EDITORIAL
RESONATES Submission Guidelines
We are obsessed with fostering a safe and supportive community.
Thank you for your kind interest in our publication and community.
Please read this article carefully as it contains important information that increases your chance of acceptance.
When I founded RESONATES, it was from a moment of disappointment. I was a relatively new writer then and having bounced from communities to communities, publications to publications, I was feeling empty.
While my portfolio on Medium was small then, I believed that my dedication to my work was no less than anyone else. I yearned for a community where I could be given a fair chance, not relegated to the side, waiting for 10 days without a clue as to my submission’s status.
Over on Facebook, I saw countless writers all sharing the same sense of uncertainty and dejection.
I told myself no more. And I set to work.
Bringing value to your work.
My approach towards publication is simple and focused. We are in this together and there must be mutual respect. I expect a level of sincerity and commitment. And I provide that in return.
RESONATES is a safe place for your thoughts, confessions, and struggles. We may feel empty and lonely at times, amidst the frantic pace of modern society. I like to see RESONATES as a cafe where friends and family gather to catch up, chat, support and be there for one another.
Writing is therapeutic and at RESONATES, you will never be alone.
This is my promise to you.
- All submissions are acted upon in a timely manner. No one is left hanging. If the volume is low, expect 1 to 3 days of waiting time. A medium load will be 3 to 5 days, while on busy days you may need to wait for 5 to 7 days. You can check the publication status at our Facebook group under announcements.
- It is important to note that the articles are released on a staggered basis so as to maximize their exposure. There is no point in releasing fast and having all articles burying each other.
- I do a basic grammar check on the article to help writers who may miss out. Everyone makes mistakes! Me included. However, I do not expect to be taken for granted with work that is clearly unchecked.
- I add a kicker on the top of the stories to increase the professionalism and relatability of the articles.
- I add at least one tag to entrench the topic of the story to help it reach the right audience.
- Trending stories are set to surface on the front page. This is a testament to your craft.
- I regularly write round-ups of the stories published to give the writers another round of exposure.
- Round-ups are shared on our facebook group, giving our writers further amplification of exposure.
- I never add nor change anything that is material to the writers’ stories as a form of respect. I understand one may want to maintain a certain voice and approach so I’ll usually give such freedom as long as it is within acceptable norms. If you want an editorial opinion on your story, let me know and I will give you my input.
My aim is to run my publications the way I would like if I am a writer. I had waited endlessly without a response, got content added into my story without being notified or published without ever seeing it anywhere on the publication page.
I will not do the same to others.
Expectations of you
These are the minimum requirements expected for your submission. The purpose is to ensure all articles on RESONATES are of a high standard in terms of language and quality. By following these guidelines, I believe we can become better writers, at least from the publication-quality point of view.
Please read these carefully as any omission may result in delays or removal from the publication.
- No blatant grammar mistake that is easily avoidable if one checked. For example, is/are, than/then, spelling mistakes, extra spaces, and breaks.
- All images must be correctly cited. If you are using one from a free stock photo website, it must have both the text attribution and source link embed: “Photo by example on example” If you made changes to the image, you have to add: “Additional changes made by the author.” If the photo/image is yours, you have to state: “Image provided by the author.”
- If you used any statistics, news, or claims, you have to cite the link to the source.
- Any stories of a sensitive nature, such as mental health, should provide a disclaimer. Here is an example: “Disclaimer This article is solely for informational purposes and represents the writer’s personal opinion. Please seek professional advice if required.”
- If you included a referral link, you have to clearly indicate that. Here is an example: “Disclosure This article contains referral links. I may receive a referral bonus for sign-ups made through the links.”
- If you are writing about a product, you have to provide a disclaimer. For example: “Disclaimer This article is solely for informational purposes and represents the writer’s personal opinion. It is not an endorsement or guarantee.”
- At all times must your story/article be respectful of all races, origins, gender, culture, religion, etc
- Your story/article must conform to the terms and conditions set by Medium.
- As RESONATES places a huge emphasis on communal support, you are highly encouraged to read the work of other fellow RESONATORS.
- If you are idle for an extended period of time, you may be removed.
- You are still responsible for your story’s readership. RESONATES provides a platform for your voice, but the engagement and relationship building depends on you.
Key points to note
Topics: Confessions, Nostalgia, Mental Wellness, Real Life Stories, Relationships, Self Love, Struggles, Thoughts, Warm and Fuzzy
Publication time: Usually between 1 day to 5 days
Types of submission allowed: Only draft
Minimum length: None. However, you are highly encouraged to write a story of at least 3 minutes for better engagement.
Personal links in story/article: Maximum 2 links and 1 referral link (With proper disclaimer). Links must be lawful, proper, safe, and in accordance with Medium terms and conditions.
Modes of communication with the editor: Medium Private notes. Please keep a lookout for it and reply timely. Do not click dismiss as it will delete the entire note. A lack of response within 24 hours will result in the submission's removal.
Community: Facebook group. You are highly encouraged to join so that you can read about updates and build up your writing social circle.
Application
Thank you for your intention to apply.
In order to ensure our community is made up of like-minded individuals who have read and understood the information, application is a four-steps process.
It is absolutely compulsory that you complete all four steps:
- Clap 50 times on this article
- Follow me
- Follow RESONATES
- Comment on this article with “Please add me as a writer. Four steps completed.”
It will be an honor to have you here with us.
I run RESONATES full time for you as it gives me purpose in life. Your support helps me to worry less about putting food on the table. Find out why.
