About Northern Virginia Magazine

Northern Virginia Magazine celebrates one of the most affluent, educated and diverse regions in the country. Covering the serious to the sublime, we deliver timely news on health, business, arts, real estate, home and design, education and family. We aim to highlight great places to dine, shop, travel and entertain. We profile the community's top doctors, lawyers, leaders and personalities; review the area's best new restaurants; and report on the latest cultural, artistic and social happenings.

Founded in 2006, with a growing readership of 150,000 plus, we serve one of the greatest places to live.

Freelance Writer’s Guidelines

What We’re Looking For …
As with any potential job, prospective writers should do their homework. Pick up a few issues of the magazine and identify our style as well as the kinds of stories we typically publish. First and foremost, we seek profile stories (1500-1800 words) with interviews of the region’s most prominent or notable figures. Immediate attention will be paid to queries aiming to spotlight these individuals in a way that is both current and relevant to the region. Do not come to us with a story “idea” without the resources to execute it. If you want to write a profile on Mr. Prominent CEO in the region, you better have access to Mr. CEO. Contributors who are unable or unwilling to conduct interviews in person are better served elsewhere.

Other types of stories we seek are:

• Getaways – exploring rarely chartered local ground
• Medical – highlighting the work and/or advancements of regional hospitals and physicians
• Fashion/Style – spotlighting the region’s designers & trends in fashion and home décor.
• Education - pertinent topics and trends in higher learning and within the Northern Virginia public and private school sectors.
• Arts – news and discoveries in fine and performing arts within the region, must NOT be events-related content.
• Business – analysis and news on business trends, closures and openings in the region, as well as business-owner spotlights.

Feature stories (2000-2500 words) most likely to get our attention will present new information on topics making headlines or a story yet to be published anywhere else in the Metro D.C. area. An article worthy of publication will almost always ask the question: “Why should Northern Virginians care?

While magazine writers have a more flexible canvas on which to work compared to that of newspaper journalists, we still uphold journalistic integrity. Research, thorough reporting and ethical presentation are always expected.

Depending on the subject matter, we expect narrative treatment for most feature and profile stories over 1000 words. Imaginative lede sentences, story progression, lush detail and character development and description are expected. Stories should be as entertaining as they are thoughtful.

What We Avoid …
We are not a local newspaper. As such, stories about high school plays, church bake sales or citizen spotlights will not get our attention. Additionally, neither will:

• Stories or offers to cover restaurant or food-related topics. Our staff food editor, Warren Rojas, writes and develops all food and wine content.
• Topics that have been beaten to death such as Northern Virginia: parks, hiking trails and wineries. Unless you have an absolutely jaw-dropping lead on an unknown aspect of these topics, please save your ink.
• Puff pieces - “isn’t-that-interesting” stories with no particular point.
• Fiction
• First-person narratives or essays – unless a notable regional figure.

How We Work …
Requests for “freelance opportunities” will be denied. We have a loyal freelance writer base to whom we first turn with story availability. Interested writers who would like to contribute to Northern Virginia Magazine should come to us with a formal query detailing: story direction, research entailed, relevance to the time and region, and potential sources you would use. If we accept your query and publish your story, you will be added to our distribution list. From that point, if we have a story available that we believe suits your particular writing style, we will contact you.

Because of our relatively small staff size, we work approximately 3.5 months in advance of the issue month. Writers get two- to three-month deadlines depending on story length and complexity. Deadline extensions, therefore, are granted only with great and careful consideration.

We purchase exclusive rights of work submitted and exclusive worldwide electronic rights to cover posting on our website and inclusion in electronic archives and databases.

What We Pay …
Freelance contributors may receive anywhere from $50 to $700 for a story, depending on length, research, newsworthiness and complexity. We do not reimburse expenses, travel or otherwise. We pay half the fee upon submission of the story and the invoice, and half upon publication. For this reason, we do not distribute kill fees.

How to Submit …
Submit queries, along with three samples of previous work as Word attachments to Vanessa@northernvirginiamag.com or to: Vanessa Stolarski, Managing Editor, 8280 Greensboro Drive, McLean, VA 22102.

Download NoVA Style Manual

Can you spot a serial comma on a speeding bullet? Do you leap tall orders in a single bound? Do your superhuman senses allow you to sniff out a good story?

Northern Virginia Magazine, a high-end regional glossy with a circulation of over 46,000, is seeking sharp, detail-oriented students for support in its editorial department. Qualified candidates will learn about magazine production from our small but creative staff of writers, editors and designers. In addition to gaining valuable experience in print journalism, interns will leave with bylined articles to add to their portfolios.

• Have a working knowledge of AP Style Manual
• Be curious about Northern Virginia, its neighbors and its stories
• Have a knack for writing headlines and cut lines
• Have a sharp eye for detail
• Be pursuing a four-year degree in communication, English or journalism
• Be available at least three days during the work week and be flexible working an occasional weekend day for special promotional events
• Be a resourceful self-starter
• Have a GPA of at least 3.0.

Editorial interns will:

• Fact check and proofread raw copy
• Write articles as assigned by the Editor or Editorial Asst.
• Research and brainstorm story ideas with the Editor or Editorial Asst
• Work closely with the editorial team gathering data and assisting the final stages of the editorial cycle
• Assist with Web updates and data entry

Flexible scheduling is available.

Please send cover letter, resume and THREE writing samples to Vanessa Stolarski at Vanessa@NorthernVirginiaMag.com or Susan Anspach at Susan@NorthernVirginiaMag.com. Visit our website at www.NorthernVirginiaMagazine.com.