Florida Institute of CPAs - Author Guidelines

Florida CPA Today is the official publication of the Florida Institute of CPAs (FICPA) and is distributed bi-monthly to more than 19,000 readers. It contains the latest technical and newsworthy articles relevant to Florida CPAs and addresses important issues that impact the profession.

The FICPA Editorial Committee generates all potential topics. Each committee will have the opportunity to sign up to write articles during Committee Days. During this time, technical reviewers will also be assigned for each article. Because magazine space is limited, there is a chance that some articles will be printed in a shortened (300 words) Web Digest format, with directions to the full version of the article on the Florida CPA Netlink™.

Approximately four to six weeks before your deadline, you will receive a reminder e-mail from Florida CPA Today Editor Suellen Wilkins. After you have completed the article, please submit it in electronic form to your technical reviewer. He or she will suggest edits/changes to you, the author, for approval and/or revision. Please feel free to consult with the magazine editor at any time before or during the technical review process.

When the technical review has been completed and you have a final draft of the article, please submit it to the magazine editorat wilkinss@ficpa.org. Please refer to your reminder e-mail for the deadline for your article. The editor then will send your article to your editorial reviewer to ensure its readability and compliance with FICPA Author Guidelines.

Edits/changes suggested by the editorial reviewer will be forwarded to you, the author, for approval and/or revision. Other changes made to an article may include editorial/grammar corrections or technical clarifications, and edits for space constraints. You may consult with your assigned technical reviewer at any time during the editorial review process. If you make changes to an article directly, it must be resubmitted via e-mail.

Authors are encouraged to talk with their Editorial Committee contact before writing to discuss the topic and development of the article, and to address any questions and/or concerns. You may obtain your editorial reviewer’s contact information from the magazine editor. Once the article is published, it is the author’s responsibility to answer any questions that may arise thereafter.

The Editorial Committee reserves the right to return an article to the author for revision or reject any article that does not comply with the aforementioned criteria.

Articles should be a minimum of 600 words and a maximum of 1,200 words, including endnotes. (While endnotes help shorten text material and enable credit to be given to other sources, they can consume too much valuable magazine space and become excessive. Therefore, you may use no more than 10 endnotes in an article, not to exceed 20 words per reference. Please try to make as many in-text references as possible.)

Style Considerations
All articles must be objective and written in third person. We favor short, concise sentences and paragraphs. When a sentence exceeds 20 words, it should be re-examined. Also, short paragraphs and the use of subheadings help to break up material and generally enhance readability. Additionally, the use of common or general heading followed by specific “bullets” makes for brevity. Please, strive for succinct, straightforward communication.

Do not endorse or recommend any products or services in your article. Endorsements could raise tax problems and subject the FICPA to liability claims if the products or services are not effective or result in injury.

Headlines: If you believe a certain headline will draw attention to your article, type it at the beginning of your manuscript. We favor two to three “kickers” followed by main headlines. For example: “Source Taxation: The New Nemesis of Retirement.” Avoid question headlines. Remember: Keep it short and creative.

Charts: Because of space limitations, you may submit no more than one chart, not to exceed one-third of a page. Charts that are two columns wide work best and appear the cleanest in layout. Be aware that chart information will count toward the 1,200-word maximum.

(NOTE: There is no guarantee that a chart or charts will be used with your story. Therefore, charts should be submitted purely as an enhancement to an article and not as a vital part of it.)

Biographical Sketch of Author
To receive recognition in conjunction with the publication of your article, please submit a biographical sketch (three to five sentences, maximum).

In your bio, state your name, professional designation (such as CPA or doctoral degree(s)), position, employer, city and any professional affiliations. Your experience relating to the topic is important; it establishes credibility for you as an author. Additionally, you may want to list any Committee, Section or chapter service that relates to your article.

Use active rather than passive voice. Example: “The Board concluded…," not "The conclusion of the Board was…"

Pay attention to the “Five Ws”: who, what, when, where, why. In accounting, “how much” is sometimes equally important.

In order to help an article flow, use transitional words. Examples include: still; on the other hand; finally; unfortunately; first; next; remember; however; in summary. Use these or others you can think of to keep your article moving.

Edit and revise your copy, then edit and revise it again. Is any information duplicated? Can anything be said in fewer words or in a more direct way? Is everything consistent?

Acronyms help shorten material. For example, after an initial reference to the Financial Accounting Standards Board, follow with FASB in parentheses and refer to the acronym thereafter.

If you have questions, contact Editor Suellen Wilkins, Florida CPA Today, at Florida Institute of CPAs, P.O. Box 5437, Tallahassee, FL 32314, wilkinss@ficpa.org, or by calling (800) 342-3197 or (850) 224-2727, Ext. 383.