Our Iowa Magazine

How to Get Published

 

How You Can "Get Published"

Our Iowa is a magazine that's mostly "written by its readers". That makes it your magazine. It's like a "conversation" between you and your neighbors, all sharing the joys of living in our state. Here's how you can join in this conversation and "get published" in a future issue:

Basically, we're looking for any items or photos that help explain why Iowa is such a great place to live. This could be something as simple as a knee-slapper joke or tall tale you heard at the barbershop—just jot it down and send it to us.

Perhaps you'd like to respond to one of our regular departments listed below (click on each department name for more details.) Or maybe you'd like to submit a full-fledged feature story you've written—such as a personal reflection, recollection from the past or a report on a recent "happening" in your area.

Give us your best shot ...like this one of Sawyer Bleeker, 4, submitted by his mother, Beth Bleeker, of Sioux Center. "We were doing a photo shoot in his Dutch costume during the Tulip Festival in Orange City."

 

What I Miss Most About Iowa

Why I Came Back to Iowa

Iowa's Favorite Ma & Pa Restaurants

The Prettiest Farm in Iowa

Recipes They're Proud to Share

My Favorite Rustic Road

How Towns Got Their Names

Country Characters

Only in Iowa

County Roundup

Culture (well, sort of)

Heartwarmers

Church Chuckles

Small Fry

Iowa Rewind

 

We Want Your Eye-Catching Photos, Too.

If you've taken some pictures you're particularly proud of, submit them to "Iowa Eye-Catchers".  We're looking for scenic photos that show the beauty along Iowa's backroads, parks and farms, plus candid photos of Iowans (youngsters as well as adults) enjoying the good life our state has to offer.  Include caption information about where the photo was taken, the people in the photo and their relationship to you.

We can utilize high-quality color prints, slides and digital images. If you're submitting digital images, please make sure your camera is set at the highest picture quality setting. Submit your digital pictures as "jpegs".

Or this one...submitted by Mark Iwig, of Johnston, who was visiting Big Creek State Park near Polk City in early spring. "The calm waters of Big Creek Lake reflected the beautiful sunrise," Mark said.

Submission Guidelines

If you're responding to one of the regular departments listed above, put the department name at the top of the page or in the subject line of your email. That way, we'll be sure to route it to the proper editor.

If you're submitting a full-fledged feature story, it should be upbeat, positive and conversational in tone. As a rule of thumb, feature stories should be no more than 1,250 words in length. When possible, include photos to help tell your story.

We receive lots of mail and emails, so please be patient after you submit a story or photo. We may hold your material for consideration in a future issue without informing you first. But we will let you know when we publish it and send you a complimentary copy of the issue in which it appears.

If you want your material returned, include a self-addressed, stamped envelope.

Send your submissions to
Our Iowa, 1510 Buckeye Avenue, Ames, IA 50010.
Or email it to editors@OurIowaMagazine.com
 

We hope to see your name in a future issue of Our Iowa!

 

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