Contributors Guidelines

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Bottom line: we are not ?¢‚Ǩ?ìSit on the Couch magazine?¢‚Ǩ¬ù.

Our readers are knowledgeable and experienced, therefore we accept only authentic, well-researched, well-crafted stories (see the section on “Accuracy,” below). We’re not interested in slavish imitations of stories we’ve already done or that have appeared in other publications. As always, you should carefully study several issues of the magazine before submitting a query. The best articles have style, depth, emotional impact, and take-away value for the reader.

FEATURES

Adventure features usually fall into one of several distinct categories: destinations, personality, technique, or gear. Gear features are generally staff written. In order to make the grade, a potential feature needs an unusual hook, a compelling story, a passionate sense of place and to be accompanied by excellent images (images: see image section).

Destinations: Adventure uses editorial that goes beyond a mere description of a track or place. Our destination stories are almost always first person and based upon the author’s recent trip experience. Readers should come away with a strong sense of that particular outdoor experience, a firm grasp of the location’s character, and the possible inspiration to duplicate the trip (there are some extreme exceptions!). Journal-style articles are generally unacceptable. Typical word count is 1,250 to 3000 words, plus a full Expedition sidebar (contact, permit, season, hazards, map, guidebook, and other useful information).

Personality: Adventure Magazine doesn’t have star athletes like you find in rugby news or some other outdoor sports, but there are plenty of unique personalities that exist to write about. Colorful, controversial, historically significant, amusing, unusual, or unique people are what we’re looking for.
In 2008 Adventure will inaugurate a new two-page profile that we call “The Adventure Interview,” which will run in most issues. Contact Steve Dickinson (see contact info below) to submit potential profiles for this new interview feature.

ACCURACY

Adventure prides itself on providing adventure enthusiasts with reliable information. It’s important that our contributors check all facts and figures.

• Confirmation of all facts and figures used within an article from a primary source.
• For medical, nutrition, and technical advice, direct quotes from accepted professionals or experts.
• Full contact information for every source used in creating an article.
• An extra copy for our files of any map, catalogue, brochure, or other primary source you may have acquired from a land agency or manufacturer.

STYLE

It is helpful if authors observe the following conventions:

• Correct grammar and spelling (you have a spell-checker – don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t be afraid to use it)
• Correct use of your/you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re, there/their/they?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re
• NZ (UK) English when spelling ie ?¢‚Ǩ?ìcolour?¢‚Ǩ¬ù not ?¢‚Ǩ?ìcolor?¢‚Ǩ¬ù, ?¢‚Ǩ?ìkilometre?¢‚Ǩ¬ù not ?¢‚Ǩ?ìkilometer?¢‚Ǩ¬ù etc
• Numbers
• Spell numbers out when used within the general text ie ?¢‚Ǩ?ìWe travelled for ten days?¢‚Ǩ¬ù not ?¢‚Ǩ?ìwe travelled for 10 days?¢‚Ǩ¬ù.
• Use numerals when describing measurements eg 10,000ft, 25kmph, 9.30am, 95kg. There is no need to leave a space between the numeral and the unit of measurement.
• Metric measurements are preferred but not essential.
• Paragraphs should be punchy and generally consist of one main point which is expanded on within the paragraph. It is better to have several short paragraphs than one long meandering one. Leave a line between paragraphs. Do not indent the first line of the paragraph.

QUERIES

We prefer queries to completed manuscripts. Please send emails with attachments (word file and a selection of low res images) and web links rather than mailing envelopes with letters and images. We respond sooner to emails, and please include your own email address within the query. If you must mail a query and images, include an envelope or courier if you want your samples to be returned. We are not responsible for unsolicited artwork, photographs, and manuscripts, so please don’t send originals or anything that you can’t afford to lose.

Allow two to four weeks for replies. All queries should be emailed to the editor, or mailed to the following address:

The Editor
Adventure Magazine
Pacific Media
P.O.Box 562
Whangaparaoa
New Zealand

ASSIGNMENTS AND PAYMENT

You are free to submit any material within the guidelines basic rule of thumb is that we pay $300NZD for a submission. This includes images ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú this may be used one or any number of pages. Plus an additional $200 – 500NZD if any of the images are used for a cover shot

Conditions of Acceptance

We fully appreciate contributors’ need for feedback regarding their work. However, due to the large number of articles received, we are unable to acknowledge receipt or reply to queries directly relating to submissions ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú however we do do our best. We will only contact you if publication is confirmed, or to return articles which are unsuitable or out of date.

In submitting an article, it is understood that:

1. The article must not have been published previously. Of course, it may also be submitted elsewhere, however we would ask that you advise us if it is published in the meantime so that it can be removed from our files.
2. Adventure may retain the article on file to await an appropriate edition of the Adventure (we usually keep articles for up to one year) but no guarantee of publication can be offered.
3. Adventure will contact the contributor if and when we are able to place the article. Please ensure that you advise us of any change of contact details whilst an article is being held on file.
4. A passport-size colour photograph and a short (approximately thirty words) biography of the contributor would be a bonus once publication of the article is confirmed. ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú if you don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t want to do this then don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t.
5. Adventure has editorial control over any article selected for publication. Whilst we make every effort to retain the original wording, occasionally we will make amendments to avoid causing offence, confusion, or repetition and articles may be cut to fit the space available.
6. It is understood that Adventure can use the material image or text promote the publication (in a non profit way) i.e. via the web.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Action, drama, up close and personal ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú unique, extreme, breath taking these are words that should describe your photographic work.

Our priority is quality. We prefer digital images on CD or DVD in RAW, jpeg or tiff format, but will review 35mm slides. Larger formats are accepted. Rarely will a photo print be reproduced in the magazine, but they may be used on the Web site. Originals or dupes are accepted when reviewing slides (indicate availability of originals). Do not send original slides with queries, and never send the only copy of a digital file. If you send slides and your idea is accepted, we will request originals. Label all slides with photographer’s name and address and/or phone number.

If sending digital it is a big help to send low res thumbnails or contact sheet.

A detailed caption sheet must accompany all submissions unless otherwise agreed. If there are many images we will send a PDF of images selected and caption can be added afterwards. All submissions must include a sheet documenting the number of images submitted and the article to which they belong.

We will purchase individual shots if we have a need ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú cover value $200NZD

Images that appear in Adventure within a three year period may be reproduced for the annual photo issue at no cost to the publisher.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact us directly:

Steve Dickinson
Director ?¢‚Ǩ‚Äú Pacific Media Ltd
P.media@xtra.co.nz
P.O.Box 562
Whangaparaoa
New Zealand