submitting magazines to articles

[Reg Darling]

There has been plenty of good advice given here so I won't repeat much of it. First of all START--getting started is the hard part. Keep a journal and don't limit it to hunting. It never hurts to query an editor ahead of time if you have an idea--saves work for you and the editor both. Finally make the editor's job as easy as possible. Proofread, edit, then proofread again, then edit again and again. Tinker with it until you can't stand it anymore. Read each magazine's submissions guidelines (ususally available online) and follow them to the letter.

[VinnieB]

i've been working on my article and have been trying to gather up some pictures for it. i have a picture of the second deer i killed during that week, but the picture of the first one is just the bow, arrow, and rack on a plaque. i was thinking i would put it out in the yard or something to make it look better. when i send in the pictures, should they all be on a disc or should they be individual pictures.

so basically once i finish the article i should proofread, edit, proofread, edit, proofread, edit again and again. then put it in a self addressed envelope and send it to the magazines address or is there a special place i should send it to. i have been looking a lot into a couple of bowhunting magazines, and besides eastmans bowhunting i haven't been able to find one that has a special section for submissions

thanks

[Littlefeather]

Well, I was going to give some advise but Killy beat me to most of it.  :D  

It's also hard to fall in behing Wesbrock and Dr Ashby(and others) in giving advise. The only advise I can give at this point is to understand that writing skills take time to develop. If the first few articles get turned down you should very politely ask for the reasons. If you simply state that you'd like to learn for future submissions the editors should have no problem explaining. I've only been writing a short time myself. I've found great enjoyment in the ability to expsess myself. I personally prefer creative writing and there are many magazines that have turned my articles down because I refuse to write first person hunting stories. Yea, it can be a real let-down when you've poured your heart into a story and then nothing happens to it. No worries though because just like school, you don't graduate without great effort and much time involved. NEVER EVER EVER LET ANYONE TELL YOU YOU CAN'T DO IT!!!!! You can if you just understand that it won't generally just happen overnight. Also understand that once your name is graced on magazine pages you can and many times will become a target for all those critics that now find you an easy, visible target. Now, go have fun and let us know when the first article comes out! Good luck! CK

[George Tsoukalas]

Vinnie, just stick with it. Don't get discouraged. Good advice above. Jawge

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

Vinnie,

TBM's submission guidelines are here:  http://tradbow.com/interactive/read.cfm?id=73

You may have to contact the other magazines themselves for their guidelines. The editor's phone number, email and snail mail addresses should either be on their web sites or on the masthead page of their magazine.

[John Nail]

Only thing I would add is, don't expect to make a living at it. Some people do, but the list of them is short. Write because you want to (or, if you're like me, because you have to). Just let it out.

[Jason R. Wesbrock]

As far as photography is concerned, digital images should be sent on a CD or DVD. Film photos should be shot on slide film (generally ISO 100) and the slides themselves sent to the editor in a slide sheet (one of those clear sheets like you'd buy for coins or baseball cards. Any good photo shop should carry them. Don't forget to number your slides and include a letter with suggested captions.

[George Tsoukalas]

Vinnie, the first few articles I sent were rejected. Now I've been published in all the traditional magazines presently in existence and in Instinctive Archer. Stay with it. Don't get discouraged. Do not believe it when someone tells you that a picture is worth a 1000 words. I'm just glad Longfellow did not listen either. Instead work on making your writing paint the picture that needs no photos. Jawge

[VinnieB]

thanks everybody. my accident happened with a compound bow so i don't think traditional bowhunter would accept it. does anybody know the guidelines for bowhunter magazine.

[Killdeer]

Vinnie, part of being a journalist is doing your own research. You are part of that new computer-savvy generation, and here you are asking us ol' fwartz to do your searches and legwork. Seek, son, and find. Be a hunter.  :p  Besides, I don't know who you mean by "bowhunter magazine". There are a lot of them out there, and some pop up like mushrooms this time of year.

Killdeer  

[alligatordond]

Vinnie, Don Thomas said he would be happy to chat with you via e-mail about your writing aspirations. He is the Co editor of Traditional Bowhunter and writes a column "Adventurous Bowman" for Bowhunter Magazine. Get him at donthomasbooks.com