Writers Guidelines | Photographer Guidelines

Writer's Guidelines

The American Gardener is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society (AHS), a national, nonprofit, membership organization for gardeners founded in 1922. By educating people of all ages to become environmentally responsible caretakers of the earth AHS is dedicated to making America a nation of gardeners, a land of gardens.

A 64-page, four-color bi-monthly magazine, The American Gardener goes out to the more than 35,000 members of the American Horticultural Society.


Editorial Content

The magazine is primarily free-lance written, and its content differs considerably from that of other gardening publications. Our readers are mainly experienced amateur gardeners; about 20 percent are horticultural professionals. Articles are intended to bring this knowledgeable group new information, ranging from the latest scientific findings that affect plants, to the history of gardening and gardens in America. We introduce readers to unusual plants, personalities, and issues that will enrich what we assume is already a passionate commitment to gardening.
Among the topics of particular interest to us are profiles of individual plant groups; innovative approaches to garden design; profiles of prominent horticulturists whose work has a national impact; plant research and plant hunting; plant conservation, biodiversity, and heirloom gardening; events or personalities in horticultural history; people-plant relationships (horticultural therapy, ethnobotany, and community gardening); environmentally appropriate gardening (choosing plants suited to one’s region, using native plants, conserving water, etc.); and plant lore and literature. We also seek articles that describe and show how to construct simple garden features such as ponds or paths, or illustrate useful gardening techniques such as grafting, pollarding, or propagation.

We stress environmentally responsible gardening practices, including minimizing use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, preventing illegal collection of plants from the wild, and avoiding plants with the potential to escape and damage natural ecosystems.

Queries

We prefer that authors query us before developing a manuscript. Queries must be accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. Please note: We do not accept phone, fax, or e-mail queries, or simultaneous submissions.

Queries should also include a description of the proposed topic and an explanation of why it is of interest to a national audience of knowledgeable gardeners, as well as an outline of the major points to be covered in the manuscript.

When querying for the first time, authors should submit relevant writing samples, and explain why they believe they are qualified to write on the subject they are proposing. We look for writers who have some gardening experience or training, but who also have an ability to write in a strong journalistic style, complete with lively quotes from interviews or written sources. While ideas for articles are evaluated separately from photographs or artwork, it is helpful to the evaluation process for submissions to include information on possible sources for photographs or illustrations.

Acceptance of an idea outlined in a query does not constitute acceptance of an article. All contributors to The American Gardener are sent a formal contract outlining the rights being purchased, payment terms, and deadlines.

Feature articles run 1,500 to 2,500 words, depending on subject and assignment.

Departments

The American Gardener has several departments for which we accept free-lance submissions.

• Natural Connections. Explains a natural phenomenon or symbiotic relationship—plant and pollinator relationships, plant and fungus relationships, plant and soil relationships, parasites, etc.—that may be observed in nature or in the garden. Runs 750 to 1,000 words.
   

• Conservationist’s Notebook. Articles about individuals or organizations attempting to save endangered species or protect natural areas, or about control of pests that threaten ornamental plants or natural ecosystems. Runs 750 to 1,000 words.
   

• Growing the Future. This department focuses on inspiring children’s gardens across the country. Runs 750 to 1000 words.

Policies

We make every effort to report back to the author within 90 days of receiving a query. Accepted articles are scheduled and published at the discretion of the editorial staff.

We do not knowingly consider manuscripts simultaneously submitted to other publishers, and we retain the right to return at any time manuscripts that appear or have been published as a whole or in part in another publication, regardless of whether the manuscripts have already been accepted or scheduled.

The staff of The American Gardener retains the right to edit manuscripts as it deems necessary, for clarity, style, length, and accuracy. We do not as a matter of policy provide authors with revised manuscripts prior to publication. However, this can sometimes be negotiated at the time that an article is accepted.

Although all work submitted to The American Gardener is handled with great care, the Society cannot accept responsibility for any materials that are lost or damaged.

Payment

Payment for feature articles ranges from $300 to $500 upon publication, depending on the article’s length and complexity, and the author’s background and publishing experience. Reimbursement for travel and other expenses can sometimes be negotiated.

Payment for departments is $200. Payment for photographs used with department articles is $50 each.

We pay a 25-percent kill fee in those instances where an author has completed revisions of the text requested by our editorial staff, and the article is still for any reason considered unacceptable.

All contributors receive three complimentary copies of the issue in which their work is published. Additional copies are available to contributors at a reduced rate of $1 each; shipping fees will be charged for contributor orders of 10 copies or more. Extra copies must be ordered prior to publication in order to ensure availability and avoid additional handling fees.

Rights
Information on specific rights purchased is included in a contract sent to all contributors. All articles in The American Gardener are also published in the members-only section of the American Horticultural Society’s Web site.


Sample Copies and Back Issues

Sample copies of the magazine are available for $5; specific back issues are available for $8. Send checks payable to AHS with your request for sample issues or back issues to the address below; back issues can also be ordered by credit card from the AHS Web site by clicking here. Photographer’s guidelines are available below or by sending an SASE with the request to the address to The American Gardener, American Horticultural Society, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, Alexandria, VA 22308-1300


Mechanical Requirements on Acceptance

• Submit material typewritten and double spaced. Include a self-addressed, stamped return envelope.

• Accompany the article with a brief biography plus your name, address, social security number, and telephone number.

•  After a manuscript has been accepted, it is a great help to us to receive manuscripts on computer disks or via e-mail. Please send articles in Rich Text Format (.rtf) or in Microsoft Word. In preparing a computer document, please do not include formatting such as automatic indents, centering, italics, etc.

• Feature articles should be limited, whenever possible, to eight to 10 double-spaced, typewritten pages, excluding bibliography or sidebars.

• Avoid using footnotes. Incorporate citations or attributions in the body of the text. To assist us in editing, authors should include a bibliography of reference books or previously published articles used for background, and addresses, telephone numbers, and e-mail addresses of individuals interviewed.

• For articles relating to particular plants or types of plants, we appreciate a list of retail mail-order sources—including the names, addresses, phone numbers, and Web site—and whether the nurseries charge for their plant lists or catalogs.

• Authors who are submitting photographs or illustrations to accompany an article should request a copy of our Photographer’s Guidelines before doing so. Authors writing in detail about plants should request a copy of our “Rules for Botanical Nomenclature.”

Photographer’s Guidelines

The American Gardener is the official publication of the American Horticultural Society, a non-profit national membership organization founded in 1922. Published bimonthly, it is a 64-page, four-color magazine designed to appeal to a national audience of avid gardeners and horticultural professionals.

As a general rule, photographs submitted to The American Gardener must relate directly to a particular article. Although we occasionally contract for work to be done on assignment, most of the images we use are solicited from a core group of photographers who receive a regular photo call. We currently have about 20 photographers on that list, most of whom have photo libraries representing in excess of 50,000 plant images. Requests for specific images are sent out to these photographers approximately 10 weeks before publication of each issue.

Before adding photographers to our regular photo call list, we need to assess both the quality and quantity of their collections. Therefore, we ask all new photographers to submit both some samples of their slides (these will be returned immediately if sent with a self-addressed, stamped envelope) and a list indicating the types and number of plants in their collection. After reviewing both, we may decide to add the photographer to our photo call for a trial period of six issues (one year).

Large format transparencies or 35mm slides are acceptable. We prefer to receive only original transparencies or slides. The American Gardener does not accept color negatives; color prints are used only in rare instances.

Identification of Images

1.  Each slide, transparency, or print must be labeled with the name and address of the photographer.

2.  All photographs of plants must be identified on the slide/transparency/print with complete botanical names, including genus, species, and botanical variety or cultivar where applicable.

3.  A separate list of captions should be submitted, repeating the botanical names and giving any other pertinent information (where it was photographed, etc.).

4.  Photographs of gardens must be identified with the name of the garden. A caption sheet must be included that clearly identifies the major plants in the scene or describes the significant characteristics of the scene.

Payment and Credits

Payment is made upon publication and is for one-time use in our print magazine and its electronic equivalent on the member’s-only area of the Society’s Web site. All photographers receive a formal agreement stating payment terms and rights purchased.

Each photograph will be accompanied by a credit line. If the work of only one photographer is used throughout an article, one general credit may accompany the article’s byline.

Photographers do not need to send a bill. The editor will bill the American Horticultural Society accounting office on behalf of the photographers after publication of each issue.

The American Gardener rates for photographs are based on the following sizes:

Less than a quarter page - $75
Quarter page to less than a half page - -$85
Half page to less than full page - $100
Full page or larger - $125
Cover - $300
Duplicate use of image (usually on contents page) - $25

Return of Material

Except by special arrangement, all photographic material sent in response to the photo call will be held until after the issue is published. Illustrative materials sent by authors to accompany manuscripts will be held until after the article is published. We do not pay holding fees.

Materials will be packed and returned by certified mail with a copy of the issue. Photographers whose work is used will receive three copies of the issue and have the opportunity to purchase additional copies at the contributors’ rate of $1 per copy plus postage or shipping.

Although all work submitted to The American Gardener is handled with great care, the Society cannot accept responsibility for any material that is lost or damaged.
Sample issues of the magazine are available at $5 per copy.

American Horticultural Society
7931 East Boulevard Drive
Alexandria, VA 22308-1300
(703) 768-5700

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