Articles should be 1000 to 3000 words (longer is acceptable if the quality is good; we can also break them into sections for multiple-issue topics) and relevant to the field of massage therapy. Content needs to be written in a manner that provides value to Touchstone readers and should not be written in a marketing style. Typical information that is of value to our readers includes some or all of the following (not necessarily in order, but in an order that makes sense for your content):
History
Modern Usage
Description
Modality classes
Trips for CE
Services
Products
Other
Resources
Where can someone go (besides you or your company) to do their own research on the subject and/or what references did you use to create the information in your article (if you include quotes, please include the source).Author Bio
A two to three sentence author bio, describing the author's qualifications or background relevant to the topic is required. An image of the author may also be submitted under the guidelines for images and format.
Contact/Purchase Information/Schedule Information
If the article is about a type of massage class, please also submit a course schedule including dates, course title(s), locations, pricing, and contact information.
If the article is about a type of massage product or service, please also submit pricing and contact information.
Images and Format
At least one relevant image should be submitted with the article, along with a description of what is being shown in the image (essentially, something that could be used as a caption). In addition, a photo of the author may also be submitted.
Photos must be submitted in .jpg format and should be 300 dpi or better resolution.
You must own the rights to all photos submitted. Include photographer name and copyright information (year) so that appropriate credit can be included with the article. If the photographer is not known, but your company owns the right to the photo, the following is acceptable:
Photo © 2009 Massage Company(if taken by an employee or subcontractor for your company)
Photo © 2009 XYZ Images(if purchased and rights allow it to be used in external publications)
Images that are "found" on the internet are not necessarily public domain; usually images are copyrighted. Images that do not have an identifiable source will not be used to prevent copyright violations.
Editorial Process
Changes may be made to your article for clarity, punctuation, grammar, or other structurally-related issues. Articles that are written in a marketing style may be returned for a rewrite or significantly edited prior to publication in order to meet the needs of the publication and the audience. First-person voice should be avoided except in relevant case studies or in articles about personal experiences. All articles will be returned to the writer for final approval prior to publication if anything other than extremely minor details (spelling, comma placement, or basic punctuation) are changed. If the author does not approve of the recommended changes, (s)he reserves the right to pull the article for consideration.
Submission and Contact Information
All information must be sent electronically to the Touchstone Editor. Text (article content, photo captions and credits, author bio) can be sent in the body of the email, in a Microsoft Word document, or in an Open Office document. Photos must be sent as a .jpg attachment. Please direct any further questions to to the Touchstone Editor.