Verbatim: The Language Quarterly
Address:4907 N. Washtenaw, Ave.
Chicago, IL 60625
USA
Contact: Erin McKean, Editor.
Email Address:
Website: http://www.verbatimmag.com
Phone:
Fax:
Description of Publication:
80% freelance. VERBATIM is the only publication featuring humorous writing on language and linguistics for the layperson. We cover all aspects of English and many other languages. Welcomes new writers, but doesn't have a lot of time for revisions/handholding. Circ 1.5K. Quarterly. Pays on publication. Publishes ms 3 - 12 months after acceptance. Buys all rights, but gives the author unlimited permission to reprint their work anyplace they please, without fee, as long as verbatim is noted as first place of publication. Also, since VERBATIM is a very specialized market, there are really only one or two other publications that would even be interested in a reprint of a Verbatim article.) If we handle the reprint request, we charge $25 for the paperwork and pass the rest of whatever fee we receive on to the original author, if we can find him or her. We think this is a good compromise, and we hope you do, too. If you can't or won't agree to this policy, please do not submit. Accepts reprints, but query first. Responds to queries ASAP, but ms response can be up to 4 months. Sample $2 for postage by mail. Subscription $25; $30 outside U.S.; UK£18. Guidelines by mail with SASE or online at http://www.verbatimmag.com/writers.html
Current Needs: We are looking for interesting articles about languages other than English, especially African languages and Asian languages other than Japanese. We are looking for articles about regionalisms, language history, interesting linguistic principles or theories, and the jargons of unusual professions. We accept unsolicited book reviews of reference and language books only. Submit either query or complete ms. Cover letter required if by regular mail, otherwise email is okay. We don't mind email attachments, but do not send cover letter as attachment. Please include your name and mailing address on EACH page of your ms. Published pieces require three-line bio. Will not return manuscripts that aren't accompanied by a SASE.
Welcomes new writers, but doesn't have a lot of time for revisions/handholding.
Pay: Pays flat fee of $75 for 750 - 2500 words and $400 for cover stories.
Hints: We do NOT publish any fiction. We publish two pieces of light verse a year. Please do not send articles about Japlish, homonyms/homographs/homophones, essays about how English is going to hell in a hand basket, essays about how media figures are illiterate, or essays about funny words your children made up. We are also not interested in any articles about political correctness in language. Do NOT send poetry (unless) it is very light verse with an explicit language theme. We will not reply to poetry that does not meet these guidelines. We have been publishing since 1974; if you think we might have covered a topic already, please query. We are a small, non-profit magazine. The editor is the only employee, and she has a very demanding, full-time job as a reference editor for a large university press. (The upside of that is that contributors have--very rarely--been signed to book contracts!) Please be patient if we take some time to answer you; but also don't hesitate to nag by email (not by phone, please). If you do not follow our guidelines, please do not expect a response. I'm sorry to be so harsh, but a few deliberately obtuse writers with a misguided sense of entitlement can spoil it for everyone.
Photos/Art: We do not run photos except in extraordinary situations.
