Article Submission Guidelines

Welcome to the Shortline Modelers contributor team!

These guidelines help you create rich content and provide consistency on the site.

1. Content Standards

Originality: All articles must be your work. Plagiarism, AI-generated unedited text, or copying from other sites without attribution is strictly prohibited.
Relevance: Topics should align with our site’s focus (e.g., scale modeling, prototype accuracy, hobby tips, history).
Accuracy: Verify all facts, dates, and names. Provide sources where applicable.
Tone: Conversational yet professional. Aim for clarity, avoid unnecessary jargon, and write for both newcomers and seasoned readers.

Headings: Use proper heading hierarchy (H2 for main sections, H3 for subsections).
Paragraphs: Keep them short (2–4 sentences) for better readability.
Lists: Use bullet or numbered lists for steps, tips, or resources.
Quotes: Use blockquote styling for direct quotations.
Links:
- Internal: Link to relevant existing articles on our site, ensuring the link opens in a new window.
- External: Link only to reputable sources.

Ownership: Only upload images you own or have permission to use, and give proper credit to the photographer.
File Names: Use descriptive, SEO-friendly names (e.g., ge-44-ton-locomotive-side-view.jpg).
Captions: Add short, descriptive captions to all images.
Alt Text: Always include alt text for accessibility and SEO.
Image Size: Optimize for web — ideally under 200 KB per image.

Title: Clear, descriptive, and under 60 characters if possible.
Meta Description: 150–160 characters summarizing the article.
Keywords: Naturally integrate target keywords in the title, headings, and body text.

Check Formatting — Preview to ensure headings, spacing, and images display correctly.
Proofread — Run a spellcheck and read aloud to catch errors.