GUIDELINES FOR CONTRIBUTORS to History Ireland
January 2021
Style (‘As simple as possible but no simpler’). We at History Ireland are dedicated to view that the highest academic standards are not incompatible with witty, pithy, well-written prose. We love our history, as does our diverse, worldwide readership. But they are demanding—they want to be entertained, challenged, provoked; they have a low tolerance for boring, badly written or jargon-laden material.
Word limits (‘Less is more’). Articles can be short (c. 1200 words = 2 pages), medium (c. 1700 words = 3 pages), standard (c. 2200 words = 4 pages). The editor will advise on the appropriate word limits depending on the topic. Where these are breached he is not afraid to wield the axe (on the text, not the contributor!). We also have room for short c.800-word news-related or topical articles. Final drafts will be sent to contributors for approval.
Visuals. Remember that History Ireland is an illustrated magazine. It jostles for attention on the newsstands with all the other glossy magazines. Submissions should be accompanied by illustrations (at least 1 per 500 words), including as much top-quality colour as possible, or suggestions for illustrations. Images downloaded from the internet are usually not suitable for printing. Scanned images should be supplied at 300dpi at 190mm wide (landscape) or 300dpi at 190mm high (portrait). If you are providing images to be scanned from previously printed material (books, magazine or newspaper articles) please consult us first before scanning yourself. HI will reimburse for any reasonable expenses involved.
Further reading & bio. History Ireland is a magazine not an academic journal so we dispense with the usual academic apparatus of footnotes and extensive bibliographies, etc., apart from a ‘further reading’ list of not more than four general works (i.e. not unpublished theses or articles in obscure journals): author, title, year, place of publication and a 1-line bio of the author (e.g. Joe Bloggs lectures in Irish history at University College Dublin).
Submissions. By e-mail attachment only to editor@historyireland.com. Label attachments clearly with the subject i.e. NOT ‘History Ireland article’. Submissions should be accompanied by full contact details—phone numbers, e-mail, & full postal address on the attached article.
Reviews. Reviews (c.950 words) should tell the reader (briefly) what the book is about, where it fits into current scholarship, its strengths and weaknesses, and why the reader should buy it or not. Remember to give the full title (including any subtitle), publisher, year of publication, number of pages, price (stipulating hardback or paperback) and ISBN number. Each issue will also carry an essay in review, ‘The Big Book(s)’, c. 1850 words.
Platform. Do you have a bee in your bonnet about some history-related topic? Get it off your chest in our Platform slot (c.1200 words).
History in the news. Keep in touch. Let us know what’s happening in your area. Submit details of your local history society for free listing in our Events column (events@historyireland.com). If it’s history-related, we’re interested, either as written up short pieces (c.800 words + picture) or the basic facts to be written up by our roving reporter.
Deadlines
Jan/Feb: 15 Oct
March/April: 15 Jan
May/June: 1 March
July/Aug: 1 May
Sept/Oct: 1 July
Nov/Dec: 1 Sept
Payment and copyright. Payment (apart from the honour and glory of appearing in Ireland’s only mass-circulation history magazine) is in the form of a 1-year subscription (6 issues) + 5 copies of the issue in which the article appears. Copyright remains with the author.
Our contact details
History Ireland
c/o 6 Palmerston Place
Dublin 7
Ireland
+353 (0)87 6889412