This page is about choosing and creating contributions. There is a more detailed guide for editors too.
Principles
Key principle: Each post should have some kind of message for the practice of Medicine. In addition:
- We’re looking for short items that will grab people’s attention and entice them to read on, seek more
- Posts should almost always be about previously published works, including both classics of medical humanities and new or undiscovered works.
- So not your own work, and not for publishing new work (exceptions possible, for example for JK Rowling, Barack Obama)
- They can be writing, music, video, art, poetry …
- They may be extracts from larger pieces; only a bit of that larger piece may be relevant to medical humanities (e.g. a medical experience in a novel or non-fiction).
I think you should include …
To suggest topics – do that in the comments (‘Reply’) section at the foot of the Core Texts page.
To submit a post
Submit a complete suggested post in an email or other document following this guidance. You can also download a sample Word template at the foot of this page.
- The first part of the content should give the flavour of the work; text extract, lines from or whole poem, video/audio clip, work of art. To give an experience of what the work is like, not simply a description. Choosing/ constructing this can be difficult with some works, but it’s a key way this site differs from some others.
- Sections and indicative lengths (noting that shorter is often better)
- Arresting title – to encourage people to click, without being misleading or overtly click-baity. We want to be trusted and don’t have advertisers to feed.
- Subtitle – (optional) – see examples on the site.
- Quotes: if prose, usually not more than 200 words. Poetry, usually not more than 20 lines, but 2 lines may be enough if you can link to the whole. There may be exceptions; make your case.
- Commentary, usually not more than 100, 200 words – again, there may be exceptions, make your case. Sometimes the piece speaks for itself and you hardly need any words at all.
- Further info – interesting links with comments. Feel free to be a bit tangential. Some links to info about the author/ artist/ composer is always good. Links to more extended commentary, when available, can be good here – with a concise comment from you if you like.
- Contributed by – your name, and (optional) a link to more about you, or who you are (e.g. Medical student, Cape Wrath), to be displayed in the post.
- We will add ‘more like this’ and a star rating bit of code.
- A relevant image – though if you’re struggling we may be able to help find one. Send your images at high resolution.
- Why you are recommending this?
- What specialty or specialties does it apply to, if any?
- Permissions – are there any permission issues with using it? Is it someone else’s copyright? Please address this before submission if you can. This applies to any images you want to use also.
- When seeking permission, it is often helpful to point to this site, and mention that it is a non-profit, no-advertising site whose intention is promotion of medical humanities.
Note: We will edit!
If we can use it we will most likely edit it for publication. We’ll be thinking grabbiness, consistency of style, use in different contexts, how the excerpt on the list of items (and Facebook posts) is determined by your first 55 words.
Send contributions to editors@scottishmedicalhumanities.org