Just got this in my in-box and thought someone would be interested...
Dear Puzzle Contributor, We are writing to let you know that Highlights for Children is in need ofpuzzles for its Puzzlemania book club for children ages 6–10. Below you’llfind detailed guidelines for submissions. PDFs of sample puzzles are available on request. General questions should be sent toPuzzles@Highlights-corp.com. Please put “question” in the subject line. We look forward to receiving your puzzles. Sincerely, The Editors
Puzzlemania Puzzle GuidelinesWe are looking for word puzzles—crosswords, word searches, logic puzzles,word scrambles, and codes—with fresh, original, contemporary themes thatinclude strong elements of humor and surprise. Puzzles should be rewardingand enlightening rather than instructive. The best puzzles will include a“payoff,” such as the answer to a riddle. Above all, puzzles must be fun.Subjects should be chosen with illustration in mind. Clues should beplayful and lively, and puzzles should be carefully tested for solvability.Inclusion of objects/pictures from everyday life and popular culture arepluses. Every puzzle must include an answer key.
General• We prefer electronic submissions. Puzzles may appear in the body of thee-mail or as PDF attachments.• We pay for puzzles on acceptance. Payment varies.• We buy all rights, including copyright, and do not consider previouslypublished material.• We prefer to see a finished puzzle rather than a query.• Direct all puzzle submissions to puzzles@highlights-corp.com . Put PMpuzzle submission in the e-mail subject box. Include your name, mailingaddress, phone number, and puzzle type as well as a suggested title foryour puzzle.
Crossword puzzles should feature words that are interesting—yet haveeveryday familiarity—to kids. Grids may be the symmetrical or thecrisscross variety, with 12–15 words. Subjects should be highly visual andreadily lend themselves to illustration. Clues should be simple, specific,and straightforward; picture clues are acceptable. Bonus features: a gridthat forms an interesting shape, a puzzle whose answer reveals a rhyme orsaying or answer to a riddle. Every puzzle must include an answer key. For each puzzle, send a numbered, filled-in grid. On clue pages, list eachanswer to the right of the clue. Submissions in Crossword Compiler or asimilar program are OK. Word Searches should have a minimum of 15 words that are interesting—andmostly familiar—to kids. Words may read up, down, across, diagonally, andbackward.
Subjects should be highly visual and readily lend themselves toillustration. Of particular interest are word searches in which the gridsform unusual shapes (ie., a letter of the alphabet for words beginning withthat letter or a rocket ship for space-related words) or contain a bonuspayoff (ie. leftover letters spell the answer to a riddle). Logic Puzzles should contain at least three variables, and should be highlyvisual and entertaining. A box where kids keep track of the answers isoptional. Word Scrambles should be highly visual, entertaining, and fun. Words shouldbe familiar to kids, yet interesting, and scrambled in interesting andhumorous ways (ie. brino is more fun than nrbio as an anagram for robin). Apuzzle with a story line or context is preferable to a simple list ofscrambled words. Word Codes should be highly visual, entertaining, and fun. Words should befamiliar to kids, yet interesting. Solving a code should provide anadditional payoff such as the solution to a mystery, a fun fact, or asurprise visual element incorporated in the page.