Write For History of Women
We are small but mighty and we will grow together. Here’s how to join us as a writer.
If history was a Hollywood movie, the editing room floor would be littered with the stories of women. Clipped from the history books to make room for men’s stories. We are here to collect and tell those stories.
We are small, but powerful!
History of Women is a small publication, but we get a lot of views. Currently, about 1000 views per day. As a writer, I’ve had more luck with this little pub than with some “big” ones. See?
Here’s the stats as of July 15
My hope is that we can work together to grow the publication, and your audience at the same time. If you’re interested in writing with us, here’s what you need to know…
1. We’re looking for storytelling, not just facts.
Let’s play pretend, okay? Pretend you’ve been asked to tell a story about who Rosa Parks is. Most people already know her, but she’s a good example. Your audience varies in age from 12 to adult. Okay?
This would be the wrong way: (boring!) Rosa Parks was an American activist in the civil rights movement best known for her pivotal role in the Montgomery bus boycott. In December, 1955, Parks rejected an order to vacate her seat in favor of a white passenger…
This would be the right way: (yay, storytelling!) Rosa Parks was bone tired. She’d just worked all day. So when the bus driver told her to give her seat in the “colored” section to a white man she said no. But that wasn’t the whole story. There was a secret about Rosa that no one knew…
Do you see the difference?
One is facts and the other is a story. Dry facts aren’t fun to read. They work on Wikipedia, but that’s about it.
A word on editing…
If you’re allergic to editing suggestions, this might not be the best publication for you. If we think your story can be stronger, we’ll make suggestions. If the title is weak, we’ll suggest a stronger title. If you’re okay with that, great!
2. Where to get great story ideas
There are so many stories waiting to be told. But where do you find ideas? Google is a great starting point. For example, if you search a phrase like “strange facts about famous women” or “little known women’s history” or “famous women in history” you’ll find absolute gold.
Mostly, what you’ll find is lists with just a short paragraph on many women. Pick one that sounds interesting and Google to find out more.
Also, think of different eras, and different aspects of a woman’s life. Look through our stories for inspiration, too. The ideas are almost endless.
3. Formatting guide
We want a killer read! That’s what you want, too, because it’s how you get views and followers. The amazing thing is that there’s really only four elements to crafting a truly great story.
a) Strive for a title they can’t “not” click
A good story starts with a great title. They can’t read if they don’t click first.
b) Use a unique cover image
Look for something unique, related to the story. You must have permission to use the image (ie public domain or CC0) and images must be credited.
c) Open strong
Start strong. Grab the reader’s attention in the first paragraph!
d) Use powerful subtitles
Use subtitles to build intrigue. Most people scan before they read. If your subtitles are intriguing, they’ll want to read what’s underneath.
e) Ideal read time
Ideal read time is 5–9 minutes, but it’s okay if you go longer if the story warrants it. Stories under 5 minutes probably need more meat on the bone.
f) Please use “women” and “history” as 2 of your tags
When you write a story, you get 5 tags. Please use “women” and “history” as 2 of your tags. The other 3 are up to you!
4. Medium’s rules apply
Medium has rules that apply to all writers and publications here. Basic stuff like no plagiarism, no hateful content, no duplicate content, etc. They also have a page about what constitutes quality content — it is worth a read if you haven’t already, because stories must meet that quality criteria to get any distribution outside the publication.
5. How to get added as a writer (just 3 steps)
- Follow History of Women
- Make sure you have notifications turned on.
- Leave a comment asking to be added.
Nice and simple!
Once you’re added, you can submit drafts the usual way. Click the three dots in the top right corner of the page while editing your story. Select “add to publication” and add your draft to History of Women.
Please note: we only accept unpublished drafts, not pre-published stories.
