EDITORIAL GUIDELINES

Composites Manufacturing invites freelance feature submissions, all of which should be sent via email as a Microsoft Word attachment. Please include photos and any applicable charts/graphs with articles. Digital photos should be 300 dpi and should be provided as a separate file (not embedded in the Word document). A query letter is required and may be directed to:

Submission Types

Technical Process Features: Submissions should focus on technical processes or applicability of products, expressed in non-commercial language and not serve to promote or market a company's resources or products. Articles should focus on successful, innovative, or time proven manufacturing techniques, applications, installations or testing of composite materials. This is the heart of Composites Manufacturing, the 'how to' articles that readers can use as a reference guide.

Research and Development Features: Any composites R&D that has direct, commercially marketable applications is well received. General, non-commercial language should be used. Full attribution and company contact will be granted at the end of the article, but the article cannot be used as a vehicle to flagrantly promote a company's business interests. One product or process reference is acceptable, but tone should be targeted for general interest, not an advertisement.

Case Studies: A well-written case study is a tool for other readers to use as they implement a similar change or tackle a similar problem. Case studies provide step-by-step instruction, and demonstrate successful strategies at meeting common goals in the composites industry.

Business Management, Human Resources and Industry Market Analysis Features: Submissions that focus on management techniques, human resources, or market trends applicable to the composites industry are well received. These articles generate large reader interest and have across the board relevancy.

Safety and Health Features: Composites Manufacturing is open to features that focus on overall shop safety and health.

Industry Features: These features cover certain segments of the industry: Automotive; Architecture; Bath; Boat Building and Marine; Cast Polymer; Closed Molding; Corrosion; Custom Molders; Pultrusion; and Transportation.

Industry News: Composites Manufacturing accepts press releases related to industry events, personnel changes, product announcements, awards, price changes, research, quarterly reports, etc. Send electronic files and images to:

The Details

Style - Composites Manufacturing uses the Associated Press Style Guide.
Length - Feature articles are typically 2000 words in length. Columns are no more than 500 words.
Deadlines - Deadlines are provided in the assignment letter, which is completed after the query has been reviewed and accepted. A brief (one paragraph) abstract is required one month prior to the deadline. CM staff reviews and carefully edits all submissions. Revisions on the author’s part are sometimes necessary.
Biographical Info - Please include biographical information with your article, including name, email address/phone and work experience.
Payment - Payment is made on publication and is determined on a case-by-case basis, depending on research requirements, length and expertise.

Common Mistakes

State Abbreviations
Be sure to follow the AP stylebook for state abbreviations.
Example: Florida is Fla. and Indiana is Ind.

Also, place a comma after state abbreviation in a sentence.
Example: "The Sea Ray facility in Palm Coast, Fla., has 34 employees."

Using Quotations
Quotes from your sources shouldn't be too long and they should be colorful. (They are meant to add personality rather than present the entire story.) If it's simpler or clearer to paraphrase than quote, then do so.

Keep It Concise
Articles get excessively wordy due to helping verbs. For instance, a sentence starts, "The company has made a transition to ..." It's simpler to write, "The company transitioned to..." Similarly, saying "the company has been using" is more simply written " the company uses.

Don’t Capitalize Titles
Titles are not capitalized. For example, "Jim Smith, vice president of sales at Arnco" rather than "Jim Smith, Vice President of Sales at Arnco."

A Word on Passive Voice
Try to avoid the passive voice when possible. For example:

"New programs were discussed this year..." is stronger as "The education committee discussed new programs this year."

Similarly, "Green products are being demanded by consumers" is better as "Consumers demand green products."

Using "also"
Don't split a verb phrase with "also."
Wrong: "is also done"
Correct: "also is done"

When it Comes to Numbers
With numbers, use "approximately" rather than "about."
Wrong: The hull is about 12 feet long.
Correct: The hull is approximately 12 feet long.

With numbers, use phrases "more than" and "less than" rather than "over" and "under."
Wrong: The board is under four feet.
Correct: The board is less than four feet.

The numbers one through nine should be spelled out. Numerals can be used for 10 and up.
Wrong: The board is less than 4 feet.
Correct: The board is less than four feet.

Pronouns, Commas and Hyphens
The pronoun for company should be "it" rather than "they."

In a series, do not use a comma before "and"
Example: "This applies to boats, cars and planes."

Two word adjectives prior to a noun need a hyphen.
Examples: newly-molded frames, boat-building materials.