Write for Us

Writers' Guidelines

Tales from a Small Planet is an online magazine and resource center for people living overseas. We invite you to submit material consistent with our theme: "What It's Really Like to Live There," for the following sections of the magazine:

The Road Less Traveled: personal essays that capture the mood or setting of a far-away place, in keeping with our theme, "What It's Really Like to Live There." What insights have you gained about your host country that could only have come because you live there (as opposed to visiting as a tourist)? Interesting details about everyday life are very welcome, but we'd rather have a detailed essay on a single topic than a "letter home" type essay on "a bunch of interesting stuff that has happened to me in this country."

Covered Wagons: Pioneering a Life Overseas: your role overseas, adjustment, how you fit in, culture shock, new foods and experiences, etc. How has living abroad changed your life, your view of the world, or your way of thinking? How has it been different from what you expected? Please focus your essay on one central theme and include lots of fascinating details -- our readers will love you for it!

Note: Are you an expatriate with a disability, or do you face another special challenge abroad (such as raising a child with special needs)? We'd really like to hear about your experiences -- and so would others in your situation! Contact us at editor@talesmag.com.

Short Fiction from a Small Planet: Stories that feature expatriate characters and illuminate some aspect of the expatriate experience.

Novel Visions: one chapter from your finished novel (published or unpublished)), that provides insight on the expatriate experience..

Way Off Base: black humor and satire about living overseas.

Way Off Broadway (Lyric Lampoons): "sung to the tune of..." songs, illustrating some aspect of life overseas.

Over the Wires: fake news items, mainly poking fun at U.S. Foreign Service personnel and other expatriates.

Practical Planet: This section features useful information for expatriates on subjects such as working abroad, moving with children, etc.

Book Reviews: We welcome reviews of books that are of special interest to expatriates. Please contact our book review editor for information.

Postcards from the Edge: Those strange little things you happen to notice in a foreign culture - or your own.

All work must be original - no "mangled English signs" or forwarded internet humor, please. Study current material on the site to get a sense of our style. Query with clips or send submission in the body of an e-mail or via e-mail attachment in RTF format (Please include a cover letter - we do not open unknown attachments!). Please include biographical information comparable to what we have on the site. Also include any photos or graphics that you think would go well with your submission.

Our Submissions Panel will review your work within three months and get back to you. Only one submission per author will be considered during each three-month period. You may withdraw your submission at any time.

Tales from a Small Planet cannot, at this time, afford to compensate its writers for their work. However, we encourage our contributors to incorporate into their biography one or more of the following:

link to the author's web site;

information about a charity or interesting website of the writer's choice;

information on and free advertising for other books or materials written by the author.

Our writers report that our publishing these links has helped yield publicity and/or sales for them. This is because Tales receives thousands of visitors each week.

Because we are managed largely by volunteers, we are limited in the number of submissions we can accept and publish. The good news is that we are able to offer a very high calibre of writing on our website. We are proud of our contributors and the way they capture "what it's really like to live there."

Send queries/submissions to editor@talesmag.com.

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