first e11even strives to provide a platform for all fans to offer their opinions on anything they wish and actively encourages people to contribute their views and articles.

When fans send articles, what they say is usually spot on, punchy, well-argued, informative and deeply felt.

However, there are a few guidelines that may help – but please do not take them as gospel stringent rules (we dislike stringent rules here as much as we dislike the film ‘Mary Poppins’)

1) Length

Articles are generally either

a)     One Page – 400 words (approx)

b)    Two Pages – 850 words (approx)

It’s always a nightmare when a fantastic eight page article arrives and has to be butchered down to two sides in order to squeeze it into the magazine.

The thinking is that if you can get it down to 450 words, then you can get it down to 400. Also, a little bit more space allows us to make the page look attractive and inviting to the reader.

Remember, first e11even only has 48 pages and wants to incorporate as many different opinions and articles as possible.

In exceptional circumstances, such as interviews or special features, there may well be exceptions. So if you have an idea for a special feature/interview then its best to email first.

2) Structure

Having decided on the length, you should think about the structure of your article. There’s nothing worse than a good idea ruined by a flat introduction or a rushed conclusion.

Be clear and concise and try to group your ideas into logical sections, giving each section equal weight.

3) Impact

Two pages of solid text could put people off reading all the way to the end.

Think about the surroundings that readers might be looking at your article – in the pub with mates pre-match etc.

Try to think about ways of making the article as interesting as possible – fact boxes, quotes, statistics, lists, pictures, maps, cartoons, or anything else you can think of.

Any pictures you might have or ideas for the overall design and look of your article are always appreciated – if it saves Shane making a trip to Don Valley on a cold and wet Tuesday night J.
4) Accuracy

Having accurate facts and figures always helps to make a persuasive argument.
Everything you check is one less thing for us to worry about and could prevent your argument from being flawed.

Spelling is the main culprit of many a contributor’s downfall, especially when it concerns names – I’ve seen so many different ways of spelling Marcus Tudgay, let alone pronouncing the fella’s name.

Also, don’t write a single word that can’t be proven but obvious tongue-in-cheek mocking is not only acceptable it’s what we’re all about!
5) Save As

A nice Word document please on Helvetica 9 pt if you can be bothered (saves Blake and Shane in the long run and might cut down their caffeine intake)
6) House Style

Some things in the English Language, like punctuation, are neither right nor wrong, but are a matter of choice.

For the purists, here are a few brief ways that we’d like you to present material to us and you can use them or ignore them:

1) Exclamation marks are garbage. It’s like telling a joke and then saying, “That was a joke.”

2) Words that should start with a capital letter are the names of people, places, and important positions such as ‘Chairman’ – the final one is just my little thing.

3) Commas are preferred to hyphens.

4) No double spaces… anywhere.
5) If you don’t know how to use semi-colons, don’t bother. To be honest they’re a bit funny; only flash Harrys use them.
However, the above are only guidelines and shouldn’t restrict you. The most important thing is to get involved with YOUR fan magazine, so feel free to ignore them completely if you don’t think they apply to you.
You can’t teach imagination – it’s the single most important thing an article needs. As the old saying goes – a minute of thought is worth an hour of writing. Think inspiration, not perspiration.

Hope to hear from you soon.

- Blake

Editor, First E11even