Submission Guidelines
Submission Guidelines
With more than one third of all published content created by people just like you, Downhome is truly a magazine made by and for its readers. The following is a guide to the types of submissions we accept, and how to go about contributing to Downhome.
Photo Submissions
Each month, readers submit hundreds of images to Downhome. The best ones are selected by editors for print in Downhome magazine and other Downhome publications. Some regular running photo features include Lil Charmers, Pets of the Month, Downhome Tours and Flashbacks.
And we are always looking for stunning photos of nature & scenery and any other images that might strike a chord with “Downhomers” (aka people who embrace the down home way of life) around the world.
Plus, check Downhome magazine and DownhomeLife.com often for special submission contests (like the Downhome Calendar Contest, for instance).
Submitting Photos: The Technical Stuff
When submitting photos on DownhomeLife.com:
•Image files must end in one of the following extensions: .jpg, .jpeg
•Please keep file size under 5 MB (5120 KB)
Read “How to Get Your Photo in Downhome” for handy tips.
Written Submissions
You do not have to be a professional writer to contribute stories or poetry to Downhome. Our only criteria are originality, quality and, of course, a connection to the down home way of life that we in Atlantic Canada have come to know and love.
Downhome magazine is a good-news publication and so we like articles that will capture the imaginations of our readers and inspire them with portrayals of the lifestyle and culture of Canada’s East Coast. We prefer first-person accounts of interesting events, and stories with good photographs will receive closer scrutiny.
Consider submitting a story that fits one of the following:
True-life tales of incredible, awe-inspiring or touching personal experiences, or stories about a hero in your hometown (Max. 800 words)
The trip abroad that you just can’t stop raving about, or the drive to a nearby community you’d never visited before (Max. 800 words)
Your fond memories of the past or recollections of an historic event as you remember it (Max. 800 words)
We also like to print submissions that tickle our funny bone. Submit your most embarrassing moment, the funny things your kids say and other real-life hilarity to Life’s Funny.
Sorry, but we are not accepting fiction at this time.
When Will My Submission be Published?
Photos and written contributions submitted via www.downhomelife.com appear online immediately. Those sent via email and regular mail may take up to one month to appear on the magazine’s website. Due to the number of submissions we receive, it may take several months for your submission to appear in print from the time you send it. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee if or when any submitter’s contribution may appear in print.
Can I get my Submission Back?
Yes. If you are mailing your submission and would like it back when we’re finished with it, simply include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please be patient; due to the high volume of submissions that we receive, it can take several months to return material.
What’s in it for You
Reader submissions selected for publication in Downhome are printed with credit (your name and hometown). The name associated with the submission is the one that will be credited online or in print. If you are submitting on someone else’s behalf, please get that person’s permission and indicate the name that should be credited.
If we print your submission in Downhome, we will send you 10 Downhome Dollars – it’s our little way of saying thank you for your time, effort and continued support. And we draw one published submitter name per issue to instead win 100 Downhome Dollars. Downhome Dollars are gift certificates that can be used to purchase merchandise from the Downhome Shoppe (locations in St. John’s and Twillingate), online at www.shopdownhome.com, or towards the purchase of a subscription to Downhome for yourself or as a gift for someone else.
Legal Matters
By submitting to Downhome Publishing Inc., the company will be entitled to use your submission(s) for any type of use forever in any media whether known now or developed later. When you submit material to Downhome Publishing Inc., you agree that Downhome Publishing Inc. has the right to publish the material for any use as outlined above including, but not limited to, promotional and advertising purposes, without compensation to you of any kind.
The submitter is responsible for ensuring he/she has the legal right to distribute the image and/or text. Downhome is not responsible for the validity of the address provided by the submitter, and Downhome has to assume that the submitter is the legal owner of the name and email address by which his/her submission is made electronically.
Any personal information gained from the process (email addresses, mailing addresses, phone numbers) will be kept in Downhome’s confidential files and will not be shared with any third party without the prior consent of the submitter. The information may be used only by Downhome Inc. to contact submitters for marketing or other Downhome business purposes. By submitting, the submitter agrees to have his/her name and town of residence published in Downhome media (print, electronic and other) if his/her submission is chosen for print.
Downhome will not share submissions with any third parties without the submitter’s prior consent.
Copyright of the submission remains with the submitter, who may choose to distribute the material elsewhere at anytime.
How to Submit
The quickest and easiest way to submit is online, via our website (www.downhomelife.com/submit) or hard copy submissions can be sent to:
Editor
Downhome Magazine
43 James Lane
St. John’s, NL
A1E 3H3
No phone calls please.
Professional Writers
If you are a professional writer and wish to submit a story pitch to Downhome, email editorial@downhomelife.com and request a copy of our guidelines for writers.