Webinar given to AIIP members

1. Marydee Ojala
Editor, Author, Consultant

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Agenda
Introduction
Who
What
Where
When
Why
And How

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Introduction
AIIP members are often counseled to publish
Many AIIP members already publish
For clients as well as public
Some AIIP members are confident writers, others are
terrified
Journalism’s 5 Ws: Who, What, Where, When, Why.
I’ve added How

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My Background
MLS from University of Pittsburgh
First article in ONLINE – v. 2, 1978
Started writing Dollar Sign column in 1987
Became editor of Database in 1997
Became editor of ONLINE in 2001; Title changed to
Online Searcher in 2013
Also involved in conference program planning:
WebSearch University, Enterprise Search Summit,
Internet Librarian International

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Who
You - if you can write a report for a client, you can
write for publication
Audience
Existing clients
New clients
Professional group
Local, regional, worldwide

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Who
Else to involve
Co-author
Writing buddy
Copy editor
Layout person
Web designer
Reality checker

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Who
Owns what you write?
Can you change this?

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What
Will you write about?
Write about what you know or what you want to know
more about
Write what someone wants to read
Write what an editor wants to publish
Are your personal/professional goals?
What you write should align with your goals

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What
Writing style to use
Formal, informal
You might want to forget some grammar rules
Specified style sheet
Stay away from academic style
Concentrate on action verbs, simple declarative
sentences

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What
Will you be paid?
Do you expect to be paid?

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Where
Will you write?
At home, in the office, at coffee shop?
Will people read your writing?
Your website, blog?
Publisher decides for you?
Email blast?
In book
Will they find it?

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Where
Will you publish?
Journals (non peer-reviewed or peer-reviewed)
Newsletters (yours or someone else’s)
Newspapers
Popular press
Social media (blogs particularly)
Book
Self-publishing

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Where to Publish
For the profession (which profession?)
Library journals, Target market journals
AIIP newsletter
For clients
Publications potential clients will read
Technical journals

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Where are You in Your Career
Just starting
Validation
Middle
Credibility
Change in focus
Experienced
Knowledge sharing

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When
Regularly scheduled publication?
How time sensitive is information
Does someone else determine schedule
Will you find the time to write?
Carve out a particular time of day
Vow to write a certain number of words per day (even if
you never publish them)

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Why
Do you want to do this?
What’s in it for you
Raise visibility, professional recognition
Acquire new customers, Gain existing customer loyalty
Prove expertise, Validate knowledge base
Personal satisfaction

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How
The mechanics of writing
Grammar – differences between US and UK grammar
Spelling – remember that spell check doesn’t catch
everything
Used – sued; meditate – mediate; nuclear – unclear;
now – not; portable – potable
Don’t pick first option spell check presents

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How
To work with editors
Before you pitch an article, become familiar with
publication and read author guidelines, look at editorial
calendar (if there is one)
Follow author guidelines
Keep in contact with editors

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How to Write for Publication
Questions?
Ask here or contact me at:
marydee@xmission.com
Online Searcher
www.infotoday.com/onlinesearcher

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Contact Details
Marydee Ojala
marydee@xmission.com
www.onlinemag.net