Great Escape Publishing

Posted October 30th, 2008 by Bonnie Caton & filed under Travel Writing.

“I often find a local’s in-depth knowledge and perspective of an American or international destination interesting.” — Donna Vieira, Editor, Dreamscapes

Dreamscapes is a Canadian print and on-line magazine. Publishing priority goes to Canadian writers but the magazine does cover the U.S. almost every month. And, as you see in the above quote, a local perspective on the destination is appreciated here.

However, when you write for Dreamscapes, keep in mind that your story should be tailored for the interests of a Canadian audience.

Once you see the writer’s guidelines, you’ll notice there are a lot of things you’ll need to keep in mind to write for Dreamscapes. But don’t let that turn you off of submitting your stories here.

Instead, think of it this way: if you follow the writer’s guidelines to the letter, you’re putting yourself ahead of the majority of freelancers out there, and presenting yourself as a competent, professional writer. Use them as a guide, and your chances of getting published will be much greater.

Another way to increase your chances of getting published in Dreamscapes is to take a look at the editorial calendar.

You’ll find it on the second page of the site’s media kit.

Canada and the United States will be covered in every issue in 2009. Europe is also featured often, as well as luxury travel, golf, cruises, road trips, and other activities.

Pay is 35 Canadian cents per word (about US$130 for 450 words, or about US$390 for 1,350 words).

Once you’ve thought up a story idea and decided which issue it’ll fit into best, send your query to the editor at least two months before publication, as that’s when she and her team start pulling the issue together.

You’ll want to carefully read through your story for spelling and grammar errors, even after you run a spell-check program. Vieira is a stickler for good grammar. If you can’t properly distinguish between “its” and “it’s,” then she’s not interested in your article.

To receive the (quite detailed) writer’s guidelines, contact Donna Vieira. Politely let her know you’re a freelance travel writer, and request a copy of the writer’s guidelines. I did this, and she got back to me within the hour.

[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.]