Strunk and White’s Elements of Style still says it best: “Omit needless words.” The best paragraph in that book, from the Chapter, “Elementary Principles of Composition” reads: “Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts. This requires not that the writer make all his sentences short, or that he avoid all detail and treat his subjects only in outline, but that he make every word tell.“
The mark of a really great writer is that he gives expression to what the masses of mankind think or feel without knowing it. The mediocre writer simply writes what everyone would have said.
-G.C. Lichtenberg, 1799
Feature Stories
We want our fishing stories to be educational and entertaining, not instructional. We don’t publish “how-to, where-to” pieces. There are other magazines out there for you if this is what you write. Check out one of the back issues if you have questions. If you want it published, write it well. Think literary and tell us a story. Write about your dog. Make us laugh.
As for photography, please be creative. No “grip and grins”. We’re also looking for artwork, cartoons, illustrations, etc. All payments are negotiable.
Departments
City Limits—
Stories of fishing in an urban environment.
Rod Holders—
Profiles of people. In depth, well-written, accurate. Let us know who they are, not just how they fish.
Tippets—
Short, 600- to 800-word essays on flyfishing. Anecdotes, stories that are funny. You get the idea.
Bugs—
Entomology, plain and simple. Not patterns, but actual insects. Life cycle, habitat, flight times.
Passport—
Flyfishing beyond airport security lineups. Expanded, well-researched 800- to 2,000-word dispatches—engagingly told, and detailing everything from cultural nuances to new species to remarkable encounters across foreign expanses.
Permit Page—
Short, 500- to 700-word stories and essays on everything permit: The species. The flies. The flats. The frustration, humor, challenge, and reward. Be creative.
RedSpread—
Our two-page spread devoted to redfish, featuring: photo essays; reports on conservation imperatives; people profiles; and anecdotes and engaging stories from the field. 800- to 1,200-words.
1,000 Words—
Showcasing stunning, relevant photography that captures a compelling story. No words needed.
Tailwater Weekend—
Medium-length, 800- to 2,000-word essays and insightful storytelling from the tailwater rivers we love to fish. From the big names to the unknowns, you’ll find them here.
Backcountry—
The pursuit of fisheries that require reconnaissance, and maybe some blood, sweat, and beers to reach. Wilderness areas. National parks. And no man’s lands. 800- to 2,000-words.
Send submissions to:
The Drake Magazine
PO Box 11546
Denver, CO 80211
info@drakemag.com
Sincerely,
Tom Bie
(720) 638-3114
info@drakemag.com
Before you ask us for honest feedback on your writing, and definitely before you post your writing on our message board, please take a couple minutes and watch this: