General Writer Guidelines

Arizona Highways is a monthly magazine that encourages travel to and within Arizona. It does this by publishing stories, short monthly departments, and fine photography on places to go and things to do, on the state’s unique scenic environment, on its flora and fauna, on its people, and on the history and culture. The magazine circulates in every state and in about two-thirds of the countries of the world.

• We are now “assignment-based” for story acquisition. In other words, editors select known writers as needed and assign stories for specific future issues.

• Many of our stories are now staff-written.

• Generally speaking, we are no longer “query-based” for story acquisition. We buy only a limited number of stories from unsolicited queries. Our issues are usually planned at least 12 months or more in advance, and each story is either in hand or will be assigned by the editor to fill that story slot. We do not buy stories to hold in inventory for an unknown future publication.

• Often, Arizona Highways only accepts queries during a specific timeframe each year. Reference our website regularly for updates about the query acceptance period.

Our magazine content and design has changed in recent years. If you submit an unsolicited query, please do so with the understanding that we buy a low percentage of our stories in this manner—and we know that professional query-writing is time-consuming for writers. The best general guideline to hopeful writers is: Read many current issues and become familiar with our departments and our style of features.

DEPARTMENTS: Our departments — which run in “THE JOURNAL” in our magazine — now include "People," "Dining," "Lodging," "Photography," "History," "Nature," and "Things to Do." Freelance contributions for departments are considered only for People, Dining and Lodging. (Please review magazine for style and word count.) Queries are also accepted for Scenic Drives.

FEATURES: Feature queries should be limited to experiential travel, history, nature and long-form profiles. Essays are also considered on a case-by-case basis. The magazine’s feature stories typically run between 1,500 and 4,000 words. Queries for excessively long stories will not be considered.

QUERIES: We require e-mail queries, preferably one page. Keep queries brief and to the point. The query should detail the story, the angle or angles you will pursue; what makes the story important and useful forArizona Highways; and why you are the person to write it. (See query-writing guide below.)

• No phone queries, please.
• If you wish to submit a finished story on spec, please inquire first, and submit by e-mail.
• We do not publish fiction or humor or poetry.

Send all queries to: Editor Robert Stieve, rstieve@azdot.gov, and Managing Editor Kelly Kramer, kkramer@azdot.gov.

CONTRACT AND PAYMENT: Editors assign all stories and issue contracts. Pay rates and story approach are subject to discussion prior to assignment or after a query is accepted. We buy first print rights, and we expect original work. 

STORY SUBMISSION AND PAYMENT:  If contracted, submit finished manuscripts to Editor Robert Stieve and Managing Editor Kelly Kramer by e-mail in a Word file. Payment is made upon acceptance of a publishable manuscript, as determined by the editor.

Revised January 2011

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