Submissions Guidelines

What we’re looking for: 

At The Bristorian, we’re committed to publishing provocative and insightful articles from across a wide range of disciplines within the humanities. If you have a nuanced take on something often overlooked or are looking for a platform to complete in-depth investigations into little-known phenomena, the Bristorian is the place for you.

Whilst much of our content has traditionally been historically based, we are expanding to include topics from across the humanities, including elements of art history, politics, economics, sociology and many more disciplines. Regardless of your subject, write about what interests you.

The following article types and editorial series are open to pitches.

Features: 

  • 800-1,000 word articles on a vast range of topics, from academic mini-essays to commentaries on current affairs.

Opinion

  • Bold and unique perspectives on current affairs, theories, phenomena, and academia

Public History

  • How does History interact in the public sphere? How do museums, statues and memorials inform our view of History? Here, we discuss the nature of Public History, Memory and how we remember as a society

The Past Today

  • The series comprises short, sharp, yet impactful 500-word pieces commemorating the history in the everyday. Past pieces have memorialized historical figures such as Marx, as well as provocative anniversaries and events

History Months

  • Throughout the academic year, we commemorate those often left out of traditional historical narratives, upholding the months and anniversaries dedicated to redressing this imbalance. 

    Essays

  • Do you have an academic essay or piece of coursework that scored a high 2:1 or above? If so, we’d like you to contribute it! Essays submitted from your course must be based on questions which aren’t set repeatedly each academic year e.g. are unlikely to be set again.

How to pitch

Before you begin to write anything for the Bristorian, we encourage writers to ‘pitch’ to us. In keeping with standard journalism practices, writers must ‘pitch’ ideas which then get ‘commissioned’ by the publication. 

Alternatively, editors will post a ‘call-out’ on the Bristorian Contributors page for specific articles they want to be written, which then get commissioned. You can write for the Bristorian through either format.

As part of this pitching process, we ask writers to email us, titling their email subjects with “PITCH:” and then the headline of their article. 

E.g.  Subject: PITCH: Remembering Charlotte von Mahlsdorf: East German Trans Woman and Renowned Curator

As part of your pitch, we’d like:

  • A working title 

  • A brief description of what you’d like to write 

  • Rough word count and structure

All pitches can be sent to thebristorian.submissions@gmail.com

After Sending Your Pitch:

  • Once you’ve sent your pitch, you will be contacted by The Bristorian Editorial Team who will discuss your ideas in further detail, set a deadline and commission you to write your piece 

  • During your writing process, it may be helpful to take a look at The Bristorian Style Guide, which sets out rules on grammar, format and punctuation for your submission

  • Once you’ve submitted your first draft, an editor will look over your piece, provide edits and feedback, and then the piece will be uploaded to The Bristorian site 

  • During the editing process, editors may ask for clarification or changes to your work, so please be responsive