Everywhere Magazine: Frequently asked questions

“Discovering” places

I’ve “discovered” a dozen new places on the website. Am I awesome, or what?

You may well be awesome, but quality counts more than quantity. Creating places is important, but what matters most is what you have to say about the place based on your experiences there. So if you create a place, and you really loved it, tell us about that, either in a postcard, an article, or a detailed photo caption.

Writing postcards

What’s the deal with postcards? What are they?

A postcard is basically a comment about a specific place. We call them postcards because we’re looking for something more than just a few words along the lines of “this place rocks” or “this place sucks.” A postcard is meant to be like a postcard you’d write while on vacation. It should provide some detail about your experience at the place: where you went, what you were doing, what you saw, and what made the place memorable.

Why should I bother writing postcards?

Simple: Writing a good postcard is probably the easiest way to get published in Everywhere. In fact, there’s a whole section of the magazine devoted to postcards. You don’t have to write a lot in a postcard, but a one-sentence Postcard (“I had fun here!”) won’t do you much good either. Ideally, a postcard should tell a short story about your experience at the place, so something about a paragraph long is ideal.

Isn’t writing a postcard kinda the same thing as writing a place description?

Nope. Place descriptions are meant to be generic summaries of a place: What it is, what it offers, and basic travel details. If you’re creating a new place on the website, your best bet is to write a basic description during the “create a place” process, and then add a Postcard that describes your experience at the place in greater detail. Of course, postcards may be written by anyone, not just the creator of the place. We do not plan to publish place descriptions in the magazine, but we do plan to publish lots and lots of postcards.

Writing articles

I’m a great writer, but a horrible photographer. Can I still get published?

Absolutely. Because Everywhere is a travel magazine, not a photography magazine, we can always pair your excellent words with an excellent photograph from someone else in the Everywhere community. So, for example, if you’ve been to Grand Canyon National Park, but you didn’t take any pictures during your visit, don’t let that hold you back. Write a postcard or an article about your visit. If the Everywhere community likes your excellent prose, we’ll pair your words with some equally excellent photography from another member of the community.

Uploading photos

I’m a great photographer, but I can’t write. Can I still get published?

Yes, but remember that Everywhere is a travel magazine, not a photography magazine. Travel magazines are meant to be read, not just looked at, so photographs that include some extended caption text are generally more likely to be published than those that simply include a basic title or label. (See our suggestions on how to write postcards, above.) Don’t be intimidated: We’re not looking for perfect prose, but we are looking for enthusiasm and descriptive detail. A few words can make a very big difference: Sometimes a good caption will transform a mediocre travel snapshot into a publishable gem - if the text turns the photo into fun a little story.

I can’t upload. It says my photos are too small. What’s up with that?

If you’re shooting digital, make sure your camera is set to the highest possible resolution. Make sure your camera is capable of taking pictures that are at least 6 megapixels. We require images to be at least 2000 pixels wide or tall. If you’re scanning film, make sure you’re scanning it at a high (print) resolution.

Why do photos have to be 2000 pixels wide or tall?

To make sure your photos look good in print, we require that all uploads be 2000 pixels wide or tall. And remember, that’s just the minimum. The bigger the image size, the bigger we can print it in the magazine. When it comes to megapixels, the bigger the better! Or more accurately, the more the merrier!

Can I submit scans from film?

Of course! We love film. Just make sure the photo meets all the photo guidelines.

Why can’t I submit a photo to more than one theme? Why can’t I submit more than one photo to a theme? Why can’t I upload more than 20 photos a day?

The answer to all three questions is the same: Because we want you to be selective. Photo editing is as much of a skill as photo taking, and we don’t want to be yet another dumping ground for photos. We want you to upload and submit your best photos.

I’m having problems uploading my photo.

Sometimes your connection can time out with very large files, so you could try making the file smaller by saving it at a lower quality setting (more compressed).

I uploaded a photo and it disappeared.

We routinely delete photos that do not meet our photo guidelines. If your photo is deleted, we’ll send you an email notifying you about it, so be sure to check your email. If you do not see a message from us, check your spam/junk box and make sure your email address is set correctly in your profile.

What about copyright?

You retain all rights to your work. By submitting your work here, you grant Everywhere Magazine the right to do the following things with your photo: display in on Everywheremag.com, print it in Everywhere Magazine, and use it in the promotion of Everywhere Magazine. You may also receive an invitation to participate in an Everywhere gallery show or book - we’re always looking for ways to promote our awesome community.

Do I need model releases?

No, you do not need to have releases from people in your photos because Everywhere Magazine is editorial. But be cool! If someone does not want their photo taken, you should probably respect that.

What about nudity?

Everywhere is a travel magazine. Naturally, we don’t accept any overt nudity.

How do I edit, submit or delete a photo after uploading?

Just click the “Edit photo options” link on the photo page, just below the photo title. You must be logged in to see this link.

Rating photos and articles

How does rating work?

Every member can rate each photo in one of two ways. If a photo has been added to a place, you can rate its suitability for that place. If a photo has been submitted to a theme, you can rate whether it’s a good entry for that theme. High ratings do not guarantee publication - all photos are reviewed by the editors before publication to maintain a high quality level - but the rating absolutely helps.

How do you pick which photos and articles to publish?

Since you can submit over a period of time, photos and articles will be able to attract votes for varying amounts of time. So we don’t look at the total votes - we’ve got an algorithm that takes many factors into account: visits to the page, rating, time range, and more.

Why can I rate some photos and not others?

When a photo has been submitted to a theme, and that theme is scheduled to be included in an issue, a rating box appears for the photo. This applies to articles, too. Photos can also be rated on their suitability for a particular place. Photos that have not been added to a place or submitted to a theme can not be rated. Likewise, articles that have not been submitted to a theme can’t be rated.

Changing account information

Can I change my username?

Sorry, but your username is the one thing you cannot change.

I don’t want to receive email from Everywhere.

No problem! You can change your email preferences by clicking on the “Edit your profile” link on your Travelogue page. There’s also an unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email we send.

I want to delete my account.

Really? We’ll be sad to see you go! If you do decide to leave us, you can do so by clicking on the “Edit your profile” link on your Travelogue page.

Payments and subscriptions

Will I get paid if my stuff is accepted for publication?

Oh yes. Published contributors receive $100 and a one-year subscription to the magazine. You can receive this payment either for your words (in the form of a postcard or article), or for your photos, or both.

How long does it take to receive an issue?

It can take 4-6 weeks for Everywhere Magazine to arrive at addresses in the U.S., and up to 8 weeks for international subscribers. We know, it’s a long time - your patience is appreciated!

Frequently asked questions