BABYBUG®, a look-and-listen magazine, presents simple poems, stories, nonfiction, and activities that reflect the natural playfulness and curiosity of babies and toddlers. When reviewing submissions, the editors look for manuscripts that please the ear and beg to be read again, as well as those that capture a baby’s ongoing discoveries in a few simple, concrete sentences.

We are particularly interested in manuscripts that explore simple concepts, encourage very young children’s imaginative play, and provide opportunities for adult readers and babies to interact. We welcome work that reflects diverse family cultures and traditions. 

Calls for Submissions: 

General submissions are always open. 

Check back soon for more calls for submissions!

Guidelines

Before submitting, be sure to familiarize yourself with our magazines. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store, or you can order a current issue by calling 800-821-0115.) Issues are also available at many local libraries.

While BABYBUG does not distribute theme lists for upcoming issues, below you will find a list of some (but by no means all) topics of interest to the magazine’s editors and readers.

• Babies’ and toddlers’ relationships with others (immediate and extended family members, caregivers, other babies and older children)
• Relationships with animals (pets, wild creatures, imaginary animals, etc.)
• Learning new things (rolling, crawling, standing, walking, dancing, feeding oneself, talking, joking, singing, holding/using crayons and other art materials)
• Daily routines
• Becoming independent and saying no
• Imitating adults and helping with household chores
• Young children’s observations of their surroundings (home and childcare settings, neighborhood and city life, the natural world, familiar places like libraries and stores)
• Favorite games and toys
• Wordplay and silly situations that babies and toddlers find funny

Poetry

Rhythmic and rhyming, poems may explore a baby’s day, or they may be more whimsical.

Length: Eight-line maximum.

Stories

Although they are simple and clear, successful BABYBUG stories often end with a gentle or humorous surprise.
Length: Six-sentence maximum.

First Concepts

BABYBUG often features a “first concept,” a playful take on a simple idea. Concepts may be expressed through poems, stories, very short nonfiction, or prompts for simple activities. Please see recent issues for examples.

Procedure

• We only accept online submissions, and the Submittable page you're currently on is the only place we accept them. We do not accept hard-copy submissions or email submissions. Submittable accepts international submissions.
• Please do not email submissions to editors or Customer Service.

Cricket Media’s literary magazines (BABYBUG®, LADYBUG®, SPIDER®, and CRICKET®) will consider all manuscripts that are sent on speculation. We do not accept queries. Please submit a complete manuscript. (Manuscript should be submitted as a .doc, .docx, .txt, or .rtf file.) Fiction and nonfiction manuscripts should include an exact word count; poetry manuscripts should include an exact line count. Include full contact information: phone, email, and mailing address.

 Please allow up to 3–6 months response time.

 Questions may be directed to our email at submissions@cricketmedia.com.

What Happens Next?

The Manuscript Review Process

• After manuscripts are received, they are reviewed by first readers. First readers consider each submission’s literary potential and whether it might be a good fit for one of our magazines.
• Promising submissions are then carefully reviewed by several editors, including the magazine’s editor.
• The magazine editor makes a final decision on whether to reject or accept the manuscript. For manuscripts that show some promise but need further development, the editor may write the author to request revisions on speculation.

After Acceptance

• If we accept your manuscript, we will send you an acceptance letter detailing payment and rights
  information and any revisions we would like you to make (which acceptance shall only be binding upon your signing a final agreement that embodies agreed-upon rights and terms).
• Once we’ve received your revisions, we carefully line edit the manuscript. The manuscript is then returned for your review. We work closely with our writers to bring out the best in each story, essay, and poem.
• Once the manuscript is edited, it will be kept on file until it is assigned to an issue. Because we work 6–8 months ahead of each issue, it can be a year or more before a manuscript is placed.

Rights

• Stories and poems previously unpublished: Rights vary.
• Stories and poems previously published: BABYBUG purchases second publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first publication rights.

Rates

• Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word
• Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum

Art Submissions

See our submission guidelines for artists.

 

LADYBUG®, a literary magazine for young children, features original stories, poetry, nonfiction, and activities written by the world’s best children’s authors—both known and new. When reviewing submissions, the editors look for clear and beautiful language, a sense of joy and wonder, and a genuinely childlike point of view.

We have particular interests in stories that explore themes of identity (gender, race and ethnicity, neighborhoods, beliefs and traditions); citizenship and global cultures; scientific and technological exploration; and the creative spirit.

Calls for Submissions:

General submissions are always open. 

Check back soon for more calls for submissions!

Guidelines

Before submitting, be sure to familiarize yourself with our magazines. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store, or you can order a current issue by calling 800-821-0115.) Issues are also available at many local libraries. LADYBUG does not distribute theme lists for upcoming issues.

Fiction

LADYBUG publishes finely crafted and imaginative contemporary stories, original retellings of folk and fairy tales, and funny pieces with human characters or anthropomorphic animals. City settings and stories that take place outside the United States are especially welcome, as well as subject matter that appeals to both boys and girls.

Length: Stories may be up to 800 words, but significantly shorter manuscripts are accepted, and are often appropriate for LADYBUG’s young readers. We are also interested in rebus stories up to 200 words.

Poetry

Poems are generally rhythmic/rhyming; the tone may be serious or humorous. While we accept poems about seasons and the natural world, at this time we are actively looking for poetry that explores young children’s daily lives and their emotions and imaginations. We are also interested in action rhymes (energetic poems that call for physical movement).

Length: Poems may be up to 20 lines in length; on rare occasions, longer narrative poems are accepted.

Nonfiction

The editors seek simple explorations of interesting places in a young child's world (such as the library and the post office), different cultures, nature, and science. These articles can be straight nonfiction, or they may include story elements, such as a fictional child narrator.

Length: Nonfiction may be up to 400 words; backup materials and photo references may be requested upon acceptance.

Activities and Games

LADYBUG publishes unusual and imaginative activities, riddles, games, and crafts. Please see past issues for models and inspiration.

Songs

We seek playful, engaging original songs. Songs should be lively and interesting, yet simple and short enough for a young child to sing or play on a keyboard with help from a caregiver with some musical background. Original songs (lyrics and a melody line that may include chords) can be uploaded as PDFs. Please see past issues for examples.

Procedure

• We only accept online submissions, and the Submittable page you're currently on is the only place we accept them. We do not accept hard-copy submissions or email submissions. Please submit online via Submittable. Submittable accepts international submissions.
• Please do not email submissions to editors or Customer Service.

Cricket Media’s literary magazines (BABYBUG®, LADYBUG®, SPIDER®, and CRICKET®) will consider all manuscripts that are sent on speculation. We do not accept queries. Please submit a complete manuscript. (Manuscript should be submitted as a .doc, .docx, .txt, or .rtf file.) Fiction and nonfiction manuscripts should include an exact word count; poetry manuscripts should include an exact line count. Include full contact information: phone, email, and mailing address.

Please allow up to 3–6 months response time.

Questions may be directed to our email at submissions@cricketmedia.com.

What Happens Next? 

The Manuscript Review Process

• After manuscripts are received, they are reviewed by first readers. First readers consider each submission’s literary potential and whether it might be a good fit for one of our magazines.
• Promising submissions are then carefully reviewed by several editors, including the magazine’s editor.
• The magazine editor makes a final decision on whether to reject or accept the manuscript. For manuscripts that show some promise but need further development, the editor may write the author to request revisions on speculation.

After Acceptance 

• If we accept your manuscript, we will send you an acceptance letter detailing payment and rights information and any revisions we would like you to make (which acceptance shall only be binding upon your signing a final agreement that embodies agreed-upon rights and terms).
• Once we’ve received your revisions, we carefully line edit the manuscript. The manuscript is then returned for your review. We work closely with our writers to bring out the best in each story, essay, and poem.
• Once the manuscript is edited, it will be kept on file until it is assigned to an issue. Because we work 6–8 months ahead of each issue, it can be a year or more before a manuscript is placed.

Rights

• Stories and poems previously unpublished: Rights vary.
• Stories and poems previously published: LADYBUG purchases second publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first publication rights.

Rates

• Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word
• Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum

Art Submissions 

See our submission guidelines for artists.

 

SPIDER®, a literary magazine for children, features fresh and engaging literature, poems, articles, and activities for newly independent readers. Editors seek energetic, beautifully crafted submissions with strong “kid appeal” (an elusive yet recognizable quality, often tied to high-interest elements such as humor, adventure, and suspense).

We have particular interests in stories that explore themes of identity (gender expression, ability, race and ethnicity, family structure including LGBTQAI+ and single parent homes, neighborhoods, beliefs, and traditions); global cultures and languages; scientific and technological exploration and innovation; magical or interplanetary landscapes; cities and metropolitan areas; real kids doing real things; weird and sometimes gross stuff; and the creative spirit.

Calls for Submissions: 

General submissions are always open. 

Guidelines

Before submitting, be sure to familiarize yourself with our magazines. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store, or you can order a current issue by calling 800-821-0115.)  Issues are also available at many local libraries.

Fiction Stories and Plays

We seek fiction of all kinds: fantasy, folk or fairytale, sci-fi, historical, humorous, or realistic. Whether the setting is long-ago or contemporary, or the protagonist is a shy newcomer, clever trickster, class clown, fantasy creature, or superhero, characters and the worlds they inhabit should be complex and believable. Plays should have 2–6 characters so that a child could feasibly perform the play at home with family or friends.

Length: 300–1000 words

Poetry

Poems should be succinct, imaginative, and accessible; we tend to avoid long narrative poems.

Length: Up to 20 lines

Nonfiction Articles

For nonfiction, SPIDER readers enjoy well-researched articles about animals, kids their own age doing amazing things, women and people of color, and cool scientific discoveries (such as wetsuits for penguins and real-life invisibility cloaks). Nonfiction articles should rise above a simple list of facts; we look for kid-friendly nonfiction shaped into an engaging narrative.

Length: 300–800 words

Crafts and Activities

We also appreciate clever crafts, recipes, games, and puzzles; however, please submit only activities that a reader would be able to perform with minimal parental assistance.

Length: 1–2 pages

Procedure

• We only accept online submissions, and the Submittable page you're currently on is the only place we accept them. We do not accept hard-copy submissions or email submissions. Submittable accepts international submissions.
• Please do not email submissions to editors or Customer Service.

Cricket Media’s literary magazines (BABYBUG®, LADYBUG®, SPIDER®, and CRICKET®) will consider all manuscripts that are sent on speculation. We do not accept queries. Please submit a complete manuscript. (Manuscript should be submitted as a .doc, .docx, .txt, or .rtf file.) Fiction and nonfiction manuscripts should include an exact word count; poetry manuscripts should include an exact line count. Include full contact information: phone, email, and mailing address. 

Please allow up to 3–6 months response time.

Questions may be directed to our email at submissions@cricketmedia.com. 

What Happens Next?

The Manuscript Review Process

• After manuscripts are received, they are reviewed by first readers. First readers consider each submission’s literary potential and whether it might be a good fit for one of our magazines.
• Promising submissions are then carefully reviewed by several editors, including the magazine’s editor.
• The magazine editor makes a final decision on whether to reject or accept the manuscript. For manuscripts that show some promise but need further development, the editor may write the author to request revisions on speculation.

After Acceptance

• If we accept your manuscript, we will send you an acceptance letter detailing payment and rights information and any revisions we would like you to make (which acceptance shall only be binding upon your signing a final agreement that embodies agreed-upon rights and terms).
• Once we’ve received your revisions, we carefully line edit the manuscript. The manuscript is then returned for your review. We work closely with our writers to bring out the best in each story, essay, and poem.
• Once the manuscript is edited, it will be kept on file until it is assigned to an issue. Because we work 6–8 months ahead of each issue, it can be a year or more before a manuscript is placed.

Rights

• Stories and poems previously unpublished: Rights vary.
• Stories and poems previously published: SPIDER purchases second publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first publication rights.

Rates

• Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word
• Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum
• Activities, games, and recipes: $75.00 flat rate

Art Submissions

See our submission guidelines for artists.

CRICKET® magazine seeks to publish the highest quality fiction, poetry, and literary nonfiction to engage our audience of enthusiastic young readers. Editors consider unsolicited submissions from writers of every level of experience. Since its founding in 1973, CRICKET has published some of the most respected writers of children’s literature. It is also a wonderful opportunity for promising new writers to showcase their best work.

CRICKET does not distribute theme lists for upcoming issues. However, we have particular interests in stories that explore themes of identity (gender, race and ethnicity, neighborhoods, beliefs and traditions); citizenship and global cultures; scientific and technological exploration; and the creative spirit.

Calls for Submissions: 

General submissions are always open. 

Guidelines

Before submitting, be sure to familiarize yourself with our magazines. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store, or you can order a current issue by calling 800-821-0115.) Issues are also available at many local libraries.

Fiction

CRICKET is interested in realistic contemporary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, folk tales, myths and legends, and humor. No matter what genre, the author should first and foremost tell a good story that is well plotted, character-driven, and has a satisfying conclusion.

Folk tales, myths, and legends, especially lesser known ones from non-Western cultures, are always welcome in CRICKET. Retold tales need to be re-imagined with the same liveliness and detail of character as original stories. Please include a bibliography of sources for retold tales.

Sci-fi and fantasy manuscripts, besides being clever and imaginative, should tell a solid story with well-drawn characters. Stories featuring adventurous main characters in the age-range of CRICKET readers are most likely to succeed. CRICKET is enthusiastic about sci-fi and fantasy with a human touch, but is not a venue for excessively dystopian or warlike fantasy stories.

Historical fiction, a mainstay of CRICKET, should recreate a world accurately but with a primary focus on an energetic plot and robust characters. While modern kids no longer attend one-room schoolhouses, plow fields, or resist Roman invasions, your story should transport them across the historical divide to identify with timeless challenges of growing up and taking on responsibilities.

Contemporary realistic fiction may be light-hearted or serious. Stories typically feature lively and sympathetic main characters within the age range of our subscribers. Protagonists tend to be curious and sincere, functioning mainly within a kid’s world as they struggle to find a path through the sometimes-hilarious challenges of everyday life.

Keep in mind that CRICKET is aimed at middle-grade readers, a somewhat more protected stage than young adult. Innocent romance is welcome, but not sexual situations. Families in CRICKET can reflect the realities of contemporary life (e.g., latchkey kids, divorced parents) but not seriously disturbing situations or abuse.

CRICKET readers want to read about characters who are actively meeting their own challenges—not passively relying on the intervention of adults to solve problems of friends, family, and school. Even if not fully successful, characters in CRICKET at least progress in coming to terms with themselves and life.

Tips: A story should be a fully realized sequence of scenes and action – not just a sketch or vignette or image—with tension and dynamism between characters. Most CRICKET stories present a balance of dialogue and description. Dialogue should be natural and interesting, and avoid speechifying. Stories should “show, not tell”—that is, present scenes and reveal character through dialogue and action, not summary narration.

Stories giving our mostly American audience insight into diverse cultures are especially welcome.

Length: Most CRICKET stories are 1200–1800 words in length; however, we occasionally serialize compelling longer stories of up to 6,000 words. Submissions above this length will not be read. Authors of longer works are encouraged to submit excerpts, provided that these excerpts are under 6,000 words. We also need shorter pieces of 600–900 words.

Nonfiction

CRICKET publishes thought-provoking nonfiction articles on a wide range of subjects: history, biography, true adventure, science and technology, sports, inventors and explorers, architecture and engineering, archaeology, dance, music, theater, and art. Articles should be carefully researched and include a solid bibliography that shows that research has gone beyond reviewing websites.

Tips: Unlike a textbook or encyclopedia, CRICKET articles humanize history and discovery by telling a story clarifying how inventors and pioneers solved their problems and overcame difficulties. Including childhood anecdotes often helps our readers identify with people of great accomplishment.

Length: 1200–1800 words 

Poetry

CRICKET publishes both serious and humorous poetry. Poems should be well-crafted, with precise and vivid language and images. Poems can explore a variety of themes, from nature, to family and friendships, to whatever you can imagine that will delight our readers and invite their wonder and emotional response.

Tips: Keep in mind that CRICKET is for pre-teen and early teens, young but thoughtful, curious readers. Poetry should feel contemporary, never singsong or moralizing.

Length: Most CRICKET poems are 8–15 lines, but can be as short as 3 lines or up to 35 lines. Please submit each poem individually. Do not combine them.

Puzzles, Crafts, Activities

CRICKET readers enjoy logic and math puzzles, crafts, recipes, science experiments, as well as games and activities from different historical times and cultures.
 

Procedure

• We only accept online submissions, and the Submittable page you're currently on is the only place we accept them. We do not accept hard-copy submissions or email submissions. Submittable accepts international submissions.
• Please do not email submissions to editors or Customer Service.

Cricket Media's literary magazines (BABYBUG®, LADYBUG®, SPIDER®, and CRICKET®) will consider all manuscripts that are sent on speculation. We do not accept queries. Please submit a complete manuscript. (Manuscript should be submitted as a .doc, .docx, .txt, or .rtf file.) Fiction and nonfiction manuscripts should include an exact word count; poetry manuscripts should include an exact line count. Include full contact information: phone, email, and mailing address.

Please allow up to 3–6 months response time.

Questions may be directed to our email at submissions@cricketmedia.com.
 

What Happens Next?

The Manuscript Review Process

• After manuscripts are received, they are reviewed by first readers. First readers consider each submission’s literary potential and whether it might be a good fit for one of our magazines.
• Promising submissions are then carefully reviewed by several editors, including the magazine’s editor.
• The magazine editor makes a final decision on whether to reject or accept the manuscript. For manuscripts that show some promise but need further development, the editor may write the author to request revisions on speculation.

After Acceptance

• If we accept your manuscript, we will send you an acceptance letter detailing payment and rights information and any revisions we would like you to make (which acceptance shall only be binding upon your signing a final agreement that embodies agreed-upon rights and terms).
• Once we’ve received your revisions, we carefully line edit the manuscript. The manuscript is then returned for your review. We work closely with our writers to bring out the best in each story, essay, and poem.
• Once the manuscript is edited, it will be kept on file until it is assigned to an issue. Because we work 6–8 months ahead of each issue, it can be a year or more before a manuscript is placed.
   

Rights

• Stories and poems previously unpublished: Rights vary.
• Stories and poems previously published: CRICKET purchases second publication rights. Fees vary, but are generally less than fees for first publication rights.

Rates

• Stories and articles: up to 25¢ per word
• Poems: up to $3.00 per line; $25.00 minimum
• Activities and recipes: $75.00 flat rate
   

Art Submissions

See our submission guidelines for artists.

ASK® is a nonfiction magazine for children 7–10 years old who are curious about science and the world they live in. Each edition of ASK is built around a central theme or question. 

ASK introduces kids to the joys of thinking and questioning scientifically, and presumes them to be active members of the international community of knowledge-seekers. The ideal ASK article is an engaging nonfiction story (or cartoon) that is concrete, specific, and appealing to newly independent readers (grades 3–5), but that an adult reader might also find interesting. Above all, it should tell a good story, with an emphasis on ideas and problem-solving rather than just facts. ASK encourages humor, and believes that no topic is beyond the grasp of an intelligent young person if explained well in lively terms.

ASK encourages writers to stretch the boundaries of topic themes and look for interesting perspectives and unexpected connections. We also love science cartoons.

We particularly welcome writers from traditionally underrepresented communities and diverse life experiences.

Guidelines

All articles in ASK are commissioned; ASK welcomes queries for articles for upcoming themes (see table below). Queries should give an overview of the proposed article, including scope and treatment, resources, and a draft opening paragraph. For cartoons, please provide a rough script, sketches for the first few panels, and one finished or a link to your finished work. Writers new to ASK should also provide a resume and two writing samples, including at least 200 words of unedited copy on any nonfiction topic.

Authors are expected to ensure that all content is scientifically correct in both conception and detail, and drafts should include a full list of references and sources consulted. Authors wishing to write for ASK should consult any past copy to get a sense of the tone, style, and range of articles. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store, where you can also purchase a current issue.) Issues are also available at many local libraries.

• Feature Articles (400–1200 words, with sidebars)
• Photo Essays (400–800 words)
• Humor Pieces (200–400 words)
• Profiles/Interviews of Scientists, Inventors, Engineers, Artists (200–1000 words)
• Theme-appropriate experiments
• Science panel cartoons (2–6 pages)

Procedure

Story pitches should be submitted on the Submittable page you're currently on, or emailed to ask@cricketmedia.com. We do not accept hard-copy submissions or queries. Submittable accepts international submissions.

Rights

• Articles previously unpublished: Rights vary, with option for authors to retain copyright.
• Articles previously published: ASK purchases second publication rights.

Queries and Questions

Queries and questions should be submitted through our Submittable page. Pitches can also be directed to ask@cricketmedia.com. Authors are also encouraged to check the ASK author’s page for current edition status, needs, and updates from the editor.

Art Submissions

See our submission guidelines for artists

2023 Issue Themes

We are looking for  pitches for interesting, current, particular stories in the following  topics, that will be particularly thrilling to kid readers who are curious about everything.

January 2024: Crazy Colors

Where do colors come from? Can we find more?

Possible story ideas: Interview with pigment scientist, cartoon colorist, or other color-involved profession; designing better LEDs; how color-changing lights work; inventing a new color; tour of paint or crayon factory; other fun color stories? 

Queries by: Apr 30, 2023

February 2024:  Wolf in the House

How did people become friends with dogs?

Possible story ideas: Domestication experiments; canid family tree; breed vs. species; making dog food; jobs for dogs; return of the wolves; what about the coyotes; how to speak dog

Queries by: May 15, 2023

March 2024: Eclipse!

Coming April 8 to a continent near you! What are eclipses, and how can you see one? 

Possible story ideas: Interview with solar physicist; past eclipse stories; how did ancient civilizations predict eclipses?; puzzle of the solar corona; safe eclipse viewing; solar telescopes

Queries by: Jun 15, 2023

April 2024:  Fancy Feet

How much joy can your feet give you?

Possible story ideas: Interview with a dancer of any style; interview with shoe engineer/designer; shoes for different jobs; anthropology of running; psychology/sociology of dance; animal dancing; other stories about dancing and feet?

Queries by: Jul 15, 2023

May/June 2024:  Wild in the City

Can wild animals make a home in the big city?

Possible story ideas: profile of a species adapting in a city; parks as refuges; cities and bird migration; why do some species do better in cities; problem species; and let's not forget plants and invertebrates!

Queries by: Aug 15, 2023

July/August 2024:  Two of Us 

What's special about twins? 

Possible story ideas: Biology of twinship; profile/interview of a famous or  interesting set of twins; animal twins; twins and clones; dopplegangers;  epigenetics 

Queries by: Sept 15, 2023 

September 2024:  Secrets of Lunch 

Is there amazing science inside your favorite treats? 

Possible story ideas: Cooking for a crowd (restaurant/cafeteria); how something  is made in a factory or farm (cereal, cheese, pretzels, etc.); lunch  around the world; food advertising; food chemistry, other surprising  stories about lunch? 

Queries by: Nov 30, 2023 

October 2024:  Shipwrecked  

Why do big ships sink? And what happens then? 

Possible story ideas: Finding Endurance or other shipwreck that is not Titanic;  science of undersea salvage or profile of salvage scientist; what  historians learn from old cargo; shipworms; robot ships; how big ships  get through small canals (or, don't) 

Queries by: Jan 15, 2024 

November/December 2024:  Make It Yourself 

What's better than a present you make yourself? 

Possible story ideas: Quirky or interesting DIY inventors; how a 3D printer  works, and what it can do; 3D printed, mail order, and flat-pack houses;  projects 8 year old kids can make and give to friends and family. 

Queries by: Feb 29, 2024

MUSE® is a discovery magazine for children and teens. It takes intellectual curiosity seriously, while never taking itself too seriously. The editors seek fresh and entertaining articles from the fields of science, technology, engineering, art, and math. Timeliness and trustworthiness are essential, but humor, irreverence, and atypical angles are also hallmarks of MUSE.

Each edition of MUSE focuses on a central theme and open-ended organizing questions about the theme. Although articles will provide different angles and perspectives on a theme, we aim for every article in an issue to help a reader begin to form at least an initial answer to the organizing questions.

Ideal MUSE articles build on and extend the existing knowledge most young people in grades 4–8 have. We value articles that feature innovators, scientists, and engineers who can explain what they’ve done in a clear and understandable way. Articles that explore new developments related to the organizing questions are especially welcome.

We seek articles that describe how things and processes work, and we look for claims or assertions to be backed up with evidence.  

Guidelines

Interested writers should familiarize themselves with MUSE’s style and content, particularly in recent issues. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store where you can also purchase a current issue.) Issues are also available at many local libraries. Authors are expected to ensure accuracy in both conception and detail. MUSE purchases all rights to materials. 

• Feature Articles (800–2,000 words, including sidebars)
• Profiles and Interviews, particularly of underrepresented STEM professionals (500–800 words)
• Activities and Experiments (500–800 words)
• Photo Essays (100–300 words)
• Science Fiction or Science-Focused Fiction (800–1,200 words )
• Infographics 

Procedure

Articles are commissioned. We invite detailed queries for articles related to upcoming themes (see below). Detailed queries include a cover letter, an outline of the proposed article, including scope and treatment, and proposed resources. Writers new to MUSE should also provide a resume and writing sample. Authors wishing to write an article that belongs in MUSE but doesn’t fit posted themes may submit an abbreviated pitch that conveys the idea in a paragraph or two. No unsolicited manuscripts please.

Pitch here on this Submittable page (the editors’ preference) or via email to muse@cricketmedia.com. If emailing, include the word “QUERY” and the issue’s month/theme in the subject line.

Art Submissions

See our submission guidelines for artists.

2024 January-May Issue Themes

January: ICE-COLD

The wonders and perils of ice

Glaciers and climate change, endangered species in the Arctic, new findings and insights about Ice Age animals, International Iceberg Patrol, ice bridges, ice skating/dancing, ice hockey, bobsleigh, sports medicine, pagophagia, the “new type” of ice, ice experiments for kids, ice hotels, ice sculptures

Queries by June 15, 2023.

February: BOT TALK

The brave new world of bots, nanobots, and robots

The latest innovations and future of artificial Intelligence and ChatGPT and other chatbots, advances and consciousness in robots, human vs. robot/bot capabilities, nanobots in medicine and the environment, microchips and how they are manufactured, robot swarms in space exploration, swimming robots and the search for extraterrestrial life

Queries by July 17, 2023.

March: MOONS ASCENDING

A look at recent and upcoming Moon missions, the latest insights about moons, and how to safely experience the April total solar eclipse 

Artemis II Moon mission and goals, astronaut profiles, China’s Moon mission program, Chang’e-5 2022 water finding, Caltech and JPL’s upcoming Lunar Trailblazer water survey, SOFIA findings and VIPER mission, Jupiter moon news, Europa and Ganymede and Enceladus and the possibility of extraterrestrial life, Moon charts/calendars, eclipses, the April 8, 2024 total solar eclipse and where and how to view it safely 

Queries by August 15, 2023.

April: THE LATEST ON GREAT APES

What we know about our cousins and how they’re faring

Gorillas, chimpanzees, orangutans, bonobos, loss of forest habitat, endangered status, humans, the latest research, apes’ use of tools, ape play and spinning, ape communication, ape “cultures,” use of drones in studying apes, rehabilitation centers, apes in experiments, famous apes, ape researchers

Queries by Sept. 15, 2023.

May/June: MAKING MOVIE MAGIC

A peek behind the scenes of spectacular films

Visual effects and the use of green screens, special effects, the use of models, motion control, costume design, effects make-up, cinematography, analysis of notable effects scenes, sound design, soundtracks, songwriting, screenwriting, multiverses, science fiction, making monsters, twins, flying, the people and technology behind the work, actors and stunt doubles, cinematic television shows and movies, the future of movies and movie effects

Queries by Oct. 16, 2023.

July/August: THE SPIRIT OF THE SUMMER GAMES

The science of sport and the role of the competitor, with a focus on the Summer Olympic Games

World  records and Olympic records; individual vs. team sports at the Summer  Olympics; physics in various sports; biomechanics and sport science; odd  but effective techniques like the Fosbury flop; chemistry and the use  of performance-enhancing drugs; training, dedication, and the essence of  competition; inspiring sports stories; interview/profile with an  Olympic coach or athlete; interview/profile with a Paralympian

Queries by December 15, 2023.

September: WHOO NEADS PURFECTION?

Upsides to failure and error

The  long-term benefits of failure; failure as an element of the scientific  process and discovery; different outcomes from scientific studies and  the importance of scientific research; open science; happy accidents;  fun activity relating to mistakes; the pursuit of excellence vs.  perfection in the arts; profile of an imperfect but significant  scientist, engineer, or tech leader; interview/profile with a scientist  who has embraced failure; one or some of science’s biggest mistakes

Queries by January 15, 2024.

October: BY BLOOD

The role and importance of blood in human and non-human animals, and the latest medical developments relating to blood

Blood  in medicine, including blood transfusions, blood storage, blood banks;  Charles Drew’s story; a medical story about the heart; blood’s role in  disease and progress made in combatting a disease relating to blood;  blood basics; blood in animals, and blue blood and yellow blood; insects  that crave blood; fake blood used in movies and for Halloween;  interview/profile with a hematologist or blood researcher

Queries by February 15, 2024.

November/December: CONSERVATION

How can we preserve and protect our natural world?

Conservation  of natural resources, the environment, wildlife; conservation success  stories; conservation challenges; in-situ and ex-situ conservation;  clean energy adoption; how protected areas come to be; tree-planting  efforts to mitigate heat and climate change; sustainability for future  generations; stories about biodiversity; art and the beauty of nature;  citizen science in conservation; the benefits of creativity in  problem-solving; interview/profile with a conservation leader

Queries by March 15, 2024.