special report

Calliope

Readership: 8 to 14

SUBMISSION SPECIFICS:

SUBMISSION SPECIFICS from their guidelines:

"CALLIOPE covers world history (East / West) and we are looking for lively, original approaches to the subject. Keep in mind that our magazine is aimed at youths from ages 8 to 14…. All material must relate to the theme of a specific upcoming issue in order to be considered.

WHAT THEY WANT:

Fiction: (up to 800 words) authentic historical and biographical fiction, adventure, retold legends, relating to the theme.
Nonfiction: (feature articles, 700 - 800 words) in-depth nonfiction, plays, and biographies. (supplemental articles, 300 - 600 words) subjects directly and indirectly related to the theme. Editors like little-known information but encourage writers not to overlook the obvious.
Poetry: (up to 100 lines) Clear, objective imagery. Serious and light verse considered. Must relate to theme.
Other: Crossword and other word puzzles (NO WORD FINDS) using the vocabulary of the issue's theme. Mazes and picture puzzles that relate to the theme.

Pays on Publication. Buys all rights. Tries to respond within 12 weeks.

Queries may be submitted at any time, but queries sent well in advance of deadline MAY NOT BE ANSWERED FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. Go-aheads requesting material proposed in queries are usually sent five months prior to publication date. Unused queries will be returned approximately three to four months prior to publication date. Hard copy queries ONLY, no email to:

Editorial Department
Cobblestone Publishing
Attn: Rosalie Baker, editor
CALLIOPE
30 Grove Street, Suite C
Peterborough, NH  03458

Note: A query should include a brief cover letter (include subject, targeted theme, and word count of the proposed article along with your address and telephone number), a one-page outline detailing the information that will be presented in the article, a bibliography, and an SASE. If you have never sold to CALLIOPE before, include a sample of your writing.

ANALYSIS OF SPECIFIC ISSUE

Contents:
CALLIOPE
February 2003
Theme: Johann Gutenberg and Printing

Musings. This introduction to the issue gives the reader something to consider as he/she reads the issue contents.

Books before Printing (this article is by Paul Needham, the month's consulting editor, a librarian at Pinceton University who is an expert on the theme subject.) Hand-written books before the invention of the printing press. The article also talks about how increased literacy paved the way for the printing press. Around 650 words.

Keep It Secret. [Janet Ing Freeman, a historian who has written a book about Gutenberg] An article about how little is really know about Gutenberg and the part secrecy played in inventions before the days of patents and copyright. Around 400 words. This, and the following three articles are actually a short 4-piece biography of Gutenberg.

At Odds with Mainz [Janet Ing Freeman] A historian pieces together information to speculate about Gutenberg's family and upbringing. Around 400 words.

Investing in Mirrors [Janet Ing Freeman]. An early investment scheme of Gutenberg -- making and selling mirrors to pilgrims on a holy pilgrimage to Aachen. Gives insight into both business and spiritual life in the time. Under 500 words.

Almost There [Janet Ing Freeman] Gutenberg gets into printing and trouble with a new financial backer. Covers remaining years until Gutenberg's death. Around 400 words

The Invention [Paul Needham]. The challenges of creating a press in a hand-written world. The article outlines Gutenberg's efforts to make type look like scribe work. Then describes the press itself. 600+ words.

A Printing Press You Can Build Yourself [Nick D'Alto] Make a printing press using pipe cleaners to make type. Tools needed appear in a box with the heading "You Need:" The actual directions have a heading "Directions" and 6 subheadings, each with a couple steps. The craft also includes photos.

Fun With Words [no byline] Stories about expressions, words, and word origins -- 4 words and one expression is mentioned, each with a paragraph about it.

The Gutenberg Bible [Paul Needham]. Article mentions early printing efforts of Gutenberg's shop, then tells more about Gutenberg's need for an investor to do a massive undertaking like a Bible. It also explains that printing the Bible was only the first step, much handwork still needed to be done. Tells about the Gutenberg Bible's in existence today. Around 600 words.

Take a Closer Look [Blaise Aguera y Arcas] Short article tells how historians have analyzed the Bibles to try to guess specifics of how they were printed. 400+ words.

The Spread of Printing [Paul Needham] Tells how Gutenberg's financial backer, Furst, opened his own print shop. How Germans lead the printing world. And how long before printed material became a familiar object. Around 400 words.

Printing After Gutenberg [David Pankow] How and why printing changed after Gutenberg -- takes reader all the way through to today. 500 + words.

Types of Print [Denny Dart]. How the alphabet has changed with an activity on turning a letter into a picture. Around 200 words.

Ask CALLIOPE. Reader questions about history -- interesting look into what interests young readers.

The Full Treatment. [Scott Husby]. How preservers decide what books need to be treated, why, and how they are treated. Around 800 words.

Meet Scott Husby [no byline] A Q-and-A with a book conservator. 4 questions with one-paragraph answers.

Treating the Gryphius Editions [Scott Husby]. About efforts to conserve a collection of books printed by Gryphius in the 16th century and poorly rebound in the 1800s. About 450 words.

Wrap Your Favorite Book in a Four-Flap Wrapper [no byline] Craft, making a simple acid-free paper wrapper for a cherished book. Tools and supplies needed are listed in a box with the heading "YOU NEED:" The 5-step process is under the heading "Directions:"

Overall, CALLIOPE clearly prefers experts over lay writers, though a strong bibliography with expert sources should be able to off-set this.

This page last updated on 01 November 2004