Frequently Asked Questions.
Who can be published on Hear Her Speak?
Any and all womxn who want their voice to be heard!
You do not need to be a professional writer to write for Hear Her Speak- we want to support and amplify the voices of all womxn.
If you have any questions, send them to: [email protected]
How do I go about getting published on Hear Her Speak?
Share your voice with us!
Put your thoughts, feelings and arguments down on paper and send them to our editors at: [email protected]
What are the guidelines for written pieces?
In terms of submissions- it is incredibly open! We are keen not to be too prescriptive about what people write about or the length/style/format. Therefore, we have no formal word limit or template. We only ask that, for a piece to be considered an ‘article’ (ie: published outside of the Poetry + Creative section), it be a minimum of 300 words.
We have had some people suggest writing about their personal narratives and experiences, while others have written commentary or opinion pieces on topical issues they care about or are interested in. We’ve also received some really thought provoking poetry! We accept pieces on a variety of themes.
Whatever feels right to you, it is your voice.
Is there a specific time when I should submit my piece?
No! Please send your piece to us whenever you are ready.
We publish new content every Saturday, so we are always interested in new voices.
What should I consider before I submit my piece?
Think about the privacy of the loved ones, friends, family and strangers mentioned in your piece. Please be respectful when sharing the details of others’ lives.
Use your own perspective. Please try to avoid making assumptions about others and their thoughts.
Please use respectful language and consider the impact of your word choices. If your post is critical, please try to ensure that it is constructive.
If you are citing a study or statistic, please include the citation for the source of that information.
Why do we spell ‘womxn’ this way?
The different spelling aims to highlight the importance of intersectionality and foreground womxn of colour and transgender womxn.
We work hard to be inclusive and encourage a diverse range womxn to write for HHS so that we present a representative breadth of experiences. It is because of our commitment to inclusivity that we choose to use ‘womxn’ rather than ‘women’.
Although nothing is perfect, spelling womxn this way is a conscious effort to include and foreground those who have previously felt excluded.
What is HHS’ editorial process?
When we receive your piece, a member of our editorial team will edit your piece for spelling, grammar, clarity and flow. This means that your title may be changed or some language may be altered or removed.
We do our utmost to avoid making unnecessary changes so that we preserve the unique voice and do not alter the message of the piece in any way. If significant changes are made, we will always make sure to run these past you prior to publishing. We want to support your most authentic voice.
Is writing for HHS a paid opportunity?
Unfortunately, as we are just starting up, we are unable to offer compensation at this time.
We completely understand that this means some are not able to write for HHS. As we develop and grow, we absolutely hope this will change.
What if I have already published my piece on my own blog or want to later re-publish it?
That’s OK! Please do still send it to us.
Because we are currently unable to pay for content, as a contributor to HHS, you still own the rights to your piece. This means that you are welcome to publish your piece elsewhere.
However, if you do re-post the version of the piece that has been edited by one of our HHS editors, we request that you credit us.
How do I become a HHS Regular Content Contributor, aka ‘Speaker’?
If you are interested in becoming one of our Regular Contributors, please email: [email protected] and register your interest. We will then send you a spec outlining the position and what is expected, and ask that you send us a written piece (or pieces) totalling 1500 words for our editorial team to review. We will then get back to you as soon as possible.
However, please note that not every application can be accepted and, if you are not successful, this is no reflection on you or your application. Additionally, if you are not successful, you can absolutely still submit pieces to HHS through the ordinary submission process. In fact, we encourage it!