Freelance writing, GreatWildlifeAdventures.com, pays $50 per article

Deadline: 20 June 2011

Article length: 800 – 1,200 words

Geographic area

- We are currently looking for articles in the following urban areas: San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Phoenix, Salt Lake City, ABQ, Denver, Houston, MSP, Chicago, Memphis, Boston, Philadelphia, Jacksonville, FL and some popular national parks.
- Wildlife adventures must be less than a two-hour drive of these areas, except popular national parks.

Article topics

- Focus on seeing and experiencing wildlife, but can include other activities (biking, sea kayaking, hiking, etc)
- Adventure must be accessible to the public, no private land stories unless open to the public.
- Private tours, guided tour groups ok, as long as readers can do the same adventure.
- We are not currently doing hunting or fishing articles.
- With the exception of Wildlife Rehabilitation Centers, all stories must be based in natural settings.
- When thinking about ideas, consider going on guided wildlife tours, whale watching, birding or sea kayak trips, etc. You get much more background info and interesting facts for your story when going with a guide or group.
- As a writer on assignment, tour discounts are common, and you may be able to write off most travel costs.

Format & Style

- Gripping lead paragraph; a quote from an exciting moment, or description of wildlife in action.
- First person; tell a compelling story from your perspective, but fill out the article with quotes from experts.
- Also include good, brief stories from other people knowledgeable about the subject.
- Include your observations and impressions – what you saw, heard and felt.
- Why is this adventure important / exciting to you?
- Give a brief background on the adventure location and/or wildlife species; interesting natural history & conservation facts.
- Throughout the article, weave in descriptions of your surroundings. Use humor as appropriate.
- Please read and take notes on a few Great Wildlife Adventures.com to get an idea of our style.
- Underlining: Please do not underline text except in web links; use italic and / or bold for section headers, etc.

Photos

- Photos must accompany manuscript. Video clips are welcomed, but not essential.
- Include views of landscape (with or without wildlife), portraits of people on trip, guides in action.
- Close ups of wildlife if you have the photo equipment.
- Include a list of captions. List photo number/description with each caption.
- Photo file size about 1mb or less, please.

Sidebars

- Adventure location & directions: Name of area (park, reserve, etc) closest town/city, state, and zip code and how to get there (directions).
- Map: include a map of the adventure location, or website link to a map of the adventure location.
- If you go: practical information for the reader about how to do the adventure: where to go, when to go, who to go with (guides, tours websites and phone #s), where to stay (suggest a few good hotels, lodges or B&Bs in the area), where to eat (nearby delis, health food stores and suggest a few good restaurants), what equipment and clothing to bring. Website links and phone #s for more info such as land management agencies. Safety and weather information.
- Wildlife Checklist: List of mammals, birds and other wildlife to look for.

How to submit a query: Please email brief article proposals (1 page or less), a brief resume or bio with outdoor or wildliferelated experience and one or two published clips or writing samples to editor@greatwildlifeadventures.com. Please read a few of our articles at www.greatwildlifeadventures.com to get an idea of our style. In your brief proposal, please include a headline, a detailed outline; tell us why your idea is a good one, and why it is a fit in Great Wildlife Adventures. Please do not send completed manuscripts. We are interested in working with and mentoring beginning / unpublished writers.

Payment: $50 per article with photos. Payment is upon acceptance of article. We buy all rights to the manuscript and photos, although copyright is returned to the author 90 days after publication.

Contact Information:

For inquiries: editor@greatwildlifeadventures.com

For submissions: editor@greatwildlifeadventures.com

Website: http://greatwildlifeadventures.com/