New Mobility covers the active wheelchair lifestyle with articles on art, culture, recreation, travel, people, relationships, medical news, civil rights and resources. Eighty-five percent of our readers have disabilities, most caused by spinal cord injury, multiple sclerosis, post-polio syndrome, cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy or ALS.

We tell stories directly and honestly, without sentimentality. We aren't interested in "courageous" or "inspiring" tales of "overcoming disability."

We like the unusual, the quirky, the humorous angle, but we also need well-reported service articles. These include pieces on health (innovations in bladder or bowel management, pain or fatigue prevention, stem cell news); technology (new products for work or play) and travel.

• Describe interesting and relevant people and scenes. Show, don't tell.
• Build dimension into your story. Try to interview people who have different perspectives on your subject. If you are profiling a person, find his or her enemies as well as friends. If you are covering an issue, be sure you explore several points of view.
• Edit your quotations. Quote people when they say something original or say it in a unique way. Don't quote basic background information.
• Organize your thoughts. After you hook readers with a compelling lead, proceed through the story in a coherent manner. Explain complicated ideas in lay terms.
• Write with your style but according to our style—after consulting the Associated Press Stylebook and The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.
• If you are writing a service article, compile a list of resources for readers. For each listing, describe in one phrase the kind of information or service provided and include the phone number, e-mail address and website.
• If a copy of the article should go to people or organizations mentioned editorially, please include addresses.

Please submit final copy in the following electronic format:

Text file or MS Word doc file via e-mail

Terms: 15 cents per word for new writers. Payment is based on the number of words published, not the number submitted, and is made within 30 days of publication.

Exception: "My Spin," our 700-word opinion column: $150.

Please send a one-page e-mail query that opens with a possible lead for your story.

Questions? Contact the editor.

To order a sample copy for $5, click here.