BiblioBuffet is looking for passionate readers who are also excellent writers. You do not need to have clips (though we like those), but proper English skills are a given. The ability to meet deadlines is crucial, as is integrity and openness. Most importantly, can you give us writing worth reading? If so, we’d love to hear from you.
We pay a flat $10 per piece for guest columnists, and $20 per piece for regular contributors with increases over time. This is small, but it is the beginning of what we hope will be a worthwhile financial return to our contributors for their work. Though we cannot say when increases will occur or by how much, we are committed to better-than-fair remuneration. New content is posted each Sunday night. Payment for contributions posted in one month is made by check on the first business day of the next month, though international contributors may make special arrangements.
We publish the following types of work as long as the pieces are original (that is, they have not appeared in any magazines, newspapers, websites, or blogs—book excerpts excepted), and relate in some way to reading or books, or related subjects such as censorship, literacy, book festivals, publishing trends, interesting independent bookstores, literary history, bookselling, personal or public libraries, etc.
* Book reviews (particularly of books and publishers overlooked by mainstream review media)
* Personal essays
* Editorials
* Commentary
* Humor
* Interviews
* Profiles of people, places or things literary
* Excerpts from upcoming, recently published or re-issued books with a bookish theme
* Short stories with a bookish theme
We are not looking for journalistic type of pieces that are “here today, gone tomorrow.” Because we are a weekly publication, we cannot and do not compete in breaking stories. Rather, we specialize in presenting thoughtful pieces that use personal perspectives and individualistic approaches to explore anything that catches our contributors’ interests. This can but does not necessarily include current news and issues. Please note that we do not use pieces on or about writing. Contributions should run between 600 and 6,000 words, though we can be flexible on the upper range.
Regular contributors: We are looking to add several regular columnists in 2011, and encourage those of you who are interested in becoming one to apply. Book reviewers (both generalists and specialists) and columnists who enjoy wandering wherever their pen may take them are encouraged to apply. We also welcome book professionals such as librarians, booksellers, editors, and publishers are especially welcome to share their worlds with our readers. We want our columnists to be happy so please let us know what interests you. Regular contributors must commit to writing on a bi-weekly basis.
We like our book reviewers to have personality! In other words, we don't want straightforward reviews as much as we want you to talk about the book in relation to you. What were your feelings, thoughts, memories, and ideas as you read? How did it affect you? Why? We want to know about the book, yes, but we want to get to know it through you, All our writers, past and present, have a point of view or personality from which they write and it is the style of its columnists rather than any specific commitment towards types of books it reviews that is BiblioBuffet’s strength.
BiblioBuffet may require that those interested in becoming regular contributors submit to our “BibliOpinions” column for a period of time. This is the space we have reserved for guest contributors. It carries no specific deadline, which allows time for a full editorial process of each piece. Unlike many online literary sites and blogs, BiblioBuffet edits for style and content as well as the more typical copy editing and proofreading. This policy provides both the writers and the BiblioBuffet editorial team the opportunity to determine if the fit is a good one.
Occasional or one-time contributors: We consider individual submissions of any type (as noted above) excepting only book reviews; those are assigned to regular contributors. Please send the complete piece rather than a query. Note that if you are interested in being considered for a regular column BibliOpinions is the place to start.
Guidelines: All contributors are given great latitude in their choices of books to review, authors/writers to interview or essay subject matter. However, we do not review books that contain or profile writers who use the following in their writing:
* Profanity for profanity’s sake
* Violence against or experiments using animals—not at all
* Unnecessary or explicit violence against women, men or children
* Glorification of hunting, killing, rape, war; abuse of people or animals
* Hatred based on gender, sexual orientation, age, race, religion or other arbitrary factors
This does not mean that writers and books need ignore the darker side of life. Genuine, thoughtful exploration of life is always good whether in fiction or non-fiction, but we do not promote its glorification.
We only review books we believe are worthy of readers’ attention and time. (All genres except business, self-help, true crime, New Age, and romance are eligible for review consideration.) Honesty and integrity are essential components of our reviews, and no payments or other gratuities are solicited or accepted. Note that we do not review self- or vanity-published books, nor do we interview or profile authors of these books.
Rights: We require exclusive rights while the column is “live” (two weeks.) After that, rights revert to the writer, though we reserve the right to archive the article indefinitely on a non-exclusive basis.
Contacting BiblioBuffet: If you are applying to become a regular contributor please note this in your initial contact. Though we may require a trial period, you should specify your interests and experience. Include the following in your initial query:
* A title (or two) for the proposed column
* A short description of the proposed column
* Six specific ideas for future columns
* One clip (preferably on books or reading) if you have it; if not, include one sample publishable column
* A brief description of your writing background, reading interests, and current book(s) on your nightstand
If you are submitting a single piece, please send it along with a short bio of yourself. If you are submitting clips or sample columns they must be your best work because they are the pieces upon which you will be evaluated. All submissions should be pasted into the body of the e-mail submissions form and directed to Lauren Roberts, Editor in Chief. Though we normally respond within three business days, please allow two weeks before checking with us.
Submit here.
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