1. How do I start writing for Psyched Magazine?

First of all, thank you for your interest in writing for Psyched!  Traci Ruble and a few collaborators started this project over three years ago as a simple blog. Now we have over 80 authors contributing thoughtful pieces to reach busy urban professionals and those brand new to therapy.

To inquire about writing for Psyched, please contact our editorial staff (Katie, Molly and Jenny) at editor@psychedmagazine.com. You are welcome to submit a completed piece, and we will respond if it is a fit for the magazine.


2. What happens after my piece is accepted?

Once you become a contributor, you will be added to our Psyched Authors google group. We send out quarterly sign ups and you commit to as many pieces in that 3-month period as you like.

Please note, we use the calendar to meet our publication goals, but will ALWAYS publish additional great pieces that come through--and often in the same week. You do not need to be on the calendar to submit.

We use Sign Up Genius, which will send you a reminder a week before your due date. Please submit your article to Katie one week before your publication date. After you submit, Katie will get back to you with edits, at which point you can do a final edit and resubmit. We use Google Docs for ease of collaboration.

If you are already a writer who has contributed in the past you may email editor@psychedmagazine.com to send timely pieces about current events which we may publish off calendar.


3. Do I still own the copyright to my writing? How will my writing be used outside of Psyched Magazine?

You retain all copyright to your original work.  Any edits made by Psyched when we publish on our site you will also own but ask no cross posting in entirety as duplicate posts not ideal.  If you get picked up by a newsoutlet we ask for "originally published at Psyched Magazine" with a link.  We actively pursue getting your pieces published elsewhere on high profile outlets and will always list you as the original author with a link to your personal website and to Psyched Magazine each time.  

4. Writing Guidelines?

Cap out at about 1000 words. Shorter is usually better.

If there is a word you can cut, do it.

Edit yourself for active vs. passive voice before you submit. Quick link here if you have no idea what this is: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/539/02/

Show, don't tell.
Meaning....

"I was really sad when I got home from the hospital. It was hard and overwhelming. I was tired and scared." (TELLING)

vs.

"I finally opened the door to my apartment and suddenly realized there were tears on my cheeks. The hospital band was still digging into my wrist. I looked at the red line it made and the whole week came flooding back..." (SHOWING)

Showing versus telling is quite helpful in educational pieces, as well. If you want to talk generally about people, is there a specific story you can tell you illustrate your point?

For example:
"Couples tend to avoid eye contact when they argue. Eye contact feels intimidating in emotional moments." (TELLING)

vs.

"Bill and Jane were shouting at one another again. They were the third couple shouting in my office this week, and, predictably, they both stared at the floor while they yelled.
'Look at him,' I instructed Jane. 'Make eye contact when you argue.'
She turned towards Bill and immediately softened.
'I just hate how much you work,' she said, still angry but more quietly.
The eye contact alone had immediately shifted their dynamic." (SHOWING)

9. Bio Information?

If you are a first time writer we need a headshot and byline as well as your website URL, and any social feeds you want us to include.

We list all authors on our "Meet The Writer's Page" who have written within the last 12 months.

10. What else can I do to support Psyched and get more visitors?

It really means a lot to have you Like and Share your colleague's posts. Comments, Likes, and Shares build rapport and stimulate the reward centers in the brain...and they drive up search rankings on Psyched and on all of our individual sites too.

Please submit your own pieces anyplace and every place you can think of. When larger sites share your pieces, they move much farther around the web. Your personal relationships are the best places to start sharing. Topic-specific pages are also highly important for your visibility. If you write, for example, about coming-out issues, can you find the largest sites who support folks in the coming out process, and ask them if they would like to share your piece? Everyone wants to share good content that helps their readers, and it's another great way to increase your personal visibility.

While Facebook is easy to comment on, google plus is the number one place to comment that has a direct impact on social media rankings. I highly recommend sharing the google plus link to all your friends and ask them to like and comment! Here is Psyched's google plus link: https://plus.google.com/+Psychedinsanfrancisco

If you have any questions you can contact Katie/Molly and Jenny at editor@psychedmagazine.com