Many authors ask me what I'd like them to write about. Personally, I think that's making it a little too easy on yourself. It's clever, because it'll be hard to refuse an article if I've asked for it first, but maybe not the kind of clever I'm looking for. So here is a list of some of the things I look at when I get an abstract, translated into a series of do's and don'ts.What it comes down to, in short, is: be original and give me something that stands out of the crowd.

- It surprises me too, but despite the survey showing that early Imperial Rome is the most popular subject, I actually get more Greek and Hellenistic abstracts. I have no proposals about say, Germanicus' campaigns, Hadrian's relation to the army or Trajan in Parthia...

- Fit your article to a theme. By far the best way to get me interested is to focus your article on the theme for an issue. Want to have an even better chance? Be original, find an angle that's unusual. Pick a subject for your article that allows you, in your conclusion, to say something of relevance about the theme as a whole.

- I like abstracts that propose to use less commonly used sources. Can you paint a picture with inscriptions, papyri, archaeology or non-Western sources?

- Almost everything in Ancient history has been written about before, but some subjects are much more well-trodden than others: Don't propose an article on Thermopylae (the famous one, that is) unless you have a really interesting angle.

- Don't send me a full article. A 500 word abstract is much more likely to be read and inserted into an issue's plan.

- Almost any other military history magazine will ask you about illustrations. We will too, even though we are often able to help out. Include some reasoned thoughts about photography or illustrations. Yes, we do have artists we commission for artwork, but there is a limited budget. In other words: if you have some specific, reasonably accessible artefacts in mind that could serve to illustrate the article, then tell me so. If you have your own photos, even better.

- Don't propose looong articles. Articles in Ancient Warfare are generally in the 2,000-3,000 word range. I am trying to make space for one or two longer articles per issue, around the 4,000 word range, but these had better be spot on for a theme and very good. Some of the reasons for a long article are going to be immediately shot down:

 

1) the subject is ...(so obscure) people will need a lot of background knowlege to be able to understand the issues at stake. My answer would be that you underestimate the reader at your own peril. Ask yourself if all the extra information is really essential for the point you are trying to make.

2) I did so much research! And you want to see that reflected in the length of your article? I prefer quality over quantity.

 

If I think of anything else, I'll add it to this post.