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Editorial Guidelines

We are happy to consider your ideas for articles or your completed articles for Seattle Woman. Here are a few suggestions to assist you with the submission process and improve your chances of publishing with us.

1. It’s best to familiarize yourself with the magazine before sending your query letter. We’re not looking for one particular voice or style of writing, but it will help you to know the kinds of subjects we tend to cover. Because ours is a regional publication, we look for stories that will interest and inform women in the greater Seattle area. Here’s a list of departments that run in most or all issues.

InFocus is our main feature. It explores issues and/or personalities important and influential to the lives of women in this area. These articles are more complex, including multiple sources, and may run to roughly 3,000 words. Topics can be about health and wellness, art and culture, community … the list is endless

Profile. These are the women we should know about, either because of their efforts – big or small – to improve the lives of others or because their accomplishments can inspire our readers to achieve their own goals. We’re looking for lively, descriptive pieces that convey the personality of the subject, as well as their contributions. Generally, these stories should be shorter, about 750 to 850 words, although exceptions may be made.

DowntoBusiness brings us resources and information that can aid us in our own entrepreneurial pursuits or lets us know about various women-run businesses, including those that are fun and unique.

Politics highlights our female public leaders and political issues that affect women’s lives.

PracticalMatters. The nuts-and-bolts kinds of information that can make our lives better and, sometimes, easier.

AtHome deals with family relationships, challenges related to balancing home and work lives and suggestions for making our households run smoother.

Health&Wellness explores issues of mental and physical well being specific to women’s bodies and profiles health providers searching for solutions to our ailments – both big and small.

Arts&Culture features women artists and their work.

Community explores the good works of individual women and organizations in the Seattle area.

2. E-mail query letters to Karen@seattlewomanmagazine.com. Please include your name, address, telephone number and e-mail address. Tell us your topic, how you plan to cover it, and the sources you intend to use.

3. If you’re sending a query, please list other publications in which your work has appeared. Also include links to Web sites where we can read your work or mail copies of your published articles. You can also e-mail us stories as they were sent to other editors. We do not return materials, so please do not send originals.

4. Payment varies according to the length and complexity of the article. Seattle Woman purchases first American rights, print and electronic, for articles and pays within 30 days of publication.