Explain something well

The Periscope Post publishes explainers from writers who know their subject and can make it clear. If you can take something tangled (a plot, a product, a distinction people keep getting wrong) and leave the reader better off, we would like to read your pitch.

What we publish

We run evergreen explainers in three areas: films and television, how products and services work, and the differences between things people mix up. The best pieces answer a specific question someone would actually search, open with a direct answer, and back the specifics with primary sources. If you have read our Editorial Guidelines, you already know the house style.

What we look for

A clear question the piece answers, and a reason the existing answers are thin or wrong.
Primary sources (the company's own docs, the agency that sets a rule), not a rewrite of other blogs.
Clear language. Short sentences. The answer near the top, the caveats where they belong.
Original work, not published elsewhere, and written for the reader rather than for a link.

How to pitch

Email editor@periscopepost.com with your idea in a paragraph or two: the question, the angle, and the sources you would use. Include a sample of your writing if you have one. We read every pitch and reply to the ones we can use.

Frequently asked questions

Do you pay contributors?

Arrangements vary by piece and by writer. Tell us what you have in mind when you pitch and we will be straight with you about terms before any work begins.

Can I include a link to my site?

We consider a single relevant link where it genuinely serves the reader and fits our editorial standards. We do not publish pieces written mainly to place a link, and every submission is edited to the same sourcing and quality bar as our own work.

How long should a pitch be?

A short paragraph is plenty. Tell us the question your explainer answers, why the existing answers fall short, and the primary sources you would draw on. We reply to pitches we can use.