Writer Guidelines

Thank you for your interest in JWR: - your independent global view of performing arts and film - is in the process of expanding its content by developing relationships with other like-minded writers.

Be sure to familiarize yourself with the content and tone of currently posted articles before making a query or submission.

Over the next few months, the website will be professionally redesigned from structural/navigation, visual tone and graphic capability points of view.  The main content areas (Performing Arts Reviews, Film and CD Reviews, Book Reviews and Interviews) will remain the same.

Submissions:  Articles for publication will be developed either by direct query or, once at least one piece has been accepted and published, by assignment.  Please query through e-mail editor@jamesweggreview.org.  An acknowledgment will be sent within three working days. 

Include a brief overview and an outline of the article within the body of the e-mail.  Advise availability of photos and, preferably, the urls for downloading.  Do not send attachments.

First-time submitters should also include a résumé and three examples of related work (attachments in MS Word are fine).  Writers from anywhere in the world are welcome to apply; previously published writers will have a higher probability of acceptance.

If preferred, materials and queries—be sure to include an e-mail address for acknowledgment—can also be sent by mail to:

JWR
12 - 111 Fourth Avenue
Suite 124
St. Catharines, ON  L2S 3P5

ALLOW 3 WEEKS FOR RESPONSE

Focus:  We are only looking for performing arts reviews, film and CD reviews of professional artists and filmmakers.  Book reviews must be related to the arts.  Interviews should focus on the performers or the "makers," including writers, directors, producers, composers.  An article that will logically "cross-reference" to an already existing JWR article will have a greater chance of acceptance.

For performing arts, articles related to the specific "Cultural Life In" sections (currently Niagara, Southern California and Toronto) will likewise have a greater chance for acceptance, however, "North America" and World-wide" categories will also be considered.  (In time, writers may become "correspondents" for particular geographic areas.)

In general, film and DVD reviews should have an arts component (e.g., Ladies in Lavender featured violinist Joshua Bell) and, ideally, cross-reference to at least one other JWR page.

CD reviews can cover all types of classical or jazz discs, but nearly always will be assignments (JWR provides the discs).

Style:  Articles should bring your informed opinion to bear on the artistic endeavour.  Facts must co-mingle with feelings; rants are just as unwelcome as an over-long description of what the diva wore.  A provocative lead will "pay off" to the reader by the article's end.  A line or two for the beleaguered publicists will give your work "legs" beyond the website.  Making a point with humour is fine, scathing sarcasm will be rewarded with <del>.  JWR will write the headline.

For all things grammatical, the Chicago Manual of Style is preferred.  Please use the usual spellings of your country of residence.  All work will be edited for content and style.  The fewer changes required, the more frequent subsequent assignments.  Do remember that a word spelled correctly but used incorrectly gets by "spell check" every time.

Photos:  Most articles require accompanying photos, most often they are provided by the publicists or production companies involved.  Links to those sites, media passwords et cetera should accompany the article when submitted. 

If the photos come from another source than mentioned above, a written statement giving permission to reproduce their photo in JWR must be included.  Exceptions are public places, or public events, et cetera where a 'reasonable expectation' of privacy does not apply.  The following should be adequate:

I, NAME OF SUBJECT, give my permission for YOUR NAME to release my photo for publication in JWR website (http://www.jamesweggreview.org).  Be sure it is signed by the subject(s) and dated.

PLEASE NOTE:  JWR does not offer compensation for photo subjects.  It is the writer's responsibility to arrange with subjects any compensation for their photos.  Except for professional models, it is very unusual for photo subjects to demand compensation.

Liability and compensation:  Submission of material infers that you are the sole legal owner of the material with all inherent rights to it, including the right to allow JWR to publish it.  JWR shall not be held liable for any material which is misrepresented to us.  If your work is accepted, a writer's agreement must be completed outlining compensation rate and publication rights.  In general JWR will only secure first publication rights.  Payment is based on circulation and will be competitive with free-lance rates for similar publications.