Boulevard Magazine Writers’ Guidelines
Boulevard welcomes writers’ queries. We are interested in articles that capture the vitality of Greater Victoria through its people, arts, culture, social and health issues, leisure, food, recreation, architecture and design. Our editors believe that the best articles honour both the writer’s voice and the reader’s interests.
Here is what you should know about us if you want to make a pitch.
- We publish 12 times a year but we work four months in advance, with the editorial meeting for an issue taking place the first week of the month four months prior. For example, the editorial meeting for January takes place in the first week of September, for February the first week of October. So if, for example, you have a story idea that is perfectly suited for our May issue you need to pitch it to us in the last two weeks of January so that we will discuss and decide on your pitch at the May editorial meeting in the first week of February.
- When you query, be sure to have done enough research to know for sure this story is a “go.” Make your pitch in less than 200 words. We like the classic freelance pitch: four paragraphs with the first paragraph opening like your story lead, the second and third paragraph detailing what the story will cover and why it is right for our readership, and the fourth paragraph detailing who you are any why you are the right person to do this story. It helps to add the names of the sources you’ll interview and give us an idea about what photos might work best to help tell the story. Boulevard is known for its beautiful photos and design, so this is important.
- Your pitch tells us what we need to know about your writing style and substance. We like writing that is focused, fresh, smart, concise, accurate and jargon-free. We like stories with real people doing real things. We like strong quotes, not dull ones. The tone is bright, the description crisp. At Boulevard, we don’t tell people in the Victoria area how to live. We tell great stories about how people here do live.
- You can pitch to our regular departments or pitch a feature story idea. Send your pitches by e-mail to Anne Mullens, Managing Editor, at anne@victoriaboulevard.com.
- Our Travel Near and Travel Far sections are very popular. We receive dozens of travel pitches each month from writers unknown to us. Therefore we no longer assign travel articles on pitch alone. All travel articles must be written on spec at 1000 words. Even if we ask for edits from you to help get your story in better shape for potential publication in our magazine, the story is still on spec until the time we issue a contract for publication.
- We pay 30 cents a word for most features and 25 cents a word for travel. The average article length is about 1,000 words. Included in the rate is the assumption that you are prepared to do some rewriting or more research as requested, but certainly not endlessly. We ask writers to please check all website URLs and phone numbers before handing in their stories, too. We use Canadian Press style, more or less.
- If we accept the pitch, we will issue a contract in which we outline specific word counts, story notes, deadlines, publication dates and obligations for the writer in researching and submitting the article to Boulevard and outline Boulevard’s obligations in publishing and paying for the story.
As well as publishing a range of compelling, important or entertaining features in each issue, Boulevard requires great stories for our regular departments. Many of these departments, such as Hot Properties, Hot Design, Secrets & Lies, Book Club, Technologia, are now written by Boulevard regulars and success in pitching to these areas will be very limited. However, a number of departments do need regular, well-focused pitches from freelancers:
Travel Near and Travel Far: These two articles (900 to 1,000 words) describe new, off-beat destinations that would interest our 45-60 demographic, or revisit favourite destinations that have changed. Travel Near is concerned with destinations within a few hours’ drive of Victoria (notwithstanding ferry lineups) and Travel Far articles showcase places — and people — that require us to take more than just an overnight bag. We like theme travel too, such as trips for people interested in cooking or hiking or art or you name it. We do not like travel articles that read like they have been a sponsored freebie. As stated above, all travel articles are written on spec. Even if we ask for edits, the articles are still on spec until we give you a contract and a publishing date.
Creative Minds: (1,000 to 1,200 words) is a profile of someone in our region who is demonstrably creating something new with his or her vision and commitment. The person can be in the arts, business, education or government, wherever they can be shown to be the driving force behind a successful venture. They may be a behind-the-scenes motivator, or an out-front person whose name will soon be on everyone’s lips.
Health and Fitness: (1000 words) is a topical feature on a health or fitness-related theme of interest to our demographic. Health or fitness trends, health issues, reader service pieces are all welcome.
Cowichan Feature: Every issue, we present an article (1,200 words maximum) that brings readers news from the Cowichan Valley, a popular area north of Victoria that encompasses Duncan, Mill Bay, Cowichan Lake and other nearby communities. We are interested in stories about the Cowichan lifestyle, its issues, arts, people and activities.
Wry Eye: 650 words maximum) is our humour column. All submissions must be written on spec. We do not want insulting or mean humour, nor humour that degrades or criticizes others. It must be appropriate and humorous to our 40 to 70+ demographic.
SPEC submissions to Boulevard
While all unassigned travel articles to Boulevard and Wry Eye submissions are written on spec, we also welcome pre-written articles submitted to the magazine on other topics. However, spec submissions are received under the following terms of agreement.
- The article is not being considered or under development in another publication and Boulevard has exclusive right to consider the article for three months, and if we decide to publish it, we have exclusivity until after the time of publication.
- If we ask for edits from you to better prepare the article to achieve Boulevard’s publication standards, the article is still deemed to be on spec. The writer undertakes edits to the article under the agreement that the article is still under spec consideration and publication is not guaranteed.
- If after edits and re-writes the editorial team decides for any reason that the story will not be published in Boulevard we will inform the writer within three months of receipt of the submission and the writer is free to submit it elsewhere.
- We will not pay a kill fee to articles we have considered and rejected under spec submissions.
