WRITERS' GUIDELINES
What to know about what we want
Writing for The Grassroots Connector - If you are interested in writing for us, you are invited to submit an article idea or ask if we have any topics needing writers. Contact us at thegrassrootsconnector@gmail.com to get started.
Purpose of Publication - Inspire, empower and uplift the work of thousands of all-volunteer grassroots groups working to save our democracy. We are looking for stories of grassroots leadership and innovation, ideas that make us more effective and efficient, and bring fun and joy into the fight.
Audience
Profile - Our readers are the thousands of volunteer grassroots groups leaders and members working to strengthen our democracy and swing our country blue. We know we are meeting the needs of our audience because we often get comments like “This is just what I’ve been thinking.” Our readers include:
Grassroots activists
Local, state, and national party leaders
Staff, leadership and members of nonprofit organizations
Elected officials (lots of local and state)
Campaign staffers
Focus - As informed activists, our readers KNOW what MAGA is doing and do not need to be reminded, so please avoid venting and listing the latest outrages. Get to the point, the solutions, the organizing, the future.
Reach - In April 2025, our average reach per article was 10,000 views with some articles achieving upwards of 30,000 views.
Size - as of 4/6/2025, we have more than 11,000 subscribers.
Article Length
Word Count: 500 - 1200
FYI - Short articles tend to get larger readership
Types of Articles - We publish articles that are upbeat, optimistic, and written from the perspective of the grassroots. We also publish articles that document, explore, or challenge the status quo by taking a uniquely grassroots perspective on such topics as organizing strategies and tactics, working with volunteers, messaging, getting out the vote, candidate recruitment, civics education, nonpartisan issue-oriented coalition building, breaking through the right wing propaganda machine,etc. No need to lecture the readers or use fear tactics to motivate action.
Case study or first person account of event, action, situation
Humor - We love humor
Opinion or reflection piece
Profiling resources (tactics, strategies, methods)
Book, music, and movie review
Ways collaboration has taken shape. benefits and opportunities across groups
Reflection piece
Style
Voice
Be personal. Be approachable. Avoid the temptation to be preachy or all knowing.
Point of View
In addition to 3rd person, you are free to write first person accounts under your byline. Some examples include a case study or an opinion piece.
We generally refer to people by first and last name the first time and then by first name only
Tell a Story
When possible, begin your article with a personal story, either yours or another volunteer’s, that gets to the core of your message. Feel free to return to that story later in the article, offering a deeper look. Or close with a wrapup of the story bringing the reader full circle.
Punctuation
We use a loose version of the AP style guide for punctuation. If it’s been a long time since you used it, here’s a link where you can refresh your memory. At the end of the day, the best rule of thumb is to be consistent.
Graphics
Sizing for Substack Image - 1456 x 1048 px, but 420 x 300 px is the minimum. 14:10 is the aspect ratio.
Number of Graphics - Try to provide 3-4 graphics. They can be photos or vectors. If you don’t have access or ideas about graphics, that’s fine. We’ll provide.
Photos to avoid: 1) posed shots; 2) group shots of volunteers in front of banners and logos; 3) selfies and group selfies.
Common Features in Articles
Call to Action - Identify, link, or list here resources and opportunities to collaborate
Links - Provide links to articles, statistics, or organizations you discuss. As has become common practice on the internet, you can give a citation of author, title and date or you can just link to the source.
Responding to Comments - Since this publication’s mission is to amplify the voices of the grassroots, we want the grassroots community to feel comfortable making comments and engaging in a dialogue in response to or inspired by our articles. We encourage our writers to interact with comments in a positive way. There will always be comments that make you roll your eyes. When that happens, it is best to ignore the comment.
Publication Process
Step 1 - When you submit a draft, a member of our editorial board will be assigned to shepherd your draft through our publication process. They will probably request edits.
Step 2 - When your designated editor thinks the draft is ready, they will share it with the full board. There might be a few more edits requested. Once it gets the thumbs up, your article is set for publication.
FAQ
Do I get a byline?
Yes. We will include your name. You are invited to provide a 2-3 sentence bio which we will place at the end of the article. You may also choose to list just a first name or first name and last initial and where you are from.
Is there a required number of articles I have to write?
There is no article limit. We are more interested in quality than quantity.
Do you pay?
No. This is a 100% volunteer labor of love by everyone involved.
Do I retain copyright ownership of my article?
Yes, according to the terms of Substack.
How quickly are articles published?
Usually within 1-2 weeks
Do I get final say over an article I write?
Sort of. You can certainly disagree with edits and make suggestions for new ideas and themes, but the final cut is ours. If you prefer to withdraw the article, that is also your option.
Can I reprint/republish my article on my website?
Yes, we hope you will.
If my article is an interview or I include an interview, whose responsibility is it to send a copy to the interviewee?
As the author, it is your responsibility. However, the editorial board member who you are working with will want to be copied on the email in case we need to follow up.