Guidelines for Submission of Articles


Dear folk dance historian,

Thank you for viewing these guidelines for submission of articles. We'd like to include in forthcoming Folk Dance Problem Solvers additional articles of interest to folk dancers. Because a little knowledge is better than no knowledge, and because people don't read what doesn't entertain them, please make your articles short, entertaining, and, if possible, illustrated with line art.

We'd like to see articles on the history and practice of international folk dance; the how and why:

  • dance styling, evolution, sources
  • costume (as it influences folk dance)
  • history with respect to folk dance
  • geography with respect to folk dance
  • songs and music for folk dances
  • etc.

Please, no articles on:

  • "Why Folk Dance is Good"
  • "How to Run a Group"
  • "My First Folk Dance"
  • "I'll Never Forget Dan D. Dancer"
  • "My Travels Through Ruritania Last Summer"
  • "A Wonderful Dance Notation System"

Please do send articles such as:

  • "The Largely Unknown Story Behind This Dance"
  • "Why They Dance That Way"
  • "How These 3 Dances Are Related"

STYLE:

  • » Short, darn short. From 2 to 4 pages, double-spaced, typed.
  • » Natural. Humorous, if possible. Read it aloud to several someones before sending it in.
  • » True. Give references and a bibliography where appropriate.
  • » Non-libelous. Life is too short to mess with lawsuits.

TECHNICAL STUFF

  • » Use frequent sub-headings.
  • » Maps and illustrations are welcome.
  • » Begin your work with a thesis paragraph and end with a restatement paragraph.
  • » Begin each paragraph with a thesis sentence.
  • » Avoid when possible using articles (a, an, the), passive voice (this dance is found...), forms of the verb "be" (is, are, was, were), and non-descriptive descriptors (big, very).

Your article, if it indeed solves a folk dance problem by stating how or why, will be edited when necessary and returned to you for approval before inclusion in the next Folk Dance Problem Solver. Please enclose another self-addressed, stamped envelope with your submission to facilitate its return.

-- Ron