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A BENCH SOMEWHERE - Okay, lets imagine you're an aspiring writer for the Neopian
Times. You've been working on an article that has a great new idea that no one's
used before! Got the picture in your mind? Good. Now lets say it's one fine
Sunday afternoon. It might even be Saturday if you're lucky. Anyway, the new
issue of the Times has arrived after you've waited a whole week. You read the
editorial (or at least you should) and then head over to the articles. After
browsing the titles for something to read first, one in particular catches your
eye. "Hey! That's my article!" you exclaim, then proceed to start a nasty Neomail
to send to this person, accusing them of stealing your idea. Well, maybe you
skip the nasty Neomail part just sit and grumble about it.
This article is being written to help you avoid the above situation. We'll
discuss why your topic may have been taken, give some suggestions for avoiding
it, and an idea for what you can do if it happens anyway.
Reason Number 1:
Is your topic new? If it is, then the chances are that you're not the only
one with the idea to write a topic on it. If it's something like a new world,
you can be sure that you're not the only one writing on it. If you want your
article to be published, here are a few ways to make sure that it doesn't get
left behind.
Avoidance Plan A: Jump on it. Be the first one out there with the article.
My first article, the one about a certain baby Bruce, was written the same night
that the news of him was first announced. This does not mean that you sacrifice
quality in order to be the first article sent to the Times however. That would
be a big no no.
Avoidance Plan B: Stand Out. Okay, so you're not the kind of writer
who can write something in under 3 hours. That's fine, but in order to get published,
you're probably going to need a pretty good article. The basics are essential.
That means spell check, for all of you out there who can't spell perfectly.
Don't worry, I'm guilty too. Most computers come with a program that has this.
You're also going to have to make it interesting. Have friends or family read
over your article, and take their advice. Don't take constructive criticism
personally, learn from it instead.
Avoidance Plan C: Be Different. Okay, so lets say it's a topic about
a certain new world made out of green jelly. There are probably going
to be articles about where it came from, how it was created, etc. Why not try
doing something completely different? Perhaps a tour of the place. I haven't
seen many of those kinds of articles around. Or maybe interview the surrounding
country side, to see what the locals say about all of the jelly. You have a
higher chance of being published if your article is different from all the others.
Writing on a new topic may be hard, but if you make sure that you're not doing
the same thing as everyone else, you should have a better chance of being published.
Reason Number 2:
Okay, so your topic isn't anything new and exciting. But why is someone else
doing the same thing as you? Could it be that your topic is common, without
you actually knowing it? Or maybe you're using a subject that was popular awhile
ago.
Avoidance Plan A: Read the times. You probably already do this, but
if you're a new reader, I'd suggest going back a few weeks and at least browsing
the descriptions. You'll see what's been used commonly. The Lab Ray, guides
for making Neopoints, and tips for catching scammers are all incredibly overdone.
If your idea happened to have been one of these, then perhaps you should try
thinking of something else.
Avoidance Plan B: Be cautious when reviving old subjects. I really don't
have any good idea's for avoiding having someone beat you to writing an article
if your situation is the latter. People may have the same idea as you. You're
dealing with luck on this one, but try using some of the advice from Reason
1.
Making sure that your idea really isn't something common is good for avoiding
having someone else write on the same topic.
Reason Number 3:
You really have an original topic, don't you. No one has ever done this topic
before. But you still find someone else has done the same thing as you. What
could have gone wrong? Let's see what we can do to avoid it.
Avoidance Plan A: Keep it top secret! The best secrets are held by one
person alone. Don't tell anyone else that you're writing an article on such
and such and the word won't spread. The idea will remain in your head and won't
get placed into heads of other aspiring writers.
Avoidance Plan B: Hurry up! Your idea won't stay yours forever, even
if it is kept a secret. Some one else will eventually think of the same thing,
and they'll write about it. If you've got a fresh new idea, finish the article
as soon as you can (without sacrificing quality) instead of getting distracted
and putting it off. I've lost many a good idea because I never used it. Find
the time to write, and the chances of having your topic taken will lower dramatically.
Keep your idea's to yourself before you finish the article, and don't hesitate
in writing them down. You might miss out if you don't.
What to do if none of the above work:
Sometimes people just have the same idea's. They get inspired by the same thing,
and both decide to write on it. If you still like the topic, but someone else
has used it, try writing something that fills in what the other guy left out.
Maybe try writing on the subject from a different perspective, and giving it
a different kind of twist. Try not to contradict what the other person wrote,
though. If they write that Boochi the baby Bruce works for Dr. Sloth, don't
go and say that he actually works for Jhudora instead.
Whatever may happen, just have fun with it. Don't start crazy article wars
or anything. And don't send nasty Neomails to those people who may beat you
to the topic, because sending nasty Neomails to anyone will get you in trouble.
=)
Disclaimer: Yes, my topic was taken because I was slow. That's why I wrote
this thing. I do not have anything against the person who beat me to the topic.
He's written far more articles then I ever have. *Waves.* And yes, I still hate
Boochi. He should be in the Gallery of Evil. Send me nasty Neomails if you like.
This is chibi_joey, chilling out. May the notebook be with you.
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