Write for WordWorks

We are open to submissions! 

The theme for our summer 2023 issue is Learn, Grow, and Play.

Writing is often a lifelong endeavour, and the learning process can vary tremendously from writer to writer. For this issue, we’re looking for articles about the many ways we can expand our knowledge, hone our craft, experiment with new forms, and stay curious.

We’re looking for practical tips, informative articles, and new perspectives related to the theme. Topics could include mentorship, research, exercises, critiques, formal and informal education, writing beyond your comfort zone, applying new skills, and more. Surprise us! We look forward to your ideas.

Please submit up to three pitches (150 words max per pitch) through Submittable. 

The deadline for submissions is April 3 at 11:59pm PDT. Because we may assign stories before this deadline, get your pitches in early for a greater chance of acceptance.

We prioritize submissions from FBCW members but welcome submissions from all writers with a connection to BC or Yukon.

Articles

WordWorks pays $125 for articles of 400–600 words and $250 for articles of 800–1,100 words. We will consider longer features as well. These rates may change in future issues. Submit your pitches through Submittable here.

Reprints

Have you previously written an article or blog post that fits our theme? We pay $50 for selected reprints. Submit reprints through Submittable here.

Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, & Poetry

Although we are primarily interested in articles, we will consider a limited number of poems (up to 30 lines) or pieces of prose (up to 500 words) centred around the theme. We pay $50 per piece. Submit creative work through Submittable here.

Art & Graphics

We pay $100 for cover art and $25 for other interior illustrations that fit our current theme. To submit artwork on our theme, please query us at wordworks@bcwriters.ca.

WordWorks Welcomes Diverse Storytellers

WordWorks strives to serve all BC and Yukon writers by publishing articles that reflect diverse experiences. We celebrate submissions from underrepresented communities and are seeking contributions from writers of all races, genders, sexualities, abilities, neurodiversities, religions, socioeconomic statuses, or immigration statuses. We encourage submissions from both published and emerging writers. We believe our strength as a community is in the breadth of our stories.

If you feel comfortable disclosing your identities, we encourage you to do so in your cover letter. All disclosures will be treated as confidential.

Simultaneous Submissions

We accept simultaneous submissions. Please let us know as soon as possible if another journal accepts your work for publication.

Responses & Editorial Process

We usually respond to article pitches and reprints within two weeks of the closing date of the call for submissions. Creative work may take longer. Please query wordworks@bcwriters.ca if you have not received a response within four weeks of the closing date.

The editor will reach out directly to writers regarding pitches that may be a good fit for the upcoming issue. Once the editor and writer are on the same page regarding the article’s angle, word count, and deadline, the editor will commission the article by sending the writer a contract for signature. Most commissioned articles go through two to three rounds of substantive edits before a final copy edit to prepare the article for design.

Submissions are declined for a variety of reasons. Sometimes we receive several pitches about the same topic, or a pitch may be too similar to an article we’ve published in recent years. The theme often evolves based on the pitches we receive, and much of the final decision comes down to how the articles complement each other as part of an overall issue. If your pitch is declined, it’s usually related to what’s a good fit for a particular issue rather than a reflection of the quality of your writing. We encourage you to pitch us again for future issues.

The Federation of BC Writers strives to publish credible articles that provide valuable advice to the writing community. We occasionally encounter articles that are initially commissioned based on a compelling pitch that ultimately prove to not meet the editorial goals, timelines, or standards of the publication. Sometimes articles that may otherwise be wonderful in theme, angle, or topic need more editing or fact-checking than is possible given our timeframes and resources. We do everything in our power to avoid passing on an article after commission, but reserve the right (at our discretion) to do so for the integrity of our work, magazine, and community. In such instances, our contracts govern compensation. We do not comment publicly on individual articles that have been considered for publication with our organization.

About WordWorks

We publish four full-colour issues per year. Each issue goes out to Federation of BC Writers members as well as to schools, libraries, businesses, and other organizations throughout BC and Yukon. We are always striving to increase our readership and the reach of our stories.

Questions?

Email Cadence Mandybura, Managing Editor, at wordworks@bcwriters.ca.