So you want to write for BMJ Career Focus?
Career Focus articles should inspire, inform and involve our readers.
There are several different styles of articles in Career Focus. Before you start, you should consider which is best place for the article you want to write. Then you can ensure you write in the correct style, to the correct length and that you include the necessary information.
We encourage you to submit your article via our Benchpress system as this helps us manage the editing process. See http://submit.bmj.com/. However we do still accept articles sent as Word files submitted direct to careerfocus@bmj.com.
Please make sure you include author contact details (name, email address, phone number and workplace details) in the Word file itself, not just in a covering email. Many of the articles carry photos when they appear in print, though not on the web.
General feature articles
Feature articles vary in length from between 800 words (a single page) to 1500 words (two pages) and – in exceptional circumstances up to 2300 words (3 pages).
We’re open to suggestions on any topic pertinent to medical careers, working lives, or professional and personal development of UK doctors. Please note that this section does not cover clinical issues.
Features need to be written objectively and include different perspectives and views. Boxes, scenarios and examples are often useful but please make sure you have written consent to write about patients. We also welcome suggestions for pictures to illustrate your article. You will be asked to declare any competing interests.
Career specialties: If you want to write about careers in a certain specialty, first check whether something similar has been written already (use the Search engine in the Careers channel You should include interviews with at least four doctors of varying grades in the specialty and cover:
- Number of current and projected national training numbers (by deanery if possible) and consultant numbers
- A day in the life of (give details of who you are basing this on)
- Advantages and disadvantages
- Qualities needed
- Further information
Most career specialty articles will be 2 pages – aim for 1500 words.
For an example see: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2837
Fifteen minutes with…
Fifteen minute articles are usually but not always with doctors. Subjects need to be either inspirational or extra-ordinary, preferably both. Check we’ve not already interviewed them. Check with the editor if there are any particular questions that should be asked. Whatever happens in the actual interview, pieces should be written in the style of question then answer, question then answer and so on. Keep questions to short, snappy one-liners in your write up. You are responsible for asking your subject for a photograph and emailing this jpeg along with your piece. 15 minutes with…is always 850 words. This includes a 20 word biog box (subject’s name, position, potted biography.)
For an example see: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2713
Diplomatosis
This is a one page article (800 words) about a course you have been on recently. It should follow the question and answer format (eg. Why I did this course, what I learnt, how much did it cost, why would I recommend it?) Please make sure to include details of who the course is run by and how to book a place on future courses.
For an example see: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2841
The way I see it
This is an 800-1000 word first-person piece on any subject pertinent to medical careers, doctors’ working lives or professional and personal development. It needs to give your name and job position. (We cannot accept anonymous articles). If you have a picture of yourself please send it to us as a jpeg with your article.
For an example see: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2840
Things they don’t teach you at medical school
This section is about 800 words and should be an interview with someone who is senior in the medical profession (eg dean of a medical school, senior consultant, GP reaching retirement etc). Please get a photograph from the person concerned and send it with your article as a jpeg.
For an example see: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2839
Time Off
This section is about 800 words. It is a look at what medics do in their spare time – anything from hot air ballooning to ballroom dancing. The individual does not need to be in a senior position. Try to look for interests outside work that are a bit different from the norm. Playing football on a Saturday afternoon or being 2nd violin in the local orchestra are not likely to be that unusual. But being a member of the Olympic football team or the regular guest conductor of a leading regional orchestra might. If you are not sure, just email us and ask. Please supply a picture of the person you are interviewing as a jpeg when you submit your article. Let us know where they work as a doctor.
For an example see: http://careers.bmj.com/careers/advice/view-article.html?id=2838
Rapid responses
We welcome your rapid responses, whether in direct response to an article in Career Focus or as a way of sharing your own ideas and experiences. We are especially interested in upbeat ideas from which other doctors can benefit. As long as it isn’t libellous or offensive, we will post it. We print a selection of our rapid responses as letters but no longer accept snail mail as letters to the editor.
A final check:
1. Have you put your name, email address, phone number and workplace address on the word file?
2. Is it the correct word count for that section (no, we can’t squeeze 1500 words onto one page!)
3. Have you supplied a photograph (if requested)?
4. Have you done a spell check on your article?
If you have queries please email them to: careerfocus@bmj.com
NB. We no longer accept submissions for the following sections:
Tips on.
Reviews.
What’s on the Web.
