and research organizations. 350-400 words, with chart or table. Email: pgaul@astd.org
Workplace Rx: Short case study of a real-life workplace challenge with an overview of the process followed to reach a solution, including the main lesson learned. Email: scastellano@astd.org
Books: Book reviews are assigned. Please contact the editor for more information. Includes one main and three smaller reviews of new books on human resource development, business, and workplace learning and performance. Email: scastellano@astd.org
Long View: Q&A interviews with outstanding leaders in the management, organizational development, and workplace learning fields. Assigned by editor. Email: pgaul@astd.org
Page 1: List the article title, authors' names, and brief biographies of all authors including current positions, complete addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses. Include an abstract of up to 50 words.
Body: Include subheadings--no more than one for every page and a half of text. Type them flush left with the margin. Capitalize only the first letter.
Tables and figures: Include only if they will help readers understand the article. We do not guarantee their use. All data in charts must be supplied in a text format. PDF or image files cannot be accepted and may result in the rejection of the article.
* Do not incorporate PowerPoint or similar tables, charts, figures, and so forth into the body of the document. Send graphics in a separate electronic file, preferably in Word format.
Citations/Documentation: T+D is not a scientific journal. Do not assume readers have prior knowledge of accepted theories or seminal works. Do not use last name author references to previous works, theories, studies, or papers.
Style and tone: T+D's style is journalistic rather than academic. It is a professional business magazine, not a scholarly journal. That means authors should favor the active voice over the passive. For example, "an article was sent" is passive; "the writer sent an article" is active.
Avoid jargon and technical terms; if you must use them, define them. Spell out abbreviations on the first use. Writing should be crisp, clear, and plain-speaking.
References: Use references only when exact words have been lifted from a source or when an idea originated with the source named and isn't widely known. No references are needed for paraphrased ideas or widely known information such as the fact that the number of women in management is increasing. We do not publish footnotes or bibliographies.
*References for further reading presented in sidebars are acceptable.
Editing: We edit all manuscripts for style, format, space, and readability.
*Submissions may only be sent via e-mail. See email designations above. General submissions can be sent to submissions@astd.org.