Commissioning Policy
A. Overview
The Long Memory commissions research articles on marginalised themes in Indian history and narratives of the past that have long been under-represented in mainstream historical scholarship. Commissions are awarded through a formal proposal process, outlined below.
The editorial correspondence between The Long Memory and a commissioned author is governed by the terms set out below, together with any written correspondence confirming the specific terms of a commission (including timeline, structure, and honorarium) as agreed with the Editorial board.
B. Commissioning Process
The commissioning model will operate under a specific process, with each stage ending up with an official email for documentation purposes, as follows:
Approach Paper Submission: Prospective candidates must submit an Approach Paper by email to formally register their interest. This should include an abstract of not more than 300 words outlining the proposed article's core argument and why the topic merits attention, along with the intended length of the article. Candidates should also attach proof of past work (such as writing samples or publications) and a short pitch explaining why they are suited to this specific topic. If the proposed article requires a field trip, this should be mentioned along with its expected expenses.
Editorial Board (EB) Commissioning: The Editorial Board shall issue a formal determination within seven days of submission, resulting in one of the following outcomes: formal acceptance of the proposal as submitted, conditional acceptance requiring specified revisions, or rejection of the proposal accompanied by detailed feedback.
Editorial Interview: Once a proposal has been shortlisted, the candidate will be invited to an editorial interview with the Editorial Board, during which the title and theme of the proposed article will be discussed and finalised, along with the deadline for submission of the first draft. Following final approval, the candidate is required to submit a formal acknowledgment via email, which officially initiates the commissioning period. An advance of one-third of the agreed remuneration will be disbursed at this stage. The honorarium offered will be fair and in keeping with academic standards.
Mid-Term Review: At the midpoint of the commissioning period, the Editorial Board will conduct a Mid-Term Review to assess the progress of the article and ensure it is developing in keeping with the agreed scope and direction. If the Board find the progress unsatisfactory, it reserves the right to terminate the commission at this stage.
Article Submission: Upon completion, the candidate shall formally submit the article via email to the Editorial Board for review by the agreed deadline. All submissions must strictly adhere to The Long Memory's submission guidelines regarding format, structure, and citation. Partial drafts or incomplete articles will not be accepted, nor will unsolicited submissions be considered under any circumstances.
Receipt Confirmation by the Editorial Board: Upon the formal submission of an article for consideration, the Editorial Board shall issue an official acknowledgement correspondence to the candidate.
Editorial Evaluation and Determination: The Editorial Board shall conduct a rigorous assessment of the submission to ensure academic integrity, factual precision, originality, and writing style. Subsequently, the Board will issue a formal notification of:
1. Formal acceptance by granting a “Determination of Completion”, signifying the draft meets all stipulated quality and submission requirements, and confirming that full remuneration will be granted; or
2. Formal rejection, which may include an invitation for resubmission following substantive revisions, which implies that the researcher will have to re-submit the article for review post the changes.
Publication right: It should be noted that a “Determination of Completion” serves as a guarantee of full remuneration to the contributor, but does not necessarily ensure the publication of the draft. In instances where a submission is not selected for publication, the author remains entitled to the total agreed-upon amount.
Remuneration Fulfilment: Following a Determination of Completion mail, the Editorial Board will initiate the remaining payment procedures and confirm via email that the pre-agreed compensation shall be disbursed.
C. Deadline and Late Submission Policy
Contributors are expected to submit their completed review by the deadline agreed with the Editorial board at the time of commissioning. The Long Memory recognises that unforeseen circumstances may arise; however, timely delivery is essential to the editorial process.
Late Submission Policy : In case a commissioned article is not submitted by the agreed deadline, an honorarium reduction shall apply, governed by the rates set out below. Reductions are cumulative and apply to the total honorarium agreed upon at the time of commissioning.
