Writer's guidelines

Query

Got an idea for something you want to write about? Go with it. But first, please email your idea and we'll let you know if it'll do for the magazine. Save you from duplicating someone else's work, maybe. ODM steadily receives email from readers saying what they would like to see in the magazine. Most of the ideas are great and we run with them, but there are too many for this little magazine to pursue all. If you want to write but are short of ideas, see the list of reader requests at right.

Length

Keep it to between 500 and 2000 words, please. If you have to go longer, that's fine; but give us a heads up so we can allocate however many pages it looks like you're going to need.

Images

Pictures, charts, etc... are welcome. Electronic submissions only. Please do not send compressed files. We can work with any file type or size, although bigger is always better as regards printed appearance. Unlike most magazines, ODM is printed on a 300dpi digital press. Costs more, but it's worth it. Unfortunately this means that if your photo is 300 pixels wide, it will be about the size of a postage stamp when you see it in print. If the only photos you have for your article are small enough that you think they might be too small, send them anyway and we'll see what we can do for you.

Deadline

Issue deadlines are posted on the ODM home page (the page you were at before this one). Generally speaking, the magazine comes out every two months for six issues per year. At least that's the plan. Life and work do intervene. If you just got an issue and have decided to write something for the next, you have about six weeks to get it into final form. But check the ODM home page or email us to find out just how long you have.

Payment

10 cents per published word for original writing. Usually works out to about $100 a page. Commercially oriented articles which are worth publishing but which we all know are really just long and wordy advertisements for you pay 5 cents per published word. Articles already printed elsewhere but which are worth publishing again and for which you have the right to submit to us are appreciated, but pay nothing. Writer's checks for each issue are mailed after that issue is in the mail. If you want some extra copies for impressing dive groupies, just ask.

Reader's

Requests:

Safety oriented articles and articles about accidents explaining what happened and why

Tips and techniques from hands with a bit of salt on them

Diver taxation

Gear maintenance

Hat maintenance including field maintenance

and repair

Interviews with

regular divers

Interviews with prominent industry

people

The

ADCI vs IMCA

mess

The CFR mess

Sea Stories

Naked girls

wearing dive gear

(Okay, but be tasteful)

Info from equipment vendors about specifications, capabilities, and field maintenance