Writing for Publication

Coach and Athletic Director, Sept, 2001 by Dr. David Hoch

How to do it and what you get out of it

As A PROFESSIONAL educator who has been writing for publication for some time, I can offer three good reasons why coaches and teachers might consider doing it.

First, if you believe you have something to say.

Second, for professional aggrandizement.

Third, for the great sense of accomplishment it will provide.

The third reason is probably the most important. Once you start achieving some success with it, your cup of pride and fulfillment will runneth over -- compensating for the many crises, problems, and headaches of your daily routine.

Where do you look for subject material?

In everything you read, hear, or witness. It may be a unique feature of your program that will be of interest to others, or it may be something you feel passionate about -- an issue, a rule, a happening.

How does the process begin? For me, it began with a little clipping or note that I used to throw into a folder labeled "Article Ideas." From time to time I would go through the folder looking for something I believed would make a good article for some publication.

My first step in writing an article is to jot down all my thoughts on the subject as quickly as possible. I can do this in one sitting. If the right word or phrase does not come easily, I will simply leave a space for it and keep going.

What I'm trying to do is put down all my basic thoughts on the subject before they begin fading.

With everything now down in writing, I can begin the job of editing and rewriting. It's astonishing how much time it takes to get it all down the way you want it.

As an amateur writer with no training as a journalist or grammarian, I had to evolve my own guidelines on the hard-core process of articulating and communicating. For example:

1. The matching of subject and verb in tense and syntax.

2. Though most articles are written in the third person, it is occasionally advantageous to write in the first person.

3. Check any kind of textbook for the correct usage of such simple things as punctuation, quotes, paragraphing, etc. They are all vital parts of good writing.

4. Don't overuse or repeat a distinctive word in a sentence, paragraph, or throughout the article.

5. Check the spelling of any word you're not sure about. Don't be lazy, look it up. Misspelling is usually a sign of indifference.

6. Check the rule of "parallel construction." Don't be intimidated by it. It is easy to understand and it is essential in good writing.

7. Avoid writing with "style." Let your writing come naturally, and avoid choking it with adjectives, fancy words, and too much explanation.

Focus on simplicity and clarity. In time, you may evolve your own way of explaining or describing things. (Consider yourself lucky if it happens to you.)

After finishing a manuscript, put it aside for a day or two, then reread it with a fresh eye and see if it holds together. Does it flow? Does anything need more explanation or editing? Edit out anything that clutters up the flow of the article. Superfluous or redundant words are the curse of all amateur writing.

How many drafts of an article should you make? As many as you think you need to produce a good manuscript.

As a final step: If the article is particularly important to you, have someone you trust read it and make suggestions. A good "reader" should be able to tell you whether or not you have delivered your message.

How do you find the time to write? If you have a lot of spare time, it obviously poses no problem. If you have a heavy workday, you will have to find the time. I try to use the hour before going to bed. Weekends and school breaks are usually good times for creative writing.

What happens when you get stumped or frustrated in your writing? Put the manuscript aside for a day or so, then try it again.

People who haven't done any writing should learn how to prepare their manuscript for publication. Following are several essential rules:

Use the Times font with a 14-point size on your computer to ensure a bold, easy-to-read typeface.

Double-space your entire manuscript, avoiding huge blocks of type (do a lot of paragraphing) -- making the manuscript as easy to read and edit as possible.

Never fold a manuscript. Mail it flat. If you are including diagrams, make sure to put them on separate sheets of paper -- don't squeeze them in between paragraphs of type.

Mail the manuscript to only one publication at a time. If it is rejected, you can send it on to another publication. Always keep a copy of the manuscript on file.

What you are doing, in short, is making the manuscript very easy to read and easy to edit. Editors appreciate all these things.

We won't overwhelm you with a bibliography of books on grammar, vocabulary, or writing. Textbooks tend to be difficult to digest. But we can recommend a little paperback that is chockful of invaluable tips on the elementary principles of composition.

The book has been around for 65 years and practically all of our journalism schools use it as a basic text. It is called Elements of Style and was originally written by a Cornell professor named William Strunk.