These days lots of us write something down to communicate with others using short format platforms like Twitter, Linkedin, Tripadvisor review etc.  Doesn't it feel good when someone likes your post or replies positively and engages with your words?

Do you have more to say?  Have you thought writing something longer, or does the idea of writing a short article seem too much work and do you worry perhaps you don't have enough to say to fill 2-3 pages? Or that writing an article necessarily involves research and collating references?

Here are some practical reasons why it might be worth thinking about writing an article:

 - Why not dip your toe in the water and write about yourself and your own work experiences.  At the K&IM special interest group we are always on the look out for articles for our e-journal K&IM Refer where people describe a work experience and what it meant for them, their team, and/or their organisation. Or simply describe a "day in your life".  No pesky research or references needed!

- Are you currently working on Chartership or Fellowship, struggling perhaps to find documentation to support some fantastic activities that happened a few years ago, that you didn't write or record at the time (who knew then you would need the written records now!?).  Solution: write it up as a short descriptive article.  That way you have the evidence documented in official form and you may even find it helps clarify your thoughts and experiences for your reflective statement.  Again it's a piece about you so no research or references needed!

- How good will it look on your CV? And you could always take it to your job interview as a talking point to discuss and have all the details at your fingertips of the great job or project you did.

- Of course if you want to do a little research and write a piece including some references, then we won't stop you!  

- Have your read a book recently that really helped you to think about something differently at work or helped you manage a project? Book reviews are always welcome.  Particularly if they come with a paragraph on how the book helped or inspired you.

Our next issue of K&IM Refer is scheduled for November, so plenty of time to jot down a few words and find that it can quickly grow to be a full article.  Don't be shy and don't think you have nothing to say.  All information professionals say that every day is different and they never know what they can be asked or what information they have to find - we are challenged every day, and every day we meet that challenge head-on.  How can there not be a fascinating article or two in that?

Articles can be submitted to the K&IM Refer Editor Helen Edwards hogedwards@gmail.com