Photo: Amanda Gagnon

WRITER’S GUIDELINES for the Activities Guide of Maine

What we’re about

Activities Guide of Maine relies on a group of regular writers and occasionally accepts submissions or solicits articles from freelancers who are familiar with Maine’s myriad of outdoor recreation, regional adventures, and events. We also incorporate brewing/distilling and running/biking/obstacle races from our other two magazines (Maine Brew Guide and RaceME) into this magazine. Published two times per year (a spring/summer issue and fall/winter), our readers are primarily average working class Mainers who are looking for ways to explore the State as well as outdoor enthusiasts, and professionals who work in outdoor recreational industries.

What we’re looking for

We’re looking for original voices and angles that illustrate experiences that inspire people to try new adventures around Maine, as well as articles and features on interesting places and a spotlight on outdoor businesses/owners who have a meaningful impact on their customers We like energy. We like fun writers. Ask yourself: what would make someone find your article so valuable they’d keep it as a reference? Would they find it entertaining enough to go try the activity themselves or share the article on social media ?

What we’re not looking for

Not to be picky, but we don’t need an article pitch on a general topic of the outdoors not related to Maine. We also strive to be an insider’s guide to the latest news and trends, but are not so much interested in “If I visited Maine, here’s where I’d go” type of pieces.

SUMMER ISSUE TOPICS

We look for tourism articles that combine natural and business attractions of various towns
Nature and wilderness therapy
Benefits of being outdoors
Combined fitness and fun outdoors
Digital detox screen-free weekend
Wilderness survival series, outdoor skills and safety, bush crafting edible plants
Camping features
Summer/fall outdoor accessories and gear guide
Regional summer fall hikes
Photography tips
Maine premier golfing resort destinations by region
Beginner’s guide to anything summer-related
Regional itineraries involving local adventures, eating, brewing and accommodation
Adaptive summer opportunities around Maine
Maine adventures/activities specifically for teens or tweens

A Maine BrewGuide section will be included in this issue as well. Topics include:

Summer/fall hikes along the Beer Trail
How craft beer plays a part in helping to revitalize a town
Pairing outdoor adventures and attractions near breweries
Summer session roundups

WINTER ISSUE TOPICS

Outdoor

Guide to Maine winter hikes (hikes in a specific region)
Gear guide to specific winter adventures
Youth outdoor events or activities for kids in winter
Maine back country skiing/snowshoeing/snowmobiling
X-country skiing treks such as Maine Huts and Trails
Winter survival techniques in the wilderness
Beginner’s Guide to anything winter-related
Regional itineraries involving local adventures, eating, brewing and accommodation
Adaptive winter opportunities around Maine
Senior winter activities or spotlight on achievement-minded seniors Brew Guide Topics
Ice fishing and craft brews
Winter beer pairing for which popular activity
Staple seasonal winter beer line up
How to pack beers for winter outdoor excursions
Maine’s best ice bars

RaceME

Quintessential winter races, running, snowshoe, XC, fat biking, snowmobile, etc.
Events for winter running calendar
Fun winter indoor/outdoor winter fitness ideas in different regions
Winter running gear/accessories
Sports medicine, injury prevention, nutrition

Regions to cover

Aroostook
Downeast & Acadia
Greater Portland & Casco Bay
Kennebec & Moose River Valley
Maine Lakes & Mountains
Midcoast
Rangeley/Carrabassett Valley
Western Maine
Farmington area
The Maine Beaches (Southern Maine)
Moosehead and Maine Highlands (Northern Maine)

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

Submit a brief story idea with outline, and sources you plan to include by email only (please don’t attach your pitch in a Word document).
All queries should be accompanied by a link or PDFs of one or two published writing samples.
We don’t accept previously published submissions.

PAYMENT & DETAILS

If Activities Guide of Maine accepts your story pitch, you will be emailed a Writer’s Assignment with word count, deadline and projected payment. An affirmative response to that email is considered “the contract.” Every article will need edits and photos and the content manager will work with you on those once the article has been submitted.

PHOTOGRAPHY SUBMISSIONS

Most of our photography is commissioned; but if you have particularly interesting or unique photographs, please email low-resolution images to submissions@activitymaine.com. All subjects in the photo must be 21 or older. Payment will be determined.

Direct pitches to submissions@activitymaine.com Due to the increasing number of queries we receive, we cannot respond to most pitches right away, but will do our best. Please don’t send repeated follow up emails. If your idea is something that will fit our magazine, we will contact you.

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