The Magnolia Historical Society practices a unique approach to writing local neighborhood history in Seattle. For each of our physical books and our ongoing collection (Book IV), volunteer writers—residents of Magnolia or folks with a strong connection to the neighborhood—are paired with peer editors to write memoirs or academically researched stories. 

 

Our newest venture, Book IV, is an ongoing, online collection of Magnolia history that we hope to expand, story by story. If you are interested in joining us as a writer or peer editor, have a story idea, or want to support us in any way, please contact us! 

 

Read examples of community submissions like More My Magnolia or Unbuilt Magnolia to get inspiration for your own neighborhood story.

Typical Volunteer Positions

• Writers are volunteers who put together a memoir or academically researched story relating to the history of Magnolia. These can be mini memories 1–2 pages, slightly longer 3–4 pages, a full length memoir, a photo essay with text, an academically researched story with endnote citations. We do not do word limits. Each writer is welcomed by the project manager with an introductory meeting and determination of topic/resources, given clear submission instructions, deadlines and assigned a peer editor. We welcome beginning writers to professionals. Writers retain copyrights but allow the Magnolia Historical Society to use their material. Writers provide illustrations or images and captions for their stories. 

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• Peer Editors are experienced writers who volunteer to work one-on-one with a writer from preparing the first draft to a publishable, correctly formatted final draft ready for the content and copy editors.​​