Note: Aftermarket suppliers, program groups, manufacturers, associations and agencies are welcome to continue to send official company press releases, news and new product announcements as you have in the past. These Writer’s Guidelines do not apply to these entities — only to prospective by-lined contributors.

Thank you for your interest in writing for Counterman.

Counterman is the premier national magazine that serves the U.S. automotive aftermarket distribution channel. The magazine is read at all levels of the distribution channel, from single-store operations and multi-store chains to national retailers and program groups, as well as the headquarter locations. Articles should reflect the business interests of those who work within the light-vehicle aftermarket, particularly in distribution. We typically do not purchase stand-alone photography, although we will as part of a larger editorial package.

Although Counterman has a well-established line-up of contributors who have written for the magazine for many years, Counterman does publish unsolicited submissions from time to time. Unsolicited submissions are considered speculative, and even if we express an initial interest in a topic, that does not necessarily guarantee publication. Only manuscripts that have been given final approval in writing from the Editor will be published. It is best to email a detailed query rather than a completed manuscript.

Most Counterman features are 1,000 to 1,500 words, depending on the subject. Counterman columns and departments generally run from 500 to 800 words. If the Editor approves a topic, he will provide a rough word count at that time. Completed manuscripts are usually due one month in advance of publication. In other words, submissions for the May issue would be due in early April, but approved well before then. We buy all rights to manuscripts and must be guaranteed competitive exclusivity.

If you think you have a topic that might be of interest to the readers of Counterman, and it fits within one of the categories listed below, send a query to countermansubmissions@babcox.com. Not every submission will get a response. Check back issues (or use Counterman’s on-line search engine) to make sure that the topic you are proposing has not recently been covered. Also, click on Counterman’s Media Guide located on the website. The Media Guide includes an editorial calendar with most of the major editorial topics that will be covered for the year. We do make changes, additions, etc. to the calendar as necessary.

• Warehouse Operations
• Store Operations
• Automotive Technology
• Sales (counter and outside)
• Service Dealers
• DIY Sales & Merchandising
• Inventory Management
• General Topics Specific to the Aftermarket and/or Small Business and Business Management

What We Want:

• Clear, concise, grammatically correct writing that conforms to AP Style;
• Writers who are industry professionals or consultants familiar with the automotive aftermarket;
• Articles that conform to Counterman’s style and mission;
• Topics that are pertinent to light-vehicle aftermarket distribution;
• 'Views from the Field’ and Opinion pieces that go well beyond a simple Letter to the Editor;
• Articles that are generic in reference to manufacturers (writers may make specific reference to distributors).

What We Don’t Want:

• Product descriptions or applications;
• Testimonials;
• Personality profiles;
• Interviews;
• Motorsports;
• Inventions;
• Company profiles (although store or WD profiles are OK)

Payment

Generally, Counterman pays its contributors. Payment is upon publication, but terms of payment can be negotiated with the editor. We usually pay by the project, rather than by word count.

Payment is based on a number of factors, including the manuscript’s topic, length and the writer’s experience – both from a professional and a writing standpoint. Previous writing experience is an asset but not a requirement.

The majority of Counterman contributors are industry professionals who have expertise in a specific distribution or other aftermarket topic rather than general business freelancers.

We typically do not offer kill fees since we nearly always publish those manuscripts we accept. However, if a kill fee is warranted through no fault of the writer, we will offer it.

Click here to make a submission.