Arts Ouest Contributor Polices & Guidelines

Arts Ouest welcomes story submissions but, before contacting us, please familiarize yourself with the publication. In your initial query, please outline your idea, your approach and your writing credentials. Keep all content within the body of the email. Our policy is to reply in writing within 30 days. If you haven’t heard from us after that period, please feel free to submit your idea to other publications.

We look for interesting story ideas and writing that demonstrates insight, integrity and humour. We value writing that emphasizes clarity and accuracy. Please use plain, lively language. Avoid jargon, cliches and superfluous words that slow the story – adverbs, for instance, can usually be omitted.

We look for writers who understand that an original approach entices a reader into an article. When appropriate, show rather than tell; for instance, try beginning your story with an engaging anecdote. Use evocative imagery. Quotes should be revealing and colourful. Sources should be well-chosen and credible.

When writing a historical piece, please include detail that creates a sense of time and place. Put your subject in context; explain the conflicts/tensions of the time and reveal how the subject was seen by his/her contemporaries or by historians. Such details create atmosphere.

Please do not send us your story the moment you finish it. Leave the story for a day or two and then return to it; you will be surprised when you spot errors you hadn’t noticed before, or you may decide to completely change your approach to the piece. Please only send your work when you are confident it is the best it can be.

Approach each article with a creative attitude. As Peter Jacobi wrote in his book, The Magazine Article: How to Think it, Plan it, Write it, “Subjects aren’t boring, but bored writers can make them so.”

-The first draft of an article should be submitted at least three weeks before the issue in which it is to be published.
-We adhere to the Canadian Press guidelines and spell according to the Gage Canadian Dictionary.
-Use doc and rtf files only.
-Use Georgia, 12-point.
-Do not format the page.
-Do not indent paragraphs.
-Single line spacing in Word is preferred.
-Please leave only one space between a period and the next capital letter.

Please note that the compositional usage of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is strictly prohibited.

Editing: Stories are usually returned to writers so alterations can be made. When time is short, the editor may undertake the revisions then return the story to the writer to check for errors. Stories may need to be cut to the available space.

Deadlines must be respected. If you cannot avoid being late with a story, please let the editor know as soon as possible.

Copyright: Any and all materials submitted, and subsequently published, by Arts Ouest is the sole and exclusive property of Arts Ouest. As such, any and all reproduction of the articles, and any and all use of said materials, is subject to written permission from Arts Ouest. The unauthorized use of any and all materials will result in legal action.

Copyright infringement: Arts Ouest will not be held legally responsible for any/all copyright infringements with regard to both written material and images. All submissions are the sole legal and moral responsibility of the contributor.

Photographs and images: Visual appeal is very important, so please bear that in mind. If you take your own photos, that’s great. If not, please let us know of good photo opportunities and pass along any useful visual material. All photos must be 300 dpi for print.