Pitching and Publications
Everyone has stories to tell whether they be about their experiences, passions, or questions in life. These stories should be heard, and many publications want to share them and amplify our voices
Pitching a Story
In order to write for a publication, you must first pitch the story. A pitch is where the writer describes what they may write and why it is important. A pitch is less about the story itself and more about why it matters at that time and to that publication. In the context of the world around us and the interests of readers, a pitch should explain why this story is important and why you should be the one to tell it.
Looking at publications, the easiest way to find their submission guidelines for pitching is by searching the publication name followed by “submission guidelines” on Google. Most publications have an outline for what pitches should look like and include. This is so that the writer is aware of what is expected of them and so the publication can be transparent about what they want. Rather than asking for a copy of the story, publications often ask for a number of brief expectations.
When making a pitch, it is best to keep it concise. Typically, the writer should include possible headlines, samples of other work, sources, photos, and a brief discussion of the story’s place in the world and this publication. They may also ask for a headshot, a short biography, or your standard rate as a writer. Within pitching, there is an emphasis on the concision of the pitch itself, keeping each component to a couple of sentences.
Publications and Submission Guidelines
One publication accepting pitches is Bustle. This is a publication that “delivers joyful, inclusive, and relatable stories for real women” according to their website. They have a variety of stories primarily focused on entertainment, style, wellness, or life. These are the main topics that their readers are interested in. Their target audience is young women, and their stories and website are organized in a way that is both aesthetically appealing and easily navigated.
While their submission guidelines were difficult to find on the website, the page easily showed up when searched on Google. They are clear in what they expect in a pitch as well as where to send them. Something unique about Bustle is that they shared examples of articles commissioned to freelance writers. While I have seen more extensive submission guidelines, I found that Bustle’s submission guidelines page was clear and appropriate in the information shared.
Between the examples of freelance writing and their general expectations, Bustle was clear in the work they expect. They identified areas that they consider for pieces as well as topics that they do not consider. They are not a publication interested in sharing articles about trends, how-tos, or evergreen listicles (which are articles about lists that are applicable for a long time). Within their articles, Bustle does expect hyperlinks to be used. These are almost always links that take the reader to another Bustle article on the topic of the hyperlink’s text. Within the articles, it does not seem required for an article to have outside media besides a cover photo; however, some articles do contain outside photos, YouTube videos, and tweets.
It is important that sites provide clear expectations of themselves as a publication as well as of their potential writers. I think Bustle does a great job with their submission guidelines that accurately represent their publication and its brand.
