When we started Don’t Forget The Bubbles back in 2013, it was just the four of us (Andy, Tessa, Henry and Ben) writing about things that interested us. Somewhere along the way, other people started asking if they could write something too, and we said yes. There are now more than 600 of us.
This page has everything you need if you’re thinking about joining that list: why it’s worth doing, what to write, how to submit it, what happens after that, a note for anyone applying for paediatric sub-speciality training (GRID) in the UK, and answers to the questions people usually ask.
Why write for DFTB?
Since DFTB was founded in 2013, we’ve published more than 1,300 posts by almost 600 authors: medical students, doctors in training, consultants, nurses, advanced clinical practitioners and paramedics. If you look after children, you’re exactly who we’re writing for.
Independent, peer-reviewed research (ALiEM’s Digital Impact Factor) ranks DFTB 1st among the world’s paediatric blogs, and 4th across emergency and critical care education sites of any kind (last updated 2023).
Write about the question you keep getting asked, the paper that’s been nagging at you, or the thing you wish someone had explained to you years ago.
What to write for DFTB?
There is no master list of blog posts we would love – they seem to come up organically, so I encourage you to write something you are interested in or want to know the answer to. If you are interested, then the audience will be too.
Think about:
- What question do you ask (or get asked) at work that you would like a straightforward answer to?
- What condition do you constantly have to look up?
- Which journal article have you read that has you questioning things?
- What amazing teaching session have you been to that should be more widely shared?
Head to the main page and type your idea into the search box to see if we’ve already covered it. There’s an amazing breadth of posts there, covering everything from neonates to adolescents and all the stages in between.
Even if we have covered it before, that doesn’t mean it can’t be revisited with a new twist.
Individual case reports, whilst certainly eye-raising in your department, might not be as useful for the broader community unless you think there is an important lesson to learn. Remember, if it’s something rare or unusual, it might be possible to identify the patient, even if you try to disguise them, and that is not on.
Likewise, department audits don’t make for great reading unless there are broader themes and lessons that need a bigger audience.
If you’re not sure, then get in touch: hello@dontforgetthebubbles.com
How to submit your post
Submit your post through our submission form. It doesn’t need to be polished. That’s what the next steps are for.
Format, length, and referencing get worked out once we’re into the process, so don’t let those hold up the sending of a first draft.
The review process
We’re all volunteers, so we can’t promise a fixed turnaround. We’ll endeavour to complete first-round review as quickly as we can.
Once we have your post, here’s what happens:
- Your idea is accepted for publication.
- It’s sent out for peer review. The aim of peer review isn’t to act as a vicious Reviewer 2, but to help make your post the best it can be. That might mean suggesting things you’ve missed, asking for clarification, or helping you hone your message. It’s a conversation between you, the author, the reviewers and the editorial team.
- Once the final text has been agreed, it’s uploaded to the website’s back end and formatted.
- It’s scheduled for publication. We publish once a week, on Tuesdays. We used to publish three posts a week, but it didn’t increase readership, and it exhausted the Editor-in-Chief.
If you need your post published by a specific date, tell us early, and we’ll make sure it happens.
A word about ethical use of AI
AI can be a useful tool when you’re writing for us. It can help you find a clearer opening line, tighten a paragraph, or work out why one doesn’t read right. What it can’t do is take responsibility for what you’ve written.
Every fact, dose and citation still needs to be checked by a human who has read the source, the voice needs to stay yours, and no patient or family information should ever go into an AI tool.
If AI has helped with more than tidying a sentence, say so in a short disclosure at the end of your post. Our full AI writing policy has the detail.
A note for GRID applications
Every year, around the time GRID applications open, we’re inundated with requests. Everyone wants to get published before the deadline, and that’s completely understandable. But if you submit your post two weeks before applications close, it is not going to be published in time.
FAQs
How long should a post be?
As long as it needs to be. Some ideas take longer to breathe than others. When you write for a traditional journal, you are often constrained by tight word counts and have to cut out important information, or just interesting asides.
What referencing format do you like?
Vancouver, ideally. For example:
Tagg A, Roland D, Leo GS, Knight K, Goldstein H, Davis T, Don’t Forget The Bubbles. Everything is awesome: Don’t forget the Lego. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health. 2019 Aug;55(8):921-3.
If you need a hand, a tool such as Cite This For Me can help.
What about images?
The right image can really enhance a blog post, but it must be either something you have created or used under a Creative Commons licence.
If you think an image is needed but you don’t have the skills, that’s okay. Just let us know and we’ll see what we can do.
Do I need to be an expert, or have particular qualifications, to write for you?
Are you a human? Were you once a child? If the answer to these questions is yes, then you are qualified.
I’ve got a great idea, but I’m not sure it fits. What should I do?
Send us an e-mail at hello@dontforgetthebubbles.com, and we can chat about it
I think my case report is genuinely worth writing up despite what the guide says. Can I still submit it?
Shoot us an email and tell us why you think it is important.
Can I write with a co-author?
Absolutely
Will I get a byline, and can I reuse the post elsewhere, like on my own site or in a portfolio?
We’ll ask you for a brief two- or three-line bio to attach to the profile you display on the website. You are free to use your posts elsewhere as long as you link back to DFTB.
What happens if my post isn’t accepted?
We have a standard to uphold, and sometimes a post doesn’t quite cut the mustard. If that happens, we’ll tell you why and whether it’s something you can rework and resubmit or just isn’t a fit for DFTB right now. Either way, you’ll hear it from us directly.
Can I submit something anonymously, given it touches on a sensitive clinical situation?
We’d rather you published under your own name. But we understand that sometimes an author feels uncomfortable putting their name to a piece. If that’s you, get in touch at hello@dontforgetthebubbles.com and we’ll figure out what’s right for the post.
Do you accept submissions from outside the UK or Australia?
Of course.
Can I update or correct a post after it’s published?
Absolutely – we encourage you to do so.
What’s your policy on AI-assisted writing?
See “A word on the ethical use of AI” above, or read our full AI writing policy for the details.
How do I submit a Bubble Wrap?
Bubble Wrap is our monthly summary of five papers that have caught your eye. It’s often written collaboratively by a department, so it’s a good option if you’d rather write with a group of colleagues than on your own.
Get in touch with vickijanecurrie@gmail.com to get involved.
