Thank you for your interest in writing for
Woodcraft Magazine.
Woodcraft Magazine is a bi-monthly publication with a goal to provide
unique and useful content for woodworkers of all skill levels. As
Woodcraft
Magazine relies heavily on freelance-written content, we welcome your
ideas and proposals for articles that are in alignment with our goal, and
satisfy the needs of our woodworking readers. Remember-
unique and
useful.
What We’re Looking For
The best way to understand the types of articles we publish is to read
Woodcraft
Magazine, paying close attention to both the content of the stories and
the style in which they’re written.
Woodcraft Magazine has numerous
freelance opportunities with our regular departments and general woodworking
features, with the three main areas being — Projects, Techniques and Products.
Woodcraft Magazine’s Project Articles run the gamut from
uncomplicated single-weekend projects such as a simple turned bowl or a
decorative box, on up to more involved pieces like a cherry bookcase or cedar
chest. These projects should be written in a numbered step-by-step manner, with
the skill level and procedure matched to the type of project being described,
whether it’s intended for the beginning, intermediate or advanced woodworker.
We’ll need detailed photography of the various steps of the project and some
nice shots of the finished result, as well as drawings or sketches of the
components and assembly process. If you can provide high-quality photos ready
for publication, great! If not, we’ll use your photos and sketches as guides to
re-creating them using our photographer/illustrator. We may also request your
project be sent to us for additional photos/illustrations.
Our
Technique Stories may take many forms, but they almost always
include a chronology of events or steps that show and tell how a well-focused
woodworking process is carried out. The process could be installing inlay
banding, or machining matching, tapered table legs. One approach is to have an
accomplished craftsman work through the steps of a special process and pepper
the story with related sidebars and tips. A short bio about the craftsman can
be part of the story along with photos and captions of one or two things he or
she makes to establish authority.
Our
Product Stories offer a thorough look at a new product or tool (or
category of tools in the case of a “roundup”), giving the readers all the
information they need when it comes time to make a buying decision on a new
piece of equipment. The goal for these stories isn’t to make a specific
recommendation to the reader or to “rate” a tool or product, but rather to give
an accurate and complete assessment of a product’s characteristics so readers
can make an informed decision on their own.
The
General Articles you’ll find in
Woodcraft Magazine are
practical stories related to woodworkers and the key issues they encounter in
their shops, and can be on just about any woodworking topic — dust control for
the shop, tuning up a table saw, a better way to make mitered joints, or a
feature on purchasing hardwoods might be typical topic areas. These
entertaining and informative articles must be well-researched, of course, but
the real key is that they should in some way help the reader to better enjoy
the craft of woodworking.
For general articles of a how-to nature, the focus should be on a clear
description of a particular technique, and the problem it’s designed to solve
or the process it’s intended to improve. Avoid tedious step-by-step
instructions unless absolutely necessary (such as with the construction of a
specific woodworking jig), and concentrate on the essentials of technique. Use
only as many details as required to help readers get a grasp on what’s
happening, and to be able to reproduce the results in their own shops.
Woodcraft Magazine’s regular departments include:
“Tips & Tricks” — Do you have an interesting way of doing repetitive chores
in the shop? Or maybe you’ve found a shortcut for a particular technique that
not only makes the job easier, but increases chances of a successful project.
You may have learned a trick from a woodworking mentor or shop teacher that
you’ve used for years. You may even have come up with something so simple you
just assumed everyone does it. Whatever your tip, jig or trick is, it may fit
nicely in our “Tips & Tricks” department.
Submission Specifics
Although we accept and will consider finished manuscripts, we strongly prefer
to receive queries
in writing for all submissions except our regular
departments. Include a full description of your article idea, along with a
brief outline — including photographs and sketches in the case of project
proposals — and some biographical background on yourself with full contact
information. All queries, proposals and manuscripts should include a
self-addressed stamped envelope with sufficient postage to cover your
submission if you’d like it returned. We’ll contact you regarding your proposal
or manuscript as soon as possible, usually within 30 days.
Manuscripts should be typed double-spaced on plain white paper, but
good-quality computer printouts are fine. Electronic submissions on floppy disk
or CD are welcome as either plain text files or Microsoft Word documents, but
should always include a printed version as well. E-mail submissions are
acceptable with prior approval, especially from regular contributors.
Photographs accompanying articles, except for close-in detail photos for
projects or products, should be action-oriented. Photo subjects should be
working the wood, and not grinning into the camera with a tool in their hands.
Avoid pictures that look obviously posed. Strong, even lighting is a must, and
dark backgrounds should always be avoided. For news photos, everyone in the
shot should be identified. Provide a good variety of both vertical and
horizontal shots, and don’t ever worry about sending too many photos — we’ll
pick the best for use in the magazine, or use them as the basis for re-creating
additional photos for the article. We accept 35mm slides or transparencies, and
high-resolution digital photos of
at least 300 dpi. Computer-printed
photos cannot be used for publication, but printouts are fine for proposals, or
included with a final manuscript for placement and descriptive purposes. Be
sure to include photographer credits.
Rights Purchased
Woodcraft Magazine accepts only original, unpublished articles.
We purchase the exclusive rights to all concepts, ideas, copy, sketches,
artwork, images, electronic files and other materials related to the Work. We
also purchase the right to use all materials generated for all or any purposes
including but not limited to future Woodcraft Publication, electronic media,
the
Woodcraft Magazine web site, and advertising and promotion materials
without any further compensation; however, we are under no obligation to use
said materials.
We reserve the right to edit submitted manuscripts for content, clarity and
overall style; submitted manuscripts may be condensed or abridged. Generally,
however, major changes will not be made without consulting the writer.
Freelance Pay Rates
The basic pay rate for feature articles and stories in
Woodcraft Magazine
starts at $175 per published page. Reimbursement for expenses to complete a
feature article or project, will be negotiated on a per/article basis.
Pay rates for regular departments varies:
Tips & Tricks – All tips receive a flat rate of $75-$100 each, with
the best tip of the issue receiving an additional compensation.
Once an article has been accepted for publication, you’ll receive a contract
with a brief description of the work you’re providing, information on the
rights we’re purchasing to the work, and the amount of compensation you’ll
receive for the work. Because we can’t know an exact page count until your
article is laid out, we’ll send you an advance equal to one published page (as
agreed to in your contract) when we receive the signed contract for your
article. The balance will be sent when the article has completed the layout
process, or upon publication.
A signed contract does not guarantee that your work will be published, nor does
it guarantee publication in a specific issue. If for any reason we decide not
to publish your work, the advance you’ve already received will constitute a
kill fee. At that time, all rights specified in the contract revert to you, and
you are free to sell the work elsewhere.
Contributors receive two copies of the issue in which their material appears.
We look forward to working closely with you to bring your ideas to our readers.
Feel free to contact us with any questions you may have.
Send your queries, proposals, finished manuscripts and all other materials to:
Jim Harrold, Editor-in-Chief
Woodcraft Magazine
P.O. Box 7020
Parkersburg, WV 26102
E-mail:
Jim_Harrold@WoodcraftMagazine.com