If you’ve always thought you had an article in you, you can learn to put it on paper. Writing is an attainable skill, but like the actor craft, it takes practice to perfect.

To train your mind to think like a writer, read copiously. Reading will teach you what ideas make good articles, how they are developed, and how they are best presented. In addition to materials that interest you, peruse a writing manual or two to exercise your writing skills.

The following steps will help you along the publishing path:

1. Get an idea. Train yourself to recognize story ideas. Nurses often fail to see that their perspectives have publishing potential. Others can help you notice ideas unique to you. Talk to healthcare workers and people in other professions to heighten sensitivity to your views and experiences.
2. Develop the idea. To develop your idea into a well-rounded presentation, let the topic mentally percolate. Read or talk about the topic to gain direction for your approach.
3. Target the idea. Study the publication for which you intend to write. Know the audience, style, and content mix; determine which section best suits your idea. Some publications need a clinical perspective, while others seek the human interest side or a news trend. The most professional approach is to send a query letter to the editor before you send the manuscript, and ask for writers’ guidelines. Nursing Spectrum staff assists contributors in developing articles for its publications.
4. Keep the time frame in mind. Holiday stories must be submitted at certain times of the year; editors can give you an idea of the publishing schedule. Some journals may print an article up to a year after accepting the manuscript. An innovation, such as a new medication administration that is on the forefront of your field when you first consider writing about it, can become standard practice quickly, so write about it immediately. If you are writing about a pilot program, include information on when the trial period will be completed so that the editor can avoid printing an outdated article.
5. Organize the idea. Every article needs structure to “flow” properly. An introduction, body, and conclusion are useful in many instances. If your article has news value, the publication may prefer a writing structure known as the inverted pyramid - the most important information presented first, with the ensuing information gradually decreasing in significance. For first-person accounts, chronological order may work best. Study the targeted publication section to determine the best structural approach.

Before you begin, create an outline; it can be detailed or merely a list of one-word concepts - whatever helps you organize the information. If you feel over-whelmed at the thought of how to order the supportive ideas, try drawing a circle for each major thought with lines radiating outward to represent each supportive idea. When you see the big picture, including all the points, it will be easier to determine the best sequence.

6. Write the idea. Putting words on a blank paper or computer screen is a daunting hurdle. Approach it with an affirmative statement: “Today, I get to write.” While an idea may come to you anywhere at any time and end up being scribbled on a napkin, blocking out the same time each day and working in the same physical space may help you with the work of turning the idea into an article.

To begin, ask yourself what the central idea is and how it affects the readers. It helps to summarize the main point even if you later decide to add something creative before it. Detach from the world and allow the task to consume you. Don’t worry about grammar, spelling, and syntax when you begin, and don’t allow self-criticism until you get to a stopping point. Early criticism can stifle the creative flow. Stopping to look up a fact or figure also can derail your train of thought, so indicate what you want to insert later and move on.

If you encounter writer’s block, you may need more preparatory work. If you feel you have done all your homework, force yourself to write something anyway. Some tricks of the trade:

• Write a letter you have no intention of mailing to explain your topic. Thinking of a specific person as the letter recipient can help; choose someone from among the intended audience - another nurse, for example, if you’re writing for Nursing Spectrum.
• Write in a personal journal. This removes the pressure to produce acceptable material but starts words flowing.
• Talk about your subject. Clarity often comes as you hear the thoughts.
• Engage in large-muscle physical activity, such as walking or a massage, to aid creativity.
• Remember that words do not cry out in pain if they are changed or cut, only the author does.

7. Rewrite the idea. Professional writers never create a first-draft masterpiece. Sidney Sheldon is said to spend four times as much time rewriting as he does on his first draft. Expect to rewrite a manuscript at least six times. Edit in short time blocks, one aspect at a time. Examine general content, organization, and sentence structure. Wherever appropriate, change sentences written in the passive voice (This can be done by you) to the active voice (You can do this). Keep sentences short; a general rule of thumb is that no sentence should be more than 22 words.

Consider your word usage; carefully chosen words give your writing a powerful edge. Brevity and directness are key; make every word count. Wherever you can say something in fewer words, do so. Make sure your point of view is consistent; an article written in the third person shouldn’t suddenly lapse into first person.

Check spelling and grammar last. Although a copy editor will review your article before publication, an editor pressed for time may select a relatively “clean” manuscript for publication over one that is riddled with errors. Feeling ignorant about grammar can become a self-limiting hindrance. People tend to make the same mistakes repeatedly; discover yours and correct them. A basic English or writing course can boost your confidence.

8. Reread the written idea. Wait a few days before rereading your draft aloud. If it doesn’t sound smooth, find a way to fix it. Does the introduction pull you in? Are there unnecessary phrases or words? The more polished your manuscript is, the more likely it is to be accepted.
9. Proofread your written idea. Check for errors such as misspelled homonyms — ”their” for “they’re,” for example - that a spellcheck function doesn’t flag. Ensure the accuracy of proper names and reference data; factual errors destroy credibility.
10. Submit your written idea. Follow the publication’s guidelines, which may preclude you from submitting the manuscript to a competitor until the editor decides whether to accept it. Be prepared for a long wait; many publications include a peer review process that may take six weeks or longer. If you don’t hear from the publication within three months, contact the editor. If you are asked for a rewrite, seriously consider the suggestions given to improve the article. If the manuscript is edited more extensively than you’d like, swallow your pride and avoid nitpicking. Editors know their audience and their editorial needs better than you, and someone with a professional writing background will have reviewed your manuscript. If you feel your meaning was changed, discuss it with the editor.

Acceptance rates for unsolicited manuscripts vary from 20 percent to 70 percent. If you are turned down by one publication, try another.

11. Follow your idea through publication. When your article is accepted, follow any guidance given throughout its publication. You may have to buy additional copies of the printed publication. Don’t expect to be paid more than a stipend — publications don’t pay much to nonprofessional writers. A small financial reward need not diminish your sense of fulfillment or the importance of your idea.

When your article appears, let your superiors know. Your employer may mention the accomplishment in the employee newsletter.

Writing for publication is exhausting work even for experienced authors. Many people who dream of being published are not willing to commit the necessary energy. But the lasting intangible rewards more than compensate you. Devote the time and effort and, someday, you may find your name in the library’s author index.

Nursing Spectrum is always looking for authors and contributors to our magazine. For more information on being published in Nursing Spectrum, please visit our section on writing for Nursing Spectrum.

Polly Gerber Zimmermann, RN, MS, MBA, is an emergency and occupational health nurse in Chicago and a contributing editor and section editor for the Journal of Emergency Nursing. She has published more than 40 articles.