Writing for Sew News

Deadline: Ongoing
(see editorial calendar for specific dates)


Writing for Sew News


Sew News magazine is a monthly publication devoted to the enthusiastic and creative woman who wants to sew. We provide her with accurate, helpful, step-by-step information for personalizing ready-to-wear and creating original fashions, accessories, gifts and home décor that express her personal style.

What We Want

Articles should teach a specific technique, inspire the reader to try a project, introduce the reader to a new product or company related to sewing, or inform the reader about current fashion and sewing trends. Sew News' primary focus is garment sewing for women, but we also include stories on sewing for men, children and specialty groups like senior citizens, plus sizes, petites and the handicapped. We also cover home décor, soft crafts, machine embroidery, and various fabric embellishment methods, such as stamping, painting, beading and stenciling. Emphasis should always involve sewing, fabrics or notions in some way. Sew News does not normally cover areas like hand weaving, hand needlecrafts, crochet, knitting or macramé. When glue is used in place of sewing, the glue technique should only be a tip or sidebar–not the intended method of construction.

Acceptance/Payment

We will contact you and let you know if we are interested (or not) in your query. When an article is accepted, you'll be sent an assignment sheet detailing what is expected of you for the assignment and the intended payment (from $50 to $500, new writers generally $50 to $150, depending on the length and complexity of the subject, and the garment(s), samples, photography, illustrations or sources to be supplied).
All articles, including those specifically assigned, are written "on speculation." All payments will be made upon publication.

In all cases, Sew News reserves the right to edit, rewrite and cut articles where necessary.

Deadlines

Deadlines are established when a story is assigned.

Contracts

Sew News requires original unpublished content and gives first consideration to those authors. Sew News, as part of CK Media, requires an "all rights" contract to be signed before publication of any article. "All rights" means Sew News purchases complete rights to the manuscript, art and specific project covered in the contract and that the submitted items may not be used in conjunction with any other article in another publication.

These rights apply to specific projects, but not to individual techniques. For example, when a writer signs a Sew News "all rights" contract for an article on a machine-embroidered jacket, he/she may not allow the particulars of that project to be published anywhere else. However, he/she may publish another article on machine embroidery, including an article on a machine-embroidered jacket, as long as it's neither the same jacket nor the same embroidery designs.

How to Submit Story Queries

We have a small staff. Therefore, we request you query by letter or e-mail; do not send finished manuscripts. Your query should consist of a brief outline of the article, a sketch or photo of the intended project, a list of the illustrations or photographs you envision with it, an explanation of why your proposed article would be of interest to the Sew News reader, and why you are qualified to write it. Keep in mind the season and timeliness of your suggestions, remembering that Sew News works on a six-month lead time.

Send your queries to sewnews@sewnews.com or

Sew News Editor
741 Corporate Circle, Ste. A.,
Golden, CO 80401

The Sew News staff considers queries and makes story assignments continuously. All queries are considered and, within a reasonable amount of time, you'll either receive an assignment, a request to hold the query for further consideration, or a rejection. If more than three months have passed without a reply to your query, feel free to e-mail requesting its status. Direct e-mail questions regarding assignments to Ellen Marchant, emarchant@ckmedia.com.


2008 Editorial Calendar: Download the PDF file

Complete guidelines: http://sewnews.com/aboutsn/guide/