Guest Contribution Guidelines
AT each|moment Blog Guidelines
Thank you for your interest in contributing to the AT each | moment blog! Your insights and expertise will help those who are considering athletic training, actively an AT, or advising either party. We’re excited to see what you have to share with the community.
The Mission of our Content
Our mission is to provide content to educate readers on specific topics of interest as it relates to the stage they are in: as a prospective student, a current athletic trainer, or an advisor. We want to advocate for the profession, be a positive and trusted voice, and ultimately be helpful.
Contribution Requests
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- Original Content Only: We request original blogs that will not appear on other websites or in other publications.
- Word Count: We would like 600 - 1200 words. This is a general guideline, but rather than focusing on length, focus on impact. You may exceed this target range if it provides a stronger impact, but please do not submit an entry of fewer than 600 words.
- About The Author: Please send a short bio (or author byline) of approximately 40 - 70 words with a headshot (500 pixels wide or greater). You may include your website URL and up to three social media links.
What To Do Now
Step One: Inquire about contributing. Please email us at [email protected] and share the key points you would like to address in your post. Include your author byline / bio here so we can get to know you and so we will have it ready for your post. We will confirm the topic and an approximate timeline for publishing.
Step Two: Write! Please review this document in full so you keep all guidelines in mind. Find relevant imagery to pair with your blog. Visuals should be at least 1024 x 600 pixels and either be taken by you or have a commercial license with proper attribution.
Step Three: Deliver the document to us as a Microsoft Word document or Google Doc - again by email at [email protected]. We will work with you to revise as needed. Once the post is finalized, we will confirm the planned publishing date.
Thank you for your contribution to and support of AT each | moment. We appreciate your time and insights, as our audience will appreciate your shared experiences. Keep reading for FAQs and best practices to guide the development of your blog post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I write for AT each|moment more than once?
Yes! While we will have to coordinate on schedules and topics, we are open to multiple submissions from individual contributors.
Do I retain ownership of the blog post once it is published?
AT each | moment will assume ownership once it is published. If another publication asks us to use the blog post, we will contact you for permission.
Can I be paid for my contribution?
Sorry, we do not pay for blog contributions.
Can I link to my website?
In your author byline / bio, you are welcome to add any links to your website(s). In the blog content itself, we ask that you only link to websites that are relevant to the content. If your website fits this criteria, it is acceptable. If not, we would ask that you remove it from the piece. We also ask that you offer a variety of sources of information, if you have multiple external links in your blog post. Please do not promote commercial endeavors outside of references within your author byline, including products, continuing education programs, and so forth.
Will you spellcheck my work?
We will, but we don’t want to have to rewrite. Submissions will have to meet a reasonable quality standard to be published. We may edit and update as we see fit, including future revisions for accuracy and comprehensiveness. You will have final approval prior to posting.
Guidelines on Talking About Athletic Training
Language is powerful. It can create clarity or confusion. The below guidelines will help you understand how we communicate about athletic training so that we have a clear and consistent shared language as a community.
| Use This | Don't Use This |
|---|---|
| ATs (AT’s if possessive only) | AT’s, ATC ( if used as a noun) |
| Athletic Trainers | Athletic trainers, Trainers |
| Athletic Training | Training |
| AT Clinic, AT Facility | Athletic Training room, training room |
| ATs help athletes and people in physically-demanding professions | ATs train athletes |
| Patients, Clients | Customers |
| “Works with other healthcare professionals”
“ATs are healthcare professionals” | “Works with healthcare professionals”
“Works with allied healthcare professionals” |
| Patient-centered | Holistic |
Best Practices for Strong Blog Posts
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- Start with a very specific working title - develop it into a final specific title
- Create an outline with subheadings
- Use research/data to provide credibility to talking points
- Cite outside ideas/information
- Before you start, reflect on exactly who your target audience is so you can write for them specifically - pain points, challenges, attitudes and goals
- Be a problem solver, being helpful to the reader
- Find free imagery via websites like Unsplash and Pixabay
Thank you again for your efforts and support.