Who Can Write For Inside Columbia?
Your ability to write an interesting story is more important to us than your credentials and experience. Some of our writers make a living as journalists but many are employed in other fields and enjoy writing as a second job. Save those safe but boring articles for another magazine. We want people on our team who are ready to get “outside the box” with their writing.

What Makes A Good Inside Columbia Article?
A magazine article is different from a newspaper story. Newspaper stories start with the most important facts, are written in short paragraphs with a lot of transitions, and usually can be cut from the bottom up. A magazine article is often divided into sections, like chapters of a very short book.

The introductory section is very important because it captures the reader’s interest and sets the tone for the articles. Scenes or anecdotes are often used to draw the reader into the subject matter.

You want to maintain the reader’s interest and curiosity throughout so they will keep reading to the conclusion. Let your passion for the subject shine through your work.

There are three qualities that the editors look for in stories submitted for Inside Columbia. Most basic is thorough research and reporting. Secondly, the writing style must be appropriate to the material. Lastly, wow us with your ability to bring the material to life and give it meaning.
Deadlines

When you receive a story assignment you will be given a reasonable and firm deadline. It is important that you honor that deadline because a missed deadline delays every subsequent phase of the production process. Writers who fail to meet deadlines will not be retained in our freelance pool.
Story Length

Story length will vary from assignment to assignment. The editor will give you a target word count when making the assignment. Do not submit a story that varies from that word count by more than 50 words.
Suggestions On Style

Please use the style guidelines set forth by the Associated Press Stylebook and Libel Manual. In addition, here are some valuable suggestions from William Strunk’s The Elements of Style:

1. Be specific, concrete, definite.
2. Use the active rather than the passive voice.
3. Put the statements in positive form.
4. Write with nouns and verbs.
5. Don’t overstate.
6. Avoid the use of qualifiers.
7. Don’t explain too much.
8. Avoid fancy words.
9. Be clear.

Don’t fall so deeply in love with your prose that you can’t cut unnecessary words. Never use a long word when a short one will do. Avoid commonly used metaphors, similes and figures of speech. Avoid jargon.

We want sophisticated ideas expressed with simple language, not the other way around.

Submissions
Inside Columbia accepts spec stories and resumes/clips from interested freelance writers. Queries and submissions should be sent via e-mail to editor@insidecolumbia.net.