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MEET US


Linda Cortright Editor/Publisher
editor@wildfibersmagazine.com

Writers
Torie Olson, Textile Photojournalist
torie@sover.net

Margaret Russell, Rare Breeds Columnist
margaret@wildfibersmagazine.com

Advertising
Linda Cortright, Advertising Sales
editor@wildfibersmagazine.com

Elizabeth Nelson, Advertising Design
elizabeth@wildfibersmagazine.com

Subscriptions
Jan Campbell, Subscription Manager
subs@wildfibersmagazine.com

Webmaster
Greg Driscoll
greg@stillrivermill.com

ADVERTISING

If you are interested in advertising in Wild Fibers, please contact the office for our rate guides. 207-594-9455 or info@wildfibersmagazine.com

WRITER'S GUIDELINES

Articles:

Wild Fibers magazine is intended for people interested in all aspects of the exotic fiber industry, from the animal to the finished product. We are interested in articles that increase understanding of fiber breeds, assist in raising and caring for fiber animals, share and improve farming techniques, develop new or broaden existing markets, and otherwise increase communication between farmers of different fiber breeds.


We also look for articles on weaving, spinning, dyeing, felting and other methods that help develop a final fiber product. Articles that show uses for less desirable fibers (such as guard hair) are especially welcome. Patterns and designs, including the addition of beads or other decoration can be submitted. We encourage articles that will offer proven ideas for marketing fiber products.


Also welcome are notices of fiber events in your area. (Please keep in mind that we publish quarterly and may need 4-6 months' notice.)


We like to give an honest, practical look at the fiber industry, its potential and its challenges.


Format:

Articles should be typed, double-spaced and between 350-1200 words. If you intend to write a longer article, please contact an editor first. We reserve the right to edit for length, clarity and style. With each submission, please include the author's name, phone number, mailing address, email address (if available) and a bibliography (if applicable). Please make sure names and places have been accurately spelled. Also, please include a brief biography of the author.


We can accept articles in PC and MAC formats. We prefer Word but can accept articles written in most word-processing programs. Articles must be submitted electronically.


For electronic photos, we prefer PhotoShop files. However, we can access most photo files, even if they have been altered in another program. We have scanning capabilities if the photos or images are not electronic. (Please send copies of any artwork. Originals may not be returned to you without prior arrangement.)


If you intend to send an actual example of a fiber product for in-house photography, please contact Linda Cortright for details. Do not send any items without contacting us first.


Please contact us if you are uncertain whether we will be able to access your submission:

207-594-9455.

Deadlines and Details:

Wild Fibers is published quarterly. All submissions, including artwork, must be sent no less than 30 days before publishing.

We enjoy articles that:
  1. Present new ideas, or new ways of looking at old ideas. Have you learned a new method of shearing? Found a unique way or training your llamas? Can your information help fiber producers to improve their yield? Do you have new ideas for using your fiber?
  2. Apply to many different farmers. We have chosen to encompass all exotic fiber species. While we do publish articles that focus on a particular breed or species, we also like articles that apply to all fiber animals. Our readers may have many animals, a few, or only a dream. We like to write for them all.
  3. Are focused. Please don't try to write the entire history of fiber production. Choose a few important issues and stick to them. We can always follow up on an interesting subject in another article or issue.
  4. Are based on experience and/or credible sources. If it doesn't work - or might not work - please write about something that does, or what you learned from your mistakes.
  5. Have a purpose. Your purpose might be entertainment. In which case, laughter is the goal. But if you intend to educate or illuminate on a subject, please provide accurate information. Include quotes and examples, especially if they will enhance the credibility of your article.
  6. Are founded in love, hope and enthusiasm. Though we do not want to give a false sense of the present or future of the American fiber industry, we are involved because we love it. Let your passion and enthusiasm shine through. If you have experienced heartbreak and have come through it, show us how!

Writing/Style Tips:
  1. Read our magazine. We don't have a fixed style, but we like articles that are concise, enjoyable and informative. The best way to know if your article might be appropriate is to read several issues.
  2. Be honest. Be clear. Be brief. Please don't write a thesis.
  3. Use an active voice. For example, instead of "It was believed" choose "We believed" This helps eliminate confusion and makes a stronger article.
  4. Throw away your thesaurus. Not really of course, but we prefer simple language. We don't need fancy terms or jargon if a simpler word will do - we don't want to read each article with a dictionary beside us. (If you do use a word that may not be commonly known, please define it.)
  5. Use subheads. Longer magazine articles are typically broken into sections, like chapters in a book. Subheads will help you focus your writing and make the article clearer and more concise.
  6. Avoid Academia. We choose not to use footnotes or make frequent references to other printed works. This does not mean that we don't want references. If articles are based on textual facts, please include accurate source information at the end. (See bibliography guidelines below.)
  7. Be confident. If you can write like Thoreau, fantastic. But if you just love to write and/or have an interesting or informative topic, don't worry as much about style. We can help you with that. We are more concerned with knowledge of your subject and accuracy.
  8. Choose a subject with a long-term perspective. We currently publish only four times a year. This means that articles have to be appropriate and relevant for several months.

Sidebars: Sidebars can offer information that adds to, but is not required in, an article. These can be interesting facts, tips on where to get more information, suggestions for improvement and more. It you choose to use a sidebar, please format your submission so we know this is what you intended.


Charts, Photos, Graphics: We love images that can accompany your article, particularly ones of you. Please make sure that each image comes with the name of any people, product or animal featured, the location, and the name of the photographer. If it shows a fiber product, please include the materials used.

Photo Tips:
  1. Avoid cluttered backgrounds.
  2. Whenever possible, choose images with good light. Dark images are very hard to accurately reproduce.
  3. Go for the unique. We print many images of animals. Do you have one from a unique angle? In an unusual setting? Doing something wonderful and unusual?
  4. Unless the background is the focus of the image (type of fencing, new barn, new farm, large herd etc.) move close to the subject. We prefer close-ups so that, regardless of the size of the image, we can clearly see the subject.
  5. When sending images, please label them carefully. If writing on the back of a photograph, do not use felt tip pens - the ink may bleed onto another image. (Grease pencil is recommended.) We prefer an additional sheet with a detailed description of the image and credit/caption information.

A few final thoughts:

Please be patient. We are a small staff, and it may be some time before we respond to a submission. This does not mean that we don't like your article or that we haven't read it.


Understand that we may edit your article. In fact, we probably will. This is mostly a result of limited space. If we do a lot of editing, we may send your article back to you so that you can approve it. It will be important that you check the spelling of names and places on this final proof. If we do not do much editing, we may run the article without your final input.


We can't publish everything. As much as we would love to publish all the submissions that we receive, some may be inappropriate or may not fit into an issue. This is a common problem for magazines. You are encouraged to contact one of the editors before submitting an article.


Bibliography
Please document references as close to this format as possible:


Book: Author. Title. Location (where published): Publisher. Copyright.

Magazine: "Title." Author. Publication. Date. Page number.

Website: Accurate address required if applicable.