Tips for Tournaments Illuminated Authors
Most TI articles focus on original research on re-creation, re-enactment, and reconstructive archaeology of the Society's period. Such research should be of wide interest to the membership, factually accurate, and not likely to be published elsewhere. Examples include how-to-make-a-medieval-thing articles and translations of period texts. Refer to TI's Editorial Policy for other examples of the kinds of material that may be published in TI.When you set out to write an article for TI, here are several questions to ask yourself:
- Is this a topic that is within our Society's period?
The Society's "period" is defined to be Western civilization before 1600 A.D.- Is the topic of interest to many readers?
This might be a bit tougher to judge. As an example, a review of a book that is really great will be of wider interest than a review of a book that is only mediocre.- Has the topic been covered recently?
An article on a topic that hasn't been covered in the past five years (or so) is more likely to be published than an article on a topic that has. If you're in doubt, check the online index.- Are sources cited?
A bibliography is important whenever historical facts are being cited. This is limited to 120 words, but authors are encouraged to list an e-mail contact if they would like to share a longer bibiography with interested readers. While primary sources aren't strictly required, going "right to the source" can sometimes lend legitimacy to your research.- Does the article have a practical focus?
The Society is all about active, hands-on learning and participation. Readers want to know not only the history behind the use of some "medieval thing" or medieval practice, but also how they can "make the medieval thing" or recreate the medieval practice themselves. This should in no way imply that only "how to" articles will be accepted for publication; articles that educate the membership about medieval and Renaissance life and culture (including discussions of various aspects of medieval life and culture, book reviews, and general articles on sources and how to do research) are also of wide interest.- Are there clear instructions that readers can follow to "make the medieval thing"?
Ask a friend who is not an expert in the field you are writing about to read your "how to" instructions. Can a novice follow along? Remember that written instructions are easier to follow when accompanied by illustrations or photographs. In addition, we can't reprint illustrations from published sources without permission from the publisher, which can be difficult to get, but you can certainly cite them.- Is the information factually accurate?
Ask a friend who is an expert in the field you are writing about to review your article.- Is the article a good length for TI?
Check the Submission Guidelines for article lengths. Longer articles may be better suited to be an issue of The Compleat Anachronist.- If illustrations are included, do you have permission to use them?
TI encourages authors to submit either their own drawings or photographs or those of artists specially commissioned for your article (please have them fill out a release form as well and include it when you send your submission, so that they may be properly credited). Copyright-free illustrations are also permissible, so long as you credit the source. If you as an author are able to acquire permission to use copyrighted material, please make sure we have a copy for our files. Regardless of what some will tell you, artwork from other books is rarely copyright-free, even when it consists of depictions of period artwork.
|
SCA Home Page
Membership - Resources - Society Officers - Documents & Publications Kingdoms & Groups - Activities - SCA Events |
Maintained by the SCA Webfolk
Copyright © 1995 - 2008 Society
for Creative Anachronism, Inc. The copyright of certain portions of www.sca.org are retained by the original contributors.