Writers' Guidelines for the North Coast Journal

The North Coast Journal is interested in story proposals from Humboldt County writers.

These guidelines will help you understand our editorial needs and how to approach us with your ideas.

We recommend that you start by reviewing past print editions to get a sense of the subjects and writing styles we favor. (The Journal online carries only some of our editorial content.) As you may have noticed, we cover only stories about Humboldt County, and we generally avoid issues specific to certain towns unless those issues are likely to affect or interest people in other parts of the county.

The best way to approach the Journal is to submit a one-page query letter describing your idea, explaining how you'd handle the story and summarizing your writing experience. We will accept finished manuscripts for review, although it will take us longer to respond.

We will occasionally work with a beginning writer, but in general only writers with newspaper or magazine writing experience have the skills we require.

A few other points:

• No fiction or poetry; Except for commentary and columns, we insist upon fairness and balance in reporting. If your idea has a date or seasonal hook, contact us two months prior.
  
• Story lengths: 700 to 1,000 words for a commentary or column; 1,200-1400 words for a feature; 1,800-2,500 words for a cover story.
  
• Fees range from $50 to $225.

We intend to read and consider every query and manuscript we receive, but it may take a month. Feel free to call and check on the status of our review of your submission.

Thanks for your interest in the North Coast Journal.

© Copyright 2007, North Coast Journal, Inc.