Mountain Gazette depends upon submissions from writers, photographers and illustrators. An intimate familiarity with the magazine is essential before submitting work to us. Any work that would be appropriate for other magazines that might seem similar on a superficial level will likely not be appropriate for us. PLEASE scrutinize several copies before sending us your work, as we have a distinctive voice and attitude.
Articles
We do not accept query letters, only completed manuscripts submitted
on speculation. Due to the overwhelming volume of submissions, it
can take several months for us to read manuscripts, and it often
takes a year or more before stories we accept appear in print. We
do however acknowledge receipt of manuscripts within a few days,
so, if you do not receive such an acknowledgement, please request
an update. Please submit stories via email as Word attachments to
Editorial Director Peter Kray at pkray@mountaingazette.com.
Please include story title and byline on the attachment.
Mountain Gazette is open to virtually any subject, style or length, as long as the story has a direct relationship with Mountain Country and mountain life. The bulk of the stories we run at least tangentially fall under the heading “outdoor recreation” (backpacking, skiing, etc.) We are looking for more bicycling and snowboarding stories. We do not run destination articles. Please let us know about the availability of art when you send your story in.
Think in terms of seasonality before making submissions, as we rarely run, say, skiing stories in summer or backpacking stories in winter. Deadline is May 10 for July, July 10 for September and so on.
Features
We run 4-6 full-length features per issue. Preferred length is 1,500-3,500 words. Though we hesitate to limit word counts, shorter stories certainly stand a better chance of getting published. We are known for our first- and third-person experiential essays, but we are currently looking for more journalistic essays, pure journalism, trend pieces, personality profiles and quirky pieces about uniquely mountain places, businesses and events. Pay is $150-600, with journalism work at the top end of the scale.
Mountain Notebook
Usually shorter versions of our features section, but we’re looking for more journalism work covering lifestyles, issues, environmental topics, personalities and events. Length: 800 words or less. Pay: $75-125.
Obituaries
Anything that once existed but no longer does. We have done Obituaries on dogs, cars, events, concepts, bars and even people. The sky is the limit, as long as it’s now dead and gone. Preferred length is under 800 words. Must include name of deceased, birth date, death date and cause of death. Pay: $75-125.
Bumpersticker
The idea here is that we all see interesting bumperstickers as we cruise around and we wonder what they are about. In this department, we tell the story behind individual bumperstickers — who came up with the idea, what does the message mean, etc. We are particularly open to environmental subjects. We run Bumpersticker every other issue. Length: 800 words. Pay $75-125. Submissions must include copy of sticker.
Orientation
This section is devoted to maps, map-reading, getting lost, getting found, directional technology, trends, events, anything to do with the subject of orientation. Map subjects are preferred, though. History of maps, new maps, map lore, whatever. We run this section every other issue. Length: 800 words. Pay: $75-125. Orientation submissions must include appropriate art.
Cartographic
Currently written in-house.
Reviews
We run 2-3 reviews per issue, mostly of books. We are looking to expand the scope of the Reviews section to include gear, CDs, film, events and non-traditional subjects, such as, well, dog pooper-scoopers and high-tech earmuffs (both subjects we’ve reviewed before). The thing being reviewed in our Reviews section generally serves as the excuse to discuss some larger topic. All reviews must include pertinent info, such as ISBNs, contact info, web addresses, etc. Pays $125.
Art
We actively solicit art submissions. We accept black-and-white and
color photographs, paintings and illustrations. Our preference is
that all art be sent
as low-resolution jpegs or tiffs to art director Colin O’Brien
at artwork
(at) mountaingazette (dot) com. If we are interested in
running art submitted electronically, we will ask that a high-rez
version be sent electronically or loaded onto an FTP site. We do
accept snail mail submissions for photographs and illustrations,
but please note that, try as we might to take care of art, shit does
happen. Under no circumstances should artists submit original work,
only copies, and all art submitted by snail mail must include a self-addressed,
stamped envelope, or we will assume no responsibility for returning
the work.
We also like to get website/gallery information from photographers
and artists. Please send that info to art director Colin O’Brien
at artwork
(at) mountaingazette (dot) com.
We pay $50-75 for interior photos and illustrations and $150-200 for cover work. Model releases are required for cover shots with identifiable personages.
Poetry
Mountain Gazette accepts poems on mountains, mountain life, and mountain
culture. What we look for are poems that capture a specific part of the
mountain experience--
on the trail, back of beyond, in town, on the road, at work, or cutting
loose. We love
a good sense of humor. And we appreciate poems on aspects of mountain
life and
culture that are less commonly written about. We also have
seasonal issues on rivers (May) ,
climbing (June-July), and winter (December, January, and
February). Desert poems work
well in late winter/early spring. The poems that work best
for us in terms of layout are poems
with relatively short lines (about ten words max). Shorter poems (no
longer than about 40 lines altogether including spaces
and title) work best. Please include a short bio note,
several sentences long. Put your address on each poem (including e-mail
and phone
contact) and remember to include a self-addressed stamped envelope
for a reply. We
don't return manuscripts. Our response time varies but you can expect to hear from us within
3 or 4 months. Send seasonal material well in advance. If we accept your poem, you'll be getting
a copy of the issue and a check shortly after the issue appears on the street.
Please send poems to Peter Anderson, Box 696, Crestone, CO 81131.
