We accept articles written by the people of Vinton for publication in the magazine.  However, we do have some guidelines that submitters must follow.  Some are strict and based on the logistics of the publication.  Others are helpful for those unsure of what to write.  We encourage all who wish to submit to thoroughly read the entire list of guidelines before writing for Vinton Magazine.

Everyone must keep in mind that when there is a surplus of submissions, those that meet the guidelines will be considered in priority order above those that do not.  As a result, in the event of surplus, we cannot guarantee that submissions which do not meet guidelines will be published. Thank you.

THE STRICT, LOGISTIC GUIDELINES

• Don’t wait for the deadline!  It’s never too early to submit.  Submitting early allows you to leisurely craft your submission without the pressures of the deadline.  It also allows the Editor time to respond to your submission with helpful feedback that could allow you to self-edit to better meet Vinton Magazine guidelines  This process also eliminates the likelihood of submitting the story, followed days later by sending emails with edits or changes.  This disrupts production, especially when the Editor has already completed editing the submission when deadline is near.
• Articles should be no fewer than 700 words, but no more than 2000 words.
• Articles must be original. Articles that have appeared in other publications are not eligible, as we do not want readers to potentially find a story in Vinton Magazine that they have already read elsewhere.
• To maintain a professional level of ethics and avoid plagiarism within our publication, all submissions must be written by the submitter or their chosen author.  Text must not be copied and pasted, or re-written word-for-word, from other sources.
• A selection of high resolution photos should accompany the article. When in doubt, take photos with an actual camera, rather than a phone camera.  No matter how advance and high-tech your phone might be, there are no phones on the general market with a camera that can produce high-resolution photos.  We also love pictures of the owners of businesses/organizations!  Specifically the owners in the environment of their business. Below is a great example of Joanne and Bill Bell in the Bell Gallery. This is a fantastically composed shot. Note that the photo is taken from a higher position, as if by someone standing on a chair. Notice how by doing so they are able to get more of the environment of their shop into the shot. They are standing in the foreground near the front of their store and you are able to see all the way to the back. That depth of field makes the photo very immersive. You can see yourself walking around their store. Note how the photo is horizontal. If the photo was vertical, then they wouldn’t have nearly so much of their store in frame. If you can send in a photo like this, then that’d be awesome!

To ensure our magazine maintains the highest quality, not only for content, but also for journalistic standards, submitted articles will go through an editing process that will include:
• 3rd Person Perspective
• Spelling
• Grammar
• Punctuation
• Sentence Structure
• Information flow
• Conciseness

THE HELPFUL WRITING GUIDELINES

• Always remember, Vinton Virginia Magazine is a professional publication for the purpose of promoting the people, businesses, and history of Vinton. Especially for tourism. Maximize information about your business, organization, or event. For the personal touch, include business-related anecdotes, prestigious honors, appearances, etc. Or even “that time when something big happened”.
• Articles should speak to a general public audience, and not just to the community in Vinton.  Write as if you are telling your story to tourists or readers outside of Vinton.
• Use third-person perspective!  First person perspective may be the most comfortable for inexperienced writers (I, me, we, us) but it is also the most difficult to do well.  First person perspective risks a piece being so individualized that the only readers who would find it interesting are the writers themselves and the people who know them personally.
  
  Since it is the mission of Vinton Magazine to appeal to all public readers, we request all submissions to be written in third-person perspective (he, she, they, them).  Pretend you are someone else, writing about you.  Articles submitted in first person perspective will be edited to third person unless the writing or the material is exceptional.
• Personal histories.  These are tricky when the focus is to appeal to a wide audience; especially an audience outside of Vinton.  Personal journeys that start in childhood and lead to the writer’s current activities are nice, but they risk the same individualization as first-person perspective: limiting the audience interest.  Please write about your personal history if it is dynamic and unique, or if your history took place against the backdrop of an interesting era, series of events, or public setting.  For these histories, sentences filled with information about the era, events, or public setting would have a larger audience appeal.  This information would in turn help give your personal narrative context and appeal.
  
  Personal journeys, unless exceptionally written, with an entertainment factor, will be returned for rewriting.  This is because the content of personal journey articles is not consistent with the professional platform of Vinton Magazine.
  
  Examples of exceptional personal histories are: “The Maggie Gallery”, Spring/Summer 2018 of Floyd Magazine (clever writing/entertainment factor) and “Pioneer of Zipline Creation Worldwide Builds Buffalo Mountain Ziplines in Floyd!” Fall/Winter 2019 of Floyd Magazine (dynamic history).
• When using technical or trade-specific terms, include a few words of description or explanation. Not everyone will know what it means.
• Avoid using slang or other words that can only be found in an urban dictionary. Not all readers (or the editor) will know what the word means.
• Businesses:  If Vinton Magazine has already published your origin story, and you’re not sure what else to write, consider submitting articles based on announcements, such as new ownership, special events, charity involvements, new products or services, or even the addition of new locations or facilities.
• Artists: If you’re not sure what to write, we suggest training attended, awards won, where you have shown, where you can now be found, what you do and why people need to see or buy it. Anecdotes are also welcome, such as prestigious sales to notable names.  Try to avoid articles that talk only about yourself and your life, as this minimizes public interest.  For example, if you use a particular technique in your art, information about the origins of the technique, the history, and why it appealed to you would make for great reading!  It would also help a reader to better understand why your work is special.
  
  Freelance Writers: If you want to submit an article about your business, organization, event, or art, but feel like you might need some help with writing, there is always the option of hiring a freelance writer. The freelance writers listed below are not associated with Vinton Magazine. This list is to facilitate interested businesses connecting with interested freelance writers.  We encourage the use of the services these writers offer, as Vinton Magazine’s editing process is only for tweaking finished pieces.
  
  Any local freelance writers that want to be listed on this page are encouraged to send us their contact information.If you have any questions or just want to sound out the story you are writing, call our editor, Vickie Holt, at 540-342-1492! She will be happy to provide clarity and offer guidance. 

Send article submissions to John Brill at john@brilldesigns.org.