A guide for contributors to the magazine...
Deepdale Invincible strives to offer a platform for all fans to offer their opinions on anything lilywhite and actively encourages people to contribute their views and articles. When fans send articles, what they say is usually spot on, punchy, well-argued, informative and deeply felt. However, there are a few guidelines that may well help the article become not good but great.
1) Length
Articles are generally either
- One Page - 400 words (approx)
- Two Pages - 850 words (approx)
It’s always a nightmare when a fantastic eight page article arrives and has to be butchered down to two sides in order to squeeze it into the magazine. The thinking is that if you can get it down to 450 words, then you can get it down to 400. Also, a little bit more space allows us to make the page look attractive and inviting to the reader.
Remember, Deepdale Invincible only has 36 pages and wants to incorporate as many different opinions and articles as possible. In exceptional circumstances, such as interviews or special features, there may well be exceptions. So if you have an idea for a special feature/interview then its best to email first.
2) Structure
Having decided on the length, you should think about the structure of your article. There's nothing worse than a good idea ruined by a flat introduction or a rushed conclusion. Be clear and concise; try to group your ideas into logical sections, giving each section equal weight.
3) Impact
Two pages of solid text could put people off reading all the way to the end. Think about the surroundings that readers might be looking at your article - in the pub with mates pre-match etc.
Try to think about ways of making the article as interesting as possible - fact boxes, quotes, statistics, lists, pictures, maps, cartoons, or anything else you can think of. Any pictures you might have or ideas for the overall design and look of your article are always appreciated as well.
4) Accuracy
Having accurate facts and figures always helps to make a persuasive argument. Everything you check is one less thing for us to worry about and could prevent your argument from being flawed.
Spelling is the main culprit of most people’s downfall, especially when it concerns names - is a former Preston manager called Billy Davies or Billy Davis? Also, don't write a single word that can't be proven but obvious tongue-in-cheek mocking is acceptable
5) Save As
A nice Word document please.
6) House Style
Some things in the English Language, like punctuation, are neither right nor wrong, but a matter of choice.
For the purists, here are a few brief ways that we like to present material, use them or ignore them:
1) Exclamation marks are crap. It's like telling a joke and then saying, "That was a joke."
2) The only words that should start with a capital letter are the names of people and places, not job titles: Derek Shaw is chairman.
3) Commas are preferred to hyphens.
4) No double spaces… anywhere.
5) If you don't know how to use semi-colons, don't bother, they're a bit funny to be honest; only flash people use them.
However, the above are only guidelines and shouldn’t restrict you. The most important thing is to get involved with YOUR fanzine, so feel free to ignore them completely if you don’t think they apply.
You can't teach imagination - it's the single most important thing an article needs. As the saying goes - a minute of thought is worth an hour of writing. Think inspiration, not perspiration.
Hope to hear from you all soon.
