Writer's Guidelines
Tell us your story!
The Toastmaster magazine has existed since 1935. Topics relating to communication and leadership are endless, and it’s the magazine’s mission to explore those topics to the benefit of readers worldwide. But the magazine wouldn’t exist without contributions from our members and readers. Here’s how to submit material to us:
Article Submission Guidelines
The Toastmaster magazine is published monthly for approximately 235,000 members in 11,700 clubs worldwide. Therefore, it’s important that all articles are geared toward an international audience. We welcome submissions from members and freelancers living outside North America! All submissions must be in English, however.
Our readers are knowledgeable and experienced public speakers; therefore we accept only authentic, well-researched and well-crafted stories. Show, don’t tell! Use sources, quotes from experts and other research to back up your views. The best articles have style, depth, emotional impact and take-away value to the reader. A potential feature article needs an unusual hook, compelling story or unique angle. Profiles of colorful, controversial, historically significant, amusing, unusual or unique people are welcome, but keep in mind that our readers live in 92 different countries, so stay away from profiles of American presidents or sports figures.
Compensation for accepted articles depends on whether our submission guidelines are followed, the amount of research involved and the article's general value to us.
Please review our Writer’s Guidelines below before you submit your article. When you are ready to send it, please e-mail it to submissions@toastmasters.org.
- Please query first, or send a draft of your proposed article. We recommend you carefully study several issues of the magazine before submitting a query.
- We are not responsible for unsolicited articles, artwork or photographs, so please don’t send anything you can’t afford to lose.
- Answer this question: Why this article, to this audience, at this time?
- Article length should be from 700 to 2,000 words, double-spaced with minimal formatting. Do not use headers, footers, page numbers or page breaks.
- Use Microsoft Word or similar program, or paste your article into the body of an e-mail.
- Include a brief author biography and a word count.
- We need articles related to the fields of communication and leadership, on topics members can use in their self-improvement efforts. Appropriate topics include speaking techniques, leadership development, language use, club management principles, and profiles of famous speakers.
- Use anecdotes and examples to present your ideas
- Write with a “how to” approach, giving readers practical tips for improving their communication and leadership skills.
- Avoid sending articles with obvious political and religious slants, poems and speeches. They will not be published.
All should be sent to:
submissions@toastmasters.org
or:
Toastmaster Magazine
P.O. Box 9052
Mission Viejo, CA 92690
USA
949-858-8255