|
"How
To" Article Submission Guidelines
|
The how-to article you send to
The Prospector should include the following items:
-
Text - Tell
how you did the project, or tell the reader how to do it,
in simple, clear, and direct language. Use photos and drawings
extensively, and put details, dimensions, and part numbers
in the illustrations. Use active description or instruction,
such as "I painted the roof black" or "Paint the roof black,"
and avoid the passive, "The roof was painted black."
- Lead photograph - Show
the model or project at its best, to get the reader's attention
and encourage him to read and follow the article. Usually it's
best to show the subject of the article in a finished model
scene, with the photo composed so the article subject is the
dominant element. Alternately, show the subject against a plain,
untextured backdrop of a neutral color—seamless photo backdrop
paper is ideal.
- How-to illustrations - Use
drawings and photos to show the project under construction.
Number each as a figure, i.e., fig. 3, and refer to them by
the corresponding number in the text. Neat, legible pencil drawings
are acceptable, as our art staff will prepare finished ink drawings
for publication. Drawings need not be to scale unless scale
is important, as with exact-size templates, for example. How-to
photos should generally be taken against plain backgrounds.
You may include callouts--labels with pointers--in a black-and-white
photo: make a photocopy of the print and write and draw on the
copy.
- Bill of materials - Give
a detailed list of items needed to build the project. Include
manufacturers' names, part numbers, part names or descriptions,
and quantities required. Be sure your information is current.
Explain if the reader will have to substitute for items which
are no longer available. If you doubt that the reader will know
where to find some item, include the manufacturer's address.
- Prototype information (where
applicable) - Use photos
and/or drawings to show the reader the prototype you followed.
Photos may be color, black-and-white, or both.
|
|
