The pleasures and rewards of writing an ARRLWeb article.

A computer and e-mail make it easy for NN0TT to submit articles for the ARRLWeb.

Like any magazine or newspaper, the ARRLWeb needs someone (like you!) to supply interesting reading to radio buffs. The League needs a continual influx of material to meet its schedule of several new articles every couple of weeks. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to give it a shot! Unless you are somewhat of a professional or technical writer, it is more likely your article will get on the ARRLWeb than in QST. In fact, that is how I got started! An idea I submitted was rejected for QST, but accepted for the ARRLWeb. It helps if you like to write, and can spell well, but even if you don't, that's what spell-checkers and editors are for! If you have a good idea, the editors will work with you. To quote the ARRLWeb, when your submission is published, you will have 15 days of "virtual fame"!

I Can Do That!

I started reading more articles on the ARRLWeb and I thought to myself, I can do that, too! You will notice that most of the articles are written in a very casual manner, almost as if the author were talking to you personally. That's because most of us "authors" are not professionals; we simply want to share what we hope will be an interesting facet of Amateur Radio. Although my articles have been published mostly in the manner I submitted them, the Web editors have been cordial and helpful by suggesting changes. For instance, I had titled my first article as "Re-Check Your Logs For DX." The editors had a better idea and renamed it "Mining Your Logs For DX Gold." It doesn't take too much thought to determine which title generates more interest!

Gimme Some Ideas

Your first question is probably "Okay, what do I write about?" Since the ARRL is the national association for Amateur Radio, they will consider just about anything that pertains in some way to radio. Notice that I said "consider." If your article is rejected, shrug it off and send in another one. The editors shot one of my early submissions down, but the sun still rose the next day. I'm not talking about Pulitzer Prize thought here; while we should give it our best effort, remember to have fun and create writing that is entertaining and informative, and that reflects well on yourself, the ARRL and your fellow hams.

Sometimes, a good idea will just pop into your head!

Most of us reading this are Amateur Radio operators. That gives us a definite "in." Begin by jotting down anything you have experienced in this hobby that would be interesting to others. Consider DX vacations, an antenna you are experimenting with, emergencies (tornado, flood, civil defense), meeting a foreign ham friend, helpful operating tips or an unusual QSO. Old timers should have a wealth of interesting nostalgia to share. With a little effort, everyone should develop several good ideas. Some of my subjects just popped into my head without giving it much thought!

After analyzing things I had recently done, I began pondering how I would put them into written words. When I had found some "hidden" DX entities in my log, I realized other hams may want to review their logs too, and hence, my first Web article was born! When I went "vanity," my writing reflected on the joys and trauma of applying for a new call sign. One of the articles I enjoyed the most compared mythological archaeologist Indiana Jones to the adventure of Amateur Radio, including several exotic DX QSLs from throughout the world. There is virtually no end to ideas for Amateur Radio articles.

It is acceptable to occasionally use a slang word or phrase, such as the one introducing this section. We understand that "gimme" is the way most people pronounce "give me." When a slang word is used to introduce a paragraph, it should be done in italics, which acknowledges that the word is grammatically incorrect, while being used as a means to promote interest. While we're on the subject of slang, this is a good time to get your creative juices flowing!

Be Yourself

Good works of writing do not get read because a stuffy research paper format was used (unless the article is technical in nature). A good rule to keep in mind is to write in a style you would enjoy reading yourself; that is, do not use superfluous words when smaller, easily understood ones will suffice. You don't talk that way to your friends; why do it when you write? You will notice that newspaper and magazine articles are generally written in a manner not requiring a PhD to comprehend them. We want readers to easily grasp our information and unusual words can actually hinder the flow. I heard somewhere that most of our day-to-day conversations revolve around a few hundred words of vocabulary. Most of us use simple words when we talk, and we don't expect drastic departures from that format when we read. That doesn't mean our compositions need to be boring. And, to get published, you first need to pique the interest of the editors.

Let It Flow

There are a few basics that I do whenever I write. I may knock out the first draft in one sitting, but I will do a lot of self-editing after that. It may take several days or weeks before I submit it to the ARRL. I am a stickler for trying not to repeat major words in a sentence or paragraph, but sometimes there are few options. For instance, the only way I know to refer to ham radio is to use the words "ham" or "amateur." When referring to our hobby in an article, I try to at least rotate these two terms as much as I can. I do not want my sentences to sound or look repetitious, or to ramble. Sometimes, reversing the order of words will make the text tie-in better with the preceding and following sentences.

With a little thought, common words can be replaced with others that have a little pizzazz (there's that slang again), but are still easily understood. For example, the word "leave" can be replaced with "depart." Or "acknowledged" can be used instead of "understood." I routinely use the thesaurus in my computer to give me ideas for word replacement. Just as a television show or motion picture would be very tedious if a few scenes were repeated continually, so it is with writing. Many of the nouns, verbs and adjectives can be varied to entice the reader to continue.

I try to create a story by using as few words as possible. This requires a balance of keeping the message reader friendly while refraining from using unneeded words. If I see they detract from the plot, I will remove entire paragraphs or sentences. This is not a 1000-word grade-school assignment. Your submission will not be evaluated on the number of words, but rather its content. Read your article several times. If it flows well, send it in. If not, computers make editing easy!

A colorful QSL will add interest to your article.

Add Some Color

Submissions that include colorful photos and graphics appeal to the eye. This can be easily done if you have a digital camera or a scanner coupled to your computer. Include a picture of yourself or with friends or family, your radio shack, attractive QSL cards, a project you are working on, scenes from vacation. It's a great way to grab attention to your article!

Go For It!

So what can you expect after you submit your masterpiece to the ARRL? I send mine by e-mail because it is quick and makes corresponding easy. You will receive an e-letter back from one of the editors, acknowledging that your submission has arrived and that it has been placed in the queue for review. It may take a few weeks before the editors make a determination. If your article is accepted, the ARRL will send you a waiver to sign before the article can be published. It is customary to include a short bio of yourself at the end of the article (where you live, operating awards, etc) and your e-mail address. After the article is published on the ARRLWeb (and you have become instantly famous!) you will receive your payment within a few weeks. You will likely receive some reader comments about your submission. To demonstrate the far-reaching effect of the ARRLWeb, I recently received an e-mail from a ham in Malaysia thanking me for my commentary!

Experience Helps

Once you have had an article or two accepted, you will get a better feel for what the editors consider good material for the Web, and you will gain more confidence. Your writing style will develop, too. Having just one article approved may fulfill your author desires, or you may want to submit others on a regular basis. I made many small changes to this manuscript before finally hitting the SEND button to the ARRL (awextra@arrl.org is the e-mail address to use). But don't wear yourself out; if you make too many changes you may lose the scope of your original idea. You want this to be an enjoyable experience, not a frustrating burden!

I was delighted, during a recent CW QSO, when the operator said he had read one of my articles on the ARRLWeb. You don't need to be a professional writer; in fact, one of the things I like about the ARRLWeb is its casual format. If you have an unusual experience, have some helpful hints you'd like to share, or just about anything else that would be interesting to your fellow hams, I encourage you to go for your first ARRLWeb article!

ARRL member Rod Vlach, NN0TT is an Extra Class operator living in Minnesota with his wife Diane. He has written several articles for the ARRLWeb, and enjoys DXing and ragchewing, mostly on CW. Rod can be reached at NN0TT@arrl.net.

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