Why You Should Write

In 1946, George Orwell wrote a rather famous essay titled, “Why I Write.” In it, he outlined four basic reasons why writers do what they do: 1) sheer egoism, 2) aesthetic enthusiasm, 3) historical impulse, and 4) political purpose. And while those reasons may have been sufficient for the author of 1984 and Animal Farm, I think there may be a couple of other reasons that apply especially to what we do here at Power Transmission Engineering.

You see, we’re looking for a few good contributors, and I’ve got a couple of good reasons to encourage you to do so:

We work in a very technical field, with ever increasing demands for more torque in less space, running more efficiently and quietly than last year’s models. The technical specifications for gears, bearings, motors and all the related components and machinery are continuously evolving, and it’s our mission to help keep the industry informed of those changes. On top of that, both new engineers and seasoned veterans can always use a refresher course on the basics.

So help us with that mission. Help us educate and train the workforce on the technology of mechanical power transmission. If you have experience in our industry and you’ve learned a thing or two, why not share that knowledge and pass it on?

We come across many individuals who are at or near the end of their careers, having worked decades with power transmission components. Those individuals are often grateful for the opportunities they’ve received and the careers they’ve been able to build. If that sounds like you, then one of the ways you can give back to the industry is by sharing the knowledge you’ve earned. Power Transmission Engineering is the perfect vehicle for doing so.

We’re looking for unbiased technical information that helps our readers understand how machines work. The articles don’t have to be university-level research (although we welcome that, too). What we need most are practical, hands-on articles that show engineers how to build better power transmission and motion control systems. We need pro tips that help maintenance professionals choose the right components and keep them running at peak efficiency and minimum cost. Both engineers and maintenance professionals are often in a position of deciding or recommending which components or systems to buy. Help us help them make the right choices.

If you need a good example for inspiration, just turn to page 38 for Norm Parker’s article, “Ball Bearing Limiting Speeds.” It’s good, hands-on, practical knowledge that our readers can use. Maybe you have similar practical knowledge on gears, couplings, clutches or brakes? If so, we’d love to hear from you.

For even more ideas, you can download our Editorial Guidelines at powertransmission.com/contribute.

While I can’t promise you that your writing will have the kind of lasting impact that George Orwell’s writing has had, I can promise you that it will have impact. Knowledge shared is far more powerful than knowledge hoarded. If you have some ideas, we’d love to help you share them. Reach out at stott@agma.org.