It's True, the Media is Always Looking for Good Content—
So is Inscriptions

AzDA is always looking for new contributors who can offer our readers timely, unbiased, and relevant content. Whether you are dentist, dental team member, dental speaker, or an experienced professional who works with dental professionals, if you can provide our readers with valuable insights that will help them in the day-to-day operation of their practice, we want to hear from you.

That said, writing for Inscriptions should be seen as an opportunity to share expert knowledge and insight with readers who will benefit from reading your article. It should not be seen as an opportunity to get free publicity in lieu of paid advertising opportunities—especially if you’ve not worked with or advertised with AzDA before.

Note from the managing editor:
Writing an article for AzDA's members can be a great way to gain some initial exposure with Arizona's dental community. This is especially true if you have a passion for writing. However, one article, run one time, and in one publication, is neither a long-term marketing/roll-out strategy, nor is it effective, so assuming one published article will drive in a load of new dentist clients might be improbable.

What is often effective is a consistent approach of writing articles/offering education, being seen at AzDA events through sponsorship and exhibiting, as well as advertising in mediums that our members consume (email updates and AzDA's monthly journal). 

Bottom line: if you're a company who has never worked with AzDA before, you're more than welcome to submit an article for consideration, but if you're serious about effectively targeting the dental profession in Arizona, writing an article will just be a component of your overall marketing strategy and coordination with AzDA.

The first step in the submission process is to review the guidelines below. After you've reviewed them, email AzDA's Managing Editor at ManagingEditor@azda.org and let them know you reviewed the submission guidelines and that you'd like to move forward in the process. Additionally, it is recommended that before you begin the writing process, you share with AzDA’s Managing Editor a 2-5 sentence synopsis on what you plan to write about and how the article will benefit AzDA members.

Sending in this synopsis does not guarantee your article will be publish, but it does increase your chances exponentially.

Inscriptions submission guidelines

* Submitting an article does not guarantee that it will be run. Articles can and are rejected because they don’t meet Inscriptions’ criteria or they just aren’t right for the publication.

* Articles need to be between 600-1,250 words. NOTE: A page in MS Word is about 500-550 words.

* Submit your article in MS Word or RTF, and use a common, easy-to-read typeface, such as Times, Arial, Calibri, Garamond, or Verdana.

* Have someone proof your article before you submit it. Our editor is not only a dentist but he's an English professor. Poorly-written articles will be returned for revisions, or they will be rejected.

* Avoid first-person (talking about your clients, your results, etc.).

* Avoid an overly negative tone (doom and gloom) in your article.

* Avoid fluff pieces—covering topics that are plain common sense. Give doctors some value and insight that they wouldn't have known before reading your piece. Remember, you’re the subject matter expert, so provide our readers with expert advice and not

* At all costs, avoid seeing the article as a way to advertise—aka, an "advertorial." Writing an article for Inscriptions should not be seen as an opportunity to sell your business but to provide value to our member dentists. Articles attempting to disguise sales copy as article will be rejected.

* Avoid recycling. Re-purposing content on multiple media platforms is popular nowadays, but AzDA’s editorial board frowns on publishing articles that have been run elsewhere. Submit original content that has not been published elsewhere.

* Articles will need to be approved by our Editor and Editorial Board before insertion, and they are run based on available space (no guaranteed placement). Approved articles are run at the discretion of the Editor and Managing Editor and are run in the first available publication. Asking/insisting an article is run in a specific month is not permitted.

* AzDA reserves the right to edit any submission for brevity and clarity, or to remove content that is self promotional.

Your article is more likely to be published if it focuses on:

• Issues that directly affect organized dentistry.
• Assisting our AzDA members in running a more efficient, profitable practice.
• New procedures, successful techniques or new advances in technology in organized dentistry.
• Current legislature and how it specifically affects organized dentistry.
• A human interest story that features an AzDA member.
• AzDA member(s) volunteering her/his time and expertise in giving back to the community.

What to keep in mind as you write your article

• Does your article speak to what AzDA members are doing out in the community? Does it show how members are giving back, and how their work is affecting others in the community?
• Is it clear how AzDA members would benefit from reading your article?
• Will this article help AzDA members run a more efficient, profitable practice?
• Will this article inspire AzDA members?
• Will your article paint AzDA members, sponsors or organized dentistry in a fair and good light?
• Can your article provide valuable talking points to AzDA members?
• Does your article address or clarify some important issue(s) that AzDA members are currently facing?
• Does your article help patients of AzDA members? Does it provide any insight on improving patient care?
• Is your article timely with what’s going on in the news?