The following are guidelines for contributors to Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine, the official publication of the Minnesota Bluegrass & Old-Time Music Association. For more information please contact the Minnesota Bluegrass editor, Doug Lohman, at editor@minnesotabluegrass.org.

Deadlines
Deadline for submissions to Minnesota Bluegrass Magazine is the first of the month preceding publication (i.e., January 1 for the February issue) for all materials, including calendar information. Late submissions may be considered by contacting the editor.

Story Length
Feature stories: Maximum length 2500-3000 words. At least three high-resolution photos or graphics should accompany submission (contact the editor for image submission guidelines). Feature subjects may include band profile, event recap, or venue review. Special interest articles are also encouraged. Always include photo credits. Reviews (Music/Concert/Film/Media): 500-1000 words

Tablatures
Digital submissions of tablatures should fit within margins of 10 x 7.5 inches. Please submit original files or PDF. Scans are discouraged, but high-resolution scans may be accepted. Do not submit paper copies. Tabs or sheet music must be your own work or appropriately credited to the copyright owner.

Letters to the Editor
All letters, in good taste and received by the deadline, are published. Letter writers may be asked to edit for length or rewrite a lengthy letter as a feature story.

Cover Stories
Please submit ideas for cover stories at least three months before desired publication. The cover story editorial calendar is determined at the beginning of the year and such stories are assigned to writers who have expressed an interest in reporting for Minnesota Bluegrass. We are always looking for new writers and welcome your query. Please submit to the editor a 1000 word writing sample or links to published materials. We do not pay for publication, but greatly appreciate our writers’ dedication to promoting the music, traditions, and history of bluegrass and old-time string band music.

Submission Format
All submissions must be digital. You may submit a MS Word document or PDF (text only) as an email attachment. Please do not format material other than standard grammatical formatting (we follow the Chicago Manual of Style). All images should be attached separately and must meet resolution standards for print materials. 500+ KB resolution. Cover photos 2MB+.  Please do not embed images in Word documents or PDFs. Contact the editor if you need clarification on these guidelines.

Authorship and Attributions of Articles
Minnesota Bluegrass publishes material submitted by readers and volunteer writers. Opinions expressed in the publication may not represent the opinions of the magazine, the editor, MBOTMA, or the Board of Directors. All material submitted must include a byline [author’s name]. If you do not wish to have your name attributed to your story, confer with the editor; pseudonyms may be allowed. We do not guarantee to print all submissions. All submitted material may be edited for length, grammar, and consistency. All rights revert to the author.