A Memoir provides the opportunity for publishing single major works that are too lengthy to be considered for Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (JVP) articles, as well as collections of shorter papers with a single theme (e.g., symposium proceedings) that might appropriately be published in a single volume. The Memoir is published and mailed with an issue of the JVP.
Each year the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology will support publication of one Memoir. Page charges may apply for Memoirs over 250 pages, with some flexibility–consult the Editors well in advance on this point. Additional Memoirs may also be published as supplements to the same volume of the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology (JVP), but authors will be responsible for the full cost of publication and the added mailing cost. Costs vary depending on the length of the Memoir, the number of figures, and the amount of color requested. Proposals for these additional Memoirs should be sent directly to the Memoir Editor and Senior Editors for evaluation and discussion of costs.
A review panel comprising the Memoirs Editor, Senior Editors, and Staff Editors will review Memoir proposals and make a decision based on quality and likely appeal to a broad spectrum of Society membership.
PROPOSAL SUBMISSION REQUIREMENTS
A 3–5 page proposal is requested that outlines the content of the proposed Memoir and its relevance to the Society in general, including:
- Justification for the topic’s broad interest to the JVP readership
- A detailed outline of the proposed memoir
- Substantial evidence of progress on the manuscript (e.g., completed sections of text, illustrations; these should be sent as separate files and do not contribute to the 3-5 page limit)
- A schedule that details the proposed timeline for submission and review
- Estimated length of the/all manuscript(s) (text, number of tables, and number of figures)
- Number of illustrations and whether any will need to be rendered in color
SUBMISSION AND SELECTION DEADLINES AND INFORMATION
A single round of submissions will take place each year for intended publication sometime during the following year.
- For example, proposals for the 2026 memoir should be submitted by May 31, 2025
- Potential authors will be notified of the panel’s decision by June 2025.
SELECTED MANUSCRIPT SCHEDULE
The manuscript must be submitted through Manuscript Central no later than December 1 of the same year, but preferably earlier. The complete revised manuscript must be available for final approval by the Memoirs Editor no later than June 30 of the following year. This provides a period of up to two months for review followed by 6 months for revision. This schedule will ensure that the Memoir can be published as a supplement to issue 5 or 6 of that year’s JVP. If the submission is received earlier, it may allow publication as a supplement to an earlier issue of the volume.
All submitted manuscripts must follow JVP style exactly, with high-quality illustrations in JVP-acceptable formats. Submission of a color cover illustration is mandatory.
All proposal submissions are to be sent to Daniel Madzia.
Questions? Contact Daniel Madzia.