Finding the Bacon  
By Meg Weaver 

Happy 2003 everybody,

This time we have four magazines, which all have something to do with the outdoors.  Our researcher, Ginny McCracken, who picked them, knows that even if it’s cold and snowing outside right now, writers must think six to nine months ahead – sometimes even longer.

However, before you start thinking about which magazines to write for, at this time of the year you should give some thought to where you want to take your writing in 2003.  For some, writing is just fun and if it also brings in some money, great!  But most of us have dreams where we want to be in a few years.  The problem is that we don’t know how to get there.

But how can you set measurable goals with a creative endeavor such as writing?  It really is possible.  I have showed how in the Wooden Horse News Alert newsletters.  Just go to http://www.woodenhorsepub.com and click on “Newsletter Archives” in the newsletter sign-up box.  We took the dreams of one of our readers and broke those down into yearly goals and showed how you can measure your progress.  If you’re serious about your writing, planning your work will take you much further than just lurching along from gig to gig.  Try it. 

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AUDUBON
National Audubon Society
700 Broadway
New York, NY 10003

Phone: (212) 979-3000
Fax: (212) 979-3188
Website: www.magazine.audubon.org

E-queries: No, mail a query letter.

Contact: Jerry Goodbody

Writers' guidelines online: http://magazine.audubon.org/guidelines.html

Pays: $0.65 to $1.00 per word

Photos: Professional photographers only.

Rights: All Rights

Description: This magazine provides a place for nature and wildlife

Circulation: 460,000

Notes: This magazine does not publish an editorial calendar.

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BASS & WALLEYE BOATS
Poole Publications Inc .
20700 Belshaw Ave .
Carson, CA 90746

Phone: (310) 537-6322
Fax: (310) 537-8735

Contact: Mark Halvorsen

Pays: $0.30 to $0.35 per word

Photos: Fees are negotiated separately.

Rights: First North American Serial Rights

Description: This magazine is published for the bass and walleye

Circulation: 65,000

Notes: Does not have writers' guidelines.  Mail a query

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BOWHUNTER
Primedia
6405 Flank Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17112

Phone: (717) 657-9555
Fax: (717) 657-9552

Website: http://www.bowhunter.com

E-queries: No, mail a query letter or complete manuscript

Contact: Dwight Schuh

Writers' guidelines online: No

Pays: $0.10 to $0.20 per word

Photos: Photos/art are considered a part of the manuscript package.

Rights: All Rights

Description: Bowhunter is a magazine for those who are inspired by hunting with the bow and arrow, captured by its simplicity, its beauty, the challenge of honing an ancient skill, and the thrill of hunting wild game.

Circulation: 178, 000

Notes: Since its founding in 1971, Bowhunter has been a magazine for people of all ages, backgrounds, and experiences who share two common passions ­ hunting with the bow and arrow, and exploring the great outdoors.

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SALTWATER FLY FISHING
Abenaki Publishers Inc .
PO Box 4100
Bennington, VT 05201-4100

Phone: (802) 447-1518
Fax: (802) 447-2471
Website: http://www.flyfishingmagazines.com

E-queries: No, mail a query letter.

Contact: Art Scheck

Writers' Guidelines Online: No; For writer's and photographer's guidelines please send a SASE to: Abenaki Publishers, Inc., ATTN: Editorial Dept. PO Box 4100, Bennington, VT 05201.  (Unfortunately, they can't send guidelines by e-mail.)

Pays: $0.20 to $0.30 per word

Photos: Cover $450; spread opener $250; full page $150; half page $75; quarter page or less $50.

Rights: All Rights

Description: Saltwater Fly Fishing is devoted exclusively to coastal and offshore fly fishing.

Circulation: 64,000

Notes: An article submitted to Saltwater Fly Fishing should present useful information that will increase our readers' enjoyment of the sport and proficiency as anglers.

These markets are brought to you by Wooden Horse Publishing - a news and resource site for article writers at http://www.woodenhorsepub.com.  Check it out for the latest magazine news and markets, markets, markets.

Air Mail Markets
By Amy Brozio-Andrews

Hello again and welcome to the latest issue of Air Mail Markets. 

This week's markets are for hands-on types. While they're all Canadian magazines, it's a diverse group. Your Workplace seeks your articles if you write about workplace issues, including health, wellness and relationships. Artichoke magazine spotlights Western Canada's visual arts community, and Wire Artist Jeweller includes articles, profiles, and how-tos of jewelry making. 

And, since it's a new year, I'm trying something new for Air Mail Markets' readers. You'll notice at the conclusion of the market listing for Wire Artist Jeweller magazine, instead of the usual space reserved for notes, there's an interview with Helen Goga, the magazine's editor, with extra advice for freelancers. This interview feature will become a regular part of Air Mail Markets with the first weekly issue of every month. Happy New Year!

Bonne chance!

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Your Workplace Magazine
23 Queen Street
Kingston, Ontario 
K7K 1A1, Canada

Website: http://www.yourworkplace.ca 
Managing Editor: Sheldon MacNeil
Tel: 613-549-1222 (toll free: 1-877-668-1945)
Fax: 613-542-3731
Email: smacneil@yourworkplace.ca 

Snapshot: Your Workplace is a Canadian general interest magazine published 8 times per year. With an annual readership of about 200,000, the magazine reflects the issues, needs, concerns, interests of people of all ages juggling life and work. Recent articles include: "Vulnerable Young Workers", "65 and Out", and "How to Write Killer Jokes" (Using Humor in Presentations). 

Writers' Guidelines Online: No
E-Queries: Accepts
Payment: $0.06 (USD$0.03) per word 
Rights: Not specified

Notes: Suggested length for articles is 500-2000 words. 


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Artichoke
#208 - 901 Jervis St.
Vancouver, BC 
V6E 2B6, Canada

Website: http://www.artichoke.ca 
Tel: (604) 683-1941
Editor: Paula Gustafson
Email: editor@artichoke.ca 

Snapshot: Distributed throughout Canada, Artichoke is a visual arts magazine primarily concerned with Western Canada. Articles include art news, reviews, analysis, commentary, interviews, and occasionally stories and essays related to the visual arts in Western Canada. To get a better idea of the type of work Artichoke publishes, you can preview an issue online through the magazine's web site. 

Writers' Guidelines Online: Yes, at http://www.artichoke.ca/submission.html 
E-Queries: Accepts
Payment: $75 to $125 per article, on acceptance
Rights: Remain with author after first publication in Artichoke

Notes: Submission deadlines for each of the quarterly issues Artichoke will publish in 2003 are included in the magazine's online submission guidelines. Feature articles should run approximately 1500-2500 words, reviews 1000-1500 words, and artist profiles 1000-1500 words.

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The Wire Artist Jeweller Magazine
The Wire Artists Group.
PO Box 21105
Stratford, Ontario
N5A 7V4, Canada

Website: http://www.wag.on.ca 
Editor: Helen Goga
Tel: (519) 461-1902
Fax: (519) 461-9007
Email: mag@wag.on.ca 

Snapshot: Published monthly, Wire Artist Jeweller accepts articles of 1500 to 3000 words on any topic that relates to jewelry. According to Editor Helen Goga, this could be about the material(s) used or about an occasion celebrated. Here are some that have appeared in the past and some that are presently in the line-up for upcoming issues: Agates, Lead in Children's Jewellery, In-house Photo Studio, Ancient Beads Enjoying Renaissance, Tiaras Reign Supreme, and of course, Valentine's Day. The January '03 issue has an Index to the content of all the previous issues (Sept '98 to Dec '02). Ms. Goga suggests that this might be a good resource to help the potential writer decide whether the magazine is the type they would like to write for. Freelance writers are required to submit a list of references with their articles that will be kept on file should the story come into question.

Writers' Guidelines Online: No 
E-Queries: Accepts
Payment: $0.15 (USD$0.10) per word
Rights: Not specified

In place of the Notes section that would ordinarily accompany the market listing for Wire Artist Jeweller, Helen Goga, editor of the magazine, was kind enough to take some time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions for Air Mail Markets readers. 

AB: How would you describe your past experiences in working with freelance writers?

HG: Some have been reliable and some have really fallen short of our expectations. Because we are a niche publication that has a very specific market, I take the time to coach new writers (to the mag) on the style we like to present. This ensures that these wordsmiths can succeed and ultimately we hope that they become regular writers in The Wire Artist Jeweller.

AB: Any dos and don'ts you like to share with thousands of prospective freelancers?

HG: If we commission a topic, we expect the research to be done properly and that the first draft be presented at least 4 weeks (or sooner) before the assignment is due. A reference list on the research must accompany the completed story (the final draft). Any prospective writer can approach us with ideas on stories that they think might be of special interest. Because we are an arts-and-crafts magazine, we like either fanciful, humorous or well-researched articles. The topic dictates the style. The best way to catch any publisher's attention is to be well informed about their publication. If the writer doesn't have any idea of what to write about, ask if they would be interested in preparing an article for consideration. I think this would show more initiative and would make a better impression than simply sending a resume. Should the writer present a manuscript, we expect the author's last name, full address and contact information (including phone number) on the front page and then their name on each subsequent page of the manuscript.

AB: What's the best part about being the editor of Wire Artist Jeweller?

HG: The best part of being an editor/publisher is all the interesting people you get to meet, be that in person, by e-mail or by phone.

AB: Do you look for freelance writers with whom you can develop a long-term relationship?

HG: Yes, Yes, Yes! I also want to help those that write for us be the best they can be. So we invest a little energy and time to help them understand what it is that we want. After we do that, we want them to write for us again and again.

AB: What's the quickest way for a freelancer's query to end up in the trash?

HG: I can't say that we have received any query that has ended up in the trash. So, I'm not sure how to answer this. But I do have many queries that I haven't had time to really look at. They all look the same. So, I guess that's just as bad. A writer needs to draw the readers' attention and interest. You just have a few seconds to do so. This applies to publishers as well.

AB: What kind of experience do you look for in a freelancer? Is it more important to be an experienced wire jeweler or an experienced freelance writer?

HG: As we use freelance writers for our feature stories, experienced freelance writers work out wonderfully well. But the projects that appear within each issue require someone who has a basic knowledge of making wire-art jewellery.

AB: What do you think about contracts between magazines and freelancers for assigned articles?

HG: I know this to be a very controversial topic these days. We pay our writers $0.15 (CDN) or $0.10 (US) per word. Presently, we have not established contracts with our writers for stories that we have assigned.

AB: How should freelance writers approach a hands-on magazine like Wire Artist Jeweller, compared to say, a woman's glossy? Should the writer always consider illustrations and photography when making the pitch? Should freelance writers seeking to publish regularly in a magazine like Wire Artist Jeweller develop good photography skills?

HG: If the freelance writer has photography skills, then we would pay for any pictures that would accompany their story. But, not to confuse the issue, central to the magazine are projects. To date, we have handled these in-house. Should the writer have the ability to write and photograph these, great! Currently, we have only used writers for our feature articles and some of these writers have sent along pictures to accompany their stories. Not all writers have the ability to take pictures, but their stories are wonderful. We will work around this. However, it just makes life easier if the writer can submit their work with pictures.

AB: If you have any other comments or tips you think would benefit freelancers pitching to magazines like Wire Artist Jeweller, please feel free to add them.

HG: As someone who has written for international publications, I personally found that publishers responded quicker (sometimes immediately) to a well-prepared story that fit their magazine rather than the many messages that I would leave trying to get their attention. Now I am on the other side of this equation, I can appreciate why this holds true. Publishers have too many things that need to be done before deadline. Anything that makes their job easier is greatly appreciated.

Amy Brozio-Andrews is a freelance writer living in New York;  she writes on a variety of topics for print and online publications, and is hard at work on her first novel.  Please feel free to check out her website at www.penpadandpixel.com, and e-mail her at amy@penpadandpixel.com. 

Agency Profile: Sternig & Byrne Literary Agency
By Christina Hamlett

For this month’s column, I’m pleased to introduce Jack Byrne, owner/agent of the Sternig and Byrne Literary Agency in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Q: How long have you been an agent?

A: The agency has been around since the 50s.  I have been an agent since 1995.

Q: What first attracted you to the business of representing writers?

Read on by clicking here.