Pitching Guidelines

The lifeblood of any magazine is the content and of course there is no content without contributors, so contributions will be valued. While it is important the contributor is happy with the final edit, submissions need to fall within some general guidelines and integrities.

While we have our own in-house volunteer writers, we can now commission two contributors per issue, at £50 for 1,000 word articles and other types of writing such as prose or poetry will vary and are subject to our limited funding.

General Guidelines

Whether you are an experienced journalist, amateur writer or just someone wanting to get your voice heard, you don’t need to be a professional. However, good punctuation, spelling and grammar are essential. Always edit thoroughly and fact-checking is crucial. If including web links for reference, always make sure they appear as hyperlinks within your copy – the editor can assist where practicable. Articles or stories will need to be within the deadline specified when aiming for a particular issue.

Content

  • News bites: Brief, non-time sensitive, yet relevant news items to our target communities, up to 500 words.
  • Features: Prominently showcased, we want human interest, newsworthy but with a more creative flair is fine, first or third-person – styles can vary from a narrative news-oriented piece, analysis, interview or fact-based chronology, up to 1,000 words. Again, as a quarterly, all submissions must be non-time sensitive.
  • Long-Form Features: More engaging and valued content for readers, long-form can take the form of a ‘how to’ article or more in depth human interest story. 
  • Situational Stories: What’s your situation? Tell us a situational story where you either faced barriers which were either overcome or still need sorting out. Inspirational stories, always reflecting anyone of our target groups or communities are most welcome, up to 3,000 words.
  • Creations: Poetry, prose, illustrations or photo pieces are welcome for this section, but please make sure whatever your art form, it reflects our target audiences and ideally conveys a message.
  • Articles: informative pieces on ways barriers can be overcome – such as support groups, tips on health and wellbeing, helpful/life enhancing technology with a bit of culture thrown in for good measure. Articles must be written by, for and about marginalised people and communities, up to 1,000 words.
    Please note we cannot commission long-form pieces, due to funding constraints.
  • Blogs: Usually an opinion piece or personal experience not too long or short.

Pitches

Pitches should be small paragraphs outlining an idea or existing article.
Tell us why you feel you are the best person to produce a piece and what type of content it is.

Please write a 1 to 2 line bio, so we can feature this when your name is clicked on your by-line as a valued contributor. If possible, please include any existing or published work with your pitch.

Don’t forget to include your phone number and e-mail address, so we can get back to you, whether interested or not.

Send pitches to: info@barrierstobridgescic.co.uk

What We Won’t Accept

Fictional stories or technical articles on products will not work. However if a service or technology is being offered or featured, how they will benefit or enhance the lives of specific groups needs to be emphasised.

Never send just an article without the relevant pitch in the specified structure. If sending articles already written, they ‘must not’ be already published elsewhere and, only send as a word document attachment – the same applies for illustrations.

Send pitches to: info@barrierstobridgescic.co.uk

House style

Barriers to Bridges will take a no nonsense, nitty-gritty, punchy yet intelligent tone – few euphemisms will be necessary to “tell it how it is”. The overall persona of the magazine will think outside “the box”, as contributors will ideally seek to empower others, level the playing field of inequality or simply urge respect of situations or barriers faced. Articles may be challenging, as we are frank and forthright, yet factual and respectable.

This is a ‘person first’ publication where defeatist language such as, ‘the dis-abled in contrast to, ‘the abled’ will not be published. However, ‘people’ with additional needs or disabilities is fine in description and more empowering.

We will especially welcome submissions which dare to tap into more taboo, less approached areas, such as mental health challenges or struggles with addiction.

As our writers and readership will inevitably generate serious, often sensitive content, a humorous and light hearted approach is always welcome – in these times people need to laugh and we all can laugh at ourselves.

Some examples of the house style we are striving for are here or here.

Any content published within Barriers to Bridges needs to be, ideally written by, for and about any one of these groups/communities. Just proposing a purely political piece that has more-than-likely been covered elsewhere, is not what we’re about.

Target groups include:

  • ‘People’ with additional needs;
  • Single parents;
  • Those struggling with mental health challenges;
  • People from a working-class background;
  • Those facing gender inequality;
  • People who are homeless;
  • Those identifying as LGBTQ+;
  • People of colour;
  • Those who struggle with addiction;
  • People living off-grid or travellers.

While we cannot solve issues highlighted, Barriers to Bridges will strive to either raise awareness or just bang the drum louder to draw attention to neglected sections of society.