Contributors Guidelines
Travel is a world-sized canvas and pretty much any subject might be painted on it. The Geotravel Journal welcomes submissions that reveal an element of the GTJ mission. Comb through the primary links before pitching an idea. Take notes while you’re at it. Having considered the site’s content you might be able to add to an existing topic or start a new thread. Typically, most writers have their own experience in mind. If similar to another article, please submit if you believe it has merit. Just link to GTJ’s published piece and express any key differences between the two.
GTJ covers adventure travel, regular travel and ecotourism. Examples of subjects include safaris, treks and expeditions, glamping, sustainable hospitality and road trips with this caveat: They must describe or reveal the unique geographical sense of place. Many travel publications refuse to consider trip logs or journals, but GTJ is interested. Publication would depend on the quality of writing, and the art or photography that might accompany it. Disciplines include anything from bikepacking to river running to tall ship sailing to metal detecting. We also have a section for citizen science projects and the latest conservation stories from across all five continents.
Art, photography and videography will always be an important consideration. If you have a good portfolio but struggle with writing, we can work with you if we like your idea. And if GTJ is interested in publishing your piece, but the art is below par, we can explore potential solutions.
Payment: Because GTJ is a startup publication, we operate on an extremely lean (read non-existent) budget and are currently unable to offer financial remuneration. We are however working on a solution for that. It includes a GTJ bi-annual membership, swag and subscriptions. We also aim to provide college course credit for discipline-specific internships and we publish a brief bio, headshot and social links for all contributors.
Please pitch GTJ in this way:
- Lead with the first paragraph of your potential article. Hook us.
- In the second and third paragraphs introduce the location, story and relevant context. Frame and explain it.
- In the final paragraph, please tell us a bit about yourself and your areas of expertise. Please share two links to work already published. If you don’t have any published work to share, don’t worry, we will still read your message and respond. We publish first-time writers and creatives.
- GTJ has an end-piece called Katunda — Swahili for “personal utilitarian kit.” Each published feature article should loosely list from one to three nonprofits with their direct links, one lesson learned, three items you found helpful, and the one item you found to be useless. Also include a brief description of “what you need to know before you go.”
- Please share a direct link to an image/art portfolio via Dropbox, Flickr or Smugmug etc.
Now for the small print: Any previously published submission needs to be accompanied by a legal release (a simple statement that you have the right) or link to the relevant page which states that it can be shared. Also, GTJ only accepts submissions with the understanding that every article can be edited, fact checked (please fact check anything before you submit it) and copyedited, and that the writer will accept any subsequent changes to the piece. By submitting your work to the Geotravel Journal you are stating that you own the copyright or have permission to publish it and you agree to it being used in a variety of print and digital mediums, including but not limited to newsletters, the GTJ website, galleries, portfolios, the print journal, guidebooks, media releases and a variety of other marketing initiatives.
