PAS QuickNotes Contributor Guidelines

PAS QuickNotes is a series of two-page briefing papers on emerging planning-related topics. It provides practicing planners with the latest information on new tools or approaches they can use to address the many changes coming to their communities and to the planning profession now and in the future.

Each edition of PAS QuickNotes should provide a high-level overview of a planning-related topic for an audience of practicing planners. QN is also designed to be shareable with elected and appointed officials, interested laypeople, and other audiences. A QN should provide a succinct definition of and introduction to the emerging topic, explain its importance to planners, and address potential local policy responses or practice applications.

Topics

APA is interested in identifying new topics for future editions of QN. For a list of topics that have already been covered by QN, see the archive.

Article Guidelines

APA retains copyright to all PAS QuickNotes articles.

The total length of a QN manuscript minus sidebar should be 1,100 words. Each edition must include the following components:

• A 100- to 150-word introduction that explains the topic and purpose of the QN.
• A 150- to 250-word "background" section that summarizes the importance of the topic and explains how it relates to a broader context.
• Three to five "key points" sections totaling 600–750 words. Typically, these sections should either present considerations for policy analysis, recommendations for policy changes, or procedural steps in a planning process.
• A 100-word summary that ties together the preceding sections.
• A "further reading" sidebar with references to three APA and three non-APA resources with additional information about the topic.
• A single-sentence author identification statement.
• A photo with a credit and a single-sentence caption.

Authors shall submit their manuscript via email as a Word (.doc or .docx) document.

Each issue includes a single photo or illustration, as appropriate, and a brief reference list of both APA and non-APA resources in a sidebar.

QuickNotes Proposals

The editor of PAS QuickNotes welcomes proposals. All proposals should address the following:

1. Explanation of the topic and how it fits within the scope of QuickNotes.
2. Why is it important for planners to know more about this topic?

Proposals should be accompanied by a one-page writing sample.

To submit a proposal for PAS QuickNotes, contact the editor at pasquicknotes@planning.org.