The Next VPS is Dec. 9 with Award-Winning Trails Magazine
It’s back! ASJA’s well-regarded Virtual Pitch Slam client networking event is back and the first chance that ASJA professional members have to pitch is Tuesday, Dec. 9, with award-winning Trails Magazine.
In 2025, writers have seen assignments dry up and regular clients go away because of economic uncertainty, global instability, the federal government shutdown, AI, and people’s changing information consumption habits.
What better time to bring back one of ASJA’s best member benefits–an opportunity to pitch story ideas to representatives from publishing outlets that are eager to work with new writers and have decent rates to boot.
Did we mention that Virtual Pitch Slams events are free? The only requirement is being an ASJA professional member in good standing–and signing up on time.
The Virtual Pitch Slam on Tuesday, Dec. 9, takes place on Zoom at noon Eastern time with Trails Magazine, a quarterly print-only magazine started in 2022 that pays .50 to $2 a word and assigns articles from 400 to 6,000 words.
The event is limited to 8 writers. Registration to participate in pitching opens on Tuesday, Dec. 2, at noon Eastern time. When registration opens on Dec. 2, sign up here.
If you’re not an member, participating in the slams is one of dozens of benefits, discounts, and perks that come with being an ASJA professional member. Read more about all of what the organization offers here–25 Ways to Get Your Money’s Worth from ASJA in 2025–and apply to become a member here.
How Virtual Pitch Slams Work
If you’re not familiar with Virtual Pitch Slam–VPS for short–it’s an hour-long online pitch session. An editor from a specific, pre-announced writing outlet starts things off by talking about the kinds of stories the outlet is seeking. Then, one by one, each ASJA professional member who registered for the slam in advance has two minutes to pitch no more than two story ideas. The editor offers instant feedback, which could include a request for a follow-up email. Then it’s the next writer’s turn to pitch.
VPS is open only to ASJA members at the professional member level. However, ASJA members at any level–including associate and retired members–can listen in on pitch sessions. Listening in is a great way to learn about pitching. Members who attend but don’t pitch can use what they learn to pitch outlets after the fact.
For more on VPS, read the FAQ here.
How to Register for the Dec. 9 VPS
If you want to participate in the Dec. 9 VPS, log onto the VPS registration page as close to Dec. 2 at noon ET as possible.
You will be directed to provide the following information. Because slots may fill up quickly and registration is first-come-first-served, it’s a good idea to write out all the information in advance so you can cut and paste it into the registration form.
- Name
- Phone number
- LinkedIn profile
- Website or portfolio
- Short bio (120 characters)
Sign ups will close once all slots are filled. Members who get a pitching slot will be notified by Dec. 3. Two standby registrants will be chosen; standbys should save the date and time on their calendars and have pitches prepared in case a registrant drops out.
ASJA members who want to listen in on the pitch slam can join on Dec. 9 at noon Eastern time: watch the ASJA Weekly and ASJA Facebook page for the link. Attendees who are not pitching will be muted during the VPS, and the Zoom chat function will be disabled so they cannot ask questions.
VPS sessions are recorded and free for all ASJA members to listen to on demand; recordings of past VPS sessions are available here.
2026 VPS events will take place in February, June, September, and December.
What to Know About Trails Magazine
Trails Magazine is written for people who backpack, thru-hike, or enjoy other multi-day adventures. The editor taking part in the Dec. 9 VPS shared the following about the types of pitches they are seeking. The editor underscored the importance of reading the publication’s contributor page beforehand to determine if you should pitch.
Assignments. Trails publishes rubrics and features that run from 400 to 6,000 words. Most features are 2,400 to 3,000 words. The publication assigns projects on a rolling basis with no set pitch deadlines. Deadlines for drafts are flexible and depend on the needs of the story.
Pitch topics. Trails is primarily a backpacking magazine focused on North America, but covers human-powered overnight adventures of all kinds, including mountaineering and multi-day river trips. The publication doesn’t cover van life or backpacking through Europe or other areas outside of North America.
Fees. Rates range from .50 cents to $2 a work depending on the writer’s experience and the difficulty of the story. Rates are flexible, especially for features.
Other information. Magazine issues have a “thread” that is broad and open to interpretation by the writer. The best pitches have a connection to an issue’s thread. Trails is currently looking for pitches for Issue 14, for which the thread is “Nostalgia.” Don’t forget to check out the contributor page for additional information.