Writers Guidelines
For Backwoods Home Magazine

Magazine content:

Backwoods Home Magazine is a country 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, home schooling, arts and crafts, recipes, and book reviews.

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. If you are working on a computer, send your article, and any photos/graphics on a floppy disk or CD as well as on paper. Please state what program you used. We prefer MSWord or Word Perfect, but can convert articles from almost any IBM compatible program.

Do not indent paragraphs, double space between sentences, center titles or headings, use italics, or use any other type of formatting as it may interfere with our ability to transfer your file into our desktop publisher.

If you are sending typed articles, send us the original, not a photocopy.

No simultaneous submissions.

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

We also consider email submissions, but not as attachments. We will not open anything as an attachment because of the problems with viruses. Send email submissions, clearly identified as such, with the complete text of your article in the body of the email, to editor@backwoodshome.com.

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. Articles, drawings, photographs, and floppy disks will not be returned unless accompanied by a self-addressed return envelope with sufficient postage.

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 ranges from $30 to $200 per article, payable upon acceptance rather than publication.

Submitting:

Mail your article and related material via regular first class mail. Do not waste money on "overnight" or other faster delivery. Due to the volume of unsolitcited articles we receive, it might be a while before we read your manuscript.

If your article deals with a seasonal topic, (such as Harvesting Hay or Starting Seeds), note that fact on the bottom left corner of the envelope (as in "For late summer/fall" or "Spring article").

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