General Writing Guidelines
Hey! So cool that you’re here!
As an amateur, local newspaper, the Jester is always thrilled when people are interested in what we do, and even more, when they want to become part of it! So, welcome, you want to write with us?
Heck yeah, get your pen and paper, typewriter or other means of getting your story on paper and get them words out there. In order for text to become Jestered, we wrote some guidelines and suggestions. Τhat’s what this document is for. Some on content, style, practical info and more.
And in any case, if you have doubts, feel stuck, or just looking for a sparring partner, please do reach out to one of the Coordinators (thejester.wageningen@gmail.com)
What to write
In general, there are no hard rules. We want you to feel excited about what you write. And for that, you need freedom, because it will ultimately come from your mind and heart. So follow your nose to what makes you curious; to what you wish to know more about and dive deep into it.Wageningen is our main stage, so we invite you to look around with investigative and playful eyes, to see what juice our city has to offer. This can be about the university, the students and their life here, other communities of the city, the city itself; its quirky corners, its events, its many layers that might need your critical lens to unpeel them, to reveal them and to question them. You can also go beyond Wageningen. The Netherlands, Europe, the world, the universe, are also very exciting places to find interesting topics. So don’t feel too bound to the premises. But, always think of your audience.
If you have an idea ask yourself “why would people in Wageningen be interested in reading this”, “how does it potentially concern them?”.
Not sure what to write about or how it should look? The old Jester editions are a great source of inspiration and, to an extent, guidance. You can find them all in the “The Paper” page on our website, or ask us to visit the physical archive in our office. Browse through them and see what could need a follow-up or a new perspective.
Style
Keep it simple!Whatever you choose to write, think of it as if you’d be telling your readers a story about it. A story that flows easily, that can be playful (as much as the topic allows) and will keep your readers engaged. That’s why we try to avoid complex language such as academic terms, and jargon of any field. But if you think a term is key for your story and arguments, we invite you to give a small definition so our community can enjoy reading it as much as you did writing it.
Make it Jester-ish
The Jester is this historical character and we invite you to practice stepping into their suit (yeahhh, put on some colourful clothes, a hat with jiggly bells and for completion grab a sceptre). Imagine that you are addressing ‘the monarch’ (who or what is the monarch/power/institution in your text? It doesn’t have to be apparent to the reader but for you as a writer it helps with finding your tone and storyline) and then, imagine it is you, in front of the throne, and all them royal rats staring at you when you are there to deliver a point of critique. Of course, you are not bluntly going to state what's on your heart. No, you will pour it into a narrative, a joke, you decorate it with outlandish caricatures and by wrapping them into your story, you end up confronting them with… the truth… or your critique.. or just the point you’d like to make..In writing, this generally means that you try to apply a ‘satirical’ tone. Irony, derision, wit, ridiculing a subject. You can think about applying: parody, exaggeration, analogies. Humour is the vehicle but the main intention is to construct and deliver criticism.
We are aware that satirical writing ain’t easy, and we (the coordinators and the editors are also there to help you out. It doesn’t have to be perfect at all and the key is in the attempt. Let the ‘jesterness’ not block you from writing, but see it as an invitation to give style to your text.
Form
There are so many ways you can share what inspired you, and we are open to all (that can go on paper🙃). Think of articles, poems, cartoons, games, interview-based stories, essays, photostories… You name it! If you’re wondering how this can look, old Jesters are again your go-to source of inspiration. There’s so much diversity in how people have contributed over the years, that no doubt you’ll find the form that suits your style.Bringing it home to the heart
Ultimately, we are looking for content that will make us all see the world (from our Wageningen bubble to the universe) under a new or different light; that will make us think deeper and further or will allow us to reconsider something we thought we knew. Or maybe just make us laugh about our reality. Some questions that you can ask yourself when you are writing and can help you structure your thoughts:What do I wish to say here? Is it clear and understandable? Why am I writing this again? Have I covered the subject adequately?
If you're inspired by other sources and opinions, find a way to make it your own; by taking a new perspective, being a critical voice, or exploring it one step further. And beyond everything else that you will be critical of, we also ask you to be critical of your own arguments and opinions. We encourage writers to avoid being one-sided by looking at their story from more than their own angle and to back them up sufficiently so they can stand alone 😉.
Interviews
Interviews are an essential part of article writing at the Jester. And we love people to apply this form, but a few notes on that. We recommend you explore multiple perspectives from people involved in an issue. It’s possible that as a writer you might have differences of opinion with your interviewee. Even though it might be challenging it’s important to fairly represent what your interviewee is saying, even if that means going against your own perspective.Above all, always make sure to get your interviewee’s full and informed consent, both for interviewing them and for having that interview published in the Jester. After you create your final piece, it’s always good to share it with them and make sure they are comfortable with what is being said and how. If there is difficulty in finding a middle ground, ask one of us to assist you in the process.
Practical information
You send your article draft to thejester.wageningen@gmail.com before the deadline. Your draft article includes a title, a subtitle or a couple of sentences that give a little intro to what will follow and has a 500-750 words (one page with image) or 1000-1500 words (2 pages with images) limit. If you have any specific designing requirements, let them be known at the bottom of your article. You will receive editorial feedback, which you can incorporate into your article. Then you send your final article back, which will be published if it has met the necessary criteria.Accountability
The Jester aims to publish a wide array of opinions. These opinions do not reflect the editorial stance of the Jester. The editorial process seeks to ensure that an article published in the Jester presents an accurate representation of reality and is in line with the values of the Jester. The author is accountable for what they write, this is why we encourage authors to sign their name at the end of the article. Anonymity or aliases for articles are used for specific cases, consult the editors or the coordinators if you wish to publish your article anonymously.The author has the ultimate responsibility for the contents of the article, but being published in the Jester means the article has passed the editorial scrutiny and can stand on its own merit.