How To Write Special Feature Articles

undreds of contributions are examined every day in editorial offices of large publications, manuscripts should be submitted in such form that their merits can be as

that made by the personal appearance of an applicant for a position as he enters an office seeking employment. In c

Every person who aspires to write for publication should learn to use a typewriter. Unti

ions apply to the preparation of all manuscripts: (1) write on only one side of the paper; (2) allow a margin of about three quarte

ng of returned manuscripts. A carbon copy should be made of every manuscript so that, if the original copy goes astray in the mail or in an editorial office, the writer's work will not have been in vain. The carbon copy can a

self. Frequently, for purposes of record, manuscripts are stamped or marked in editorial offices, but if a cover page is attached, the manuscript itself is not defaced. Wh

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author. The title, the sub-title, and the author's name should be repeated at the beginning of the article in the middle of the first page, even though they have been given on th

essions of

corner. By these simple means the danger of losing a

eparation and editing of copy. A careful reading of several issues of a publication will show a writer the salient features of its typographical style. It is less important, however, to conform to the typographical peculiarities of any one publication than

that there is no time to copy the first draft, it may be desirable to revise the ma

a word indicate that it is to be set

d indicate that it is to be set in smal

indicates that it is to be set

ugh a capital letter indicates that it is to

viations indicates that they are to be spe

es that they are to be abbreviated or that numerical

he letters or words written above the line are to

longated figure "8" indicates that the words

etters indicate that they are to b

a word shows that the parts are

may be used to show that a period is t

in half circles to indicate wheth

_| may be used to call attention

e return of rejected articles stamps may be attached to the cover page by means of a clip, or a self-addressed envelope with stamps affixe

or her by name. If a writer knows an editor personally or has had correspondence with him in regard to a particular article, it may be desirable to send the manuscript

e. Photographs of sizes up to 5 x 7 inches may be placed in a manuscript that is folded once, with a single piece of stout cardboard for protection. When larger photographs

ly the same. When a manuscript is received, a record is made of it on a card or in a book, with the name and address of the author, the title and character of the contribution, and the time of its rece

ation. Of the thousands of contributions of all kinds submitted, a considerable proportion are not in the least adapted to the periodical to which they have been sent. The first reader, accordingly

rial readers before it reaches the assistant editor. The best of the contributions are submitted to the editor for a final decision. By such a system every meritorious contribution is considered carefull

sistant Sunday editor, or assistant magazine editor, and are

ve prepared a number of form letters to explain to contributors the various reasons why their manuscripts are unacceptable. The editorial assistant who rejects an unsuitable article indicates by number which of these form letters is to be sent to the author. A few editors s

best advantage. Either a book or a card index may be used. The purpose of such a record is to show (1) the length of time required by various publications to make a decision on

ke a decision. Another publication to which his article is equally well adapted, he may find from his manuscript record, accepts or rejects contributions within a week or ten days. Naturally he will send his timely article to the publication that makes

le is equally well suited to two or more periodicals, a writer will naturally be inclined

articles is at a given moment, and by what publications it has b

e number of illustrations that accompany it, and the date on which it was completed. On the lines under the title are written in turn the names of the periodicals to which the manuscript is submitted, with (1)

n. 2,750 Words. 4 Photos

Accepted Paid

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2/12/19 2/18/19 3/1

d periodicals pay for articles when they are accepted. Some publications do not pay until the article is printed, a method obviously less satisfactory to a writer than prompt payment, since he may have to wait a year or more for his money. Newsp

t galley proofs to the author for correction and for any changes that he cares to make. It is desirable to make as few a

cannot be republished without its consent. Usually an editor will grant an author permission to reprint an article in book or pamphlet fo

s. This method is known as syndicating. It is made possible by the fact that the circulation of newspapers is largely local. Since, for example, Chicago papers are not read in New York,

s are written on the same subject, different pictures should be secured, so that it will not be necessary to send copies of the same illustrations to two magazines. Agricultural jour

in a city. A special feature story, for instance, sent to the Kansas City Star for publication in its Sunday edition, he would mark, "Exclusive for Kansas City. Release for Publication, Sunday, January 19." Third, he must send out the copies sufficiently far in advance of the release date to enable all of the papers to arrange for the publication o

r, they sell the same material to many papers, they can afford to do so at a comparatively low price and still make a fair profit. To protect their literary property, they often copyright their features, and a line of print announcing this fact is often the only indication in a newspaper that the matter was furnished by a syndicate. Among the bes

rganizations usually pay well for acceptable manuscripts. It is not as easy, however, to discover the needs and general policy of each syndicat