Rock and Ice Contributors' Guidelines
Rock and Ice, established in 1984, is the core climbing magazine and we are proud to be the leading publication for world-class writing, training and technical tips for
climbers of all levels, hard-hitting gear reviews and stunning photography. Our readers look to Rock and Ice as the authentic source of climbing information and inspiration,
and their expectations for accuracy, detail and talent from our contributors are very high. Below are some suggestions on crafting your work to fit our needs.
Editorial Submissions
Rock and Ice magazine is North America’s leading and most respected climbing periodical, published nine times per year. We are dedicated to covering the entire spectrum of the vertical world, from bouldering to alpine climbing, from the cutting-edge to the periphery of the sport. We tend to work with a core group of proven contributors, but as writers and climbers, you are an invaluable link to the climbing community. We welcome your best ideas and strongest queries.
Features
We want features that are provocative, fresh, interesting, sexy, funny, wild, harrowing and epic. Above all, features must be strong, and speak to the community. They are best when they tackle issues larger than the subject matter itself, and help define the state of our sport in a way that’s current and relevant.
Don’t submit queries that say, “Hi, I’m going on a climbing trip to [insert some destination] and need some help covering expenses. Want to do a feature on it?”
Features must be packaged with top-notch climbing photography. Trip reports and low-res pictures from a digital pocket camera aren’t going to cut it. The photography must be excellent and meet our standards.
Features typically run 2,000 to 6,000 words. Please e-mail feature queries to Jeff Jackson: jjackson@bigstonepub.com
Cliff Notes
This new department—a revamping of Breaking News—features interesting and fresh stories about recent events. We are looking for articles covering trad, sport, alpine, comp, ice and big-wall climbing, festivals and other events in the community, as well as obituaries of well-known climbers. No ascent is too small or insignificant for us to consider covering—we just want a great tale to report, something that reflects the color and depth of our vibrant, diverse community. Articles typically run 200 to 1,000 words. E-mail queries to Andrew Bisharat:
abisharat@bigstonepub.com
The Rant
This “op-ed” section of the magazine offers you an opportunity to go off on a climbing-related issue. The Rant can be about anything, just as long as it’s in some way relevant to the climbing community. The Rant can be as short as 400 words and as long as 1,500. E-mail: abisharat@bigstonepub.com
Accident Report
Though this section is typically written in house, we welcome experts to analyze and explain recent (within a year) climbing accidents in order to learn from them. Must follow the format used in the magazine of an introduction, analysis and prevention. 800 words. E-mail: jjackson@bigstonepub.com
Outlook
With well-written, first-person experiential essays that illuminate or amuse, the Outlook department is often a place for new writers to build a relationship with Rock and Ice. 1,000 to 1,500 words. Query Alison Osius: aosius@bigstonepub.com
Spotlight
A lively and entertaining profile of an interesting and accomplished climber. Format is intro text followed by Q&A. Questions and respons are often relatively short, and we encourage a humorous repartee. 800-900 words, split evenly between text and Q&A. Query Alison Osius: aosius@bigstonepub.com
Field Tested
We are looking for gear testers who already possess a strong background in writing gear reviews. Must not be affiliated (directly or indirectly) with any gear manufacturer, whether through sponsorship or employment. We’re especially interested in finding testers who go out into the mountains for extended periods of time to put alpine/backcountry-related gear through rigorous tests. E-mail your credentials and queries to: abisharat@bigstonepub.com
Photography
Rock and Ice's large format design places strong emphasis on stunning, cutting-edge photography. Please feel free to submit photos for any of the
above departments as well as our Exposed section, featuring the editors' picks of their favorite images in each issue. You will need to send a self-addressed, stamped
envelope for their return.
Rock and Ice is not responsible for unsolicited submissions. Please address all submissions to:
Photo Editor
Big Stone Publishing
417 Main St. Unit "N"
Carbondale, CO 81623
Digital submissions are preferred. Please send a low-rez preview CD and a corresponding high-rez CD along with hard-copy printout. We do not return CDs unless
accompanied by SASE of the proper dimensions and with sufficient postage. CDs do not have a monetary value. Generally, we require a minimum of 6mp for up to 2/3-page, and 10mp for
full page and spread use. We prefer unsharpened images. You can mail your CDs to the address above or email low-rez samples to Duane Raleigh.
• We accept slides (but still prefer digital) and black-and-white prints; color prints are NOT acceptable.
• IMPORTANT! All photo submissions are subject to Rock and Ice's rates, terms and conditions. Rock and Ice does not accept photographers' "Terms and Conditions" for any unsolicited slides, film or prints.
