This blog post will provide more information and guidelines to our awesome community writers who have already gone through the application process and have an active contract with OwlCrate.
If you have landed here but are not part of this group yet, please feel free to apply for a future selection here.
GUIDELINES
Articles' Specifications
- Up to 10 article topics will be sent to the (private) Community Writers Chat on The Nest on the first work day of every month.
- Articles will be assigned on a first come first serve basis.
- In the case of more submissions being available per topic, this will be indicated in the post. In this case, only one or both may be chosen.
- Articles submitted may or may not be used. In the case of an article being rejected upon submission, no payment will be issued.
- Approved articles will be compensated for even if they end up not being posted on OwlCrate's Blog right away.
- We are open to pitches, and you are welcome to submit articles outside of the suggested topics. We will choose up to 5 each month. The same rules, deadlines, and compensation apply.
- Deadline for articles to be sent for review: 11th of every month (by 11:59 PM PST). Please contact Marlena on The Nest for an extension if you are unable to meet this deadline.
- Word count: Articles should generally be around 1000 words, but we also accept submissions between 750 (minimum) and 2500 (maximum) words.
- Language: All articles should be written in American English.
- Diversity: OwlCrate is committed to showcasing a wide range of voices. To achieve this, we encourage bloggers to choose diverse books to include in their articles.
- Profanity: The use of profanity is not permitted in any articles.
- AI and Plagiarism: We don't accept articles written by AI. All submitted articles must be your own original work and free from plagiarism.
Please include appropriate content warnings for any books that may contain triggering material. For articles covering spicy books, please utilize the OwlCrate Spice Meter to indicate the level of spiciness for readers.
Compensation & Limitations
- Compensation: The payment per accepted article is $25 USD (or equivalent in local currency) OR the equivalent value in OwlCrate reward points. Writers will be able to choose which compensation method they prefer.
- Payments will be made once a month relative to all accepted articles for the same period.
- There is a limit of 2 articles per person per month.
More information
- The process between submission, acceptance of your article, and publishing it on the website may take time.
- To ensure fair opportunities for all writers, we have a rotational system in place. This means that each writer will have the opportunity to select an article every other month. For example, if you choose a topic in January you won't be able to choose another one until March UNLESS any topics remain unclaimed by writers whose turn it is that month.
- Writers may direct any question they have to the (private) Community Writers Chat on The Nest or to Marlena on team OwlCrate via a direct message on The Nest.
Please also familiarize yourself with The Nest rules, as these apply to blogs.
Questions & Answers
Article Specific
What happens if multiple writers claim the same topic?
All topics are assigned on a first come first serve basis, so whoever sends in a message first will claim the article. In some cases, we may allow two people to take on the same article.
Where do I send my finished article?
You will have your own folder in a Community Drive, and all articles should be uploaded there. If possible, please also send a message to Marlena via The Nest to let her know the article is ready for review.
Will I be informed if my article has been accepted or rejected and if so when?
Once an article is assigned, Marlena will update the message on The Nest, which includes the article titles with the persons name. If your article is accepted for publishing, Marlena will send you a message to let you know.
Do you provide any feedback on submitted articles?
Sometimes we may reach out to people if their article needs some changes before it can be reconsidered for publication.
When will my article be up on the website?
The publishing date for articles will vary based on relevancy, timeliness, world events and trends, as well as our own marketing schedule. Our team will try its best to update everyone when new blogs are posted but keep an eye on the community blog on our website!
Do I need to include images in my article?
Including images is not a requirement for submitting articles; however, if you'd like to do so, please upload them as images to your drive folder. The images should either be royalty-free images or should have been created by you.
What happens if I go over the word count?
The minimum word count is 750, and the maximum word count of 2500 is a guideline. We will accept articles that are slightly longer.
What genres can I write about in my article?
The article titles sent in will usually indicate what genre the article should focus on; however, for pitches, we are open to articles covering any genre or topic related to books.
What publication dates should I use for the books I choose to include?
This is entirely up to you; you can focus on newer books, older books, or a mix of both.
Can I use quotes from the book in my article?
Yes, we love it when articles have a relevant quote in them; it gives them a personal touch.
Is it okay to write about a book I haven't finished yet or haven’t read?
Some bloggers prefer to only include books they have read in their articles, while others research books to include. It's up to you what books you include (please familiarize yourself with The Nest rules linked above before choosing which books to include).
If you're writing about books you haven't read, make sure that you find a way to add a personal touch rather than summarizing what the book is about. Make the reader feel like they need these books on their TBR!
Is there a format I should follow, or examples of the type of articles you're looking for?
We want each blogger to have their own unique voice, but you can find previously published articles from other bloggers here.
What is the exact deadline for article submission?
All articles should be submitted by 11:59 PM PST on the 11th of the month in which the article was assigned.
Can I extend the deadline for an article submission if needed?
If you need more time to write your article (especially if you're writing two), please get in touch with Marlena via The Nest.
Other
Who do I contact if I have questions?
If you have any questions, please share them on the (private) Community Writers Chat on The Nest. If you'd rather chat in private, feel free to send Marlena a DM on The Nest.
Who do I notify if I find anything wrong with my blog post once it’s posted?
Please reach out to Marlena on The Nest.
When will I get paid?
Payments will be made within 30 days of an article being accepted for publication, including the OwlCrate rewards points option, which will be added to your OwlCrate account.
Where can I find my published blogs?
All articles will be published on the Community Blog on our website.
How do I share my article on my website or blog?
The best way to share your article on your website or blog is to mention your article title and link back to it on the OwlCrate Blog.
Can I share my published articles on social media?
Of course! Feel free to tag @owlcrate too; we love seeing how proud you are of what you've written.
