TD Magazine Submission Guidelines
TD is an official publication of the Association for Talent Development (ATD). It is a monthly magazine available to ATD members as part of their dues as well as available via subscription and single-copy sales. Our readers are talent development professionals and line managers working in all aspects of corporate learning and talent development. 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.
If you're interested in writing for TD, review the information below.
Frequently Asked Questions
TD 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- to 200-word (maximum) overview of your proposed submission.
To improve your chances of being published, please read several recent issues of TD to get an idea of the content and tone.
Submit your article by email as a Word document. See email address designations below. General submissions can be sent to submissions@td.org.
Feature Articles
TD publishes six feature articles in each issue. Features are case studies, articles on current trends and best practices, or articles discussing relevant issues in the industry. Features should be about 2,000 words (not including sidebars, which are welcome). Sidebars should be no more than 250 words each. See our editorial calendar below.
Departments
In addition to feature articles, TD also accepts submissions for the following departments.
Mailbox: Readers' reactions to items in TD and their opinions on issues relevant to the field of talent development. Any length, may be subject to editing. Email: mailbox@td.org or vstgerard@td.org
Success With Less: Presents budget-friendly methods and strategies for training departments with limited budgets and/or staff. 1,200 words. Email: pgaul@td.org
Fundamentals: The practical nuts and bolts of talent development for new training professionals. Articles focus on presentation skills, meeting management, creativity training, group-process techniques, training delivery methods, performance appraisals, and more. 1,650 words. Email: blewis@td.org
Career GPS: Addresses topics related to talent development professionals' career development. 1,600 words. Email: pgaul@td.org
Learning Blueprint: Timely tips, guidelines, and resources related to the design and creation of learning programs and initiatives, in a brief, practical format. 1,000 words. Please contact editor for format guidelines. Email: blewis@td.org
Case in Point: Case studies of talent development initiatives implemented in an organization. Article should include data that proves program effectiveness. 1,650 words. Email: blewis@td.org
Research: News on the latest research on workplace and business topics of interest from ATD, universities, workplace-related think tanks, and research organizations. 350-400 words. Email: pgaul@td.org
Books: Book reviews are assigned. Please contact the editor for more information. Books range in topic from human resource development, business, and career development to training and development. Email: blewis@td.org
Quick Tips: Presents 3-6 short tips on a variety of topics related to helping TD professionals do their jobs. Email: blewis@td.org
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.
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?
TD'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.
We do not publish speeches, theory, opinion, dissertations, or internal reports. We also do not accept submissions that promote a specific product or service, nor do we accept disguised press releases.
Author details: For each author, provide the person's name, brief biography including current position/title, complete mailing address, phone number, and email address.
Author headshots: Provide a high-resolution headshot for use on the ATD website with your article. The image can be a jpg, tiff, or png file.
Graphics: Include tables, charts, or other graphics 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. Do not incorporate PowerPoint or similar tables, charts, and figures into the body of the document. Send graphics in a separate file, preferably in Word format.
Citations/Documentation: TD 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.
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.
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. Once your article is assigned to a particular issue, we will edit it to improve readability and for consistency with the Chicago Manual of Style and our internal style guide.
After your article is published, we'll send you a PDF of the article, as well as a print copy of the magazine in which the article appears.
All published material is copyrighted and becomes the property of ATD. Authors will be expected to sign a standard copyright release form. Failure to sign the release will result in the rejection of the article.
We edit all manuscripts for style, format, space, and readability. 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.
TD does not accept unsolicited manuscripts. We ask that all potential contributors query the appropriate person in advance (see contact info below). Please include a one-page outline or 100- to 200-word (maximum) overview of your proposed submission.
January 2025
Future Readiness
Outline Deadline: September 1, 2024
Contact: submissions@td.org
February 2025
Organization Development and Culture
Outline Deadline: October 1, 2024
Contact: mflynn@td.org
March 2025
Leadership Development
Outline Deadline: November 1, 2024
Contact: submissions@td.org
April 2025
Learning Technologies
Outline Deadline: December 1, 2024
Contact: submissions@td.org
May 2025
Career Development
Outline Deadline: January 1, 2025
Contact: mflynn@td.org
June 2025
Training Delivery and Facilitation
Outline Deadline: February 1, 2025
Contact: bwoods@td.org
July 2025
Talent Strategy and Management
Outline Deadline: March 1, 2025
Contact: mflynn@td.org
August 2025
Instructional Design
Outline Deadline: April 1, 2025
Contact: bwoods@td.org
September 2025
Change Management
Outline Deadline: May 1, 2025
Contact: mflynn@td.org
October 2025
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Outline Deadline: June 1, 2025
Contact: submissions@td.org
November 2025
Technology Application
Outline Deadline: July 1, 2025
Contact: aclapp@td.org
December 2025
Training Delivery and Facilitation
Outline Deadline: August 1, 2025
Contact: bwoods@td.org