Write for In The Know
You don't need experience, a portfolio or a perfect idea. Send us something you care about, and we'll help you get it published.
Why write for us
Your name on your work
Your article stays on the site for good, with your name on it and a writer page of your own. It isn't a post that disappears in a week.
Your voice, untouched
We don't rewrite your work. We check it's suitable to publish, and we fix small typos. We won't change what you're saying.
A team behind you
In The Know is made by students, for students. If something needs changing, we tell you exactly what and why.
How it works
No application form, no waiting list. Four steps.
Make an account
It's free and takes a couple of minutes. Tick “I want to write” and tell us a little about yourself for your writer page.
Write your article
Type it straight into our form, or drop in a Word document and the form fills itself in for you. (PDFs work too, but may need a little tidying.) You check everything before you send it.
We review it within a week
We read it, then either publish it or send it back with notes. You'll see the result on your account page, and we'll email you too.
It's published
Your article goes live with your name on it and a link to your writer page. Share it with whoever you like.
What we publish
Almost anything, as long as it's yours. A deep dive into something big, or a day out at the museum. We publish short pieces and long ones; your idea decides the length.
A few ground rules
- Make it yours. Original work only. Don't copy other people's writing, and credit your sources.
- No AI-written work. Using AI to plan or research is fine, but the writing itself has to be yours.
- Credit your images. Only use pictures you took or have permission to use, and say where they came from.
- Be accurate and fair. Check your facts and make it clear when something is opinion. No hate, harassment or other people's private details.
Nervous? That's normal.
Almost everyone feels that way before their first piece. Nobody here expects polished perfection. If something needs changing we'll tell you what and why, and you're always welcome to email admin@intheknowbristol.co.uk with questions before you start.
First-time writer's guide
Never written for a website before? Open any section below and read as much or as little as you like.
1. Finding an idea
2. Writing it
The title
Say what the piece is about in plain words, and keep it fairly short. It's the first thing people see on the Articles list, so ask yourself whether you'd click on it.
The opening
Your first couple of sentences should make someone want to keep reading. Start with the most interesting thing: a moment, a surprising fact or a clear question. Skip lines like “In this article I will…”
The shape
- Beginning: why this matters, or what hooked you.
- Middle: your points, one idea per paragraph. Short paragraphs are easier to read on a phone.
- End: what you think, or where it leaves you.
For a longer piece, the writing box has buttons for headings, lists, quotes and links, so you can break it into sections.
Your voice
Write the way you'd explain it to a friend. We don't rewrite your work, so your voice is what readers get.
Facts and opinions
Check anything you state as a fact, and say where it came from. It's fine to give your opinion. Just make it clear it's your opinion.
How long?
As long as your idea needs. There's no word count to hit, and a short, focused piece beats a padded one.
A few habits that help
- Get it all down first and tidy it later.
- Read it out loud. You'll hear the awkward sentences straight away.
- Use AI to plan or research if you like, but the writing itself has to be yours.
3. Using the submit form
You'll need a writer profile first (it takes a couple of minutes), and you need to be logged in. Then open Submit an article.
Got a Word or PDF file?
Drop it into the box at the top. For a Word (.docx) file, we fill in the title and the article for you, and your pictures come across too (up to 10, each up to 5MB). PDFs work, but only the text comes across and it often needs tidying. Either way, check everything before you send it.
The form, field by field
- Article title (needed): the title people will see.
- Short excerpt (needed): a sentence or two that sum up the piece. It shows under your title on the Articles list.
- Your article (needed): the writing box. Use the buttons for bold, italics, headings, lists and links, and to add pictures.
- Category (optional): pick whichever fits best, or skip it if you're not sure.
- Roughly how long is it? (optional): short or long. Skip it if you're not sure.
- Cover image (optional): the picture shown at the top of your article and on the list. Click on the photo to mark the most important part, and we'll keep that part in view when it's cropped. Only use pictures you took or have permission to use.
When you press submit, your article goes to us for review. You can check how it's doing any time from My account.
4. Before you send it: a checklist
- I've read it out loud at least once.
- I've checked for typos. (We'll fix small ones, but it's best if you do.)
- The facts are right, and I've said where they came from.
- Any pictures are mine, or I have permission to use them, and I've credited them.
- I wrote it myself, and didn't use AI to write it.
- It's fair. It doesn't attack anyone or share anyone's private details.
- My title and excerpt make me want to read it.
- I'm happy for my name to be on it permanently.
5. What happens after you send it
Your article goes into our review list, and shows on your account page as “awaiting review”. We aim to look at everything within a week.
What we look for
We check that it's your own work, that it's accurate and fair, and that it's suitable to publish. We're not marking your writing like an exam, and we won't rewrite it in our own style.
While it's waiting, you can edit it or pull it back from your account page. When we've made a decision, you'll see it there and we'll email you too.
6. If it gets sent back
Being sent back isn't a rejection. It usually means one small thing needs sorting out: a fact to check, a sentence to reword, an image to credit.
- Our notes appear under your article on your account page, in a box called “Feedback from the team”.
- Press Edit, make the changes, and save. That puts it straight back into review.
- Not sure what a note means? Email admin@intheknowbristol.co.uk and we'll help.
7. After it's published
Your article goes live with your name on it, appears on the Articles page, and is added to your writer page.
- Readers can upvote it, save it, comment on it, and download it as a PDF or Word file.
- Comments on your article wait for your approval first. You'll find them under “Comments awaiting review” on your account page, and you can approve or reject each one.
- Notifications: you'll hear about new comments and upvotes. You can choose which ones also come by email in your account settings.
- Share it: copy the link from your browser and send it to anyone you like.
- Want to change something after it's live? Email us and we'll sort it out.
Then do it again. The second one is much easier.
Who can write for us?
Any student. We're a Bristol-based team, we run in-person events in Bristol and we work with the university, so Bristol students get the most out of it. But if you're studying somewhere else, you're just as welcome. Please don't hold back because of where you study.
Who you'll be talking to
Evan Hedges
Founder of In The Know - manages backend proceedings and collaboration contact
Finley Dyer
I am Deputy Editor and Communications lead for ‘In The Know’; principally, I am the first point of contact for new writers. Have a query about the content you are writing? Have a question about formatting, typography and visibility? I work closely with the administration of ‘In The Know’ to streamline your user experience and will help to guide you along the journey, dealing with potential journalists how I can.
Not ready to write, or want to do more?
We'd love a hand with:
Editing and proofreading
Reading over articles before they go live.
Design and graphics
Posters, social media graphics and illustrations.
Social media and promotion
Spreading articles and the site around campus.
Questions people ask
Do I need experience?
No. If you have an idea and can put it into words, you're ready. You don't need a portfolio or a journalism background.
How long until my article is published?
We aim to review everything within a week. If it's approved it goes live straight away. If it needs changes, we'll send it back with notes.
What if my article needs changes?
You'll see our notes on your account page. Edit it, send it back, and we'll look again.
Can I edit or pull my article after sending it?
Until it's published, yes. You can edit or withdraw it from your account page. After it's published, email us and we'll sort out any changes.
Do I have to write regularly?
No. Once is fine. Write when you have something to say.
Can I write under a different name?
Your writer profile shows the name you give us. If you'd rather not use your full name, email us and we'll talk it through.
Who owns what I write?
You do. By submitting, you let us publish it on the site and share it, with your name on it. If you ever want it taken down, tell us and we'll remove it within 14 days.
Can I use AI to help?
For planning and research, yes. The writing has to be your own.
Ready? Your first article is the hardest.
Let's get it done together.
Create an account and writer profile
You don't need a big, original idea. You need something you care about enough to talk about for five minutes without running out of things to say.
Where to look
If you're stuck
Small and specific beats big and vague. “The one thing I wish I'd known about freshers' week” is easier to write, and nicer to read, than “Everything about student life”. Your own view is what makes it new.