Writers' Guidelines

The Vancouver Voice is a SW Washington-based alternative publication covering local news, arts and culture. Before you pitch a story to us, we recommend that you read through a few of our back issues (available online in May) to get a feel for the type of journalism we value and promote.

The newspaper is published monthly and distributed on the first Tuesday of every month*. It includes investigative news features (1,200 to 2,500 words), occasional short news items (650 to 800 words), book reviews (usually about 800 words), television reviews (also about 800 words), music reviews (about 800 words), the occasional Q&A (500 to 750 words), and theater, gallery, and film listings (300 to 650 words). We do not publish fiction, poetry, gossip, celebrity profiles, or rants of any nature, and we do not consider previously published material. Response time is usually 1-2 months.

All freelance pieces are submitted "on spec," meaning we don't pay kill fees. The pay rate for published articles varies depending on the category into which it falls, but typically ranges from $35-65.

All freelancers are mailed copies of the issue in which their article appears along with payment. Published articles will also be made available online beginning in mid- to late-February.

Our editors welcome story pitches that suit our editorial mix. We ask freelancers to submit query letters in writing by either emailing us at vanvoice.write@gmail.com or mailing submissions to 204 E. 25th Street, Vancouver, WA 98663. Due to the volume of mail we receive, we regret that we cannot respond to every story pitch.

Thank you for your interest in The Vancouver Voice! We look forward to hearing from you.

To download our calendar of content submission deadlines for the next few months, please click here.