Jobs & Internships/ Write for Seattle Bride

11/14

NEW POSTING FOR COMBINED SEATTLE MAG + SEATTLE BRIDE INTERNSHIP

Seattle magazine and Seattle Bride is seeking an editorial assistant interested in fashion and shopping reporting for a 20-hour-a-week internship position.

The internship program is for enthusiastic and experienced candidates interested in learning about the magazine industry through first-hand experience. This particular opening will directly assist the Seattle Bride editor with our Fall/Winter 2012 issue, as well as help to coordinate Seattle magazine's Seamless in Seattle competition.

The internship starts February 1st and runs through the end of July 2012. Academic credit is available for students. If academic credit is not needed, a nominal stipend is paid upon completion of the full 6-month program.

We welcome applications from students and non-student alike, but prefer applicants with a strong interest in pursuing a career in editing or writing. Student applicants needn’t be enrolled in a journalism program, but must have good written and verbal communication skills and be adept online and with social media.
 
Interested applicants must already possess the following qualities:
 
A passion for the written word and magazines, with an additional interest in design, style, fashion and beauty
An obsessive attention to detail
Excellent writing, grammatical and spelling skills
Superior organizational skills
Respect for deadlines
The ability to listen and follow directions
The ability to successfully work independently of others
An adult work ethic and the ability to converse professionally with industry vendors and clients
 
This internship involves a 20-hour a week commitment working either a morning or afternoon shift at the Tiger Oak offices. You will also spend time on location at photo shoots, at various bridal functions and events at the editor's request. Projects might include the following: proofreading articles, fact-checking stories, writing sidebars, researching writing assignments, conducting interviews, responding to queries, blogging for Seattlebridemag.com, and pulling and tracking garments (or other pretty things like invitations, accessories or cakes) for photo shoots.
 
The deadline for applications is January 15th, 2012.

Application Procedure

Email or mail a completed questionnaire (see below) along with a cover letter and resume to:

kate.calamusa@tigeroak.com  

Questions, contact editor Kate Calamusa at the email above or at 206.452.2987

SEATTLE BRIDE + SEATTLE MAGAZINE INTERNSHIP PROGRAM QUESTIONNAIRE
 
Thank you for your interest in an editorial internship with Seattle Bride and Seattle magazines. The editors would like to know more about how you write and think. Please complete the following application and return it to us via standard mail or e-mail. We will be in touch with you as soon as possible.   
 
PLEASE COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS
 
Why do you want to work as an intern at Seattle Bride magazine?
 
If you were suddenly put in charge of Seattle Bride magazine, what three aspects of the editorial would you change? Please use specific examples from the current issue and describe how these changes would improve the magazine.
 
Identify three strengths of a recent issue. Explain.

What periodicals do you read? Why?
 
Tell us about the last book you read. If you are a student: Tell us about last book you read that wasn’t assigned.
 
Do you read any design, fashion or style Web sites, blogs or magazines? If so, which ones and why?
 
What design, fashion or style news story did you find most interesting from the past year?

What are your favorite clothing boutiques in Seattle?
 
What do you want to gain from your internship experience?
 
 
Writing assignment:
 
1.     Write a 200-word story that would work in our  “Bride Ideas” or “Bridal Basics” section of Seattle Bride magazine. This section covers news and ideas for Seattle-area brides and grooms and covers topics ranging from boutiques to wineries to gifts and favors. Get creative!

GENERAL FREELANCE/ PITCHING INFORMATION

Here are some tips on how to get a freelance writing gig with Seattle Bride:

    * Always pitch an actual story idea. Sending an e-mail that simply lets us know you're a freelance writer available to write doesn't really tell us a lot about you, such as what you're interested in writing and how you'd write it.
    * Actually read the magazine before you pitch. Get to know the regular columns and departments. In your pitch, explain where in the magazine you think your story would best fit.
    * Pitch stories directly connected to Seattle. Because people pick up Seattle Bride to learn more about local wedding resources, we rarely publish stories that aren't directly connected to what's happening right here in the state of Seattle.
    * Know the tone of the magazine. Seattle Bride's writers have unique voices that are professional without being overly formal. If you can approximate this style, you might be right for the magazine.

Who's writing and illustrating the magazine?

The editor assigns most of the stories each issue to local freelance writers. The remainder is written by staff and interns. We hire local writers only because they have the best understanding of the city and its vernacular. Almost 100 percent of story art is assigned to local photographers and illustrators by the art director.

Query Procedures

WE DO NOT ACCEPT QUERIES OVER THE PHONE.

Queries should be submitted in writing via e-mail and consist of three parts:

   1. What is the story? A brief synopsis written in the style of your proposed piece.
   2. How will you tell it? Detail what sources you will use and how you will research the story.
   3. Why? Answer the "so what?" Why is this story important now? Why should you be the one to tell it? Why is this story right for Minnesota Bride?

PLEASE ALSO SEND THREE OF YOUR BEST MAGAZINE-STYLE WRITING CLIPS.

What should I avoid in a query?

Don't send us queries that have nothing to do with planning a wedding in Seattle. Even though our magazine covers a broad range of topics, we're not interested in everything under the sun. Your story idea must be relevant to our readers' lives and must tap into a current vein be it gowns, catering, photography, etc.

We are also mostly interested in experienced writers who have written specifically for bridal and lifestyle magazines like ours.

How will I know if you've accepted my query?

Sometimes it takes us weeks to get around to reading queries. Because of our staff size and the volume of queries we receive, it is impossible for us to respond to every query. We will do our best to respond to your query in the timeliest manner possible. We prefer that you follow up with us via email. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE.

Sometimes your pitch isn't exactly what we're looking for, but we like your tone, your approach and the way you think. If that happens, we'll usually keep your pitch and clips on file and contact you if a story comes up that we think you might be interested in. You never know; you could hear from us a year after you pitched us for a totally different reason.

If you want the opportunity to sell your story to another publication after we've had a chance to review it, please indicate a time frame (ie. "If I don't hear from you within 30 days, I'll assume you're not interested and will begin to pitch the story to other publications.") We won't take it personally.

If you are to get an assignment from us, style and content, as well as deadline and payment, are negotiated when the assignment is made. The editor will then issue a contract to be signed by both writer and editor.

Payment Procedures

Freelance writers are paid on or about 60 days after publication. Expenses such as phone calls, mileage, meals and trips are generally not reimbursed. Seattle Bride purchases exclusive one-time rights for a period of 60 days from publication. All editorial material is protected by copyright. Tiger Oak Publications retains the right to reprint editorial material for promotional use by a Tiger Oak publication, with credit given.

The average story pays 25 cents per word.

Additional writing opportunities with Tiger Oak Publications:

Tiger Oak Publications also publishes METRO magazine twelve times a year, Seattle Meetings + Events and several other custom publications.

Questions?

    * For questions concerning editorial matters, contact Editor Kate Calamusa at kate.calamusa@tigeroak.com

We cannot be responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, slides, photographs or other material.

Where to send your query:

PLEASE SEND ALL QUERIES VIA EMAIL TO Kate Calamusa at kate.calamusa@tigeroak.com