HIGHLIGHTS Submisions

Highlights Magazine

Highlights is a general-interest magazine for children ages 6-12. By publishing stories, puzzles, articles, and activities that are fun and engaging, we aim to inspire kids to be their best selves–creative, curious, caring, and confident. Highlights was founded in 1946 by Dr. Garry Cleveland Myers and Caroline Clark Myers, and is still owned and run by their family. The magazine accepts no outside advertising and has no religious or organizational affiliation. Highlights has a circulation of about a million and is published monthly.

*Update 12/14/18: Please read the updated guidelines below before submitting. We are considering manuscripts on specific current needs only, which are listed below and will be updated monthly.

We do not accept work through Submittable (or through e-mail) from writers younger than 16. Young writers and artists may send their work to: Highlights for Children, 803 Church Street, Honesdale, PA 18431.

Please upload only one manuscript per submission. We welcome multiple submissions, but we prefer that each be submitted separately.

• We encourage writers to read several recent copies of Highlights before submitting work.
• We pay on acceptance, and we buy all rights, including copyright. We do not consider previously published material.
• We accept material at any time of the year, including seasonal material.
• For submissions that require research, please include references, interview transcripts or notes, correspondence with experts, and any other pertinent backup.
• Please submit each manuscript only once, to the most appropriate magazine (Highlights, High Five, or Hello), keeping in mind the different age ranges.
• Please note that after declining a submission, we delete your manuscript file. In this way, you can be assured that we are not keeping or storing creative work that we have not purchased.

Puzzles

Instructions should be concise. Playful themes and language are welcome.

Current Needs

• We need all kinds of puzzles at this time–word puzzles, visual puzzles, code puzzles, logic puzzles, and so on.
• We especially need math puzzles that are fun and don’t feel like schoolwork. For example, they might include a payoff or some enticing tidbit that makes kids want to solve the puzzle.

Payment: $40 and up

My Sci submissions

Current Needs

Photo-based features

Queries should include the topic, the angle you plan to take, and the credentials of an expert you plan to ask for a review.

Subject should lend itself well to a great photo–science “eye-candy”–to intrigue young readers. Photos do not need to be provided by the author, but the author should consider how the text might drive the choice of photo. (For example, if text about a beehive focuses on what happens inside the hive, we may not be able to find the required strong, quality image of a hive’s interior.)

If the query receives a favorable response, please follow these guidelines:

• Word limit: 100-175, which includes a short introductory paragraph and four or five full-sentence image labels. Text should have a tight focus. Labels should not merely name parts of a subject but should tell about the science involved.
• Expert review required. (Tip: You might locate potential reviewers by contacting authors of pertinent peer-reviewed research papers.)
• We especially need non-animal subjects.

Payment: $75 and up

Crafts

Crafts should have concise, numbered directions, up to 5 steps. Please submit step-by-step photos of a well-made sample of the craft.

Craft materials should be inexpensive and easy to obtain.

Crafts that celebrate holidays and religious traditions are welcome.

Current Needs

• Crafts from various cultures
• Games kids can make
• STEM activities

Payment: $40 and up

Nonfiction Articles

We are accepting only detailed queries at this time. Queries should include the proposed topic and focus as well as a list of sources and potential interview subjects.

If the query receives a favorable response, please follow these guidelines:

• Articles for beginning readers should have fewer than 400 words.
• Articles for independent readers should have fewer than 700 words.
• We prefer research based on firsthand experience, consultation with experts, and primary sources.
• Articles about cultural traditions and ways of life should reflect a deep understanding of the subject.
• We prefer biographies that are rich in quotes and anecdotes and that place the subject in a historical or cultural context.
• Digital images, if included, should be no less than 300 dpi.

Payment: $175 and up

Fiction

Stories should have an engaging plot, strong characterization, a specific setting, and lively language.

Stories for beginning readers should have fewer than 475 words and should not seem babyish to older readers.

Stories for independent readers should have fewer than 750 words and should be appealing to younger readers if read aloud.

Graphic (comic-book format) stories should have fewer than 400 words. In addition, they might include ideas for panel breaks and basic art notes.

Current Needs

• historical fiction set during periods other than World War II
• mystery stories featuring boy protagonists
• humorous stories featuring girl protagonists
• sports stories for younger readers featuring girl protagonists
• science fiction
• graphic (comic-book format) stories
• stories set in countries outside the United States. (We currently do not need stories that focus on food traditions.)
• We welcome holiday stories. We especially need Thanksgiving and Easter stories at this time. We do not need Christmas or Halloween stories.

Payment: $175 and up

Please note: Highlights magazine is not currently holding fiction contests. Any manuscripts we receive for that purpose will be reviewed as regular submissions to Highlights.

Verse

Current Needs

• We are currently in need of short verse (up to 10 lines), especially non-rhyming and/or humorous poetry.
• We are not accepting poems with nature or seasonal themes or poems about dogs at this time.

Payment: $40 and up

Cartoons

Cartoons can be single-panel or multiple-panel, black-and-white or full-color, with or without a caption, and with either human or animal characters.

Current Needs

• Cartoons that are fresh, original, and geared to kids.
• We do not need cartoons with adult characters at this time.

Payment: $40 and up for black-and-white; $50 and up for full-color

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Talk tomorrow,

Kathy