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Writers’ Guidelines
Subject Matter: NPCA publishes articles about areas in the National Park System, proposed new areas, threats to parks or park wildlife, new trends in park use, legislative issues, and endangered species of plants or animals relevant to national parks.
Queries: Query first, enclosing samples/clips of your work. Include a brief outline of your idea(s) with submission. Queries should include a self-addressed stamped envelope. We do not accept unsolicited manuscripts.
Submissions: Material submitted for publication in National Parks is considered on speculation. We are not obligated to buy a manuscript, including stories we assign, until we have accepted it for publication. We pay a 33-1/3-percent kill fee if an assigned story is unacceptable. Payment is made upon acceptance and after all parties sign a letter of agreement. National Parks does not guarantee publication of manuscripts, even if accepted.
Copyright: NPCA buys First North American Serial Rights and copyrights articles as part of the collective work, National Parks. Authors must warrant their manuscripts as original and unpublished. NPCA may, at its discretion, post any article published in National Parks on any NPCA web site. Articles published in our magazine must not be subsequently published elsewhere without our permission. (Policy on reprint permission is liberal, however, and permission may be negotiated.) Authors are responsible for obtaining any necessary permission to quote from other publications and to reproduce copyrighted photographs or artwork. Enclose permission letters with material submitted.
Editing: Manuscripts are subject to editing.
Writing: Articles for National Parks should be directed to a largely nonscientific but well educated audience. Features run approximately 2,000 words. Articles should have an original slant or news hook and cover a limited subject, rather than attempt to treat a broad subject superficially. Specific examples, descriptive details, and quotes are always preferable to generalized information. The writer must be able to document factual claims, and statements should be clearly substantiated with evidence within the article. National Parks does not publish fiction, poetry, or "My trip to . . ." stories.
As a nonprofit organization we are unable to pay research or holding fees.
We will send out sample copies upon receipt of a check in the amount of $3.00 and 8-1/2 x 11-inch or larger self-addressed envelope.
National Parks
1300 19th St., NW, Suite 300
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 223-6722 | 
