Writer's Guidelines

 

Our new Writer's Guidelines can be found here. The information below will be updated accordingly.

FEATURES

Topics: American Bungalow covers a wide range of topics: the Arts and Crafts
movement, collecting, bungalow neighborhoods, new construction, gardens, art,
period lodges and home renovation, among others. Surprise us; we love to publish
little-known gems.

Tone: We’re looking for writers whose personalities come through in their work, and
first-person storytelling is fine. Factual information should be leavened with quotes
when possible, and please avoid footnotes and other academic devices. If you are
not a regular reader, the best way to get a sense of our style is to review several
back issues of American Bungalow. Portions of the current issue are posted on our
Web site, and you can order past issues by clicking here.

Length: Typically, American Bungalow articles run between 800 and 1,800 words.
Sidebars containing resource information, brief historical overviews, etc., are fine to
include.

Artwork: Strong graphic elements are very important to the look of American
Bungalow. Your proposal has a much better chance of being accepted if you are
able to provide quality photographs, drawings or period illustrations to accompany
your piece.

Some specifics: We can work with transparencies, slides or prints of photographs.
Scanned images need to be saved at 300 dpi; please do not e-mail photos to us
without prior arrangement. Please include the names of photographers so we can
give them proper credit. Period photos are welcome as well. Elevations, floor plans
and the like should be a reasonable size—they need to fit on our scanners. We are
happy to return all of your materials, but will need to work with them for
approximately three months.

Format: If your idea is accepted for further development, you may submit final text
as hard copy or (preferably) as a Word or other digital file on CD or via e-mail.
Compensation: American Bungalow will send you several copies of the issue in
which your article appears, along with your returned art materials. Articles are often
written in exchange for a complimentary book from the Bungalow Bookstore or a free
subscription to the magazine. If you have a business that deals with Arts and Crafts
products or services, we may be able to trade out ad space for the feature; each
case is unique, so please let us know on what basis your proposal is predicated. We
do offer modest compensation, in the $250–$500 range, to established writers
working on assignment.

SHOW US WHAT YOU’VE DONE

American Bungalow publishes architect and homeowner renovations and newconstruction articles that have slightly different guidelines than our features. Here
we’re looking for firsthand experiences—the challenges or special characteristics of
your project and how you solved them—that will resonate for other readers. Humor,
how the experience impacted your family, what made you decide to build a
bungalow—all are welcome. These articles are also the one category where we can
accept amateur snapshots—but we still need sharp, well-exposed photos to illustrate
the piece. Flash-on-camera interior shots are often unusable, so if you’re shooting
indoors, please use a tripod and available light. Professional-quality photography is
most welcome as well, and elevations, floor plans and resource lists are strongly
encouraged.

AMERICAN BUNGALOW NEWS

Short (100–400 word) pieces may be published in the magazine’s black-and-white
newsletter section without compensation.

INQUIRY LETTER

For features and “show us what you’ve done” articles, please send a brief pitch letter
with a summary of the article you propose and several photographs of the subject
matter if possible. We will return any materials with a SASE. Expect a response
within six weeks and include an e-mail address if you have one.
If you are a published writer, please include one to three samples of your previous
work. If you have written for other Arts and Crafts or vintage-house magazines, or if
the material you are pitching has been published previously, please let us know the
names of those publications.

Thanks for your inquiry; we look forward to receiving your proposal.
John Luke
Editor
johnluke@ambungalow.com