Have a great flying story to tell?

LOGBOOK magazine Writer’s guide

The first thing to remember:
The staff at LOGBOOK magazine welcomes the chance to help you get your story in print. We will gladly work with you, even if you have never had anything published in the past. We are always happy to hear from first-time, one-time or fledgling authors. It is our goal to publish your aviation history. We really enjoy this job.

Please note the following:
Although we are dedicated to publishing your aviation history we reserve the right to reject material we find unsuitable. We also reserve the right to edit material for style, length, content, etc… Please remember that if you query us and we like your idea for a story, that does not guarantee acceptance and/or publication. It also does not imply a formal assignment or employment by LOGBOOK.

This is important:
Always remember that it is the contributor’s responsibility to ensure he or she has the legal right to have the material published, including photographs. Another word about photographs - Sometimes, especially when dealing with old photos, it is difficult to determine who actually owns the rights to an image. It is the contributor’s responsibility to do their due diligence in determining all rights to photos. All material sent to our office shall be considered released for publication. Sending a contribution to LOGBOOK constitutes your approval for us to edit and publish the material. 

This is important, too:
While every care is taken with material, LOGBOOK magazine and its staff cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged contributions. All material is sent at the contributor’s own risk. All material, especially photographs, must be clearly marked with the contributor’s name, address, email and telephone number. Photographs will be returned after publication. 

This is really important:
Each contributor is considered independent and not an employee of LOGBOOK magazine or the publisher. It is forbidden to represent yourself as an employee of LOGBOOK. Likewise it is forbidden to represent yourself as on assignment for LOGBOOK. All material is considered an unsolicited submission and as such the magazine and its publisher assumes no responsibility for accidents or injury incurred while collecting this material. 

Manuscripts:
We can accept manuscripts in almost any form. Our preferred method is a document saved in a MS Word Document format, submitted as an email attachment. We also accept materials saved to a CD. After that, we can accept an actual paper manuscript written on single-sided 8 1⁄2 x 11 inch paper, and finally, we can accept hand written material as long as the penmanship is clear. In all cases, please double space between lines. Manuscripts and discs are not normally returned so please keep a copy. 

The length of the manuscript can be variable, based on the story you are trying to tell. In general, feature articles are from 2,000 to 5,000 words. Longer articles are also certainly acceptable and can be divided into two or more parts over multiple issues. We strive not to edit material based simply on space requirements, so please use as many words as you need to properly tell your story. Department submissions are up to around 1,000 words. Please review a recent issue for department topics. 

Photographs:
We can accept photographs as prints, slides or scans, which my be submitted as a hard copy, or via email, or on a CD. Two formats we cannot accept are negatives and computer generated prints. The latter simply will not scan again to the detail we need. Concerning scans, please scan at 300 dpi and save as a .jpg file. It is essential that each photograph be accompanied by a caption and a credit line. Regarding captions - a good caption is a mini-story in its own right. Each caption should be original writing - do not simple repeat something that appears in the main text.

Working with an Archive:
Most archives, whether connected to a museum, university or company, are great to work with, and can be a valuable source of data and photographs. However, particularly when it comes to photographs, some archives charge not only a reproduction fee but also a usage fee. Sometimes these fees can be quite expensive. LOGBOOK does not cover any of these fees, regardless of whether or not we accept your story for publication.

And, Finally:
Please remember that the staff at LOGBOOK is more than happy to hear from you if you have any questions. You may contact us at anytime, we love to talk flying. Have fun and Fly Safe, 

Departments in LOGBOOK magazine

The following is a list of various Departments within LOGBOOK magazine that accept short – up to around 1,000 words, give or take – articles. 

Museums:
Always a good place to start. Skip the big museums – Smithsonian Air and Space and the like – and stick with the smaller, lesser-known organizations. Include a list of their collection, a history of the museum, plans for the future and what the people who run the museum are proud of the most. We will need contact numbers and directions on how to get there. Also, please include the Serial Number/Bureau Number of each aircraft, if known. 

Aviation Collectables:
Another good place for the first time writer. Remember to keep your topic as specific as possible. Rather than “Airline Memorabilia” as a subject – a topic that is quite large – limit your topic to “Time Tables” or “Airline Pilot Wings,” for example. These are quite specific topics, and can be covered in 500+ words. 

Gate Guards:
This is more than just a photographic section. Many Gate Guards are displayed to commemorate a nearby military unit, we need to know the history of that unit. Also, in addition the photograph and the location of the aircraft on display, it is always nice to know more detailed information about the aircraft itself. For example, try to find out its serial number, former unit and how it got to be where it is today. Remember that at times a display aircraft may have been repainted with a false serial number. If you are not sure of the number, unit or history that’s okay, simply say as much in your article. 

Aviation Bookcase:
This is a department that reviews both new books and vintage books. For the most part, our staff writes this department. If, however, you have found a really good book, drop us a line and we can talk. 

Pubs and Taverns:
Always a favorite. This needs to be about authentic restaurants/pubs that are run by or cater to aviation enthusiasts. Simply a cafe with an airplane picture on the wall is not quite good enough. Basically, we are looking for those places that people may be willing to go out of their way for to have lunch. We need to know the owners, the history and how to get there. Include photos and captions

The LOGBOOK: 
This is a catch-all department, and can consist of almost anything, from short stories of a personal experience, to sea stories, hangar tales, chair flying or just shooting the breeze. It can consist of a single photo and a well detailed caption. Remember, a good caption can be a good story in only a few words.

Preservation:
A single airplane that deserves to have its story told. It can be a flying example, a static display bird, or in a museum. What we need is the history of this particular aircraft and how it got to where it is today. The airplane does not have to be famous, just have an interesting story. Current photos are a must, and vintage photos are even better.

Still at Work:
There are a lot of old airplanes out there that are still earning their keep. These are not the pampered hangar queens that are rolled out only when the sun is shining. Instead, these birds are still flying, doing the job, making the payroll. A good example of this is an decades old Douglas DC-3 that is still hauling cargo in the islands, or perhaps the aged de Havilland Beaver still working out in the Alaskan bush.

Finally:
We are always coming up with new ideas for Departments and sometimes dropping old ones. Also, a department may be in one issue and not the next. The best way to stay in touch is to take a look at a recent issue. Feel free to drop us a line if you have any questions. 

Hints for contributors to LOGBOOK magazine 

·       We publish stories about all aspects of aviation history, from the very beginning to just yesterday. These stories can be personal tales, narratives about distant or close relatives or other aviation personalities you have always admired or events that have always fascinated you. Almost any topic that you’ve always thought should written down is appropriate for submission. Truthfully, you should write this knowledge down because history can be a fleeting thing. 

·       Try to write as you would tell the story verbally. Although we follow all the basic rules of English grammar we do not want to sound like a dull textbook. Write as you would speak. 

·       Keep your stories about very specific topics, people, events, etc... For example, rather than writing about the history of Pan American Airways, which is and has been the topic of several full-length books, write about a singular event or person. “Pan Am’s First Flight from Key West to Cuba” is a more focused topic. Similarly, a person’s life story can easily fill a book, so try to concentrate on a certain event or time in this person’s history. Let’s say, for example, your Uncle Joe flew B-17s in World War Two. You could write briefly about his growing up, his time in flight school and his time in the squadron. Then you could fully tell of that one mission where he came back to England with “two turning and two burning” and came in on “a wing and a prayer.” 

·       Keep large amounts of numbers, such as the full description of the dimensions of an aircraft, out of the main text of the story. Rather, put these numbers in a chart or sidebar that will accompany the story. One or two numbers are fine; a whole bunch can interrupt the flow of a good story. This is also true with several dates listed in succession. It would be much better to put them in a chart. 

·       Your research needs to be very thorough and complete. Our staff will review each submission for accuracy but it is the responsibility of the author to make sure everything is correct. You open yourself up for comment from the general readership for incorrect information. 

·       If you are a bit unsure on how to write a feature article, you may want to attempt something shorter for your first try. Visit a local museum and write about its collection or write about the exploits of a pilot that you happen to know. Review a recent issue for examples of short pieces and departments. 

·       About photographs: Avoid doing any modifications or touch up to an image. If the original photo is a bit fuzzy or not the best composed image that’s still okay. Vintage snap shots are not always the best in the technical sense but they are almost always the most interesting. Remember, 99.9% of the really interesting photos of airplanes and aviators were not taken by professional photographers. Also, please remember that captions are a must. 

·       About scans: Scans must be of the original print or slide and sent to us as an electronic file, either on a CD or as an E-mail attachment. Scans of images taken from a book, newspaper or magazine will simply not work. Also, laser or inkjet prints, although they may look good, will also not work. 

·       Above all, relax and have a good time. You do not have to have a Graduate Degree in History or English to write good aviation stories. Our staff is dedicated to helping you get your story in print. 

More legal stuff and Payment information

Each contributor is considered independent and not an employee of LOGBOOK magazine or the publisher. All material is considered an unsolicited submission and as such the magazine and its publisher assumes no responsibility for accidents or injury incurred while collecting this material. 

We offer no kill fees. Material is considered accepted when it is published. Also, please note that a positive response to a query does not mean the material has been accepted or that a contract has been entered upon between the publisher and the author. 

Payment is made upon acceptance and publication of the manuscript and/or photographs. Payments are mailed four to six weeks after publication. Payment is for the gross amount due and no taxes are withheld. All payments are issued in U.S. dollars. Any tax payment required is the responsibility of the contributor. 

Payment Schedule:
This payment schedule is current as of: 1 January 2020 and supercedes all previous schedules.
All figures in U.S. dollars.

Feature article..................up to $200.00*
Short article/department....up to $50.00*
Interior Photographs.....................$5.00 each
Front Cover Photograph.............$50.00 

*Based on the length of the article. Shorter articles will be paid less.
As always, please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
 

A Few style notes

At LOGBOOK we abide by all the basic rules of English composition but, we do have a few rules of our own, some of which may not conform with some of the more basic style guides. The main thing is to relax, have fun, and tell you story. However, in an effort to impart a measure of standardization in the pages of LOGBOOK, please review and apply the following style notes.

Abbreviations and acronyms: The first time write out the entire phrase and include the abbreviation/acronym in parenthesis. After this, you may use the abbreviation. Here’s an example: “My uncle flew for Trans World Airlines (TWA).” Another example: “Captain Smith worked in the Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer).”

Dates: Always written as - 25 August 1960. Never as - 25/8/1960, or 25/8/60, or 25 Aug. 1960, or Aug 25, 1960, etc… Yes, there are several ways to write a date, often depending on where in the world you live. Use the format listed here to avoid any confusion.

End Notes and Foot Notes: Please do not use end notes or foot notes. Simply put the thought that you would have put in an end/foot note in the main text of the article.

Italics: Please do not use italics, even for “foreign” words, names, titles, etc...

Parenthesis: Avoid over using parenthesis, except for noting abbreviations and acronyms for the first time. Also, avoid putting long thoughts in parenthesis. If the point you are trying to make is associated with the main subject of the story, then you do not need to use parenthesis.

Ranks and Titles: The first time you mention a person’s rank use the full word, i.e. Captain, Lieutenant Colonel, First Lieutenant, Staff Sergeant, Private First Class. Spell out the numbers, i.e. Second Lieutenant - not 2nd Lieutenant. Then, each subsequent time you mention the person, you can abbreviate the rank. Please click the button below for a list of acceptable rank abbreviations.

Ships: It depends on if you use “USS.” If you use “USS” always use the word “the,” i.e. “the USS Pensacola.” If you don’t use “USS,” then don’t use the word “the.” Consider the following sentences: “In the war, the USS Pensacola was in the Pacific. I served aboard Pensacola for three years.” Do not write out “United States Ship.”

(The) World Wars: Always fully spelled out - World War Two. Never as World War II, or WWII, etc…