Although contributors are not paid, Bonzer! is never short of writers and artists, many of whom are published elsewhere as well. Award-winning short story writers, children's story writers, photographers and visual artists all contribute regularly.

The reasons for this are not hard to understand. By having your story, cartoon, comment, humour, or article published in Bonzer! you reach a mature, informed audience, one that has lived long enough to be able to tell the difference between quality and dross. You will know that your work is being appreciated and enjoyed.

At the same time, by writing for a specific audience and to strict guidelines you will be honing your craft and applying some necessary discipline that you as a writer need if you're going to succeed in the commercial arena.

Frequent Bonzer! contributor Brian Barratt (former bookseller, editor, publisher, schoolbook writer, private tutor in English and thinking skills, class tutor in creative writing, mentor to gifted students, and curriculum editor for Australian national Tournament of Minds... among other things) shares his expertise:

• I always told my students, whatever their age, the first version of what they write is not the final version.
• It is a good idea to put it away for at least a week and come back to it, for they will be more objective by then.
• Reading it aloud, preferably at that later stage, is a good way of picking up errors or awkward written expression.

• We've found that many of our readers prefer short stories, because reading long ones on the computer screen is tiring and often stressful.
  So we've decided to restrict the length of all contributions to 750 words or fewer. This rule will be strictly observed.

• We have also had to introduce a monthly deadline. Please make sure that your contribution reaches the editor by the 15th of each month. That way, you're more likely to have your piece published in the following month.

• Compose material, preferably in 12pt Verdana font, and send it as a Word document to the editor, Alan Wheatley, at
  edbonzer@bonzerplus.org.au

• Readers like to see who the author is, so it's good to have a photograph and a short bio of yourself to accompany your story.

• Photographs should be in JPEG format, size no larger than 90 pixels wide and 140 pixels in length.

• Please note that once Bonzer! is published, no changes will be made, unless absolutely necessary.

Bonzer! contains a variety of writing, both fiction and nonfiction. Many pages are open to freelancers.

There's a page called Theme Stories, with a new theme each month. Examples of previous themes are What Do I Long For, Magic Moments, Turning Points, and Frankly, My Dear, I Don't Give a Damn. Another page, Feature Stories, is open to any theme. Here you can let go!

Reflection offers the opportunity to pause, slow down and think. P.O.V.(Point of View) speaks for itself. Apart from party-political comment, which is discouraged, this page is open to anyone with an axe to grind.

Changing Times offers the chance to tell or retell an episode in your life (or someone else's) that has had an impact. Letters to the Editor encourages readers to express opinions about anything that has appeared in Bonzer! or to make suggestions for improvement.

Poetry can be posted on our sister publication, BonzerPlus.

Because this is an online journal, it is truly international. This means contributors will bring with them their own nation's spelling, usage and grammatical conventions. We welcome this diversity.

Nevertheless, like most publications we do have guidelines:

• The maximum length of a submission is 750 words.

• Submissions must reach the editor by the 15th of each month. That way, you are more likely to have your piece published in the following month.

• Compose material, preferably in 12pt Verdana font, and send it as a Word document to the editor edbonzer@bonzerplus.org.au

• Readers like to see who the author is, so it's good to have a photograph and a short bio of yourself to accompany your story.

• Photographs should be in JPEG format, size no larger than 90 pixels wide and 140 pixels in length.

• Please note that once Bonzer! is published, no changes will be made, unless absolutely necessary.

• The editor reserves the right to cut overlong pieces, but will try to discuss it with you first. You may find, too, that your work appears in the journal slightly differently from the document you sent. This will be because it has been edited to conform to Bonzer!'s style guide. All editors have their own way of doing things, and Bonzer! is no exception.

• Quoting Dialogue
  Use double quotes around conversation.

  "I hope you’re not much tired?" she said at last.

  "Nohow. And thank you very much for asking," said Tweedledum.

  Louis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

• Use single quotation marks to enclose a quotation within a quotation.

  He said, "My sister said, 'Don't treat me that way' "

• Use double quotes to enclose definitions, expressions, or titles of works that are part of larger works.
  

  "Ouch"

  "The Long and Painful Death" is found in Claire Keegan's book, Walk the Blue Fields.

• For titles, such as books, periodicals, and movies, use italics.
  Madonna did not write War and Peace.

Alan Wheatley
Editor Emeritus, Bonzer!