Although CRUISING WORLD's editorial inventory is already planned and almost filled for 2008, we continue to welcome author inquiries and unsolicited manuscripts. All manuscripts should be printed double-spaced and accompanied by an electronic version*, as well as by appropriate artwork such as transparencies, color prints, or digital images**. Color prints do not generally reproduce well, but if submitted should be accompanied by negatives. Good sketches are also acceptable. Manuscripts submitted for Feature consideration (center of the magazine) should be written in the first person and not exceed approximately 2,500 words. Manuscripts submitted for consideration as Non-features (technical articles and general interest, front and back of the magazine) should not exceed 2,000 words. "Log style" articles are generally unacceptable.
*We prefer electronic versions of articles to be in MS Word format or as text files, with no embedded formatting or art. Artwork or photography in digital form must be in separate files. We cannot accept maunuscripts in PDF or PowerPoint format.
**See guidelines for digital photography below.
Due to the volume of manuscripts we receive, we regret we cannot offer critiques of unacceptable material. Payment varies depending on the type of article, ranging from $50 to $200 for short, newsworthy items and $300 to $1,000 for technical and feature articles. We normally buy First World Rights with exclusivity for six months from date of publication. We pay within 90 days of acceptance.
Write your name and address on every page of your manuscript (on electronic submissions make sure it's on the first page) and on each photograph, slide or sketch. We cannot be responsible for anything that does not bear the sender's name. Also number and identify each slide and print on a brief caption sheet. If your manuscript involves a cruise, please include a photocopy of a map or chart with the places you visited and your route clearly marked on it. Please enclose an author bio note with sailing history and identify the people and type of boat in the story.
Manuscripts submitted to CRUISING WORLD must not be sent to other magazines for consideration during the same time period. Such simultaneous submissions could cause an infringement of copyright laws. If, however, your manuscript has previously been published in part or in whole, let us know. Our rates vary with each individual submission.
Within about 12 weeks after we receive your manuscript, after the editors have had a chance to review your contribution, we will either accept it for publication or return it to you. Dates of publication remain tentative. Generally, it takes one year or longer for a piece to reach publication.
Please be sure that you use a consistent PERMANENT (not transient) address in all correspondence with CRUISING WORLD. Also, please note your telephone number and e-mail address on your cover letter, and enclose a self-addressed, stamped envelope large enough to contain your submission and any accompanying artwork.
Send the manuscript to Cruising World, 55 Hammarlund Way, Middletown, RI 02842, attention MANUSCRIPTS EDITOR.
We are constantly on the lookout for exciting new cover shots and photographic material that we can use in special sections and in promotion pieces. CRUISING WORLD is a magazine about people and cruising—this is what we like our covers to say. Here are a few guidelines for taking cover shots.
We can best handle 35mm, 2 1/3" or 4"x5" transparencies. Our usual format is 8"x11", so try for vertical shots. (Occasionally we do use horizontal transparencies that can be enlarged and then cropped to a vertical shot.) Concentrate on good composition and avoid shooting scenes that look cluttered. Transparencies must be extremely sharp with proper exposure. Look for action shots, but not racing shots. Colorful scenes that show happy people sailing work best. Avoid shadows, large, dark areas and dark sunsets. Try to capture exciting new angles. Fuji Provia slide film is preferred. YOUR NAME MUST BE ON EACH SLIDE AND PHOTOGRAPH SUBMITTED, ALONG WITH AN ADDRESS OR PHONE NUMBER.
PHOTO GUIDELINES FOR CRUISING WORLD
We are constantly on the lookout for eye catching new images. They should represent the cruising lifestyle of exciting sailing and beautiful anchorages as well as on-board images of people enjoying themselves. Concentrate on good composition and avoid cluttered scenes, shadows and silhouetted sunsets. Portraits should be simple, watch out for rigging, masts and backgrounds that are distracting. Try for different perspectives that create powerful angles with strong color. Tropical and exotic locations work well for us. Sailboats should be modern production boats in the 35-55 foot range.
Photos accompanying articles should be color transparencies, prints (not as good) or digital images specific to the subject matter of the article. All photographs should be clearly labeled and identified with a caption sheet.
When submitting digital images:
1. The format needs to be JPEG or TIFF
2. Images should be stored on a CD or DVD. Color printouts (thumbnails) must be provided. Image names or numbers should be on the printout.
3. The dimension the image is capable of achieving at 300 DPI is critical. All images need to be 300 DPI at the size they're being used in the magazine, most articles need 4x5 or 5x7. Features need 8x10 or 11x17; covers are 8.5x11.
4. Name your image files with brief descriptions—Tongawhales2.jpg, for example—and include a caption list as a separate document.
5. Caption/information about images (location, names, and boat) should be included on a printout or in a MS Word file on the CD/DVD.
6. Do not use advanced functions in Photoshop, etc. for captions. And do not embed images in documents.
7. Please label CD/DVD with author, photographer and contact information.
8. Do not e-mail us files unless requested. For review purposes, images about 5 x 7 inches at 72 dpi are adequate and can be accepted as e-mail attachments, but query first by e-mailing mark.pillsbury@cruisingworld.com. Preferred formats are Photoshop JPEG or Picture Viewer Image.
PLEASE DO NOT SEND GIF, PCX, PDF (for images), PNG, PIXAR, RAW, SCITEX
