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Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:49 pm
by SamSimmons
Something just occurred to me. Probably an obvious question, but I figured I should ask. When checking my word count, should I be excluding the title? Is the word count supposed to be strictly for the body of the article?

Thanks

Sam

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 1:53 pm
by Celeste Stewart
I usually just do the body of the article. Plus, it doesn't have to be exact. (750 words vs. 753 words).

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:00 pm
by SamSimmons
I figured that would be best. Up to now, Ive been doing a word count for the entire document. The title generally adds 4-7 words, which isn't much,, but I rather have an extra 4-7 words in my article to help drive the nail in!

Another quick question. Do you normally add a "by YOUR NAME HERE" to your articles?

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:10 pm
by HayleyWriter
Yes, I always add my byline to the articles. If you do not add the byline to the text, the customer can publish your articles without giving you the credit, even if they buy a usage or unique licence. If the customer purchases the full rights licence, the customer is entitled to change or edit the text, including removing your byline.

Hope this helps,

Hayley

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:21 pm
by SamSimmons
That does help. I recall reading something in the guidelines about not adding your byline. However, it could have said what you did and I just misread it.

Thanks

Sam

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:22 pm
by Celeste Stewart
Hayley is right. I always put "By Celeste Stewart" even when I know the byline will be dropped. That way, if the customer buys a bunch of articles from many writers, if he has a question, or if he wants more, he'll be able to quickly see wrote the article. Helps build name recognition.

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:29 pm
by Elizabeth Ann West
The Byline is in the file, not the summary. That's what the guidelines are referring to.

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:33 pm
by SamSimmons
Thanks for the clarification :)

Re: Word Count

Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 9:52 pm
by Celeste Stewart
I put my byline in the file and the summary. But definitely, the file itself is the most important as that's what the customer receives.

Re: Word Count

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 4:34 am
by Ed
Hi. Our guidelines do not forbid bylines:

"Submissions that contain author bios or sig lines. If you wish to receive a byline, you must include your name within the document text."

What we don't allow are sig lines, a line of text that accompanies the byline. For example:

"Authorname juggles school, work, and writing in the Pacific Northwest."
or
"Authorname has published technology reviews in hundreds of print and online publications."

While authors should definitely receive credit for their work when they want it and when the licensing structure permits it, we draw that line at giving autobiographical information or including promotional language.

Hope this clarifies.

Thanks,
Ed

Re: Word Count

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:10 am
by Elizabeth Ann West
I'm so sorry, I confused the C-C guidelines with another site where they DON'T want people to repeat their name in the summary. LOL.

Re: Word Count

Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 7:29 am
by SamSimmons
Thanks for confirming that, Ed