DISTINCTLY MONTANA MAGAZINE Writer's Guidelines
ABOUT DISTINCTLY MONTANA
Distinctly Montana publishes thoughtful, well-crafted stories about Montana's culture, history, people, and landscape. We're interested in the full range of Montana life—from artists and writers to ranchers, railroaders, and outdoor enthusiasts—told through specific angles and literary journalism rather than generic tourism content or listicles. Whether it's a profile of a working cowboy, an exploration of architectural history, or an essay about a Montana landscape, we're looking for depth, fresh perspectives, and stories that illuminate something essential about the state.
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Articles of 800-2,500 words; features up to 4,000 words
- Stories with strong Montana connections
- Literary craft and substantive reporting
- Fresh angles on Montana history, culture, and landscape
- Profiles of people who make Montana what it is
WHAT WE DON'T PUBLISH
- Political content or partisan opinion pieces
- Previously published work
- Fiction or poetry (though we welcome stories about authors)
- Listicles or clickbait-style articles
- Generic travel content without depth or specificity
- Overtly promotional or advertorial content
- Sensationalized or overly academic writing
HOW TO SUBMIT
We accept both query letters and complete manuscripts.
For queries: Send a brief pitch (one to two paragraphs), 1-2 writing samples or links to published work, and a short bio to [email protected] as a Word document (.docx) attachment.
Subject line: QUERY: [Proposed Title]
For complete manuscripts: Submit your article as a Word document (.docx) attachment to [email protected] with an explanatory cover letter describing the piece and your background. Manuscripts must not have been previously published.
Subject line: MANUSCRIPT: [Article Title]
Photography: If your story involves specific people or places, please let us know whether you can help facilitate access for photography or if you have relevant high-quality images available. We'll work with you to arrange photography as needed.
EDITORIAL CALENDAR
We plan issues up to a year in advance and require at least two months of lead time for publication. Seasonal stories should be submitted well in advance of their relevant season.
RIGHTS AND PAYMENT
Distinctly Montana pays $400 for articles over 1,000 words and $300 for shorter pieces. We purchase first rights only; authors retain all rights after publication.
We accept simultaneous submissions but ask that you notify us immediately if your work is accepted elsewhere.
RESPONSE TIME
We aim to respond to all submissions within one month.
CONTACT
We recommend reading recent issues of Distinctly Montana to familiarize yourself with the magazine before submitting.