We are pleased to hear of your interest in writing for Site Prep magazine. It is a boon to the profession that you are willing to share your ideas, knowledge and experiences with your fellow practitioners. Site Prep serves heavy/highway construction, general building construction and other site preparation professionals as an informative national publication. Your idea is expected to be of great interest to our readers.

Your editorial submittal can be in the form of a story told chronologically or by focusing on one element of a project (e.g. an in-depth look at the use of GPS machine control or grading design techniques). These are traditional categories our stories fall into: field experiences, practical application articles, business management, profiles (personal and project), how-to, new technology and technical discussions.

Articles must be impartial, unbiased discussions of advances in technology, developments in methods and beneficial techniques. Articles must be non-commercial. It is not acceptable to extol the virtues of one company and its products. All features must be exclusive to Site Prep magazine.

Article Length and Graphics
A standard length article ranges between 1,800-2,200 words with three graphics. Case studies and columns are shorter, generally around 1,000 words with one graphic.

We usually include a minimum of three pictures with each standard length article. Choose ones that depict the essence of the process, including “action” shots and any containing equipment. Our graphic requirements are available for reference. Note: magazine quality graphics have stringent standards. Please be sure to review our requirements.

Article Submittal
Articles can be forwarded by e-mail to Editor Kimberly Jensen at: jensenk@bnpmedia.com or sent on disk/CD to Site Prep, 2401 W. Big Beaver Rd., Suite 700, Troy, MI 48084. Please ensure the document you send is saved in MS-Word or text-only format. Please also include an author byline and biography. Authors of articles must be different than those quoted in the body of the piece. The person in the byline is viewed as the “interviewer” of those quoted in the article. (This excludes first-person submittals.) We do not accept manufacturer-bylined articles; they are not well-received by readers.

We require receipt of articles at least three months before issue date, preferably in the first business week of that month. Early submissions are welcome and encouraged. For example, the deadline for an article submitted for our April issue would be the first week of January. This allows us time for edits, questions, confirmations, layout and production.

Upon receipt of your article, Site Prep editors will review and edit your article for content (organization, flow, etc.) and style (grammar, punctuation and spelling), during which you may be contacted with questions. All final decisions on style and content are at the discretion of the editing staff.

Writing Guidelines
An idea list follows of some elements to include in a project/application article. These are simply guidelines and should be tailored to your individual writing style.

Describe the theme of the story.
Think of its appeal to construction and contractor professionals worldwide. Ask yourself, “Why would I want to read this?” Be creative and use details, but keep it simple. Don’t lose your readers with complex sentences like the one above. Try to make the piece as narrative as possible.

Walk the reader through your experience.
Basically, just tell a story. Be real! Describe the benefits of the process over other processes, if applicable (e.g. GPS machine control over conventional grading and staking).

Name any equipment/instruments used and how.
Include company and manufacturer names, models and versions.

Explain how the process is beneficial.

Include quotes from those involved in the project.
Please include credentials (PLS, PE, etc.) and job titles. Quotes are very important to a story; they lend the personal touch and weight that our readers want by proving a real person completed the job.

Include time elements and budgets if they apply.

Include sidebars and bulleted lists to make a point.
Readers like “snapshots” of information; these sections stand out to the reader as he leafs through the magazine, act as graphical elements and often get the attention of the reader to stop and read your article.

Accuracy
As in construction, accuracy counts in writing. Make sure you are aware of these important elements.

• When finished, read your piece aloud. Step back, and think of yourself as the reader, not the author. Does it make sense? Is it easy to read? Is it interesting?
• Check the accuracy of all information.
• Confirm that all sources have been cited and cited appropriately.
• Assure the accuracy of all quotes.
• Assure the correct spelling of names of individuals and companies, titles, company affiliations, company locations and addresses, instruments, etc.
• Assure the accuracy of caption notes.

Remember
You don't have to be an experienced writer. That's why we're here. Simply concentrate on the technical and practical details of the article, and we'll help with the other details.

Of course, we welcome any questions you have along the way. We look forward to your submission and working with you.

Editorial Rights
BNP Media, Site Prep’s parent company shall own all rights in any submission accepted for publication, including any accompanying graphics or photographs. BNP Media shall have the right to publish the submissions in any form whatsoever, including printed form, disk, electronic, or any now or hereafter developed method of transmitting information over the Internet or other distributed network system.