Contributing To AR Magazine
Overview
Amateur Radio is the membership journal of the Wireless Institute of Australia (WIA).
The magazine serves three principal purposes:
(a) to provide a central forum for members to have published articles they've written about a technical construction project or experiment, or technical articles on any aspect of radio communications and related sciences,
(b) a "journal of record" for WIA actions, activities, operations, projects, and achievements, in addition to events of note in the Australian radio amateur community, and
(c) general news of happenings of likely interest in the amateur radio community across Australia and the globe.
The 'contents page' (p.3) of one or more issues will reveal the breadth, depth and range of the topics we cover.
Contributions are not rewritten to a "house style." In general, they are edited to ensure accuracy, clarity, and readability, while correcting, where necessary, spelling, grammar, and punctuation. The popular word processors have facilities to review your text and suggest revisions.
It is easy to write for Amateur Radio. Many, many amateurs have already done so. Few contributors are, or were, professional writers. You can obtain a lot of satisfaction from hearing that readers enjoyed your article/s.
Most people can write about something they did, or an event they were involved in.
Please note that no fees are paid for contributions.
Writing Your First Article
When starting out, don't expect too much of yourself. Just explain what you have in mind, keeping straight to the point.
Write down the chief points you want to say. Outline an article plan.
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 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, 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 programs 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.
Submit your contribution via email to:
armag@wia.org.au
or post hard copy or computer disk to:
Secretary
Publications Committee
National WIA Office
PO Box 2042
Bayswater
Victoria, 3153
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, submitted in hard copy 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.
2021 Schedule Dates for regular column contributors
AR magazine Closing Dates 2021 Edition
Closing Date (to Secretary)
 January/February 2021 Edition: 8 January 2021
March/April 2021 Edition: 19 February 2021
May/June 2021 Edition: 16 April 2021
July/August 2021 Edition: 18 June 2021
September/October 2021 Edition: 20 August 2021
November/December 2021 Edition: 22 October 2021
Notes: There are only 6 issues in 2021.
It is suggested that you begin to gather your articles at least 3 weeks before the closing date. Use your DIARIES.
The above Closing Dates are set according to PRINT Dates so that your articles can be processed in time for production in the AR magazine and allowing for it to be sent out on time.
Send all content to: armag@wia.org.au
Files For Download
Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 04 Jun 2024 at 14:39 hours by Armag
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