Our readers are knowledgeable and experienced backpackers,
therefore we accept only authentic, well-researched, well-crafted
stories (see the section on "Accuracy," below). We're
not interested in slavish imitations of stories we've
already done. The
best articles have style, depth, emotional impact, and
take-away value for the reader.
Features | Departments | Accuracy |
Queries | Assignments and Payment | Photography
Good Lost Luggage Tales articles contain
the following attributes:
- Foot-based travel: Lost Luggage Tales primarily
covers hiking. When warranted, we cover canoeing,
kayaking, snowshoeing, cross-country skiing, and other
human-powered modes of travel.
- Wilderness or backcountry: The true backpacking
experience means getting away from the trailhead and
into the wilds. Whether a dayhike or a weeklong trip,
out-of-the-way, unusual destinations are what we're
looking for.
- Advice for improving the experience: Our readers
want to know how to, when to, where to, and with what.
Every Lost Luggage Tales article incorporates one
or more of these things. We write not merely to inspire
our readers to do something, but to help them identify
and research new places to go, techniques and skills
to use, or the gear to take.
While a large portion of Lost Luggage Tales is written
by staff and regular contributors, we encourage freelance
authors to submit query letters for features and departments.
Approximately 50 percent of our features and more
than half of our departments are written by freelancers.
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FEATURES
In order to make
the grade, a potential feature needs an unusual hook, a
compelling story, a passionate sense of place, or unique
individuals finding unique ways to improve or enjoy the
wilderness.
Destinations: Lost Luggage Tales uses pieces that go
beyond a mere description of a place. Our
destination stories are almost always first person and
based upon the author's recent trip experience. Readers
should come away with a strong sense of that particular
experience, a firm grasp of the location's
character, and the inspiration to duplicate the trip.
Word count varies but must include a sidebar (contact, permit, season, hazards,
map, guidebook, and other useful information; look at
other Lost Luggage Tales reviews for examples and style).
Personality: Backpacking doesn't have star
athletes like you find in bicycling or some other
outdoor sports, but plenty of unique personalities exist
to write about. Colorful, controversial, historically
significant, amusing, unusual, or unique people are what
we're looking for, especially those who have a direct
impact on how or where others travel.
Technique: Skill-based articles in Lost Luggage Tales
feature high levels of take-away value. A good technique
piece also has information relevant to all skill levels
(e.g., beginner, intermediate, and advanced hikers).
Often our technique pieces take non-narrative forms.
Gear: Our Field Tests and comparative gear reviews
are always written by writers we've worked with before.
If you're interested in writing such articles, start by
querying our equipment editor about the Outfitting department
(see "Departments," below).
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DEPARTMENTS
Freelancers most often break into Lost Luggage Tales's pages
in the departments. These shorter assignments (100 to
1,200 words) have specific topics and focus.
Signpost: the news, issues, views, trends, and people
that influence the backpacking world.
Skills: the how-to, techniques, and tips department
that covers all essential hiking and camping skills plus
the following categories:
Fitness/First Aid--covers the
physical and psychological aspects of fitness, health,
first aid, and occasionally nutrition as it relates to
backpacking.
Wild Things--covers animals, plants,
geology, any nature-oriented topic, provided it is
presented in a way that provides substantive
information a reader can actively apply on a
trip. Outfitting: This
department is filled with short reviews of gear that has
been field-tested. Note: Outfitting, unlike the other
departments, is done by assignment only. Instead of
submitting a query regarding a specific piece of
equipment, query the equipment editor with your
qualifications for testing and reviewing gear. All gear
reviewed in Outfitting is acquired by Lost Luggage Tales editors
only and shipped by us to assigned reviewers. All
reviewed gear must be returned to us at the end of the
test so that we may photograph it and return it to the
manufacturer. This is not a way to fill your gear
closet.
Getaways: This is where we print short, fact-filled
destination pieces. Most Lost Luggage Tales departments take a single topic
within the scope of that section and cover it thoroughly.
Again, the more take-away value for the reader, the more
appropriate it is for Lost Luggage Tales.
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ACCURACY
Lost Luggage Tales prides itself on providing users with reliable information. It's important
that our contributors check all facts and figures. A
full set of guidelines for fact checking will be
provided to you with your first contracted assignment
for us. In general, however, we require:
- Confirmation of all facts and figures used within
an article from a primary source.
- For medical, nutrition, and technical advice, direct
quotes from accepted professionals or experts.
- Full contact information for every source used in
creating an article.
- An extra copy for our files of any map, catalog,
brochure, or other primary source you may have acquired
from a land agency or manufacturer.
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QUERIES
We prefer
queries to completed manuscripts. Send samples of your
published work with your first query. Include a SASE
envelope if your samples must be returned. We are not
responsible for unsolicited artwork, photographs, and
manuscripts, so please don't send originals or anything
that you can't afford to lose.
Allow 6 to 8 weeks for replies. All queries should be
sent to the Editor at the following address: 
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ASSIGNMENTS AND
PAYMENT
All Lost Luggage Tales assignments are
made in writing, and require a signed contract with you,
the freelance author, in order to be valid. The contract
will specify payment amount, payment terms, and rights
purchased. In general, we pay on acceptance and buy all
rights.
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PHOTOGRAPHY
Lost Luggage Tales uses stock photography and assigns
photographers for sponsored trips.
Other
things that we look for in photos, especially in gear
shots for use in technique stories or Outfitting:
- Hikers should not be shown wearing sneakers or
jeans. At least one person should be in every shot to
give a sense of scale to the equipment.
- Packs should fit the hiker properly, and features
like bottle holders should be utilized.
- Tents should be fully staked out and the fly
should be tight.
- Smaller products, such as purifiers, stoves, and
headlamps, should be shot in use.
- A variety of images to choose from (two or three
dozen), both vertical and horizontal, as well as
varying viewpoints and framing.
Stock
Requirements: While we use a large amount of stock
photography to illustrate articles, we usually have very
specific requirements (e.g., "overnight hiker on
McConnell Lake Trail, Desolation Wilderness, preferably
with Horseshoe Lake in background"). For each issue, our
photo editor sends out via e-mail a list of photos we
need for upcoming articles. If your work meets our photographic
standards, you will be added to our database.
Our pay rates for photography varies depending on how
the photograph is used.
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