Article Submission Guidelines
SelfPublishingStandards.com accepts practical, well-developed articles from experienced authors, editors, designers, publishers, marketers, and other professionals with direct knowledge of the modern self-publishing process.
Our goal is to publish clear, accurate, and useful guidance that helps independent authors produce better books, make stronger business decisions, and avoid preventable publishing mistakes.
We are especially interested in articles that explain professional publishing practices through real experience, careful research, and practical instruction.
Who May Submit
We welcome submissions from:
Experienced independent authors
Traditionally published authors with relevant self-publishing knowledge
Editors and proofreaders
Book designers and formatters
Cover designers
Publishing consultants
Book marketers
Audiobook professionals
Independent publishers
Literary service providers
Industry educators
Other publishing professionals with direct subject knowledge
You do not need to be widely known or have a large following. However, you should have enough experience with your subject to provide informed, accurate, and useful guidance.
What We Publish
Articles should help authors understand one or more areas of professional self-publishing.
Preferred topics include:
Writing and Manuscript Development
Manuscript planning
Fiction structure
Nonfiction organization
Research methods
Revision strategies
Series planning
Manuscript preparation
Working with beta readers
Preparing a manuscript for editing
Editing and Proofreading
Developmental editing
Line editing
Copyediting
Proofreading
Choosing an editor
Understanding editing costs
Preparing an editing brief
Using style sheets
Reviewing editorial feedback
Avoiding common revision mistakes
Book Design and Formatting
Interior book design
Typography
Trim-size selection
Margin planning
Front and back matter
Paperback formatting
Hardcover formatting
EPUB formatting
Accessibility
Print-ready file preparation
Production specification sheets
Covers and Visual Branding
Professional cover standards
Genre expectations
Series branding
Cover typography
Image licensing
Author branding
Promotional graphics
Book mockups
Cover testing
Working with cover designers
Publishing and Distribution
Kindle Direct Publishing
IngramSpark
ISBNs
Imprints
Print-on-demand
Ebook distribution
Hardcover production
Audiobook publishing
Library distribution
Bookstore distribution
Direct sales
Metadata and categories
Book Marketing and Launches
Book launch planning
Author websites
Email newsletters
Reader magnets
Advertising
Review outreach
Media pitches
Social media
Long-term promotion
Backlist marketing
Author platform development
Author Business and Legal Topics
Publishing businesses
Contracts
Copyright
Permissions
Pricing
Royalties
Budgeting
Recordkeeping
Service-provider agreements
Publishing expenses
Ethical author practices
Publishing Standards and Resources
Professional publishing standards
Quality-control checklists
Platform requirements
Publishing terminology
Tool comparisons
Case studies
Production workflows
Common publishing misconceptions
Industry changes
Lessons learned from completed projects
What Makes a Strong Submission
A strong article should do more than offer general advice.
It should:
Address a specific publishing problem or decision
Explain why the topic matters
Provide practical guidance
Use clear examples where appropriate
Distinguish between opinion and established requirements
Avoid exaggerated promises
Reflect current publishing practices
Give readers steps they can apply
Respect the reader’s time and intelligence
Support factual claims with reliable sources when necessary
The best submissions combine experience with instruction.
For example, an article titled “Why Editing Matters” is too broad. A stronger submission would be “How to Prepare a Manuscript Before Hiring a Copyeditor.”
A general article titled “Market Your Book” is also too broad. A better article would be “How to Build a 30-Day Launch Plan for a New Nonfiction Book.”
Preferred Article Length
Most accepted articles should be between 1,200 and 2,500 words.
Longer pillar articles may be considered when the subject requires deeper treatment. Shorter articles may be accepted if they provide focused, substantial value without unnecessary padding.
Word count alone does not determine quality. Articles should be complete, useful, and appropriately developed.
Article Structure
Submissions should include:
A clear title
A short introduction
Descriptive headings and subheadings
Full, developed paragraphs
Practical examples where useful
A strong conclusion
A brief author biography
Relevant source links
A suggested meta description
Suggested keywords or tagwords
Authors may also include a suggested hero-image prompt, although image selection remains at the discretion of the site.
Writing Style
Articles should be written in a professional, readable style.
Use:
Clear sentences
Full paragraphs
Direct explanations
Practical language
Logical organization
Appropriate terminology
A respectful instructional tone
Avoid:
Stacked one-sentence paragraphs
Excessive bullet points
Overly promotional language
Clickbait headlines
Unsupported statistics
Artificial urgency
Unnecessary jargon
Repetitive filler
Generic motivational content
Claims that guarantee sales or success
Articles should teach rather than merely promote.
Accuracy and Sources
Publishing platforms, distribution programs, pricing structures, technical requirements, and legal information can change.
When an article includes platform-specific or technical guidance, contributors should use current and authoritative sources whenever possible.
Preferred sources include:
Official publishing platform documentation
Government websites
Recognized publishing organizations
Primary research
Direct manufacturer or distributor documentation
Established industry associations
Official legal or tax resources
Avoid relying on low-quality blogs, anonymous posts, outdated forum discussions, or unsupported social media claims as primary evidence.
All external links should be relevant to the article and should support the information being presented.
Originality Requirements
Submitted articles must be original.
Do not submit:
Articles copied from another website
Lightly rewritten versions of published material
Content generated from another author’s work without permission
Articles containing plagiarized passages
Content already published elsewhere unless prior approval has been granted
Material for which you do not own the necessary rights
By submitting an article, you confirm that the work is yours and that you have the authority to grant publication rights.
Use of Artificial Intelligence
Writers may use artificial intelligence as a research, planning, grammar, or editing aid, but the contributor remains fully responsible for the final article.
AI-assisted submissions must be:
Fact-checked
Carefully edited
Original
Accurate
Written in a natural and professional voice
Free from fabricated citations
Free from invented statistics
Free from repetitive or generic filler
Reviewed for platform and legal accuracy
Unedited AI-generated content will not be accepted.
The contributor must be able to stand behind every statement in the article.
Promotional Content and Links
Contributor articles should provide genuine value.
Limited promotional links may be considered when they are relevant to the article and useful to the reader. Excessive self-promotion, keyword stuffing, and sales-focused content will not be accepted.
Submissions should not function as advertisements.
The article may include:
One author website link
One relevant book or professional profile link
A short contributor biography
Necessary supporting references
Affiliate links, paid placements, sponsored links, and commercial product promotions must be disclosed in advance and require approval.
Do not insert hidden tracking links, redirects, or misleading anchor text.
Author Biography
Include a short biography of approximately 50 to 100 words.
The biography may include:
Your name
Your publishing experience
Relevant credentials
Published books
Professional role
Area of expertise
One approved link
The approved link will appear in the biography below each published article and may point to your author website, book page, portfolio, newsletter, professional service, or another relevant destination.
Keep the biography factual, concise, and directly related to your publishing background.
Contributor Link
Each published contributor may include one approved link in the author biography that appears below the article.
The link may point to:
The contributor’s author website
A professional portfolio
A book page
A publishing service website
A newsletter signup page
One relevant professional profile
The link should represent the contributor’s primary professional destination and must be appropriate for the audience of SelfPublishingStandards.com.
Only one link will be placed in the biography area beneath each article. Additional promotional links inside the article are not guaranteed and require editorial approval.
The link must not lead to:
Misleading sales pages
Low-quality affiliate pages
Unrelated commercial offers
Adult, illegal, deceptive, or harmful content
Pages containing excessive pop-ups or forced redirects
Sites that conflict with the standards and purpose of SelfPublishingStandards.com
SelfPublishingStandards.com reserves the right to reject, remove, or replace any contributor link that becomes broken, misleading, inappropriate, or no longer relevant.
The approved biography link gives contributors a clear way to direct interested readers to their books, website, services, or professional platform after readers have engaged with the article.
Publication License
By submitting an article, you grant SelfPublishingStandards.com permission to edit, publish, display, archive, promote, and distribute the article on the website, through email newsletters, and through related promotional channels.
Unless otherwise agreed in writing, the contributor retains copyright ownership of the original article.
The article should not be republished elsewhere in identical form without prior written approval after acceptance. Contributors may generally link to the published article and share excerpts for promotional purposes.
Any alternative arrangement should be agreed upon before publication.
Compensation
Unless a separate written agreement is made before acceptance, contributor articles are submitted on an unpaid basis.
The primary benefits may include:
A professional byline
Author credibility
Industry visibility
An author biography
Approved website links
Exposure to a publishing-focused audience
A permanent published article
Opportunities for future collaboration
Sponsored submissions, paid placements, and commercial partnerships are handled separately.
Reasons a Submission May Be Rejected
A submission may be declined when it:
Is too broad or shallow
Repeats information already covered onsite
Contains inaccurate claims
Uses outdated platform information
Is overly promotional
Contains excessive external links
Does not match the site’s audience
Requires extensive rewriting
Lacks practical value
Contains plagiarism
Includes fabricated sources
Reads like unedited AI output
Promotes questionable publishing practices
Makes unrealistic income or sales claims
Fails to follow the submission guidelines
Rejection does not necessarily mean the contributor lacks expertise. The article may simply not fit the site’s current editorial needs.
Submission Checklist
Before submitting, confirm that:
The article is original
The subject fits SelfPublishingStandards.com
The article provides practical value
All claims have been checked
Platform requirements are current
Sources are authoritative
Links are relevant and working
The article has been proofread
Promotional language is limited
A short biography is included
A meta description is included
Suggested tagwords are included
The document contains your contact information
How to Submit
Email your submission to:
submissions@selfpublishingstandards.com
Use the following subject line:
Article Submission: [Proposed Article Title]
Attach the article as a Microsoft Word document or paste it into the email body.
Include:
Your full name
Your email address
Your proposed article title
A brief summary of the article
Your author biography
Your website link
Any relevant professional credentials
Confirmation that the article is original
Disclosure of any commercial interest connected to the topic
Please do not send multiple articles in one email unless invited to do so.
Suggested Email Format
Subject: Article Submission: [Article Title]
Hello,
I am submitting the attached article, “[Article Title],” for consideration by SelfPublishingStandards.com.
The article explains [brief description of the subject and its value to readers].
I confirm that the article is original, that I have the right to submit it, and that any commercial interests or relevant relationships have been disclosed.
Name:
Email:
Website:
Professional background:
Thank you for your consideration.
Submit Practical Knowledge That Helps Authors Publish Better
SelfPublishingStandards.com is built around the belief that independent authors deserve accurate, practical, and professional publishing guidance.
Experienced contributors can help strengthen that mission.
Submit an article that teaches clearly, reflects real experience, and helps writers make better decisions from manuscript preparation through publication and long-term book management.
Share what you know. Help raise the standard of self-publishing.
