Writer's Guidelines for Writers' Journal Magazine

Click here for a printable version of our Writer's Guidelines

Writer's Guidelines

The WRITERS’ Journal is a bimonthly magazine for writers, including professional communicators, self/independent publishers, part-time or full-time freelancers, screenwriters, desk-top publishers, authors, editors, teachers, and poets.
Although most of the columns in the WRITERS’ Journal are staff-written, articles from freelance writers are always welcome. Complete manuscripts are acceptable, or query with clips first.
Several feature articles, running 1200-2200 words, are published in each issue. Please see the table of contents of some of our back issues to get an idea of the types of articles we have covered.

Some of the topics we are looking for are:

The Business Side of Writing – tips, techniques, record keeping, tactics on how to increase writing production, taxes, financial matters, etc.

Self/Independent Publishing – practical advice on all facets of independent publishing. Particularly wanted are success stories that impart solid information on book design and production, distribution, costs, marketing, profits, etc.

Skills of Writing – the how-to of writing: style, punctuation, sentence structure; story composition, interviewing, research, etc.

Income Venues – Unique and unusual methods for writers to produce income. Past articles included: Juvenile craft writing, ghostwriting, church/business histories, technical manual writing, city Web site writing, specialty dictionaries.

Other nonfiction topics -- Photography, travel writing, screenwriting, technical writing, newspaper writing, corporate/business writing.

Fiction – Although we publish staff-written articles on writing fiction, we welcome articles on this subject covering technique, plotting, marketing, character development, or any of the other aspects of writing fiction. We do not publish fiction except for the winning entries of our various contests (see below).

Poetry – This is adequately covered by the WRITERS’ Journal’s poetry editor, although an authoritative "guest editorial" may be considered.

Poetry Submissions – The WRITERS’ Journal buys about 25 poems a year, which we use for fillers. We welcome light verse, preferably about writing. Short, lively, exciting, witty and imaginatively written poems will stand a better chance of acceptance than "run-of-the-mill" pieces. We do not respond to submissions without an SASE. Author will be notified by mail if poem is accepted. Unpublished poems only. (No vulgarity or pornographically explicit pieces considered) Maximum length: 15 lines. No e-mail submissions. All other poetry submissions must follow Poetry Contest guidelines available with SASE, or see our Web site (Poetry Contest guidelines).

Style and Focus – We want to see highly informative articles of an advisory nature that feature a positive and practical approach to the topic being covered. We particularly like to see a narrow focus, and the subject covered well in a tightly written style (not an article that wanders for a page and a half before getting down to the business at hand). This doesn’t mean writing without style, however, or lacking the basic elements of good article construction. No dull writing, please.

Mail submissions with SASE for editor’s response. Manuscripts will not be returned. Submissions can also be e-mailed ( editor@writersjournal.com ) as text in a message only—we do not open attachments. For overseas contributors, this is welcomed.

Pay Rates & Rights:

Articles and columns: The WRITERS’ Journal pays on a variable scale, depending on budget. We ask for first North American rights.

Poetry: $5.00/poem. We ask for first North American rights.

Contests: The WRITERS’ Journal sponsors a Short Story Contest, a Travel Writing Contest, a Fiction Contest, a Romance Contest, a Horror/Ghost Contest, two Photo Contests and three Poetry Contests each year. WRITERS’ Journal pays cash for First, Second and Third places; and selected Honorable Mentions are published. All winners will be kept for possible future publication. Send SASE for current contest guidelines or see our Web site (Calendar of Contests).

A sample issue of the WRITERS’ Journal is available for $5.00. Annual subscription rate is $19.97; Canada $34.97; Europe $49.97; Others $54.97.

Click here for a printable version of our Writer's Guidelines