Contributing To AR Magazine
Overview
Amateur Radio magazine is the membership journal of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA). It is primarily a forum for members to publish their amateur radio experiences, whether it is their latest technical achievement, a new antenna or an operating experience. The editors do not rewrite articles to any corporate style, but try and retain the original style of the author while correcting, where necessary, spelling, grammar, punctuation and the accuracy of what is written.
It is easy to write for Amateur Radio magazine. Hundreds of amateurs have already done it. Few of them are professional writers. All get a lot of satisfaction out of hearing their fellow amateurs say they enjoyed reading their article in the latest issue of the WIA journal.
Just about anybody can write. Some can turn an elegant phrase, while others just explain what they have in mind and keep right to the point. Practice develops skill in writing, just like anything else you do. The more you write, the easier it gets and the better it is.
Writing Your First Article
Before you start to write the article, outline what you want to say. Remember the old rule: Tell them what you are going to tell them; tell them; then tell them what you've told them. Or, in more formal language: introduction, body, summary.
Follow this format for construction articles: introduction, theory, construction, alignment and adjustment, and summary. The title and opening paragraph are particularly important, as are diagrams and photographs. You win or lose most readers right at the beginning.
When writing, remember that Amateur Radio magazine is an informal, hobby magazine and that you are writing for friends. Don't be a stuffed shirt. Go lightly on impersonal third-person terms, such as "the author". It is in order, however, to use the first person “I”, but do not overdo it.
Be sure to define any abbreviations, other than standard units, at the first use of the term. For example I can define a term as follows: "Yet another three letter acronym (TLA). The modern world is full of TLAs, what a pain - the same TLA can mean different things in different contexts."
For more detailed information, download the "Instructions to authors" files at the bottom of this page.
Diagrams And Drawings
Put all drawings in separate files or on separate sheets of paper. Never put them in the text. If the standard of your drawing is not good enough to be published as is, we will redraw it for you. Be sure your sketches are complete, neat and readable. Put parts values on the schematic and include a separate parts list. Use terms R1 and C2, etc. Label the drawings numerically, for example Figure 1, Figure 2, etc. At the end of your article text, list the figures with a caption for each one.
The Amateur Radio draftsman uses TurboCAD for redrawing diagrams. However, if you are proficient in using other CAD programs, such as AutoCAD and Protel, please submit your drawing in your program’s default format, as well as a .TIF or .WMF file if possible, and also send a flat (not folded) hard copy printout of the diagram.
More details, see below, especially the file with hints about photographs.
How To Submit Your Article
You can submit your article in several ways. We prefer it electronically as an attachment to an email message. If the attachments total greater than 5 Mbytes, please send your submission in two or more emails.
If your submission is an article, either technical or general, please email to:
armag@wia.org.au
or post hard copy or computer disk to:
Secretary
AR Publications Committee
PO Box 2175
Caulfield Junction VIC 3161
If you are sending a column or a ‘letter to the editor’, please email to:
editor-armag@wia.org.au
or post hard copy or computer disk to:
Editor
AR Magazine
PO Box 273
Churchill VIC 3842
When Will It Get Printed
All copy, diagrams and photographs become the property of Amateur Radio unless specific arrangements are made otherwise. If you wish photographs, or diagrams to be returned to you, please advise us accordingly and provide a SASE.
The editors will arrange publication of your article at the earliest possible opportunity. Be prepared to wait up to several months, however, before you see your work published in the magazine. It can take that time to edit and prepare your submission for publication, and place it in a particular issue to ensure a balanced magazine. As much as is possible, articles are published in the order in which they are received.
Files For Download
Page Last Updated: Wednesday 24 October 2007 at 19:42 hours
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