Guidelines for Writing Articles for KJ

In selecting the magazine's content, we look for fresh, creative and intelligent approaches of wide and lasting interest. KJ is intended for a general readership of people who have mostly spent some time in Asia, and who are reasonably familiar with Asian societies and cultures. Our readers tend to keep back issues of KJ for reference; we’re concerned with building an accumulative body of material of lasting value.

Since KJ is published on a quarterly basis, with a relatively slow distribution process, we particularly seek material with a potentially long "shelf life." As a result, KJ is not an appropriate vehicle for breaking news scoops, or op-ed commentaries on this week’s big story. Let’s also mention up front that we try to leave the “Discovering Asia” genre of passionate but superficial first impressions to other publications that are more oriented towards newcomers and tourists.

We look for work that presents aspects of Asian cultures in a way that is primarily thought-provoking — and this characteristic implies, for us, a certain general accessibility. While we of course welcome academic and literary submissions, we don’t envision KJ as primarily a literary magazine, or an academic journal. In selection we favor work that is well grounded, and that develops its arguments through illustrative anecdotes rather than polemics. We have published a number of articles that originated as theses and academic research papers, but in such cases we tend to work with the author in editing to achieve focus on certain aspects, with structural revision and some ‘translation’ for general readership, where necessary.

Appropriate style

It’s particularly difficult to define style guidelines for KJ, because what we look for is an identifiably individual voice in every article, in the same way that we have no design templates for layout — each piece is treated as a unique entity, so each issue becomes a collection of disparate voices, with resonances and connections, and maybe even disagreements.

The most immediate way to form a quick impression of the kind of writing that we favor is to look at the magazine itself, or this website’s Selections, a sampling from previous issues.

Without insisting on any specific format, here are some pointers that may help contributors to envisage some kind of suitable “KJ style.”

1) Write with a particular reader in mind, representative of our intelligent and educated Asiaphile audience, worldwide. Think of someone you know well, who fits that description, and speak to them.

2) Write from the heart, not merely from the head. But don’t get too carried away, please…

3) Consider readers for whom English is a second language. This doesn’t necessarily mean oversimplification of style — or content. Good writing doesn’t need the excess baggage of local idiom, buzzwords, or jargon.

4) Write with the intention of drawing the reader in. We look for clear, attention-grabbing intros, sustained interest — and effective wrap-ups. Strategies for better accessibility may include using active rather than indirect speech; focusing on specifics (anecdote rather than generalization) — and especially, providing the necessary context (for example, briefly introduce your references rather than expecting readers to know them simply by name, give dates in addition to era names, etc.) to give a complete picture.

5) Avoid clichés such as “mute testimony” (and generalizations especially such as “the Japanese”) or unnecessary figures of speech (“part and parcel”).

6) Avoid self-centered writing. In all but exceptional cases, it’s not really about you. At least, it shouldn’t be. Even in an Encounters piece, don’t put yourself between the reader and the action (e.g. when describing what you see, it’s not necessary to say, “I saw…”) And try not to editorialize.

7) Avoid anonymous writing… (OK, so this contradicts the last point. Contradictions make life, and writing, interesting). Where practicable, build your relationship with the reader, implicitly revealing who you are, what you stand for. But keep it subtle.

8) Write constructively. Don’t waste space and energy in recycling or demolition of old ideas. Move on, build your own alternative vision, share it.

9) Above all, writing should be enjoyable — for both writer and reader.

KJ editors do give feedback on submissions, and may offer suggestions on developing them further and making them more effective. Editing (for length and/or clarity) is collaborative; we ensure that we have full agreement from the author on a definitive version before publication. Authors retain copyright.

See also, KJ Style Conventions