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The IDEA publications editors are interested in publishing articles
that serve the needs of fitness and health professionals. Articles
include practical application as well as theory.
Writers’ Guidelines for IDEA’s Publications
IDEA Fitness Journal is published 10 times per
year. IDEA Trainer Success and IDEA Fitness Manager
are published five times each per year on a rotational basis.
Our readership includes personal trainers, health club and fitness
staff, fitness instructors, program directors, business owners
and managers, and other health and wellness professionals. These
readers have a broad range of educational backgrounds, including
many with advanced degrees in health- and fitness-related fields.
We encourage readers to submit articles for consideration
by our editorial committee. If we are not able to accept your
idea, we hope you will understand that the decision is a multifaceted
one, not a negative judgment of your unique skills or talents.
Each year, we receive hundreds of queries by mail, fax and
email. We produce a limited number of issues, and we have
a limited number of articles that we can assign. Current trends,
previous or planned articles on related subjects, and numerous
other factors also determine our ability to accept submitted
ideas.
Whether or not we are able to accept your query, we appreciate
your interest in IDEA and your initiative in submitting your
idea to us.
Content
An article must be an original piece of work that has not been
published elsewhere. In order to determine if an idea is appropriate
for IDEA’s publications, ask yourself the following questions:
1) Would this article directly address the needs of fitness
and health professionals (not just fitness and health consumers)?
2) Am I qualified to write this article? Why?
3) Would this article include practical, how-to application?
4) Would the general topic area and length of this article be
appropriate for the IDEA newsletters, or would it work as a
feature or column for IDEA Fitness Journal? Please
review the following descriptions.
Publication - IDEA Fitness Journal
Mission:
To inspire and educate fitness and health professionals with
up-to-date industry information and comprehensive research
on topics such as exercise physiology, weight management,
nutrition, health promotion, wellness, sports conditioning,
industry and programming trends, and personal and professional
growth.
Features:
Each issue of IDEA Fitness Journal includes several
feature articles, which are approximately 3,000-3,500 words
in length (10 typed, double-spaced manuscript pages) and cover
larger topics, such as industry issues and research reviews.
Sample topics include client motivation and counseling techniques,
industry growth, health care integration, nutrition research,
exercise technique and program design.
Columns:
In addition to features, the magazine includes the following
rotating columns, which are approximately 1,200-1,400 words
in length (6-8 typed, double-spaced manuscript pages):
Personal Training Section
Columns:
PFT Profile – Each month, IDEA features
a one-page profile of a PFT member who may be doing outstanding
work on inspiring the world to fitness, has a unique business
model or stands out among others through his/her contribution
to the community.
Exercise Rx - This column emphasizes the
application of exercise theory. These articles are geared
to the intermediate/advanced trainer who is familiar with
training variables and needs information on how to manipulate
them. Target populations include clients with special conditions,
such as diabetes or back injuries, or clients with special
goals, such as running a 5K or conditioning for golf. The
column also includes program design applications. Past articles
in this category are: when to change sets, loads and reps;
using manual resistance; eccentric training; and super slow
resistance training.
Profit Center - Articles give specifics
on marketing a PFT business, retaining clients, payment schemes,
finance and administration, and career options. Profiles of
operating businesses give information on the administration
and best practice strategies that have helped them.
PFT 101 – This series can be used as
a guidebook for the neophyte personal fitness trainer, a refresher
course for the veteran trainer or as an education tool for
PFT managers to share with staff. Topics covered in the past
include scope of practice, client assessment, liability and
safety, and working cooperatively through referrals and communication
with the medical community.
Fine Anatomy – This ongoing series
focuses on the basics and details of how joints and muscles
in the human body work together for optimum performance. Each
installment includes a detailed anatomy illustration of the
area under discussion, a thorough description of origin insertion,
and action and a list of step-by-step exercises with illustrations
that can help strengthen the muscles and joints featured.
Tricks of the Trade – An IDEA editor
interviews members in a Q & A format covering diverse
areas of a personal trainer’s career. Answers give readers
a sampling of how others handle client situations, business
issues, ongoing education, staffing challenges, communication
and other related topics.
Nutrition: “Food for Thought” Section
This comprehensive news section focuses on all aspects of
nutrition from trends in food consumption and popular diets
to research, legislation, nutrient specifics and recipes.
Each column aims to cover the spectrum of client age groups
from youth to seniors.
Columns:
Nutrition Research – This column may
focus on a particular nutrient (such as iron) or food category
(such as sports drinks), or describe eating behaviors, dietary
plans or nutrition myths. Written by dietitians or nutritionists,
articles are designed to help readers both personally and
professionally.
Practical Nutrition – This “how
to” column alternates with the research column and takes
a more practical approach to food and eating issues. Topics
may focus on how to prepare healthy meals and snacks in a
flash, how to shop to keep your pantry stocked with essential
items for healthy cooking, and cooking techniques for healthy
eating.
Group Exercise Section
Columns:
Master Class – One-on-one interviews
with past group fitness IDEA award winners on topics ranging
from teaching skills to continuing education and participant
interaction.
Buzz – Short list of progressive classes
from around the world. “Bonus Buzz” signifies
unique class ideas that successfully reach out to the deconditioned
market.
Class Building Blocks – This brief
column offers practical and effective ideas for the different
sections of a group exercise class. Each “block”
can be mixed and matched among different formats.
- Ignite offers creative ideas for a warm-up
- Ebb features a useful cool-down
- Core succinctly presents a core or abdominals-focused
training sequence
Pop Quiz – Small box on Group Exercise
section opener that poses a teaching skills question. Answer
appears later in the section.
Class Take Out – A one-page (front
and back) choreographed class format, complete with diagrams,
music suggestions, counts, injury prevention, etc. (Step,
cycling, high-low, circuit, group strength, misc. dance).
Inner IDEA: Mind-Body Fitness Section
This comprehensive section opens with news items regarding
all aspects of mind-body fitness including yoga, Pilates,
tai chi, Feldenkrais and Alexander techniques, client motivation
and compliance issues, wellness, coaching techniques, psychology
of exercise, stress management and mindfulness in general.
Look for a “Move of the Month” that illustratively
or photographically breaks down how to do various yoga poses,
Pilates and tai chi moves and other popular mind-body exercises.
Inner IDEA – This column provides guest
columnists a chance to address any of the above areas in more
depth. Each column is 1,200-1,400 words long. Authors must
have credentials and expertise in the area they wish to explore.
Additional Columns
Your Membership – Articles in this
column provide details on new IDEA member benefits, upcoming
events, happenings at IDEA and a focus on 4 to 6 members per
issue who are doing outstanding work toward our shared mission
to Inspire the World to FitnessTM.
Making News – What's new on the fitness,
health, business and international fronts. Brief items of
interest about current research, companies, legislation and
innovative programs are included.
Research – Authors review and report
on relevant exercise and health literature and provide practical
application suggestions for fitness professionals.
Career Path – This column offers practical
career and business information for fitness and health professionals.
Topics include current and future career opportunities, job
skills and strategies, mentoring, start-up ventures, networking
and developing successful specialty programs.
Just For You – Articles focus on personal
enrichment outside the fitness arena. Topics are diverse and
apply to lifestyle enhancement for busy fitness pros. Areas
of focus may include everything from vacation planning and
enjoying and exploring nature to having a spa experience and
planning finances for retirement.
Publication -- IDEA Trainer Success
Mission:
To help personal trainers stay up to date with the robust
growth and entrepreneurialism in personal training. Intended
for PFTs who already own and operate businesses, those thinking
of starting businesses and those who manage PFT departments
in health clubs. Includes articles and tips from industry-leading
personal trainers and business owners who offer insights,
strategies and directions to help trainers carve a niche and
conduct themselves as serious business persons in this burgeoning
segment of fitness.
Columns:
(Each column is 1,200-1,400 words in length)
The Start Up – A series in which the
author explores the path he took to launch his personal training
business.
Reinvigoration Strategies – This column is focused on
evaluating your existing business or PFT department and finding
ways to refresh and revitalize it.
Training for Growth – Once you have
your business or PFT department up and running the way you
want it, how do you keep growing it? Topic discussion includes
creative ways to add value to all aspects of your business
or department with the ultimate goals of client and staff
satisfaction and increased revenues.
Technology – There’s a lot of
great business technology and equipment out there that trainers
aren’t using yet. This column highlights specific product
categories and provides practical advice on how to integrate
these time savers into a business or department.
Liability/Risk Management – As the
popularity of personal training grows, so does your liability
and risk. This column raises issues on how to protect yourself
and your business.
Staff Issues – This column addresses
hiring, firing, problem employees, rewarding employees and
recruitment and retention challenges.
Sales & Marketing – Topics in this
column include increasing sales, proven sales techniques and
how to market your business, yourself or your department for
maximum return.
Publication -- IDEA Fitness Manager
Mission:
To provide the management information that program and fitness
directors and club owners need to effectively plan program
choices, supervise staff and attract and retain clients.
Features:
Focused on a theme, including program planning, personnel,
time management, customer service, financial management
Columns:
People – Topic areas focus on Interpersonal
communication, staffing issues, hiring and firing, rewarding
employees, recruitment and retention.
Money – This column examines budgeting
issues and metrics for success.
Sales & Marketing – Topics in
this column include practical ideas for increasing sales,
proven sales techniques and how to market your facility, department
or program for success.
Programs – Programming experts provide examples from
their experience arsenals on how to test, budget and introduce
new programs
Group Ex Director – Clients demand
programs that are fun and exciting and want instructors who
have high energy and charisma. This column examines all aspects
of programming, staff management and client service for a
successful group exercise department.
PFT Director – PFT directors must keep
up with the rapid changes and high demand in facility-based
PFT services. Authors look at all aspects of programming,
staff management and client service for a successful personal
training department.
Submission Procedure
Before you write an article, send us a query letter of one or
two pages outlining the proposed topic and the questions you
will try to answer, and tell us:
- why this idea is important to fitness
and health professionals
- why you are the person to write the
article (A resume or biography listing your credentials
is helpful.)
- the general topics or points you will
cover with this article (List a few, or include a rough
outline.)
- how you will include practical how-to
information in your article
The editorial committee will consider your idea on the basis
of timeliness, relevance to our audience and your credentials
or experience. Written queries are preferred. Unsolicited material
must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope if
you wish it returned.
All these written ideas, as well as those generated by the editors,
circulate through an editorial board of instructors, exercise
physiologists and business experts who determine the ideas’
relevance and timeliness.
The review process takes six to eight weeks. After this time,
you will receive notification as to whether or not your article
may be used.
When an idea is tentatively approved but cannot be immediately
slated for a specific issue, it may be held for a period of
time for additional consideration. If an idea is approved, it
is placed on the "go" list for inclusion in an upcoming issue.
When the article is definitely placed in an issue, it is formally
assigned to the author.
Preparing the Manuscript
Once your idea has been accepted for publication, the assigning
editor will establish manuscript length and payment. Manuscripts
vary in length from five to 12 double-spaced pages. We pay within
60 days of final acceptance and purchase all rights. Remember
as you begin to write that submissions should be targeted toward
the professional, not the consumer. Authors are responsible
for the accuracy of all data and must be able to document their
information with firsthand experience, interviews with experts
and/or references to published sources. You will be required
to include this backup documentation with your manuscript. Writing
should be in a clear, concise and easy-to-understand style.
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