I bet that some of you have had an urge to write a magazine article. An idea has been bouncing around in your head, probably for a while, and you would like to see it in print. I’ll also wager that at one time or another you read an addiction magazine article and thought, “I’ve been thinking about something like that.” And finally, after reading an article, you probably thought you could do just as good a job, if not better. If you ever have toyed with an idea of writing, it is time to get started.

This column will guide you to the point of submitting a manuscript to Counselor or another addictions-oriented magazine. It outlines a series of steps that, although they will not guarantee success in the publishing world, will give you a writing plan.

A few facts and fictions
First of all, I assure you that people who get published are not awfully different from those who do not. The big difference is that those who publish have taken the time to sit and write. Yet, the very idea of writing frequently evokes the fear of being rejected, or the belief that there is something magical about writing, or the thought that deep down you do not have what it takes. If these are concerns, bear in mind that all authors have had similar apprehensions. You are not alone. Yet, writers still write despite these fears.

Next, it is important that you become aware of the fact that this field can use all the good authors it can get. That is to your advantage. Editors are always looking for new ideas. If they spot one, it stands a good chance of making it through the review process and into print. In my travels, I have heard tons of good ideas. Sadly, they never got noticed because of fears or because people just have not taken the time to simply sit and write.

Practical first steps
If you stayed around thus far, it likely means you are intrigued with the idea of writing something — so, here are a few tips to think about before you start to write. First, keep your readership in mind. Before writing your first word, pause and ask yourself a few questions: “What can I offer my readers? What is of interest to them? What practical suggestions can I propose?” As you write, keep these and similar questions in mind (or tacked to the wall by your desk).

Keep these additional thoughts in mind when you finally do write. First, you do not have to be in the mood to write. It is nice but it is not a requirement. Published authors advocate a number of ideas to get you to the word processor or your desk (e.g., bribe yourself to write anything and then reward yourself, or just sit and write for five minutes — the idea is that the five minutes of writing might lead to five more minutes and so on).

Sometimes people write just to see what comes through — no inspiration required. For example, if you want to write about treating adolescents with substance use disorder problems, but do not know how to get on paper what has worked in your office, simply write, and see what comes through. You soon may discover that the idea you had in mind is beginning to take shape on paper or a computer screen much like a painting or a quilt does. Lots of similar motivational tips can be found in the recommended books listed at the end of this article.

Second, in order to write, you do not need to set aside gobs of uninterrupted time. The uninterrupted time is nice, but so is a half hour. Along the same lines, keep some paper handy, so when an idea bubbles up, you can write a couple of quick sentences and later blend them into your working draft.

Third, every now and then, look at your project from a distance. Step back, look it over, and visualize the final draft. Do you visualize the result you want? The clearer your vision of the end product, the more likely you are to completing it.

A few more pointers
Do not make writing some kind of mysterious enterprise. It isn’t one. Keep the idea of writing down to earth where it really is. You can do this. Writing is writing. There really is nothing special about it.

Next, and this is important: many people who begin to write think they have to produce a final masterpiece on the first draft. If it does not come out that way, they consider themselves failures and stop writing. Do not fall into this trap. Nobody ever produces a finished product on a first attempt. Your article will survive a number of adjustments and edits, a fact inherent in good writing.

In other words, do not be too hard on yourself. Unless you are some kind of a prodigy, you are going to have to work at writing. Expecting perfection will kill your writing quicker than anything. Aim for progress and just write.

Your first draft probably is not going to look pretty. But, sooner or later, a golden sentence will appear, expressing exactly what you wanted to say. To achieve that magical moment, it is fine to imitate or borrow from (and reference) the work of other writers.

Still shy about writing? Read a few of the books I recommend at the end of this article, or peruse some of the other good writing books out there. You will find a horde of ideas on how to start and persist with your writing.

Find your topic and theme
At this point in the process, you are almost ready to sit and write. Before you do that, determine your central topic, your subject matter (e.g., dual disorders, family counseling, and ethics are central topics). A number of strategies will help you generate a topic. For instance, read a few articles to stimulate your thinking about a topic, or reflect on some real-life experience that has given you pause to think. Perhaps, you want to expand on an article you recently read, or write a constructive criticism of another article. Maybe you notice some interesting trends or success stories within your program, and you think this will be helpful to an addictions-oriented audience. Do you have some research data and want to tell people about your findings? All these techniques can help you find your central topic.

Now, as soon as you get that central idea, refine it. Ask yourself, “What is the theme that will hold my article together?” For a magazine article, the topics “ethics” or “dual disorders” are too broad to be considered a theme, but you can write a specific element in these subjects (e.g., managing dual relationships, or treating co-occurring depression and substance use disorders). The specific element you select is then your theme.

Once established, the theme keeps you on course. Remember, this article is going into a magazine format so it has to be relatively short, about 1,500 to 3,000 words. (That is about five to twelve double-spaced pages including references.) For a magazine, you want to present one or two key/central ideas, not six or seven. (Reserve the six or seven ideas for your book.)
Here is a word of advice for you when you are developing your specific topic. Summarizing what has been written in the past is probably not going to get you published. For example, the history of the addiction field, or a review of treatments offered in today’s treatment programs has been printed. Instead of summarizing what’s been already published, strive to discuss and analyze. For example:

• Analyze the arguments for and against harm reduction, and point out a new element.
• Describe a recent incident in your practice that caused you to change your attitude regarding the way you treat denial.
• Compare and contrast different forms of treatment interventions.
• Discuss the benefits and drawbacks of the new-generation medications used in addictions treatment.

All these approaches are amenable to a magazine format. You will see these forms used time and again in Counselor and other professional magazines. Once you establish the style of presentation, it is time to move on.

The practical side (the perspiration)
This next section addresses the real work of writing. First create an informal outline, which gives you order. That order, in turn, may keep you at the computer, whereas chaos will keep you away.

It is no secret that outlines have a beginning, middle, and end. Generally, the opening sentence or paragraph of your article is meant to get the attention of your reader. That means you want to get right to the point, your central theme. With magazine articles, you want to make your opening sentence or paragraph stand out. Make those first few sentences say something. One examples of a recent Counselor first sentence is, “This year more than 60,000 Americans will struggle with morbid obesity, and some of those individuals are going to walk into your office seeking treatment” (Berkus, 2003). This opening sentence tells the reader the subject matter and why it is important. The next sentences lay out the author’s ideas for addressing the issue.

Next, the middle section is the bulk of the article. Here you detail the problem you want to address, or the argument you want to make. You need to do your homework: make sure you have good reliable material to support your position. That means visiting the good old library or a reliable Web site. To make your point, I suggest that your material be of an empirical nature (this is especially true in this day and age of accountability). Do not rely exclusively on anecdotal material. Furthermore, include subheadings in your article (in fact, those subheadings are probably the main points of your outline). Try not to be too simplistic or too complex in the middle section. Supply just enough detail with a few good examples or pieces of evidence you found to give life to your main idea.

The last section usually summarizes the most important points you made in the middle one. This is your chance to leave the reader thinking about your main topic. Many writers and readers alike enjoy a big finish — with a bit of flash and show. Your style is up to you and your temperament. Yet, keep in mind this is your last chance to promote your idea. This way your thoughts stay with reader, which is the whole point of writing.

Time to “just write it”
OK, it is time to write your first draft. Just write it. As you do this, remember, no one else will see it. Once this draft is compete re-read, edit, and revise it. Those revisions will cover content, style, and mechanics. Then, show it to someone who can offer honest feedback. If you are not strong with grammar and syntax, ask someone who is good with those things to review your manuscript.

At this point, you may need to reorganize, or have additional ideas you want to include or delete. Make sure to look for flaws in your work. Some writers suggest you read your own work as if you were someone else, like an editor. A good way to do this is to take a few days off. Then come back and read it as if you were a stranger. Be flexible in your writing. This is true especially at this time. Then, if you have to make changes, do it.

Once you’ve considered all the feedback, write the final draft. Once it is complete, hold a hard copy in your hand and decide if you will submit it. If you do, read on.

The cover letter
You need to write a good letter of introduction to accompany your article. Here are a few quick tips. First, make sure you know the editor’s name and address. That will help move things along, rather using than the generic salutation “Dear Editor.” Second, keep the letter short and to the point. Tell the editor what your idea is, outline the piece, say why you think it is important, and include a short biography. Third, keep the letter to one page, short and sweet.

Feedback from your editor
If your article is selected for publication, the editor most likely will suggest changes to your manuscript. Do not take the suggestions personally, follow them. Often they will improve your piece. If you receive a letter saying something to the effect that your subject does not fit within the editorial theme of the magazine, do not despair. Try another magazine, and then another. Never give up!

Your advantage
Remember what I said at the start of this article. There is no deep mystery to writing. You don’t always need the right moment or right amount of time. As with anything, you will get better the more you do it. Find your own unique motivation and then pick up an ink pen or put your fingers on a keyboard. Your big advantage is that editors are hungry for new ideas — all you have to do is supply them. Keep that in mind as you write.

I know there are hundreds of budding authors out there. You have really good ideas, and they need to be shared. So, what are you waiting for? It’s time to write.

Michael J. Taleff, PhD, CSAC, MAC, is the Coordinator of the Center for Substance Abuse for the University of Hawai’i at Manoa. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Reference
Berkus, V. (2003, June). Food addiction: America’s compulsion. Counselor, 4, 51-57.
Recommended Books for Inspiration
Cameron, J. (1998). The right to write. New York: Tarcher/Putman.
Heffron, Jack, (2000). The writer’s idea book. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.
Lamott, A. (1995). Bird by bird: Some instructions on writing and life. New York, NY: Anchor books
Saltzman, J. (1993). If you can talk you can write. New York: Warner Books, Inc.
Ueland, B. (1987). If you want to write. Saint Paul, MI: Graywolf Press.
Recommended Books for Grammar and Syntax
Cheney, T.A.R. (1983). Getting the words right: How to rewrite, edit and revise. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.
Delton, J. (1985). The 29 most common writing mistakes and how to avoid them. Cincinnati, OH: Writer’s Digest Books.
Eggenschcwiler, J. (1997). Writing: Grammar, usage and style. Lincoln, NE: Cliff Notes Inc.
Ivers, M. (1991). The Random House guide to good writing. New York: Random House.
Manhard, S.J. (1987). The goof-proofer. New York: Macmillan Publishing.
Oliver, B. (2001). Modern English misusage: The rules of grammar explained with precision and wit. Mountainview, CA: SETI Press.
Strunk, W. & White, E.B. (1979). The elements of style (3RD Ed.) New York: Macmillan Publishing.

This article is published in Counselor,The Magazine for Addiction Professionals, August 2004, v.5, n.4, pp. 65-67.

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