Write for us
Thanks for thinking about contributing to edpsy.org.uk, we’re always looking for new, innovative and interesting content. If you’d like to contribute to the site there are some things you’ll need to think about when writing your blog post or feature article. Blogs and longer reads have different requirements but there are some guidelines that are common to all our content.
General guidelines
Writing style
One of the most important features of blog posts is an author’s voice. We’ll try our hardest not to change the style of your writing or its tone, but it might be helpful to know:
- An author ‘by-line’ is encouraged (no more than two lines about yourself)
- Writing in the first person is encouraged
- Contractions are fine
- Active voice is preferred
- Subheadings and paragraphs are helpful to readers
- Even experts prefer simple, non-technical language
- Quotes are fine
- Links to other relevant sites and information are fine but try to avoid links to businesses (appropriate links might be added during the editing process).
- Credit other people’s work
Images
All posts (blogs or features) should have an image. You’re encouraged to suggest an image but you don’t have to – in that case, we’ll select one to accompany the blog or feature. Images owned by you are encouraged and submission with a blog or feature post acts as permission to use it.
Headlines
You are encouraged to suggest a headline for your blog post but occasionally we will suggest or provide a more appropriate headline. You will always be consulted about this, but the final decision is with us.
Submission
Once your blog or feature is written please send it to submissions@edpsy.org.uk. It would be helpful if you could start the subject line of the email with the type of post you’re submitting e.g. either ‘blog’ or ‘feature’.
You’ll receive a confirmation email to say that we’ve received your submission and an editor will be in touch with you soon after.
Blog specifics
Aim
Blogs are more informal, conversational pieces and need to be accessible to everyone, not just psychologists. Blog posts should enthuse and excite readers about aspects of your own experience or practice and encourage readers to discuss and debate your ideas.
Length
600 – 800 words.
Review process
The informal and more personal nature of blog posts means that there isn’t really a ‘review process’ as such however there is an editorial process to make sure that grammar, spelling and content is consistent. If needed, minor edits will be made by us and then the post will published. More substantial edits are likely to be returned to you for consideration.
Longer Read specifics
Aim
Longer reads should engage and inform those readers who have a basic understanding of educational and child psychology. They should enthuse and excite readers about aspects of research and practice that you have a deep interest in or good knowledge about. They can be literature reviews, debates, commentaries etc. – the scope is broad.
Length
1200 – 1500 words.
Review process
We want to make publication on the website as easy and pain-free as possible, but as longer reads are expected to be more formal or rigorous, the editorial team will be looking to ensure that all features have the following:
- A clear rationale as to why you’re writing about the topic
- A good understanding of the wider context as demonstrated by your references
- A clear central thesis or argument
- Some evidence that a range of view points have been considered
- Clear implications for teachers, SENCo’s, schools, educational psychologists etc.
Longer reads will also go through an editorial process to make sure that grammar, spelling and content is consistent. If needed, minor edits will be made by us and then the longer read will published. More substantial edits are likely to be returned to you for consideration.
