So, you’re considering writing for Shells&Pebbles. Great! Here is some basic information, the gist of which is that we are essentially open to anything. Still, it may be useful 2for you to know what kinds of things we have published in the past, and what you can expect from us when you send in a piece.
Types of contributions
We accept contributions from any genre. You can think about, for instance:
- A short research article
- A column or opinion piece about a controversy within the history of science.
- An essay or ‘think piece’ about an aspect of the field
- A personal story about your experience as a researcher, an anecdote about hunting for a particular source in a particular archive, or other scholarly adventures
- An interview
- A review or discussion of a book – which may also be a classic of the field, rather than a recent publication.
Language
We are open to articles in English or Dutch. We see ourselves as a bilingual blog: our website has its roots in the Dutch community of historians of science, and we want to be attractive to Dutch scholars if they feel more comfortable writing (or reading) in their native language. Therefore, we endeavor to publish regularly in both languages.
Form
Pieces of any length will be considered, though we may suggest shortening pieces down if we think them unnecessarily long or wordy. Usually, post lengths range between 1000 and 1500 words, with a lot of exceptions depending on genre. If you have a lot to say, you may consider writing a series of related posts. Keep in mind that the potential audience is quite broad. We encourage you to aim for a delicate balance between communicating niche expertise and making your writing as accessible and interesting as possible for a broad audience.
Format
We will format your article when uploading it. You make our work easiest by sending your text as a word document (not a pdf), with images as separate files, while providing indications in the text as to where to place those images. Pay attention to copyright issues and provide source references for images. We need at least one image to feature on the front page.
Picture Guidelines
At Shells & Pebbles we believe that a picture can speak a thousand words. Pictures are an important part of our blog that help tell our stories, and help frame the readers point of view on a specific topic. However, since they have eloquence of their own, they need to put into context. With uploaded photos, we ask you to either explicitly refer to the photos throughout your narrative (if they actively support your argument), or to provide justification in the form of a caption in which you reflect or justify why you as the author chose these photos.
Editing
We will read your piece carefully and will often respond to it with some questions or suggestions for changes. You will always have the final say over your own article. If after publication you find yourself wanting to correct or alter a minor point, you can let us know and we will update your piece accordingly.
Any questions? Please email us at theshellsandpebbles@gmail.com!
Download a PDF version of these guidelines here in English and here in Dutch.