Articles generally go through something like the following process.

Generally speaking, everything starts with an initial query letter from author. We prefer query letters sent as e-mail, in the body of a plain-text message, not as an attachment. Avoid HTML based email as well as messages heavy in HTML tend to get flagged as spam. Text is best. If you are not sure if your e-mail client is configured to send plain text, please check it before writing to us. Send your query letter to marcel@tuxmagazine.com.

Do not use a challenge-response email system on the From: or Reply-To: address in your query letter. Your reply will come from a different address, not from marcel@tuxmagazine.com, and we do not comply with challenges.

Outline and deadline. If we like your article idea, we will ask you to send an outline of the information to be covered in the article and a date by which you could commit to having the article finished. For a proposed article series, you can write one outline for the entire series, but please include a deadline date for each article.

Assignment letter. We send you this letter, which includes information on formatting and how to check and submit your article. Because of lack of space and surplus of excellent articles, we usually assign articles for either Web or print, with one payment amount if we use the article in print and a lesser amount if we use the article on the Web. If you would like to have your article considered only for print, please let your editor know when you send your query letter or outline.

Draft for review. This is an optional step. You can arrange with your editor to send an article draft for comment before your official deadline. If you would like to do this, please allow us 2-3 business days to look at your draft and get back to you. Drafts for review should never go to editor@tuxmagazine.com--always send them directly to your editor.

Submit the article to editor@tuxmagazine.com.

Then comes editing and markup. We do these steps in-house.

This is followed by an optional author review. This is a review for factual errors only. Our schedule does not allow for new material or restructuring at this stage.

Then, it's off to our final proofreading and publication.