Occupational Therapist Contributor Guidelines

These Guidelines have been developed in conjunction with David Potts who is OT AUSTRALIA NSW's media adviser. They reflect a change in editorial style of Occupational Therapist to meet more adequately the needs of members of OT AUSTRALIA NSW.

The Newsletter is a vital tool for the dissemination of information of value to members about professional issues and activities of OT AUSTRALIA NSW. The Editor welcomes contributions from members. What follows are some guidelines for contributors to follow and are designed to increase the readability and value of articles.

As most newsletters are journalistic in style, the Occupational Therapist aims to present information in a style that will capture and hold the attention of its readers. Articles should be both informative and interesting to read. They should engage the reader. Here are some suggestions for the writing of your article -

Structure
Structure your article so that the key point is at the top. This is the opposite to a ‘fiction’ or ‘drama’ style in which the main point is made at the end – an ‘everyone lives happily ever after’ style.

• The first paragraph, called ‘the lead’, tells the reader what the story is about. Remember the who, what, when, where, why and how. It ‘sells’ the story to the reader.
• Arrange information thereafter in a logical sequence, usually from most to least important. This also enables the editor to cut the story from the bottom up to fit the available space without losing essential information.
• Include in your article:
  • The issue.
  • Background to the issue including why it is relevant to occupational therapists. Do not assume knowledge on the part of the reader.
  • Action taken, options or alternatives to consider or key point of the article.
  • Outcome achieved or expected outcome and date.
• Anticipate questions your readers might have – and answer them.

Currency of Information
Make sure the information is current, having in mind the publication date of the issue of the Newsletter when your material is likely to be published. Closing date for information is the 10th of the month before publication.

Aim
Consider the aim of your article. What do you want the reader to do with this information? Act on it? Change their opinion? Have you written your article persuasively enough to achieve this goal? Imagine you have only 30 seconds to persuade. Go for it.

Length
There is a finite amount of space in the Newsletter. Avoid wordiness. Make sure every word is carrying its weight. Use a word in place of a phrase. Small is beautiful. Use short sentences and short words. For example, ‘began’ instead of ‘commenced’. Limit your article to 500 words.

Style
Vigorous, entertaining writing is encouraged.

• Avoid, however, being too ‘chatty’
• Avoid cliches, jargon and technical words (unless the readers will understand them), inaccuracies, tautology, repetition, slang, exaggeration or hype.
• Explain acronyms by writing in full the first time used. For example Technical Aid for the Disabled (TAD).
• Avoid vague words or phrases. For example, instead of saying "…were very successful with good attendance and excellent feedback……" give the number who attended and samples of feedback. Don’t tantalise your reader with expressions such as "gave an informative address" or "thought-provoking speech" without telling the reader what was informative or thought-provoking. Tell the reader what was said.
• Use the active voice rather than the passive. For example – Passive voice: The mat was sat on by the cat. Active voice: The cat sat on the mat.
• Double check information to make sure it is correct. Proof read carefully to make sure there are no typos – spell checks do not always pick up mistakes.
• If you are writing in the third person, use quotes from your source. That spices up your article.
• Back up your statements with facts. Support your generalisations with specifics. Make it clear whether you are expressing an opinion or providing factual information.
• Provide a heading, but beware that the number of words which a heading can accommodate will change when run over one, two or three columns. Make the heading active - First Education Teleconference Voted a Success, rather than just a heading - Education Teleconference.
• Give the names and titles of people. For example, Ms Firstname Lastname, NSW Minister for Health.

Photographs
Provide photos and logos which add interest and increase the readability of the article. You are encouraged to provide high quality black and white or coloured photographs of distinct subject matter. The image needs to be sharp and, if it shows people, make sure they can be recognised when the photograph is published. Make sure that you include written permission from the subjects of the photograph. Bear in mind the loss of clarity with the printing process. Caption the photograph, making sure you give full names and titles, from left to right of those pictured.

Authorship
Clearly state the author of the article and give a contact phone/fax/e-mail so that the editor can contact you. It is helpful if we can publish contact details so readers can contact you.

Previous Publication
Inform the Editor if the article has been published previously or has been submitted to other publications.

Submission
Word process your material, preferably in Word Arial 12 point. Submit your article to OT AUSTRALIA NSW. OT AUSTRALIA NSW reserves the right to edit submitted material in accordance with the style and format of the Newsletter and in accordance with the appropriateness of the material. The submission of an article does not guarantee publication.