The Dallas Medical Journal accepts unsolicited manuscripts for publication. Manuscripts are accepted or rejected on individual merit and appropriateness. The review process by DMJ editors, the editorial consultant in the appropriate specialty, and the editorial chair takes six to eight weeks.

Deadlines:
10 weeks prior to publication (ie, January issue, copy due October 15).

Editorial calendars are prepared a year in advance, if your article is slated for a certain month and you are not able to meet your deadline, please notify the DMJ staff as soon as possible. If you miss your deadline, your article may be rescheduled for the next available opening.

General Guidelines:
In a cover letter, designate one author as correspondent and provide a complete address, phone number, fax number, and e-mail address, if available.

All manuscripts, including references, should conform to the AMA Manual of Style, 9th Edition, and AMA policies for authorship credits. Manuscripts may be returned for nonconformity. Editorial changes will be submitted to the corresponding author for approval before publication.

Tables & Figures:
Double-space tables on separate sheets of standard-size, white bond paper. Title all tables and figures, and number them in order of their citation in the text.

Figures should be black-and-white line drawings or black-and-white glossy photos. (Photo labels should include author's name, figure number, and up direction.) Releases and copyright permissions are the author's responsibility.

References:
Number references in the order in which they are cited. Do not alphabetize. Identify references with superscript Arabic numerals. Follow AMA style, including journal abbreviations from the Index Medicus.

What to write about:
All consultants will be asked to write a clinical update every two to three years during their term. The topic should be within the consultant's specialty. To receive an editorial calendar for the upcoming year, call DCMS at 214-948-3622.

Topics for other clinical updates should appeal to a wide range of specialties or help physicians stay abreast of the latest advances in another specialty.

Other articles of interest to complement a clinical update are welcomed and encouraged. Some suggested general topics are:

• Views on changes in your profession/specialty.
• Trends in business or legislation that affect your medical specialty.
• Results of an important professional experience.
• Resolutions to on-the-job challenges.

How to write for publication:
Although you will be writing for a publication read by nearly 5,000 professionals, think of your readership as only one person-this helps make your writing more direct and effective. Write in a style you would want to spend your time reading. The opening paragraph is important. Draw the reader in with an unusual or especially pertinent fact, anecdote, or quote. Convince the reader immediately of your subject's importance and make a good first impression.

Start with an outline to keep your ideas in logical order. Keep sentences and paragraphs short. If you use more than two commas to separate phrases in a single sentence, make two sentences. A sentence length of no more than 19 to 22 words is a good guide. However, sentence lengths should vary. Several short paragraphs (seven lines or so) are easier to read than one long paragraph.

How to submit a manuscript by mail:
Submit on a 3 ½" IBM-compatible disk. Any word processor format is acceptable, although DMJ editorial staff uses Microsoft Word. Enclose at least one printed copy of the manuscript with the disk. Note on a copy any needed formatting and the word processor used.

Send queries and manuscripts to Traci Beeson, Managing Editor, Dallas Medical Journal, PO Box 4680, Dallas, TX 75208-0680.

How to submit a manuscript by e-mail:
If you are using Microsoft Word you can attach the document to the message. If you are using a word processing program other than Microsoft Word, copy your article and paste it into the text of your email. This will eliminate any formatting you have done, so it is important that we receive a hard copy by either mail (see address above) or by fax at 214-946-5805.

Send queries and manuscripts to Traci Beeson, Managing Editor, Dallas Medical Journal, tbeeson@dallas-cms.org.

Manuscript format:
DOUBLE SPACE throughout, including title page, abstract, text, acknowledgments, references, tables, and legends for illustrations. Place two returns between paragraphs.

On the title page, give the full names, highest academic degrees, titles, and affiliations of all authors. Length of manuscript with references should not exceed 12 typed pages.

Include copies of duplicative material that has been previously published or is currently being considered by another publication when submitting a manuscript. All manuscripts are reviewed in confidence. The original of unsolicited manuscripts will be returned to the author if not accepted for publication.

Contacts:
Traci Beeson Managing Editor 214-948-3622 tbeeson@dallas-cms.org	Jackie Campbell Production Assistant 214-948-3622 campbell@dallas-cms.org