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NQG Contributor's Guidelines
TO ALL THOSE THAT BE WANTIN' TO HELP WRITE FOR "NO QUARTER GIVEN'
OUR BASIC APPROACH (a.k.a. Editorial Policies)
First our disclaimer: we're not professional editors. We undertook to edit and publish (and write a lot of) "NO QUARTER GIVEN" because of our
fascination with all things piratical. This has been a labor of love fer us. We ‘re hopin' to entertain and educate our readers (as well as ourselves),
to promote and encourage more pirate events and reenactments, and to assist our readers in connecting with others of a buccaneering bent. And we hope to
do this with a certain amount of professionalism. We welcome yer assistance, knowledge, willingness to research, and imagination.
Even if you aren't much of a scrivener, give it a go. We're pretty good at
gussyin' up yer words. If we feel your contribution needs extensive re-writing, we'll send the revision back to you, for your approval, and
for any
clarifications (in case we got something wrong). We might not use your submission right away in the upcoming issue - we like to group articles that
complement each other. Also, we just may have too much submitted at once. Now, if we use yer tales in NQG, don't be ‘spectin' any gold ta be
comin' yer way. But we can give you free issues. If you are not a subscriber - we
will send you a copy with your contribution. If it's a major article, we may grant you a partial or full year's subscription (we generally grant one
year's subscription with each 1000 words we use). If you are already a subscriber - we will extend your subscription, or give you back issues -
unless you request other arrangements. We are flexible.
Authors & artists retain all
rights, and may have their article, story or artwork published elsewhere.
If mention can be made that the item previously appeared in No Quarter Given
(preferably with website URL), that would be mighty handsome of you (besides it
looks quite professional, and gives you more credibility).
NON-FICTION GUIDELINES
While we are by no means experts on pirates, privateers, history, nautical concerns, weapons of the era, or costumes of the era, we are ENTHUSIASTS.
That means we are willing to learn. So, we encourage others in this endeavor. If you have a certain expertise on a subject of interest to our
readers, by all means, give us the benefit of your experience and knowledge. If you have no special expertise, but are interested in a certain subject -
research it. Please document your research. While
footnotes are not required, and are even discouraged, a bibliography/source list (or list of books for further reading) is highly encouraged. Check and
double check the accuracy of dates, spellings of names & places, etc. - although we do understand the frustration of contradictory information
(especially with dates) or alternative spellings. In that case - just mention the uncertainty of the information (or give the alternative
spellings). If you don't feel you have a glib writing style, but are
willing to do research and write outlines, or rough drafts, we'll be glad to work with you and help polish up your writing.
We do encourage a picturesque use of the King's English, and a certain amount of creative spelling, but not to the point that it obscures what you
be tryin' to get acrosst. Ye might want to make yer introduction and conclusion in a colorful, antiquated version of our language, while
relapsing into a more modern writing style for the bulk of the article.
We need:
* short
articles (less than 600 words)
* long articles
(600-4000 words, or longer) Lengthy articles might be broken into installments.
For these longer articles, please include a short bio about yourself (about 50
words), and feel
free to give any websites you are connected with, and mention any other books or
articles you've written that would be of interest to our piratical crew.
* little tidbits of
information
* trivia
* little filler pieces
We welcome information on:
* the history of piracy and privateering - individual pirates or privateers - ships and other nautical themes - weapons: edged weapons, fire-arms, guns and cannons, etc.
* costuming (how-to articles, as well as discussions of period
styles and practices)
* book, game, music, & movie reviews (newly released, as well as
older releases)
If you would like to write something, but need some inspiration, ask us for
a list of topic suggestions (we usually have a long list of ideas we'd like to see turned into a future
article).
EVENTS AND GROUPS
We love to have announcements of up-coming events, or reviews of recent events. Though we are reluctant to run photographs (they aren't period) -
photographs may still be useful. Our art staff (ha! ... that means me, Christine) may sketch from them, or we may make an exception to our policy
if a photograph really merits it. For up-coming events, please include a contact phone number (in addition to an address), if at all
possible. We also will put timely information on our website. Photographs are useful for this purpose.
Tell us about your own pirate, privateering, or nautical group - about your events, how your group started, your personas and backgrounds, etc.
FICTION
One-shot stories, skits, or short anecdotes are all needed. Humourous or serious items can be used.
We could also use a good on-going
swashbuckling soap-operas. If you want us to consider your
"serial" -- we'd like to see three or four installments first (about
1000 words each), to make sure you have some "carry-through" ability.
MISCELLANEOUS
This includes songs (authentic, modified or written from scratch - with or without music), limericks (clean and not-so-clean), pirate jokes, and
ballads.
ARTWORK
Large cover artwork, small filler pieces, cartoons, maps, borders, scrolls, and fancy initial letters are all needed. If you are willing to illustrate
articles that have been submitted to us, we will light candles for you at church and name our first-born after you (though he may object to having his
name changed, especially now that he's already married with his own kids). Serious styles as well as
humorous styles are wanted.
We prefer art depicting historical accuracy (though humorous art has more leeway). Study ships, clothing, and weapons of the period, to show them correctly. We will be happy to point the way to some photos and art reference to help you with this. We want to avoid pirate stereotypes (hook, eyepatch, peg leg, parrot, ... all on the same pirate) ... unless it is on purpose to make a point.
We most need black and white line art. I can use screened art too, but much prefer to stick with line art, to keep to a more period look. Subject matter is wide open. Besides large cover-type illustrations, I also have a need for little vignettes or "fillo"s -- i.e. a corner piece showing a tropical beach, a few tankards and mugs on a tavern table top, a tricorne cast carelessly aside on top of a sword belt, etc. Piratical drop caps (illustrated initials) are something else I could use (I only have one set, and they are getting over used).
Clean black & white line work is especially appreciated. We can also make use of strong pencil drawings. They usually scan well into line art (maybe a little rough and rustic looking, but that is fine with us) - just make a good, clear photocopy to send us (maybe set on the dark side). Or if you scan it yourself, do so with a high contrast, and slightly darker setting.
Occasionally we can use grayscale art, or color art that will scan well into grayscale. But we do not usually print in color (a few exceptions have been made).
Do not send originals. Send a clean
photocopy. We have access to a laser scanner - so size is not so important - as long as it is less than 8.5" x
13". If you wish your artwork returned, please include a self-addressed, return
envelope. Address to mail to is given below.
You may also send us your artwork electronically -- via email or on a disc. This
is actually our preference. Saves you having to pay postage, and saves us
the step of scanning. If it is b/w line art or grayscale -- TIFF (.tif) files are probably the
best, though .jpg is easy to use as well. Be sure to scan it with good
resolution (at least 300 dpi).
As stated above regarding writers, we have no budget to pay you for your wonderful art, but we do give you subscriptions to No Quarter Given. In general, 1 year subscription for each major piece of art we publish, two years if used on the cover, 1/2 year for smaller fillos). We are also happy to help get the word out about your various endeavors, ... art shows, prints available, etc.
(Sample illustration by Tony Fanning)
DEADLINES
"NO QUARTER GIVEN" is published every two months (Jan., Mar., May, July, Sep. & Nov.). The deadline for each issue is the 7th of the prior month
(i.e. the deadline for Jan.'s issue is Dec. 7th). This is the deadline for advertising, calendar items, articles, etc. Vital information, small changes
or additions (especially to calendar items) can sometimes be accepted after this deadline, but there is no guarantee. If a contribution is going to be
late, call us to see if we can work around it.
TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS
Unless an item is very short, submissions need to be typed, single-spaced.
Please don't indent paragraphs. Instead, include an extra space between
paragraphs. Please do not use a fancy font, or any fancy formatting. Just
use an easy to read font, like Times New Roman. You may use bolding for
emphasis, and italics or "quotes" where appropriate for names
of ships, titles of books, or quoted excerpts, etc.
Please run your writing through a spell/grammar
checker before you send it to us. Of course, a spelling/grammar checker won't
catch all the mistakes, but it will remove a lot of them. We will be in a
much better mood while reading your submission if we don't have to slog through
multiple spelling errors and bad grammar.
Of course, being pirates, there are some spelling errors and incorrect grammar
we use ON PURPOSE. But those are used carefully for some flavor and character. A
good book to help you with this is "The Pirate Primer: Mastering the
Language of Swashbucklers and Rogues" by George Choundas [not to be
confused with "The Pyrate Prymer" that we, No Quarter Given, publish.]
If you can send it to us in electronic form (we speak Windows XP) via email - we would be most beholding to ya. You can also send on CD (enclosing a printout is good too).
However, hard-copy submissions are accepted.
POSTAL: No Quarter Given, PO Box 7456, Riverside, CA 92513-7456
EMAIL: jamaica@noquartergiven.net
WEBSITE: http://www.noquartergiven.net
TELEPHONE: 909-785-1233
BYLINES & BIOS
Be sure to specify what name we are to
use for you in the credits or byline -- whether it is your given name, a pirate
name, or something other pen name. If you are sending us a major article,
or cover illustration, you might also include a couple of sentences of
biographical background, along with URLs to any websites you are associated
with. We will try to use it, if room permits.
We look forward to what you may have for us. We will try to send you a note shortly after we receive your submission, letting you know that we received
it, plus if and when we plan to use it, or if it needs some revision. If you
don't hear from us within a week, feel free to send a reminder note (sometimes
our inbox is so overflowing, we miss things). Again - we are most willing to work with you.
Fair Wyndes, dry Powder, and may yer Quill stay ever sharp,
Jamaica Rose & Michael MacLeod
(Christine & Michael Lampe)
Events / Crews / Merchants / News / Books / Subscribe & Swag / Rogues Gallery / Movies / Tall Ships / Ports o' Call /Email/ Buccaneers for Hire/ Contact Us