Writer’s Guidelines

Backwoods Home Magazine does not accept for publication any articles previously published in any media including in print or on any website or blog. We also require all articles to be submitted for our review prior to its acceptance. 

Backwoods Home Magazine does not accept for publication any promotional articles and, in the case of the website, any articles that contain contextual or similar links. For information about advertising, please click here.

Backwoods Home Magazine is a country- and self-reliance-oriented “how to” magazine that specializes in showing people how to build their own home, produce independent energy, grow their own food, and how to make a living without being tied to a city. We also cover related subjects such as health, raising animals, food preservation, country skills, homeschooling, arts and crafts, and recipes.

Magazine content:

Our readers value their independence above all else. They want to do things for themselves, without help or interference from big government or big business. They are not looking for opinion or entertainment, but for hard facts on how to do things better. We print articles by people who are doing things. We rarely print articles by professional writers about what other people are doing. Your subject must be something you have actually done, not just researched.

Writing guidelines:

We like straightforward, clear writing similar to what you would find in a good newspaper.

Do not indent paragraphs or double space between sentences.

No simultaneous submissions. That means, do not submit your article to more than one publisher at a time.

Submitting / Acceptance / Return of Materials:

Via email

Send email submissions, clearly identified as such, with the complete text of your article in the body of the email, to article-submission@backwoodshome.com.

Be sure to include your Name and your Mailing Address with Zip/Postal Code.

Via postal mail

Articles, drawings, photographs, and CDs will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped return envelope or mailer.

If you want your materials returned, please include a self-addressed, stamped postcard we can use to let you know if we will not be using your submission.

If we accept your article for publication, we will send you a contract via regular US Postal mail.

Send to:

Attn: Article Editor
Backwoods Home Magazine
P.O. Box 712
Gold Beach, OR 97444

Graphics:

Photos, drawings, or diagrams should accompany a manuscript whenever possible. Your article is more likely to be used and will command higher payment if accompanied by high-quality illustrations and/or graphics. High-quality digital photos and drawings in TIFF, JPG, PNG, or GIF format may be attached to emailed articles.

DO NOT send the only copy of a rare or irreplaceable photo, drawing, manuscript, etc. Accidents happen. Mail gets lost. Scan a copy to send to us instead. Backwoods Home Magazine is not and will not be responsible for any loss of or damage to submitted materials.

Payment:

Write as much as you need to cover the subject, but don’t “pad” your article. We do not pay according to length. We appreciate concise writing, but we want the whole story. If you are giving directions on building something, supply complete step-by-step instructions. Our readers want to know how to do things, not just that it is possible to do something. Sources of tools, materials, and further information should accompany your article.

Payment is about $75 or more per printed page, depending on writing quality, picture quality, and length of article. Payable upon acceptance.

The easier you make it to use your writing, the more likely we are to accept it.

Thank you for your interest.

Sam Duffy, Publisher