Is Your Article Worth Publishing?

"We are drowning in information while starving for wisdom."

~ Edward O. Wilson, Consilience: The Unity of Knowledge

​High-quality articles position you as an authoritative expert. They capture your readers' attention and add to critical conversations about today's world. But how do you know if an article is genuinely high-quality?

I developed the CORD Framework™ to evaluate the editorial quality of the articles I write and the articles I edit. Refer to this framework while you rewrite your article and during the editing process. Each element is defined and lists several questions to consider as you evaluate your work.

Cogent — Appealing forcibly to the mind or reason; clear, logical, or convincing. 

Does your article present a compelling case in support of a specific position or viewpoint? Is it useful to the intended reader? Does it provide enough context for the reader to understand its importance?

Original — Not secondary, derivative, or imitative; independent and creative in thought and action. 

Does your article present a strong voice and clear point of view? Does it add to the conversation by focusing on insights in addition to information? Does it build upon your experience and position you as an authoritative expert?

Researched — Studious inquiry or examination of an issue. 

Are the insights you present in your article based on evidence? Are your assertions grounded in fact? Is the data accurate? Are cited sources trustworthy? Is the research cited appropriately and presented with sufficient context?

Deep — Not superficial, of penetrating intellect, characterized by a profundity of quality. 

Is your article well written? Does it leave a lasting impression? Does it dive below the surface and offer insights not found elsewhere? Is it relevant? Do you discern fact from opinion?

High-quality articles meet each of these criteria. This type of writing does require more effort and cannot be outsourced to an AI language machine like ChatGPT. But that effort pays dividends. Writing and thinking through your ideas is tremendously valuable regardless of whether your work is published. But when you publish your work, it not only helps you build your reputation as an authoritative expert, it creates an appreciating asset that you can reference again and again.