Author guidelines

Blue heron takes flight. Stone Harbor Point, Stone Harbor, NJ.
Photo by Ralph S. Pfeifer

When writing anything for submission to a newspaper or magazine, look for author (aka writer or manuscript) guidelines first, and follow them to a “T.” Most, if not all publications have them, even for letters to the editor, and they’ll give you a lot of useful specific information.

If you are reading this blog, you’re likely Web savvy, so visit the home page of your target newspaper, magazine, or journal, and look for a link to “author,” “writer,” or “manuscript” guidelines. If they are not immediately apparent, use the search box or peruse the drop-down menu options, and you’ll be sure to find them.

Guidelines will offer you the specs for preparing the manuscript, citing references, what style guides are preferred (American Psychological Association [APA style], American Medical Association [AMA style], etc. They often include the content the publication is looking for as well, such as continuing education (CE) articles. Separate guidelines for specific departments and tips may also be provided. And you’ll learn what kinds of articles they accept: essays, interviews, etc.  These are all helpful to read before you start writing, and they are essential for polishing your paper before you submit it.

Here are some links to author guidelines for the American Journal of Nursing, Nursing Spectrum CE articles, and Advance for Nurses, to get you started. I have written for all of these publications as well as for lay and trade magazines, such as Clay Times and Ceramics Monthly. I’ve always found guidelines indispensible for getting published. They show an editor you read and care about the quality of the publication, and if your article is accepted, they make the editor’s work much easier down the road. Once you have that kind of writing reputation, you’re more likely to get further work.