Dispatches Re-Launch
A new year, change and improvement go together. With the re-launch of Dispatches, we are initiating several changes to guarantee an ongoing publication and to continually improve the overall quality of the articles and photographs.
Dispatches will become a quarterly magazine.
Because our goals for education and the preservation of history are foremost in our thoughts and in MWSA’s mission statement, we have initiated changes to widen our readership.
Every writer craves readers and Dispatches provides an exposure vehicle for members. Although there is no monetary payment, we hope that the brand building helps each and every one of you.
We are establishing a standard format of 32 pages per issue. This will enable us to produce our free PDF for members as well as Kindle and epub editions for sale.
We will prepare for a print edition if people wish to order subscriptions. Our goal is to raise enough money through ads and Kindle/epub sales to buy copies for distribution to VA hospitals. We will print these copies, as money is available.
The distribution program must be supported by sales.
To accommodate these goals, we have established new guidelines.
Submissions Guidelines:
500 – 800 words. Maximum 800. Any article over the maximum will be returned for tightening. 1 photograph if article is over 700 words – 2 for article 500-700 words. 300 dpi
Joyce has developed a template to fit these guidelines. We will post a style guide on the website. In the meantime, follow the AP style. Remember to keep your writing tight, concise and to the point.
Articles/photos not up to standard will be returned for editing by author. No guarantee of publication or which issue. Editor reserves the right to edit for writing and/or space requirements. By submitting, contributors acknowledge a release to that effect and that there is no monetary payment.
If you wrote a regular column and would like to continue, please let me know by Jan. 5.
Guidelines apply to everyone including columnists.
Submission schedule:
Jan 1 – 15 for February 15 (re-launch) issue.
After that we will go to a first of every quarter schedule with submissions as follows:
April issue – accept submissions during February
July issue – submissions open during April
October issue – submissions open during August
January 2014 issue – submissions open during November
Submissions will end 30 days before publication and will have limited window. Any submissions received before or after published dates will be returned. By submitting work, member acknowledges that he/she will not receive payment for said work.
Advertising;
We will sell one-half page ads (either horizontal or vertical). Ads will be sold on a first-come, first served basis.
Ad revenue will be used to print copies for distribution to VA hospitals and military/veteran organizations.
Please address all Dispatches submissions and inquiries to Pat Avery at dispatcheseditor@hotmail.com.