Life in the Midwest is looking for
freelance writers to supply editorial content for the magazine. Here are
the editorial guidelines:
EDITORIAL
GOALS
We keep these goals in
mind when planning Life in the Midwest stories:
1. Celebrating Indiana: We are looking for stories that celebrate
locations in Indiana and Hoosier lifestyles.
2.
Indispensability: We like timeless stories that can help or entertain
people.
3.
Excitement: Articles in the magazine should be fun, exciting, humorous
and/or educational.
4.
Forward thinking: The stories look at different angles and solutions to
life’s problems, finding progressive, creative ways to make life better.
5.
Helpful: Life in the Midwest is about helping people improve the
quality of their lives. Our stories reflect that, whether it’s a story
that inspires a life change or touches a heart.
Our philosophy in a
nutshell: Life is about learning, growing, changing and enjoying, and Life
in the Midwest helps readers tap into their communities and into
themselves, so that they can get the most out of their lives.
Freelancers contribute to
the following parts of the magazine:
HEALTH: Informative
features on topics such as fitness, exercise, weight loss, alternative
healing, wellness and other health-related issues. Query with specific
ideas. Word count ranges from 250 to 400, depending on assignment.
FOOD & COOKING:
Interesting stories on nutrition, cooking, grilling, and other
food-related topics. Recipes may be accepted. Word count ranges from 200
to 400.
HOUSE & HOME:
Features on a wide range of topics, from faux finishes to replacement
windows to house cleaning to gardening. Topics may be general, such as
“Easy Gardening Tips,” and “Creative Home Offices” or specific,
such as “Edible Landscaping” and “Making Tablecloths.” Word counts
can range from 250 to 500, depending on the story’s placement in the
magazine.
HUMOR: Funny short
stories about life, children, work, etc. These may be written in first
person. Word counts range from 100 to 350 words.
FAMILY: Features related
to the ups and downs of family life. These may be written in first person.
The stories also focus on such specific topics as “Internet Safety for
Children” or general topics such as “Back- to-School Fashions” or
“Snow Day Crafts.” Word counts could range from 250 to 400 words.
BOOK OR MOVIE REVIEWS:
Short, timely pieces on new books or movie releases (theater or video).
Word counts could range from 100 to 200 words.
TRAVEL: Stories on
destinations that would be of specific interest to Midwesterners. It can
include destinations outside the Midwest. These pieces range from 150
(“Quick Trips”) to 500 words. Query with specific ideas and
destination. Photography must be submitted with all travel-related
stories.
TECHNOLOGY: Features on
subjects such as the Internet, computers and software, cell phones,
beepers, etc.
FREELANCE NEEDS: The
majority of the magazine is freelance-written. Stories are assigned
anywhere from three to eight months before the cover date of the issue in
which the story will appear. Factors such as amount of research required,
the writer’s experience, the time required to write the story, and the
deadline date may affect the fee. Payment is within two months of
acceptance. If a rewrite is needed, we generally ask the writer to do it
or at least consult with the writer on changes. Final proofs of stories
are sent to the writer whenever possible.
WRITING STYLE: Life in
the Midwest uses Associated Press writing style. Specifics can be found in
the AP Stylebook. Articles for the magazine should be easy to read and
have plenty of direct quotes. There should be at least two sources quoted
per story.
How to Contact Us
Send your query letters
and clips to:
Martha Hall, Publisher
P.O. Box 204
Mooreland, IN 47360
Or to
publisher@lifeinthemidwest.com
For a sample copy of the
magazine, please send a check in the amount of $2.50 made payable to Life
in the Midwest to the above address.
