What’s Your Story?

 One of the best indicators we’re doing something right at GCI is the growing number of you who are emailing, Tweeting, Facebooking or otherwise knocking on our door to find out how you can write an article for us.

Back in the Stone Age when I started in journalism, we used to call this phenomenon “having a manuscript come over the transom.” I believe this refers to the “transom” windows that used to be common over office doors. Wannabe authors would literally throw their unsolicited articles or book manuscripts through that window thingy to get the editor’s attention. (Note: Please don’t do this when submitting articles to us today – unless you’re sending us a piece saved on a new iPad 2 with Verizon 3G coverage, a wireless keyboard and the latest Angry Birds app pre-installed.)

However you want to submit articles, we love to see them because, ultimately, we’re just a conduit for ideas among readers. When you write a piece from your perspective, you cut out the middleman (a dumb editor like me) and make sure your views are expressed just the way you want them to be. So, when we publish articles written first-hand by superintendents and hands-on industry experts, we do our job best.

And, at a time when jobs are precious, a track record of writing for industry pubs is a great notch in the belt of a good candidate. Let’s face it: growing grass is the easiest part of the job. The ability to communicate well, express yourself, network and gain prestige and support for your facility may be even more critical. Yes, it’s still about conditions and customer satisfaction, but the rest of the package matters so much more than most folks recognize.

Anyway, before you throw something over our doorway, I thought I’d provide some tips and suggestions about getting published.
 

Don’t write it yet!
Far too many times, a well-intentioned author will spend weeks slaving over on a story and send us a completed 4,000 word story to us along with pictures…just to find we already accepted a similar article or, more likely, it’s way too long and off topic. Instead, send us an email or give us a call and summarize your idea in a few paragraphs. We’ll work with you, give you suggestions, ideas about length, deadlines and such.
 

Getting into print.
Every month, we produce a print issue that has a limited number of pages. Your article may or may not fit. We like to run “big idea” stories (trends, major agronomic issues, careers) along with our regular columns, case studies and the occasional guest submission. Articles for the print magazine need to be a little more formal and you definitely need to work closely with the editors to get it right. We are far more likely to run a “how I did it” story that details an innovative practice or professional development move you’ve made than any other kind of submission. These step-by-step articles are great! Pictures help tremendously. Anytime you take on an interesting project, take photos every step of the way.

There’s always room on the website. The Internet is… er, big, and we take advantage of that. We adore running bylined stories, columns and videos from readers in our “Fast & Firm” e-newsletter. We just don’t have room for everything in print and some things just work better online. If your idea is timely or if you’re talking about a topic that doesn’t need to be supported by pictures, the online edition may be the best place for you. Besides, our enewsletter goes to more than 20,000 of your colleagues every couple of weeks. Lots and lots of folks will see it and it’s easy to send a link to your parents or cousins... or a potential employer.

If you’re blogging, you may be halfway home.
We’re constantly spotting great blog posts by superintendents and getting in touch with them to see if they’ll develop it into an online article. Save us a step and email us a link to your really good posts.

Have fun with it.
Please don’t be boring. We hate boring.

So, I urge you to throw your article idea over our electronic transom. Better yet, print it and wrap it around a new Taylormade R11 driver (right-handed, medium shaft) and have it delivered to my attention at GCI global headquarters. I promise to read it immediately.

Pat Jones
Editorial Director and Publisher