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You’re invited to become published in NCDA’s Web Magazine!What is Career Convergence? “A practical, online resource for all categories of people
working in the career field” Audience: career practitioners and professionals
Go to: www.ncda.orgContact: Melanie Reinersman, [email protected]
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How is Career Convergence different from other publications?
Tone - friendly, informal Purpose – a practical tool that can immediately be
used Format – bullets, subheadings Online features – links, archives
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Benefits to Publishing
Contribute to your field Develop your personal and professional skills Add to your credentials Obtain CEU’s Market your expertise Increase your network
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Keys to Getting Published
Read the publication Study the Submission Guidelines Reflect: what can you share? Communicate with an editor Follow-up
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Step-by-Step Process
1. Read the current issue2. Read the archives3. Read the Submission Guidelines4. Determine your topic5. Submit a draft6. Follow-up7. What happens after submission?8. You’re Published!9. Publish again!
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Step-by-Step: Read the current issue
What do you like about it? What areas are attractive to you – do they
match your skills, interests, and experiences?
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Step-by-Step: Read the archives
What topics have been covered (or not covered) in previous issues?
What’s been suggested for future articles? Who are the authors?
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Step-by-Step: Read the Submission Guidelines
Review the Focus, Style, Length, and other criteria for selection
Who is the contact person? Unique conditions:
– All work must be original and never before published– Copyright transfer and reprint permission– Submit to only one editor– Compensation?
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Step-by-Step: Determine your topic
If you have one, email the topic or outline or article draft to an editor
If you don’t have one:– Brainstorm - by yourself or with a colleague– Brainstorm with an Career Convergence Editor
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Brainstorming
What topics interest you? What topics can you “piggy-back” on? What current professional activities can you
share as a “best practice”? Can you write about a conference
presentation? Can you write a book review?
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Brainstorming
What was your favorite job?book?course? What career advice would you share with a
specific population (e.g., school children? college/grad students?)
What would you like to learn more about? Who could you partner with to co-author an
article?
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Step-by-Step:Submit an Article
Submit a draft to an editor via email, using a Word document attachment or pasted in body of email
Include all your contact info An editor will work with you to help you meet
submission guidelines Deadline: flexible; generally the 15th of each
month
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Step-by-Step: Follow-up
Editor may request revisions Send another email if you don’t hear from
editor within 3 weeks After acceptance, sign the copyright transfer
form and return it (via snail mail)
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Step-by-Step: What happens next?
Depends on who you submitted the article to:
Field Editor Associate Editor Career Convergence Editor
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Step-by-Step:You’re Published!
New articles appear on the first of each month Previous articles are archived and searchable Web magazine is emailed to subscribers
(approximately 10,000 a month) Reprint permission granted by Editor
That was easy, so why not do it again!
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Hints to Finding the Time and Talent to Get Published
Writer, Know Thyself Scan the Environment You can overcome Writer’s Block Keep It Simple
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Writer, Know Thyself
Recognize your expertise– You may need to narrow your focus to gain
expertise
Explore your skills (you probably have the assessments to do this!)
Brainstorm with a colleague about your talents Look at your experience with diversity or
special populations
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Scan the Environment
What has already been written? What is missing? What is common information/knowledge in
your work setting?– What’s common to you may be novel to other
professionals
What are colleagues bemoaning: what do they need?
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Overcoming Writer’s Block Focus on practical topics – things you have used that
have worked– If it’s been useful to you, it may be useful to others
Keep it in perspective– 950 words is only about 2 pages!– Write about what you love – the words and time will fly!
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KISS
Keeping it simple will keep your readers interested
You don’t need to have an English degree, or a Ph.D.
No need for five syllable words Use bullets when possible