Submission guidelines for Together magazine, a bi-monthly print publication (currently distributed only in the New York Metro market), a voice for health and recovery from addiction.
The Together Mission:
To be of service to the extended community of individuals and families who are seeking information about and relief from addiction-related issues and concerns in order to lead happier and healthier lifestyles. Editorial focus is exclusively on recovery, treatment and prevention and associated areas of relationships, personal growth, self-discovery and spirituality.
The Together Vision:
• to create a trusted source of information about the problems of addiction and the available solutions
• to establish and promote a community and network of like-minded people for an ongoing dialogue focused on living a full and vital life in recovery
• to provide links to professionals and services for cultivating physical, mental and spiritual growth and development
• to educate and entertain our audience
In keeping with our mission, all articles and stories in Together are related to addiction in some way with most stories touching on addiction, the problems that addiction creates, and the help available. All addictions are covered. We are not a 12-step magazine, but 12-steppers are encouraged to submit articles; however, we do honor and support the 12-step tradition of anonymity.
Web site submissions:
Tell Us Your Story (including humor pieces) – 800 words or less
Featured Art and Media (videos/cartoons/pictures) see below for criteria
We take your privacy and anonymity seriously. If we publish your submission, we will use the name your request us to us, or we can simply use, “Anonymous.”
Further, if you submit a “healthy eating” story, for example, you may want to include your name and photo, but the text should not include any personal affiliation with a particular 12-Step group. Or, you may decide not to include your name at all. That is fine, too.
While artwork will enhance your submission, it must be carefully chosen. Photographs used to illustrate a story should only include individually identifiable people if there is no connection to that individuals identified and a particular 12 Step group. You must own copyright or use artwork that is not subject to copyright. For instance, Wikipedia artwork is not copyrighted, thus may be used.
Consider that you are writing for the web. Brevity is the soul of wit.
Submissions are subject to comments. Comments are not moderated before upload and will only be removed if patently offensive. Disagreeing with the author is not, in and of itself, offensive.
We are a small staff; we may not be able to respond to all submissions.
Got a great story or a great story idea? Email it to: admin@together.us.com
Magazine submissions:
For all submissions, please write a few paragraphs of what you’d like to write about and what, if any, research, you will include; and what your point of view is. Also, please send us a sample of your writing style (published or fully edited pieces or excerpts of such). The various sections of our magazine that are open to freelancers, with word counts, are as follows:
Lead/cover Stories – 1,500-1,800 words
Cover stories are generally well researched, topical stories written on the general theme of the current issue. Although these are often assigned to one of our writers, we are happy to entertain your ideas for a story.
Informed Opinion – 600-800 words
This is a column written by a professional who is in the business of treating addictions, or has some special knowledge and experience with addictions, and can contribute helpful and meaningful information to our readers.
The Together Interview – 2,000-2,500 words
This feature of our magazine highlights a well-known or important person working in or writing about the field of addiction. He or she will have a special point of view about addiction and recovery that may not have been widely covered and that our readers will learn something from. If you are or know of such a person, we’d love to hear from you.
Secondary Stories – 800-1,200 words
This is an area that covers every facet of addiction and is open to both professionals in the addiction field and non-professionals who have something to say about addiction and recovery. Some of the articles that we’ve published in this category have been about gambling, smoking, food, meditation, and work.
Columns – 600-800 words
This is reserved for writers and professionals with a particular point of view and experience in addiction.
Departments – 500 words
Short, punchy articles that have information, news, events, or advice to convey to readers.
News – 200-300 words
This section is generally written by Together editors, but if there is a story that you’d like to bring to our attention, please send it in.
Plus (entertainment) feature – 1,500-1,800 words
This would include all relevant stories in the following categories: TV, theatre, books, fitness, travel, yoga, music, movies, etc.
Plus Secondary Stories – 500-1,000 words
This area is wide open to imagination and entertainment: for example, a book review, a story about non-alcoholic dance clubs or non-alcoholic “fun” drinks, or a new meditation technique.
Final Word – 200-800
This is the only place in the magazine where we invite first person stories. These stories are unusual or touching or heartening personal experiences involving your own addiction and recovery.
Sorry, but we cannot respond to every submission and we cannot return any submitted material. We have a very limited budget so not every article published can be paid for.
Email your submissions to: editorial@together.us.com
