MAKE Submission Guidelines

MAKE is a do-it-yourself technology magazine written by makers. When you write something for MAKE, use your voice. Tell us the story behind your project.

There are four types of content in Make: Projects, Features, Reviews, and Everything Else. (If you have an idea for something that doesn't fit in one of the first three areas but is still related to do-it-yourself technology, we'd like to hear about it, too – hence the Everything Else category.)

We pay $25 to $100 for a review. Payment for other types of content will be negotiated.

To pitch an idea, use this Story Idea Submission form. To learn more about how to write and photograph for MAKE, see our PDF Writer's and Photo Guidelines, and How to Shoot Your Project.

If you're interested in writing a review, read the section below and then send email to Arwen O'Reilly Griffith, staff editor.

Reviews

Is there some gadget, tool, web site, newsletter, instructional video, book, magazine, CD-ROM, or instrument you already own and love? Then send your review to "Toolbox," Make's recommendation section.

Reviews should be 50 - 250 words, and be written in the first person. Think more "recommendation" and "experience" when you write these than "review." We want to hear about your involvement with it.

The old Whole Earth Review guidelines for reviews went like this: "Write your review. Then write us a letter explaining why we should devote space to your item. Throw away your review and send us the letter." That's the way to do it.

Projects

If you've made something cool (or have come up with a cool hack or tweak for something) and want to show other people how to make one, we'd like to publish it in our projects section. (Note: We're interested in hearing about things you've already made, not things you are just thinking about making.)

Remember this when you are writing for MAKE: you're the readers' coach. Think of your reader as a smart person who doesn't necessarily know what you know. Imagine the questions he or she might have about your project. Explain everything they need to know to recreate the thing you're writing about.

We have two kinds of projects. One is called "DIY." This section is for shorter projects (like swapping a battery out of an iPod, or installing open source software on your TiVo.) DIY pieces run between 200 and 750 words. When writing a DIY, keep it conversational. These are very much like explaining to a friend how you did something. Describe difficulties you encountered, and suggest workarounds. Take digital photos of each step along the way. Photos should be at least 2 megapixels.

The second kind of project is a "Major Project." These are more complex projects that would require a reader at least several hours, if not days, to complete. If we accept your proposal for a Major Project, you will need to submit the article in a format that fits our template. We'll provide you with further instructions.

If your project is long and complicated, or certain parts of it are better explained in media other than a print magazine, that's no problem. We can run your article and point to PDFs, code, software, audio, video, photos, etc., which will run on the MAKE website.

Features

We have several sections with articles about interesting things made by people or groups of people. "Made on Earth" is a section with large photos of projects and their makers, along with 200-word stories about them. "Maker" is a longer profile of a dedicated maker-of-cool-things. And we also have 600- to 1,000-word articles about groups, companies, clubs, and technologies relating to DIY projects.

Everything Else

Do you have an idea involving DIY technology, but doesn't fit in any of the above categories? Is it interesting? Let us know about it. Tell us about the time your dad made a homebrew computer based on the Apple II schematic. Tell us the funny story about the motorized surfboard you made. What's the strangest experience you've had making something? If it's surprising or funny, we'll run it.

Issue Themes, 2012-2014

Each issue of MAKE has a 30-page (approx.) special section that contains projects and articles unified under a single theme. Past themes have included Robots, 3D Fabrication, Microcontrollers, Music, Rockets, Wheels, Fringe, Space, and Biology. When we are figuring out our publishing lineup, we are especially interested in articles in these theme areas, but most of our articles are not theme-related, so don't let the themes limit you; we are always interested in any and all other kinds of fun projects.

That said, here are our themes for 2012-2013. For all of them, we would like relevant pitches about 6 months before the publication dates listed. Note that these are subject to change, especially the later ones:

• MAKE vol. 29 (Jan 2012) - DIY Superhuman
• MAKE vol. 30 (Apr 2012) - Home Automation
• MAKE vol. 31 (Jul 2012) - Punk Science
• MAKE vol. 32 (Oct 2012) - Art + Design
• MAKE vol. 33 (Jan 2013) - Codebox (software and software-controlled making)
• MAKE vol. 34 (Apr 2013) - Alt.Gadgets
• MAKE vol. 35 (Oct 2013) - Thrivalism (self-sufficiency, in a fun and positive light)
• MAKE vol. 36 (Jan 2014) - 3D Design and Manufacturing
• MAKE vol. 37 (Apr 2014) - Microcontrollers

Start clearing off your workbench!