I have an idea for an
article for Horse Country magazine
Horse Country welcomes suggestions from readers.
WRITER'S GUIDELINES
We publish eight issues per year (every six weeks from early February to late November). Each issue carries three to five feature articles of 800 - 1200 words. Shorter submissions are also welcome.
Articles rely as much on narrative as information. With a demographic leaning to an age group of 30+, mainly female, and ranging from new riders to old hands, our readers want to learn without being "instructed". Humour and warmth are just as much value as good information that will help readers improve their all-round horse activities.
While training, safety and medical articles are gender-neutral and of Canada-wide interest, any event reporting or personality spotlights should focus on NW Ontario, Manitoba or Saskatchewan.
Sample issues can be ordered from the address above: $6 in Canada including shipping - mark the request email "Editorial Sample" and include your phone number.
WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
While the following list is a small sample of appropriate topics, please enquire to see if we have already covered something or have something planned, prior to actually going ahead with an article on spec. We have a long list of "wants" and "in waiting" to cull from.
- Training articles for any discipline of riding. You must hold a nationally recognised qualification as a trainer or coach.
- “How-to” activities around horses. For instance, bandaging, braiding, clipping, safe tying, ponying, barn activities. A nationally recognised qualification as a trainer or coach is a requirement.
- Safety issues around the barn, in the corral, the show pen, trailering, general handling etc. A nationally recognised qualification as a trainer or coach is required.
- Personal articles of people's experiences with horses with the aim of “giving guidance” to the reader.
- Features on personalities in the equine industry in central Canada.
- Photo-stories illustrating training or medical articles. (Only recommended for an experienced coach and photographer working in tandem.)
- Other items of interest to the equine community on the prairies.
We do not pay for press releases from businesses, reviews of shows, lists of results, product reviews, book reviews. However, submissions may be considered for publication.
SENDING AN IDEA - QUERY EMAIL
A query (query letter) is a short business-style proposal offering to write a specific piece for a specific magazine, addressed to a specific editor there by name. This is the basic sales tool of professional and aspiring freelance writers.
Ninety-five percent of queries received that have resulted in assignments to write the article start off with a lead paragraph that could double as the first paragraph of the published article; and follow up with a description of the focus or angle, content, format and, sometimes, sources for the proposed article; finally, information about the writer and why they are the person to write this article; and finally, anything else that the editor needs to know about timing, photos, etc.
Email a brief outline of your proposed piece as above, approximate number of words, whether a report of an event, biography, or “how-to” article. In the subject line, type "Editorial submission".
If a new writer to Horse Country, state your qualifications for writing on your selected topic, and/or sources you will use during research.
If a new writer to Horse Country, attach samples of previously published work, if any, and the publication name(s).
It is important to include your name, address, phone number and email address and date on EVERY piece.
We encourage youth and aspiring writers; if you would like some assistance, please contact us.
Items sent by regular mail are not guaranteed to be returned, and will go to the bottom of the review pile.
IN OUR OFFICE
We strive to acknowledge query letters quickly but if you don't hear within two months, please contact us.
If we are interested in your idea, we will contact you to discuss at more length such things as slant, sources, deadlines, word count, etc. However, non-commissioned work may not be published for up to one year.
If a suggestion is received which we find interesting but needs more work to make it “publishable” we will discuss this with you.
We expect first North American (NA) print and web rights (including archival) unless arranged to the contrary. Second NA print and web may be accepted but at a reduced rate.
We are also starting to look for audio or video interviews for web publication as either stand-alone or to complement a print article.
WHEN YOU SUBMIT YOUR PIECE
Submit your manuscript by email as a Microsoft Word attachment.
Your text should not include any custom formatting such as tabs or margins, headers, footers, page numbers, photographs or text boxes. These are stripped out in our graphics program!
At the head put your full contact information: name, mailing address, phone number and email, the date the story was sent, and word count.
Please include a working title for your manuscript, as well as a one-sentence "deck" or subhead that sums up the gist of the story. Refer to any Horse Country feature article for an example.
Manuscripts should be broken into sections, with subheadings, for greater readability. Do not include brand names of products though these may be attached at the end for our guidance and fact checking.
Include at the foot of the manuscript the name(s), mailing address(es), phone number(s) and email(s) of any person or group mentioned in the piece so we can fact check, and also send complimentary copies after publication.
Be aware that all freelance submissions will be edited as needed to ensure clarity and adherence to style and space guidelines. Writers might be contacted during the editing process to provide clarifications or additional information.
Your piece may be sent back for discussion and revision if the editor deems it necessary.
If the story is about a person, put a confirmation note on your piece that the person (and anyone mentioned in it) knows about it and has approved the version that has been sent. Of course, you do this AFTER the subject has approved the text. If the story is in draft and is maybe waiting for minor approvals for quotes, please note this, and remember to send the final version (with a different file name) when approval has been received. It is the writer’s responsibility to check any facts in the story, for instance event dates, product names, spelling of horse and other names, etc.
Illustrations accompanying a piece
Include details of each photographic image, cartoon or illustration at the foot of the document with file name first, followed by the cutline.
When sending photographs we need original, high resolution images. Cell phone or web images are not accepted. If you use a photo sharing program such as Picasa, Google, or Kodak please click on "keep original size", not "email".
If using images supplied by the subject and they are unable to scan or otherwise provide high quality digital images, please ask them to send via Canada Post recorded delivery and we will refund the postage, and return the same way.
Sample of cutlines:
Retirement Sept_06.jpg: (l to r) Ernest Hemingway, Diana Gabaldon and Norman Mailer at Norman's cowboy-themed retirement from the military, September 2006.
Photo credit ........."
It is the writer's responsibility to obtain copyright releases from photos by professional photographers. Don't forget to tell us the photo credit details that they require.
PAYMENT
Query letters or complete articles submitted which do not mention an expectation of compensation will be deemed to be offering the piece at no cost.
We do not pay for press releases from businesses, reviews of shows, lists of results, product reviews, book reviews. However, submissions may be considered for publication.
If payment is agreed upon, we pay upon publication.
We do not pay "kill fees".
IMPORTANT
Horse Country takes no responsibility for checking facts or statements sent to us for publication; it is the writer's responsibility to have all facts checked, copyrights noted, sources acknowledged and correct references made to people, places and animals in any story. Photographs which accompany a story should have model releases obtained where necessary - this is imperative where children are pictured. Where text used is not the writer's original work, approval for re-publication must be received from the original author.
You will be required to acknowledge that you have read the current Writer's Guidelines and accept all provisos therein.
In all cases, Horse Country makes no commitment to publication or payment until the editor reviews the finished manuscript and photographs. Freelance submissions are, therefore, written "on spec."
August 2011
_______
Young readers, don’t forget the Horse Nuts page! Riders
and horse people up to the age of 16, send your favourite horse
photos, drawings,
essays and stories. Please make sure your name, age and address
and phone number appears somewhere on everything you send. If
you would like your contribution returned, please include a stamped,
self addressed envelope..
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