If you’ve been affected by a sudden cardiac arrest and have something relevant to say, we’d happily consider it for publishing on our blog. Sudden cardiac arrests are not widely known and often confused with a heart attack, so we’re keen on getting perspectives from all angles.
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you want to share your relevant story or have knowledge in a particular area.
Compelling
You don’t have to be Shakespeare or Wordsworth to contribute. Write it from the heart and create a compelling read.
Here are some tips to help you on your way…
- Share your voice: Especially for personal stories, express your ideas as you would to a good friend, including your struggles and inspirations along the way. If you have discovered a new perspective, we want to know.
- Coming up with a title: Consider what would grab the reader and make them curious. Tell them about a problem you are solving, a way to improve their life, or something new you have discovered.
- First paragraph: Your first sentence should make the reader want to know more. A strong first paragraph gives a clear and engaging idea of what the post will talk about or what the reader will learn.
- Make your point: If a few words can reach your message’s heart, you don’t need more. One detailed example is also often better than a long list of them.
- Make it accessible: Use accessible language that even readers new to your topic can understand.
- Make it enjoyable: Don’t just catalogue a series of events. Add feeling and emotion to help readers understand what was happening and how you reacted.
- Backing it up: When you mention a statistic or a research study (even casually), please link to that source. These sources can range from news outlets to academic journals, etc. This allows readers to learn more and delve deeper into the topic.
Topics
We’re after articles on all sorts of related topics. Your SCA story, be it as a survivor, partner, lifesaver, allied health professional, or any other person who has been affected by a sudden cardiac arrest, will be of interest to us and, almost certainly, many others in our community.
- Life post-SCA – what has your experience been like?
- Practical issues – real-life experiences of how you’ve coped
- Living with an ICD – a pain or a great insurance policy?
- Your saviours – tell about what it was like to meet them
- Sports – have a sport you’re passionate about, and have you managed to continue it post SCA, or have you taken up something new?
- Under 35? – Many incorrectly assume that an SCA is a heart attack that only happens to older people. We know it doesn’t, and so it would be good to help educate others
- Treatments – have you had any new or unusual treatments post-SCA?
- Positive thinking/role models – what positive things have helped your recovery
- Moving on – being “cured”? What have you done to help you move on from the SCA experience?
- Government – Have you had any notable experiences when dealing with government services? i.e. DVLA, Department for Work & Pensions
- Having an SCA in older life
- Having an SCA as a young adult
- Being a parent of a child who’s had an SCA
- Pregnancy – at pre/post/during SCA
- Personal achievement post-SCA
- Overcoming SCA-related mental health issues
- Overcoming an SCA-related challenge
- Travelling
- Life with an ICD or other implant-related to your SCA
- How your life is better post-SCA UK
We’re particularly interested in articles from young persons, sportspeople and ladies who have gone through a pregnancy since having an SCA.
Format
Ideally, articles should be between 350 and 1000 words and submitted electronically in Word, PDF or Google Doc format.
A picture can speak a thousand words, so please include some (separately), but ensure they are your own or copyright-free. We can provide images if need be, but personalising them with your own is much better.
Please be aware that we may need to edit or adjust accordingly, and we can help modify content, titles, and pictures if necessary.
Book
In previous years, some of the best blog posts have been published as compilations available from Amazon. They have received great feedback and many 5* reviews!
If we have enough suitable articles, we may create a further volume, and if you submit an article, you may become a published author!
All proceeds from the sales go to help run SCA UK.
Previews
