FAQs

Thinking about submitting an article to blogTO? Here are some answers to our entirely made up list of frequently asked questions that might be of some help. 

How do I submit an article to blogTO?

All article submissions should be made using this form. Simply type in the text, give it a quick spell check and you're done. Don't forget to include your name and email so we can credit you for your submissions or get in touch with you should we have any questions. 

How long should the article be?

There is no minimum or maximum word count but usually articles between 250 and 500 words work best. But don't be shy about writing more or less than this if you feel it's warranted. 

Will my article be edited?

We aim to publish all articles exactly as they were submitted but we might make small edits for grammar, spelling or other reasons. We might also add some hyperlinks where relevant. If you know some HTML code, feel free to include these, or just include them in a Notes section at the bottom of your article. 

Are there certain types of articles you look for?

We look for any interesting, insightful, funny or otherwise engaging articles that have something to do with Toronto. Please don't submit something that doesn't have anything to do with Toronto. It's not that we're not interested in that event you went to when you were traveling through South America, or your thoughts on the 2008 US Presidential Election, it's just that they're not really appropriate for this site. 

Can the articles have anything to do with Toronto?

Yes, anything, although we obviously prefer something that's not already old news, or hasn't been widely reported in other media.

Are there any other editorial guidelines I should know about?

In general, we prefer that articles be written in the first person and have a similar tone or style to the rest of the articles on the site. But feel free to write in the style in which you are most comfortable and able to showcase your writing flair.

How do I know someone else isn't already working on a similar article or is going to submit one at the same time?

If this is a concern, please email us at editors [at] blogto [dotcom] and we'll let you know if something is in the works.

If I submit an article will it be published?

We will publish most articles submitted to us but not all of them. Usually the articles we don't publish are about something we've already covered; or are poorly written. So please do a quick search of the site to make sure that we haven't already written about the exact thing you're thinking of submitting.  

Will I be notified if and when my article is published?

Yes, we will email you the moment your article is published to the site. We will also let you know if you have submitted an article that we decide not to publish.  

Do I need to include a photo?

No. Photos are optional. If you have photos to include, please upload them to a photo-sharing site (like Flickr) or your personal web site and include the links in the photo area of the submission form. If we think the photos are a good fit with the article then we'll include one or more of them. Please only include photos you have taken yourself or that you have received permission to use.

Do I need to include my real name?

Not if you don't want to. If you write under an alias we don't mind using that.

How soon after I submit my article will it appear on the site?

We generally publish all submitted articles the same day they've been submitted, or within a 24 hour period. If for some reason you don't want us to publish the article right away, please let us know what date you'd prefer.

Will I be paid for my article?

At this time we are not paying for any article submissions.

Are you currently hiring? Is there any way I can be paid for writing for blogTO?

We are always looking for more regular contributors who can post articles on a daily basis. If this interests you, please contact us at jobs [at] blogto [dotcom].

I have more questions that weren't answered here. Is there anyone I can contact about this?

Yes, you can email our editorial team at editors [at] blogto [dotcom]. One of us will get back to you within 24 hours of your inquiry. If the matter is more urgent, please contact the site's Publisher, Tim Shore, at 416.835.1322