This blog post will provide more information and guidelines for our awesome community writers who have already completed the application process and have an active contract with OwlCrate.
If you've landed here but are not part of this group yet, please feel free to contact Marlena on The Nest to express your interest.
GUIDELINES
Articles' Specifications
- Article topics will be sent to the (private) Community Writers Chat on The Nest. All community writers will be added to this group once their contract is signed.
- Articles will be assigned based on each writer's top topic choice and backup option, as well as a short line explaining why they'd like to write about each topic. This means writers can request to be assigned a topic each month, but priority will be given to those who did not write in the previous month or that given quarter.
- Article topics will always be sent before the end of the day (PST) on the first Monday of the month. Article topics will be assigned within 48h of topics being sent. Please express your interest as soon as possible to avoid missing out. Note that these timelines are subject to change in the event of my absence or if no topics are available for that month.
- Articles submitted may or may not get accepted for publication. 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. The same rules, deadlines, and compensation apply. Acceptance of pitches is not guaranteed.
- Deadline for articles to be sent for review: 13th of every month (by 11:59 PM PST) unless stated otherwise in the post. Please contact Marlena on The Nest for an extension if you are unable to meet this deadline.
- Word count: Articles should generally be around 1000-1500 words, but we also accept submissions between 750 (minimum) and 2500 (maximum) words.
- Language: All articles should be written in American English. Please use contractions (aka shortened words) e.g. you're instead of you are. Please address the article to the reader using "you" where possible rather than "reader" or "readers".
- 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. You're welcome to include past OwlCrate selections across genres to help champion the authors we've worked with.
- Profanity / Hate Speech: The use of profanity is not permitted in articles. We also don't tolerate any form of hate speech.
- AI and Plagiarism: Submitted articles must be your own original work. We don't accept articles written with the use of LLM / any form of AI, whether partially or fully. Any article found to be AI-generated or to contain plagiarism will be rejected, leading to the immediate termination of your contract. We want to hear your voice.
- IMPORTANT! Topics To Avoid: Articles must not promote or feature sexualized or romanticized relationships involving minors or immediate family members.
Please include appropriate content warnings for all books that may need them. 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 in OwlCrate reward points or gift cards. 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. Invoices will be batch-processed on the last day of the month.
- There is a limit of 2 articles per person per month.
More information
- The process from submission to acceptance and publication 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 got assigned a topic in March, you won't be able to choose another one until May, UNLESS any topics remain unclaimed by writers whose turn it is that month. If you expressed interest in a topic one month but were not assigned, you are welcome to express interest again the following month.
- Writers may direct any questions 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.
These guidelines may be modified at any time at OwlCrate's sole discretion and without prior written notice.
Questions & Answers
Article Specific
What happens if multiple writers claim the same topic?
Since each writer will pick their top and backup choice as well as write a short note about why they'd like to write about those particular topics, Marlena will make the final decision on who the article will be assigned to.
Where do I send my finished article?
You will be provided with a template containing all the information you need. Once your article is ready, please email or message Marlena on The Nest to let her know. Please include the link to the filled-in template.
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, including the article topic and the person's name / Nest username. If your article is accepted for publication, Marlena will send you a direct message on The Nest 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. If feedback is provided, adjusted articles must be submitted within 5 days.
When will my article be up on the website?
The publishing dates for articles will vary based on relevance, timeliness, world events, and trends. Sometimes it may take weeks or months for your article to go live.
Do I need to include images in my article?
Including images is not required for submitting articles; however, if you'd like to do so, please upload them to a Google Drive folder (make sure permissions allow access) and add the link somewhere in the blog document. The images should either be royalty-free or 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 submitted will usually indicate the 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. For some blogs, Marlena will provide more information on this if needed.
Can I use quotes from the book in my article?
Yes, we love it when articles include a relevant quote; 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 which books you include (please familiarize yourself with the Nest rules linked above before choosing).
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. Marlena will provide you with a template to follow for structure, as well as additional information to include in your article.
What is the exact deadline for article submission?
All articles should be submitted by 11:59 PM PST on the 13th 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 / gift card option, which will be added to your OwlCrate account. Invoices are sorted on the last day of the month, so for articles written in January, you can expect the payment to be with you before the end of February. If, for any reason, a payment doesn't reach you, please message Marlena.
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. You can also screenshot the blog and add the images to your site / social media.
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.
