● Submissions
Submission Guidelines
Wayward is small, it’s DIY.
And in that, it’s unfiltered and holds nothing back. It places the big feats next to the humdrum of training, the growth next to the setbacks. It urges readers to ask questions and answer others; it reveals and reflects and ultimately calls you to a pen and paper, to a camera or canvas, to creation of your own.
We welcome the raw, unfiltered human eye, and uplift the punk spirit of do-it-yourself creative productions. It’s visible in the varying colors, fonts, & designs, yet unified by similar ideas of play in the outdoors.
As editor, I take pride in what Wayward has become, and the place it is settling into in the vast outdoor media landscape. Unlike other magazines, with tidy, conventional spreads, a more exclusive contributor list (professional writers, athletes, & well-known individuals), and content created and curated to fit the mold of that particular publication, Wayward values creation on one’s own terms.
At its core, the magazine works to carve a space for personal flair, unapologetic reflections, and radical ideas. We accept pitches in their earliest stages as well as completed stories. No word limit!
Send all pitches and submission inquiries to us at contact.waywardmagazine@gmail.com
We want to highlight your explorations of a place as much as your explorations of the mind.
Wayward isn’t based on one theme. We feature stories, photography, art, poetry, and reflections about climbing, mountaineering, surfing, high lining, biking, backpacking, or simply existing in an outdoor space close or far from what you deem is home base.
The creative process and final outcome for every contributor varied in shape and form, but each toiled with the question of why we seek these outdoor spaces, and what we find at the core of our passion. It required presence in the body to create art and derive meaning from our lived experiences.
writing guidelines
personal essays
Recount your wild trips!
* dig into the details (the types of flowers lining the trail, the smells and sound of crunchy gravel, the enlightening or frightening realizations that come with being days from safety or hundreds of feet in the air walking a line, the feats and conflicts along with the sense of bliss)
*throw us into it in the first paragraph,, & challenge yourself to weave in and out of the rich memories, the conversations, and the thoughts that followed
profiles
Have a friend, mentor, or partner who has a cool story, does fascinating work, etc.? Write about ‘em!
opinion/reflections
Could be about a piece of gear, an experience that stuck with you on Indigenous lands, musings about the concept of access
environmental news/ public land disputes
While highlighting all the rad adventures our contributors are embarking on, we can’t turn a blind eye to the future of these places
If you are so inclined, we would love to publish thoughtful stories that weave current news with your own experience recreating on that land
Photo guidelines
high resolution
JPEG/PNG
300 dpi (minimum)
If you are still unsure about an idea or finished piece of writing, pitch us anyways and we can work together.
**Please note, we are currently unable to pay our contributors, but are working toward that goal by connecting with more brands and supporters**