Article Submission Guidelines

Welcome, Contributors!

Thank you for your interest in contributing to COMPUTE!’s Gazette! Our revived publication continues the proud tradition of serving the Commodore and retro computing community with quality articles, programs, and tutorials. We welcome submissions from enthusiasts, programmers, collectors, and historians who share our passion for vintage computing.

What We Publish

COMPUTE!’s Gazette publishes content across several categories. Type-In Programs include original software in BASIC, assembly language, or other languages for Commodore and other 8-Bit platforms, with complete source code and documentation. Tutorials and How-To Articles provide step-by-step guides for programming, hardware modification, restoration, or system usage. Technical Articles offer in-depth explorations of hardware, operating systems, peripherals, or programming techniques. Reviews cover both vintage and modern retro hardware, software, books, and accessories. Historical Pieces document computing history, interviews with notable figures, retrospectives, and preservation efforts. New User Guides help newcomers get started with classic platforms.

Article Parameters

Length Guidelines

Feature articles should run between 1,500 and 4,000 words. Tutorials and technical pieces typically range from 1,000 to 3,000 words depending on complexity. Short tips and techniques may be 300 to 800 words. Reviews generally fall between 800 and 1,500 words. We are flexible on length when the content warrants it; quality and completeness take precedence over strict word counts.

Formatting Requirements

Submit articles as plain text (.txt), Rich Text Format (.rtf), or Word documents (.doc/.docx). Use a standard 12-point serif font with single spacing. Include your name and article title in the header of each page. For program listings, use a fixed-width font such as Courier and clearly separate code from explanatory text. All code should be thoroughly tested on actual hardware or accurate emulators before submission.

Images and Screenshots

Include relevant screenshots, photographs, or diagrams where they enhance understanding. Submit images as separate files in PNG, JPEG, or TIFF format at a minimum resolution of 300 DPI for print quality. Indicate placement within your article text using bracketed references such as [Figure 1]. Provide captions for all images. For hardware photographs, ensure good lighting and focus. Screenshots should be captured at native resolution when possible.

Editorial Standards

Accuracy is paramount. All technical information must be verified. Programs must run correctly. Historical claims should be sourced where possible. Clarity matters: write for readers who may be new to the subject. Define technical terms on first use and avoid unnecessary jargon. Originality is required. Submissions must be your own work, not previously published elsewhere, and not generated by AI writing tools. Properly attribute any referenced sources, code snippets, or ideas from others. Completeness ensures value: articles should fully address their topic without requiring readers to seek information elsewhere.

Content Over Polish

Your submission does not need to be perfect. We understand that many of our contributors are programmers, engineers, and hobbyists rather than professional writers, and that is exactly what makes this community special. What matters most to us is the substance of your contribution: the technical knowledge you are sharing, the program you have created, the history you have uncovered, or the techniques you have developed.

Our editorial team is here to help. We will work with you on style, grammar, punctuation, and formatting to bring your article up to publication standards. If your prose needs smoothing or your structure could use reorganization, we will handle that. If English is not your first language, do not let that stop you. What we cannot supply is your expertise, your creativity, and your unique perspective on the subjects you know and love.

This is especially true for volunteer submissions. If you have knowledge worth sharing but worry that your writing is not polished enough, please submit anyway. Focus on covering the core subject matter thoroughly and accurately, and let us take care of the rest. We would far rather receive a rough but technically excellent article than miss out on valuable content because a contributor felt intimidated by formal writing requirements.

Submission Process

Step 1: Query First. Before writing a complete article, send a brief query describing your proposed topic, intended approach, and estimated length. This helps avoid duplicate coverage and ensures your idea fits our current editorial needs. We respond to queries within two weeks.

Step 2: Submit Your Draft. Once your query is approved, submit your completed article along with all supporting files. Include a brief author biography of two to three sentences for our contributors section.

Step 3: Editorial Review. Our editorial team reviews all submissions for technical accuracy, clarity, and fit with the magazine. We may request revisions or clarifications. This process typically takes three to four weeks.

Step 4: Final Acceptance. Upon acceptance, we will notify you of the planned publication issue and coordinate any final edits. Articles may be scheduled for a future issue based on editorial planning.

Rights and Compensation

Rights Granted

By submitting work to COMPUTE!’s Gazette, contributors grant the magazine first North American serial rights for print and digital distribution. Authors retain copyright to their work and may republish it elsewhere after a 90-day exclusivity period following initial publication.

Additionally, contributors grant COMPUTE!’s Gazette a non-exclusive, perpetual license to republish accepted work in other formats and compilations. This includes but is not limited to: collected anthologies and “best of” compilations, book-form publications such as programming guides or reference manuals, digital archives and online repositories, special editions and anniversary issues, and educational or promotional materials. This license allows the magazine to continue sharing valuable content with the retro computing community across various media as opportunities arise.

Contributors will receive attribution in any republished format. The non-exclusive nature of this license means authors remain free to republish their own work independently after the initial exclusivity period.

Paid Submissions

For contributors seeking compensation, rates vary by article type and length. Specific payment terms are discussed upon acceptance. Paid contributors receive complimentary copies of the issue containing their work in addition to their compensation.

Volunteer Submissions

We gratefully accept volunteer submissions from community members who wish to contribute without compensation. Many of our contributors share their work simply for the joy of giving back to the retro computing community and seeing their creations in print. Volunteer contributors receive the same editorial attention and quality standards as paid submissions. All volunteer contributors receive complimentary copies of the issue featuring their work, a byline credit, and our sincere appreciation for supporting the magazine and the community it serves.

Please indicate in your initial query whether you are submitting as a paid or volunteer contributor. This designation does not affect editorial consideration; all submissions are evaluated on their merit regardless of compensation status.

Contact Information

Send all queries and submissions to the editorial department at editor@computesgazette.com. Include “Article Submission” in your subject line for proper routing. We look forward to hearing from you and continuing the legacy of quality content that has defined COMPUTE!’s Gazette for decades.

Happy computing!