Great Escape Publishing

Posted July 19th, 2007 by twl_admin & filed under Travel Writing.

[EDITOR’S NOTE: Unfortunately this site no longer exists.]

Friend, Feline, or Feathered… This Publisher Wants Your Pet Photos and Stories
By Roberta Beach Jacobson in Karpathos, Greece

Dog & Kennel, Cats & Kittens, and Bird Times are all published bimonthly and illustrated with color photographs. The editor is looking for educational and entertaining articles for all three publications — and lots of photos.

If you have an interest in dogs, then Dog & Kennel is the place to focus your energies. You’ll find articles about canine medicine, breed profiles, training advice, and stories about dogs both at work and play.

Because this publication (like the other two) is very photo heavy, you may want to structure your story around the photos you have. The editor is interested in shots of everything from purebred dogs to “random” bred dogs (that’s “lovable mutts” to you and me). And that interest spans all ages, too — from puppy to veteran. A good way to catch the editor’s attention here is to capture shots of dogs performing tasks for which they were bred, maybe a Collie herding sheep… or a guide dog at work. You’ll find more information about the publication with sample articles here: http://www.petpublishing.com/dogken/

If felines are more your fancy, check out Cats & Kittens, which publishes a broad range of stories — everything, for example, from a profile of a couple who rescue cats to a how-to piece on helping nervous cats relax to a story about a state-of-the-art vet hospital in New York. For this publication as well, the photo needs are varied. The editor looks for shots of all types of cats in all situations… with people, with other cats, and with other animals too. You’ll find the publication’s website here: http://www.petpublishing.com/

If birds interest you most, then, naturally, Bird Times would be worth your attention. This publication focuses on all types of companion birds: parrots, canaries and finches, budgerigars, cockatiels, pigeons and doves. The publication includes tips on training and behavior, diet, and breeding, as well as first-person accounts from owners and stories of extraordinary birds. The editor always needs pictures of common household birds like cockatiels, parakeets, lovebirds, canaries, finches, etc. — also exotic birds such as macaws. A tip for getting your photographs accepted here is to
capture candid shots of birds in everyday situations such as when they are eating or bathing, etc.

If you wish to submit photos to any of these magazines you’ll need digital images, in color and at least 266 dpi. Note that photographic images will be held for at least three months. If you mail in slides, they’ll scan them to a CD in order to return your slides.

If you wish to submit an article, find a topic that will educate or entertain their readers. The departments you can write for are: Profiles of breed or species; breeding kennels; medical and technical articles; training stories; humorous stories; stories of pet dogs, cats, and birds that go to work with their owners; and heroic tales.

And even though it’s not stated in the guidelines, I’d suggest tales of interesting travels with your pets too. In fact, under News and Articles on Bird Times there is an article from a freelance writer on tips for traveling with your birds!

You can submit a short article of 500 to 1000 words or a feature article, which runs 1200 to 2000 words. The pay is $0.10 per word… so this is a decent paying market. Payment will be based on the word count of the published article. You will be asked to sign a contract once your article has been accepted. Find out all the details in the guidelines, here:
http://www.petpublishing.com/birdtimes/guidelines.shtml

Whatever you’re submitting, label it with the breed or species of animal, your telephone number, and your name and address. Note: the photographer is responsible for correctly identifying the breeds or species of dogs, cats, or birds in the photos. A photographer who incorrectly identifies an animal will not be paid if his or her misidentification makes it into print. So, before you submit a photo, be sure you have the animal correctly identified to avoid any loss of income.

You can mail your images and articles to Pet Publishing, Executive Editor, 7-L Dundas Circle, Greensboro, NC 27407 and be sure to include a SASE.

[Editor’s Note: Learn more about opportunities to profit from your travels (and even from your own home) in our free online newsletter The Right Way to Travel.]