Guidelines for authors

We welcome your contribution

Stimulus welcomes contributions from both established and aspiring authors. Our format provides for a variety of article types – from the academic through to the humorous and opinion piece. If you have any articles or even embryonic ideas, please feel free to contact us at editor@stimulus.org.nz.

Stimulus, like most journals of its type, has a number of basic requirements for its contributors to make the authoring/editing process more efficient. This page summarises these requirements in the form of a series of guidelines for contributors. Following these guidelines will make authoring and editing a simpler process for all (especially us!). Please help us publish your work by sticking to these guidelines.

To make life easier, we have included a couple of sample “draft” templates.

· For a sample of the formatting we prefer for an article click here.

· For a sample of the formatting we prefer for a book review click here.

If you have any questions, please e-mail editor@stimulus.org.nz.

Contribution types

Stimulus has a number of different contribution types. Each one has slightly different requirements. These are discussed below.

Main articles

These will generally not exceed 7,000 words, but preferably will be between 2,500 and 5,000 words. Please be succinct.

Articles should be accompanied by a 35-45 word biographical note.

Book reviews

These are intended to be in the range of 300-600 words. Whereas most book reviews are commissioned, we welcome enquiries from potential reviewers. Reviewers are requested to include a 25-35 word biographical note.

St Imulus/Pulpit

These columns, of 700-1,500 words, may be commissioned. Humorous or serious, provocative and insightful contributions may be submitted for consideration and are welcomed. These must be signed, but may be published under a pen name.

Dialogue

Less formal contributions, including letters, will be published in Dialogue. These should not exceed 500 words, must be signed, and will be published over the writer’s name. A brief biographical note is requested.

Other items

Stimulus is pleased to receive cartoons, poems, or similar contributions.

Deadlines

Stimulus is published in February, May, August, and November. Material is required by the 1^st of the preceding month.

Format for copy

· All copy should be e-mailed, with the copy attached as an RTF file (note that .doc files will be accepted if necessary. However most word processors will let you save in .rtf style format so please use this format).

· Please e-mail copy to the member of the editorial team you have been directly dealing with, or you can send copy to editor@stimulus.org.nz.

· All text should be formatted as “Normal” or “Body Text”. The title of the contribution should be formatted as “Heading 1” and subtitles should be formatted as “Heading 2”.
For a sample of the formatting we prefer for an article click here.
For a sample of the formatting we prefer for a book review click here.

· All copy should be in RTF format. Exceptions only exist for letters or by prior arrangement with Stimulus.

· Use the standard endnote numbering features of the word processor you are using. Do not use “manual” footnoting and manual numbering. This is hard work for you and creates more work for us.

· Letters for publishing in Dialogue can be e-mailed as ordinary text messages if required. However, if they are longer than 300 words, please send them in an RTF file.

Editorial privilege

Stimulus reserves the right to accept, decline, amend or edit any material.

Style

The style guide that Stimulus uses is The Chicago Manual of Style (14^th edition). However, the key aspects of Stimulus style are noted in the “Brief Style Guide” below.

Brief style guide

There are a number of key areas of style that authors need to be aware of.

· All quotes should be double quotes [“]. Quotes within quotes should be single quotes [‘].

· A full stop should be followed by a single space (not double).

· All dashes should have a space in front and behind and be en-dashes [ – ].

· Humanities style referencing with endnotes is used. Use the standard endnote numbering features of the word processor you are using. Do not use “manual” footnoting and manual numbering. This is hard work for you and creates more work for us.

· When referencing books, use the following format: Fred Jones, How to Reference a Book (Wellington: Stimulus Press, 2002), 26. i.e. page numbers do not have a “p” in front of them.

· Abbreviations for books of the Bible do not have full stops after them. They are: Gen, Ex, Lev, Num, Deut, Josh, Judg, Ruth, 1-2 Sam, 1-2 Kings, 1-2 Chron, Ezra, Neh, Esther, Job, Ps, Prov, Eccles, Song, Is, Jer, Lam, Ezek, Dan, Hos, Joel, Amos, Obad, Jon, Mic, Nahum, Hab, Zeph, Hag, Zech, Mal, Mt, Mk, Lk, Jn, Acts, Rom, 1-2 Cor, Gal, Eph, Phil, Col, 1-2 Thess, 1-2 Tim, Tit, Philem, Heb, Jas, 1-2 Peter, 1-2-3 Jn, Jude, Rev

· When referencing biblical texts use the following format: Jn 3:16-21.

Comprehensive Style Guide

For a more comprehensive style guide, please click here.

If you have any questions please e-mail the editor.

www.stimulus.org.nz

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