Contributor Guidelines

The Manhattan Weekly is looking for writers who can actually write—people with something to say and the skill to say it well. Not content churners. Not press-release recyclers. If you can explain complex ideas clearly, ask smart questions, and write like a real human instead of a corporate robot, we want to hear from you.

You don’t need a journalism degree. You don’t need a polished portfolio. If you can report accurately and write well, that’s what matters.

What We Want

We’re after stories that give readers something worth their time:

  • A fresh angle others missed

  • Useful information people aren’t getting

  • Clear analysis that makes complicated topics understandable without talking down

Cover the U.S. economy, politics, business, social issues—anything that affects how people live. If it matters to real people, it likely matters to us.

We’re not interested in empty hot takes or trend-chasing listicles. No “10 Ways the Economy Is Broken.” We want thoughtful reporting and well-argued pieces.

How To Write For Us

Write like you’re explaining something to a smart friend. Someone curious, but not obsessed with the topic.

  • Skip jargon—or explain it clearly when you use it

  • Don’t assume prior knowledge

  • Keep paragraphs readable (short is good, long is fine if it earns it)

Most articles land between 600–1,000 words, but the story dictates the length. Don’t overthink word count—focus on getting it right.

Use natural, conversational American English:

  • Use contractions (“don’t,” “it’s”)

  • Avoid stiff, overly formal phrasing

  • Write like people actually speak today—not like a Victorian letter

Submission Requirements

  • Include your full author details and areas of interest

  • Articles must be informative, engaging, and written in a human tone

  • Minimum length: 800 words

  • Content must be original, accurate, and not AI-generated

  • Submissions must be free of grammatical errors

Additional guidelines:

  • No copied or republished content—this will be rejected immediately

  • Properly cite any data, quotes, or external sources

  • No content related to gambling, CBD, or adult topics

  • Avoid raw URLs in the body text

  • If using images, provide original sources for attribution

  • Do not use copyrighted images

  • Place backlinks naturally—not in the first or last paragraph

  • Keep writing clear and readable; avoid unnecessary buzzwords

  • No promotional, sales-driven, or self-advertising content

Note: Once published, guest posts are not removed. Response time is typically 2–7 business days due to submission volume.

What We Won’t Publish

  • Plagiarized or lightly rewritten content

  • AI-generated material (no exceptions—not even partial use)

  • Poorly researched or factually shaky work

Check everything: names, dates, statistics, quotes. If you’re unsure, verify it or leave it out. Sloppy work doesn’t make it through.

Say What You Think

Strong opinions are welcome. Personal attacks are not.

Make your case clearly and fairly:

  • Argue against ideas, not individuals

  • Don’t assume readers already agree

  • Don’t talk down to people who don’t

If a topic is controversial, even better—just back it up.

Editing Process

Our editors may tighten wording or fix clarity issues, but your voice stays yours. We won’t make major changes without your approval.

If something’s unclear, we’ll ask. If something seems off, we’ll verify. The goal is to strengthen your work—not rewrite it into something unrecognizable.

Pitching

Have an idea? Send us a short email:

  • What you want to write

  • Your angle

  • Why it matters

That’s it. No formal proposals or corporate templates.

We’ll respond with a yes, no, or follow-up questions.

After Publication

Share your article however you like—social media, email, anywhere.

Some contributors write once. Others become regulars. Both are fine. Write when you have something worth saying—not just to fill space.

What We Definitely Don’t Want

  • Press releases disguised as articles

  • Marketing dressed up as journalism

  • Fluff pieces about your friend’s company

  • Clickbait with no substance

  • Recycled takes everyone has already made

  • Contrarian opinions just for attention

If you’re only here for an SEO backlink, this isn’t the place. If you want to publish something worth reading, you’re in the right spot.

Additional Notes

  • Deadlines matter—timely stories need to stay timely

  • Respond to editorial questions promptly

  • Feel free to pitch multiple ideas—some will land, some won’t

Why We Do This

Too much online journalism today is generic, dull, and written without care for the reader. We’re trying to do better.

We publish work that’s:

  • Informative

  • Well-written

  • Actually useful

Not filler. Not algorithm bait.

If that’s the kind of writing you want to do, send us your pitch.