WOW! Writer’s Guidelines

WOW! welcomes queries from its audience of women writers. Please make sure you’ve read through our articles on the home page to get an idea of the style and tone of our publication before submitting a query. Remember, each e-zine issue focuses on a theme.

Please note: we are no longer accepting general queries and submissions—they must fit within one of our upcoming themes. Please see “Upcoming Themes” below.

We publish a monthly e-zine newsletter to e-mail subscribers. You can subscribe to our e-mail newsletter and/or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter @womenonwriting to keep up on the latest calls for submissions. We are also on Instagram @wow_womenonwriting and Pinterest @womenonwriting.

Upcoming Themes:

Theme: Craft of Writing topics

Deadline for queries: March 15, 2020

We're working on a new website, scheduled to launch in May 2020, and we're looking for fresh ideas on craft topics. They can be how-tos, round-ups, multi-interviews, craft essays, video, audio, experimental, and more! Pieces must provide takeaway for writers on a craft topic. We're leaving it open for you to get creative. We prefer queries. Make sure you email us with your hook, proposed idea, and why you're the best person to write it. Also, please send along links to published clips so we can get an idea of your writing style. If you have an article that's already written, you are welcome to submit it for review as well.

Theme: Your Burning Question

Deadline for queries: June 15, 2020

Every article title should be a question, and the content will be the answer to the most pressing questions writers have--everything from how to make a living from your art to handling rejection, from big questions that affect the market, like how can you break into the oversaturated memoir market to what should you do when your agent ghosts you?

Theme: Authorpreneur

Deadline for queries: September 15, 2020

This issue will focus on how to be a career author, from planning your writing products to managing your list, from taking care of your health and wellbeing to becoming a speaker and coach, from creating a sales funnel to earning passive income, and more.

Please sign up for our e-mail newsletter for more upcoming themes and submission opportunities.

Article Queries:

If you have an idea for one of our themes, please query us. We are particularly looking for how-tos on a variety of writing and publishing topics, and interviews/round-ups with acquiring editors/literary agents/publishers. All articles must have takeaway value for fellow writers.

Word Count and Pay Rates:

Articles range anywhere from 1,000 to 3,000 words—whatever length is necessary to cover the topic. Pay is arranged between the writer and editor for the piece, but most articles pay $50 or $75. In-depth pieces that require many different sources to cover the topic and have a higher word count pay $100 or $150. Pay is on publication by PayPal only. When your submission is published, you will receive a “live link” email notification and instructions for invoicing via PayPal.

Rights:

We require first rights and the right to archive the article indefinitely. After one month from the date of publication, rights revert back to the author and the author retains all copyrights to her work and she may re-publish the article elsewhere.

We do not accept reprints/previously published work. If you would like to repurpose a previously published article, please notify us at the time of your query and include the proposed changes that will make it specifically suited to WOW. Acceptance is not guaranteed and is up to the discretion of the editorial board.

By submitting your work to WOW!, you are agreeing to these rights and terms.

How to Query:

In the subject line of your email, please include the word “Query,” and write your article pitch in the body of your email. Also include which e-zine theme you are pitching in your email subject line. WE DO NOT OPEN ATTACHMENTS. Because of the high volume of spam we receive daily, emails that are not clearly addressed with the appropriate subject line may be deleted without being read. Please note: we are looking for article pitches and will not respond to general emails. Please do NOT send an email that says, "I want to write for you." Please send a fully fleshed out article pitch tailored to one of our e-zine themes.

We are looking for query letters that have a fully fleshed-out article idea, a rough breakdown of the content of the piece you are proposing with subheads and bullet points, and any expert sources you will be interviewing, if applicable. Please also include your bio, links to published clips, and any other information or links you feel are appropriate for our consideration.

Editorial Response:

WOW! has grown exponentially since its launch September 2006. While we are excited by the incredible interest from so many talented freelancers, we have found the need to amend our editorial response procedures.

We receive thousands of emails every month to our submission address and can no longer respond to every one we receive. We will respond to freelancers whose queries show WOW! spirit, knowledge and understanding of our audience, a solid, fleshed-out article or interview idea, and which fit into our editorial schedule.

If you do not hear from us, please understand that it is not a disparagement against your writing, it is most likely that your submission does not suit our needs at this time. You are welcome to follow up.

Send your article pitch to:

submissions[at]wow-womenonwriting[dot]com

Response times vary but we try to get back with you within 1 month. If you haven't heard anything after that time, please e-mail and mention your article pitch.

Good luck! And we look forward to your pitch.