We edit dozens of stories here at brass; so much, in fact, that we can spot a decent writer from a lousy one in less than two-thousandths of a millisecond. Here are some tips to aid your writing process. Take them to heart and you might snag another article assignment in the future.

• Use your own genuine voice. Write with the same language you would use if you were talking to a friend. If you talk like you belong in a 500-page instruction manual, we won't be impressed--we'll just assume you're a robot, and not an actual human. (Company policy prohibits publishing works by inanimate objects.)
• Clarity is key. If we can't clearly follow what you're trying to say, it doesn't matter how clever or descriptive your writing is.
• Cut out the fluff. Passive voice, excessive "be" verbs, and unnecessary filler words muck up otherwise good writing. We've all done it in high school to stretch a paper up to the assigned word count, but here's the thing: your high school teacher got paid to read your fluffy writing. People in the real world don't--and won't! Keep your writing as concise as possible, and you'll have more room to say something meaningful.
• When you're done, examine all the pieces. Next to each paragraph, write down the main point it makes and then examine the flow between all of these points. Does the organization make logical sense? Does one point lead clearly to the next?
• Fact check, fact check. Before submitting, be sure all info is accurate and as up-to-date as possible. For starters, go line by line and if something is written that is not common knowledge it must be fact checked and cited. And don't bother with info or stats that are older than two years. By publication, they're probably outdated.
• Allow time for revision. Any piece of writing will benefit from revision with fresh eyes. Keep in mind that when you submit your article, we take it as your final draft, and move it towards production from the state it comes in. Don't send it off thinking, "If they don't like it, they'll just ask me to revise it."

But don't worry--none of us are perfect. Have fun, get your point across clearly, and we'll help you with the rest. And if you're just starting out, become a brass contributor at brassmagazine.com/contribute.

--Jane and Chris

Editor's note: As fact checking practice, spot the red flag in the intro paragraph. Here's a hint: it's the stat that's absolutely impossible.

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