FLARE MAGAZINE
WRITER GUIDELINES
Thank you for your interest in Flare. The following
are basic guidelines for writers interested in contributing to Flare:
[download a printable PDF version of the guidelines]
Before you submit a story idea:
• Read back issues of the magazine to make sure your idea fits our general editorial tone and audience – working women between the ages of 20 – 45.
Every year, Flare receives hundreds of submissions of material that are not quite suitable for our audiences. A little preliminary research by hopeful writers would save them – and us – a great deal of work.
• Study the masthead – the listing of our staff by position – to determine if your topic is handled by regular contributor staff or a staff member. For example, most of Flare’s fashion and beauty is written in-house.
When you submit a story idea:
• Please do not telephone with your idea. Briefly summarize your proposal in writing indicating theme, main points you would cover and research to be done, and approximate length of article. Attach your resume to the outline, along with tear sheets of previously published work.
• Do not send
original tear sheets which you need returned. Because of the large
number of submissions, we cannot guarantee the return of material
sent to us.
• Never begin
work on the final piece until the idea has been accepted and fully
discussed. At Flare, we send our writers an assignment letter confirming
the assignment and any pertinent details. Flare will not publish
unsolicited manuscripts. Please remember, Flare does not publish
fiction.
• We try to
reply individually to every person but, sometimes, sheer volume
makes this impossible and we must send a form letter.
When writing your article:
• Alterations
are a normal request, and the writer’s story may be returned
for revisions. Minor changes made by the assigning editor or copy
editor will be shown to the writer for checking, except in the case
of last-minute cuts necessary for space limitations.
• If your research
leads you to change the storyline, consult with us well before the
deadline. Fundamental differences from the original assignment may
be a problem.
• Do not give
your sources a preview of the manuscript. Assure them that a fact
checker will call them to verify the material used. If your interview
subject places this condition on the interview, discuss this with
us first. We may prefer to drop the story.
• All sources
from your article must be detailed in a fact checking sheet attached
to your first draft. Our researchers must be able to verify every
fact before we print a story. The fact checking sheet must include
names and daytime phone number of those you interviewed.(It helps
if you point out possibly hostile subjects, or subjects who will
be out of town for an extended period of time.)Include a copy of
all books you drew material from including the page numbers, or
at least a photocopy of the cover and relevant materials.
For your information our address is:
FLARE MAGAZINE
One Mount Pleasant Road
8th Floor
Toronto ON
M4Y 2Y5
Or you can email us at:
editors@flare.com