{"id":1500,"date":"2017-10-18T10:28:24","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T10:28:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/?page_id=1500"},"modified":"2017-10-27T15:00:46","modified_gmt":"2017-10-27T15:00:46","slug":"submit","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/submit\/","title":{"rendered":"Submit"},"content":{"rendered":"<header class=\"page-header\">\n<h1 class=\"page-title\">Submit<\/h1>\n<\/header>\n<h4>Writing a blog for BMJ EBM Opinion &amp; Debate<\/h4>\n<p>We run a <a href=\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/\">blog site<\/a> at for analysis, debate, and opinion on developments in Evidence-Based Medicine. Blogs can be written by our editors, commissioned from others, or submitted unsolicited.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>These notes are intended for anyone considering posting a blog on BMJ EBM, but especially for those with little or no previous experience of writing <a href=\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2015\/01\/30\/when-i-use-a-word-blogging-on\/\">blogs<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>Twelve rules for writing a blog for BMJ EBM Spotlight<\/h4>\n<ol>\n<li><b> Keep it simple<i> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>Tackle only one problem or issue. Tell the reader why it is interesting and important. If it doesn\u2019t interest YOU, write about something else.<\/li>\n<li><b> Keep it short<\/b><b> \u00a0<\/b>To cater for today\u2019s short attention spans, limit your blog to 800 words (like these instructions). There is no lower limit&#8211;sometimes even 300 words can convey an important message.<\/li>\n<li><b style=\"font-size: 1rem;\">Write clearly<\/b>\u00a0Use plain English (see the <a style=\"background-color: #ffffff; font-size: 1rem;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.economist.com\/styleguide\/introduction\">Economist\u2019s style guide<\/a>). Consider defining specialized terms, listing definitions in a separate box. Here are a few examples of how to unclutter your writing:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201c<a href=\"http:\/\/thewritepractice.com\/kill-your-darlings\/\">Kill your darlings<\/a>\u201d, especially adverbs like \u201cvery\u201d and unnecessary adjectives&#8211;cut them out.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Use the active mood&#8211;it\u2019s usually (although not always) better than the passive.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cIt has been shown that X does Y\u201d \u2192 \u201cX does Y\u201d (the reference you give will show that it\u2019s been shown).<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201con a daily basis\u201d \u2192 \u201cdaily\u201d.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">\u201cis dependent (up)on\u201d \u2192 \u201cdepends on\u201d.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Choose an enticing title<\/b> \u00a0In editing your blog we shall create a top line quote, highlighting the main point. Your title is the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.copyblogger.com\/how-to-write-headlines-that-work\/\">\u2018first, and perhaps only, impression you make on a prospective reader.<\/a>\u2019 \u00a0So make it compelling, like these examples:\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Is Michael Gove right\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2017\/03\/30\/carl-heneghan-should-the-clinical-trials-directive-be-scrapped\/\">should the clinical trials directive be scrapped?<\/a><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Using systematic reviews to reduce research waste\u2014<a href=\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2017\/03\/31\/using-systematic-reviews-to-reduce-research-waste-who-really-cares\/\">who really cares<\/a>?<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I Use a Word . . . Judgement or algorithm? <a href=\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmj\/2017\/08\/18\/jeffrey-aronson-when-i-use-a-word-judgement-or-algorithm-head-or-formula\/\">Head or formula<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Consider starting at the end <i>\u00a0<\/i><\/b>Starting with your conclusion is called the <a href=\"https:\/\/webwisewording.com\/inverted-pyramid\/\">Inverted Pyramid style<\/a>, which means putting the most important information up front, to act as a hook. Then logically guide the reader through the argument that leads to the conclusion.<\/li>\n<li><b>Set the scene<i> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>Describe the most newsworthy information: Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? (see<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Five_Ws\"> here<\/a>); this can help in setting the scene, and context, for your blog.<\/li>\n<li><b>Cite the relevant evidence<i> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>Well-researched blogs stand out. Include the most recent high-quality evidence, preferably the highest level of evidence you can find (see the Oxford Centre for Evidence-based Medicine <a href=\"http:\/\/www.cebm.net\/oxford-centre-evidence-based-medicine-levels-evidence-march-2009\/\">Levels of Evidence<\/a>). It is desirable to cite relevant systematic reviews, particularly to give context to the results of a new study.When searching for evidence consider using the PubMed <a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pubmed\/clinical\">Clinical Queries<\/a> interface, entering the appropriate search term and [TI].Instead of references, use hyperlinks (highlight the text to which the citation refers, key Control K, and paste in the url).<\/li>\n<li><b>Remember the patient<i> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>If you are discussing the results of a new study, say what differences, if any, the results might make to patient care.<\/li>\n<li><b>Criticize the study when necessary<i> \u00a0<\/i><\/b>Consider the effects on the study results of any biases or confounding factors. Based on the likely impact of the results, threats to validity, or other lines of debate (e.g. conflict with the results of other studies), provide a summary (with a bottom line) that will inform real-world care.<\/li>\n<li><b>Include images<\/b>\u00a0It is good to stimulate readers visually. Try to include one or two pictures. [Don\u2019t forget to obtain copyright permission or use images already in the public domain.] The featured images <b>must <\/b>be 380 x 250 pixels.<\/li>\n<li><b>Reflect, refer, and revise<\/b> \u00a0When you\u2019ve finished writing, put the piece away for a day or two, then go back and revise it, making it snappier, correcting possible errors, and adding important points you may have forgotten the first time. Meanwhile, you should have sent it to colleagues, asking them to read it critically.<\/li>\n<li><b>Engage<\/b>\u00a0When it\u2019s published, advertise it on Twitter and whatever forms of social media you prefer. If others comment on your blog, engage with them, if what they\u2019re saying seems important.To get the details right in your blog and create great content you may find the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.contentmarketinginstitute.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/04\/leibtag_content_checklist.pdf\">Creating Valuable Content Checklist\u2122<\/a> by <a href=\"http:\/\/contentmarketinginstitute.com\/2011\/04\/valuable-content-checklist\/\">Ahava Leitbtag<\/a> helpful.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h4>How to submit your blog<\/h4>\n<p>All the blogs we publish are reviewed and approved by one of our associate editors before being posted. Submit your post as a word doc to\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:cebm@phc.ox.ac.uk\">cebm@phc.ox.ac.uk<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p><b>Include your name, institution,\u00a0<\/b><b>thumbnail picture,\u00a0<\/b><b>\u00a0a short bio about yourself and a conflict of Interest statement. <\/b>Of note, we cannot guarantee publication of submitted blogs.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">We look forward to working with you.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Editors at BMJ EBM and CEBM<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Carl Heneghan, Kamal Mahtani, Jeff Aronson<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Submit Writing a blog for BMJ EBM Opinion &amp; Debate We run a blog site at for analysis, debate, and opinion on developments in Evidence-Based Medicine. Blogs can be written by our editors, commissioned from others, or submitted unsolicited. &nbsp; These notes are intended for anyone considering posting a blog on BMJ EBM, but especially [&#8230;]<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"btn btn-secondary understrap-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/submit\/\">Read More&#8230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":201,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1500","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/201"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1500\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stg-blogs.bmj.com\/bmjebmspotlight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}