Writers' Guidelines


Frequency: bimonthly
Features: 1,500 to 3,000 words (print); 500 words (website)
Columns and departments: 350 to 1,000 words
Lead time: 4 to 6 months
Pay rate: usually $1 a word for print, depending on experience; $150 for website-only stories (up to 500 words)
Payment schedule: On publication
Kill fee: 25 percent
Rights purchased: First North American Print and Electronic Serial Rights

Overview
Plenty covers a broad range of lifestyle topics, from food, travel, and fashion to technology, business, and culture. We’re looking for creative, well-researched ideas that put a positive spin on protecting the environment. You can pitch us about any subject you’d like, but please do your homework and flesh out a few details about your proposed topic. Vague pitches like "I'd like to do a feature about hybrid cars" will not be taken seriously.

The front-of-book columns ("Forward") are more news-oriented, while back-of-book departments ("Choices") address lifestyle topics like fashion, food, and homes.

How to pitch
Pitches and clips should be sent via e-mail to editorial@plentymag.com.

We do our best to respond to all queries within two weeks. Feel free to send a brief follow-up email if you don’t hear anything after two weeks, but if we don’t respond within a week of your follow-up, you can assume that we’re turning down the idea.

We prefer pitches that are targeted to a specific department, and we strongly suggest that you read the website and a few back issues of the magazine to familiarize yourself with the content before pitching.

Please note that Plenty cannot be held responsible for lost, damaged, or unsolicited materials.

What NOT to pitch
The following departments are handled in-house:
Products for Green Gear, Green Style, Green Home, and Food
PlentyLabs
Dilemma

Features

We welcome profiles, investigative stories, trend pieces, and think pieces. The intersection of environmental protection and lifestyle are welcome, as are first-person narratives about specific aspects of eco-friendly living. One example of the latter is a diary of a writer’s month-long attempt to eat a raw-food diet.

Each issue also has a travel feature, whether it’s a roundup or a first-person story. Recent examples include a roundup of eco friendly spas and a summary of volunteer vacations around the world.

Departments

People
A q-and-a with a person in the environmental world. Recent examples include Stewart Brand (founder of the Whole Earth Catalog) and Andrew C. Revkin (environmental reporter for The New York Times).

Science and Technology
A look at innovations that will make it easier to live green in the years ahead. We like this column to be positive and inspirational, and to look at how current trends, breakthroughs, and research point toward future possible products and services.

Business
Stories about eco business trends, as well as companies that are responding to consumer demand for eco-friendly services and products.
 
Motion
Stories about environmentally friendly modes of transportation that are in the works, or new developments about existing ones. Make sure your angle is fresh; we already know about hybrids and biodiesel.

Thinking
Reviews of books, films, CDs and websites that address environmental issues. We publish two or three reviews per issue. New and notable books are handled in-house.

Green gear
Eco-friendly products, chosen and written in-house. PR firms may send new product info to greengear@plentymag.com.

Homes
This section includes a story about a green home, a service or trend story, and a q/a with a green designer. Products are handled in-house. If pitching a home story, please include photos of the home or a link to a website where photos can be viewed.
   
Food
This section includes a trend column (with one recipe) augmented by news briefs or illustrated charticles. Products are handled in-house.

Style
This section includes a short profile of an eco designer, a trend piece, and short news briefs. Products are handled in-house. If pitching a style story, please include photos of the designer’s work or a link to a website where photos can be viewed.
 
Retreads
A column examining the world of reused and recycled products. DIY projects are appropriate for pitching here. One example: holiday gifts you can make yourself.

Culture
A column about the eco angle of any pastime, whether it’s music, sports, art, or another topic. Examples include a story about a video game that teaches players about global warming; another focused on green action sports.

Health
Almost always a service-oriented story, though occasional trend or news pieces may be considered. All stories should have an environmental angle. We are generally not interested in stories about alternative medicine or natural remedies, unless there is an environmental component.

The Last Word
First-person stories that detail the writer’s interaction with or viewpoint on the environment. Any topic is permissible as long as the eco connection is strong. Preferably, these stories will be centered on an anecdote or a specific incident with a beginning, middle, and end. Send completed stories (no longer than 800 words) to lastword@plentymag.com. We pay $750 for published stories

Issue 25

Issue 25

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