Article Surfing Archive

Use your imagination.

Be rich, poor, old, young, human, animal or alien on this world or anywhere in the universe.

Present your work professionally.

When the editor picks up your ms or puts it up on the computer it should LOOK professional.

1. Every piece of writing, whether it's a short filler article or a lengthy Aga saga, should be like a perfect piece of jewellery. You might have a wonderful idea for an article, short story or book but, if it hasn't been cut and polished to perfection, it won't sell.

2. Aim at producing material for which you will be paid. Too many hopefuls are so desperate to appear in print that they will let their work go for nothing. This is only acceptable very rarely for the would-be professional writer who wants to build up a portfolio. If an editor hopes to publish my work for free I point out very pleasantly that actually my words are my living. In all cases we have come to a satisfactory financial arrangement.Writing should be your paid profession. You wouldn't expect a plumber to repair a burst pipe for nothing just because he enjoyed plumbing would you?

3. Writing is one of the most rewarding things to do. We can give free rein to imagination and move in whatever realms we choose. We can be rich or poor, old or young, travel the world, even travel the universe. Creating and controlling characters and make us the gods of our own worlds. Create a storyline your readers will want to be in. It can be beautiful, thrilling, scary, familiar or alien but it must *painted* in words so that your readers can visualise it.

4. Doing what we like, when we like and how we like is fine * unless we want to get published. Getting published can be difficult, often painful and necessitates conforming to certain patterns. If you want to be a real published writer you must ask the important question, *Who am I writing for?* Your target market will only use stories or articles of a certain length and of a certain type. To find out the style the editor prefers you should study several issues of the publication. This will show you the age range of the readers, their interests, hobbies, what sort of jobs they do and their lifestyles. This will tell you about the target market. That all probably sounds obvious but editors could tell you of the sack loads of unsuitable material they receive each year.

5. It isn't always the content which results in manuscripts being rejected. Some won't even be read. Sloppy, badly presented work with spelling mistakes, poor grammar and a generally unsatisfactory appearance will be cast aside. Work should be presented on A4 paper and should only be printed on one side. Decent sized margins and double spacing leave plenty of room for the editor's pen. If you are presenting your work digitally you must make sure that it is prepared in a programme that the publication can use. Always find out whether the publication prefers digital or hard copy. Some like both.

6. Remember to write regularly. Set yourself a timetable and stick to it! Programme your brain into automatically going into writing mode. Even if you don't feel at all inspired and the last thing you want to do is sit at your desk and write you MUST go through the motions. Write the first thing that comes into your mind and keep writing. It's surprising how often you will find that your brain has engaged gear and you are starting to write publishable material.

7. Some of you might decide that you are going to self publish your work so all the regular rules for successful writing can be ignored. The rules are the same no matter who publishes the material. The self-publisher has to be even more careful because they haven't got the might, advertising and publicity budget or reputation of the existing publishers.

But it can be done!