Thank you for considering writing for AudiobookRush.
If you would like to suggest a topic you would like to write about, please review the material below, then email your pitch to suggest@audiobookrush.com.
Looking for the Narrator Picks (Reviews by Narrators) guide? audiobookrush.com/narrator-picks-guidelines.
Overview
The Rush section features our listener-focused original content. This is where articles by guest writers will appear. The Rush has two article formats:
- The Voice covers what is happening in the audiobook world.
- Field Guides answer a question or challenge a listener might have.
At a glance
| The Voice | Field Guides | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Explain to listeners something interesting about the audiobook world | Answer the question in the title, fast |
| Listener | Interested in audiobooks | In a hurry, possibly new to audiobooks |
| Opinion | Required, in a closing section headed “My view” | Fact-first and neutral |
| Reading level | 10th grade, U.S. | 8th grade, U.S. |
| Written length | 600 to 800 words | 400 to 600 words |
| Narrated length | 3 to 4 min | 2 to 3 min |
Narrated length is calculated at 200 words per minute.
The two formats
The Voice
600 to 800 words. 3 to 4 minutes narrated.
| Info block | Your name (byline), proposed title, estimated reading time at 200 wpm. |
|---|---|
| Summary | About 40 words on what the piece is about and why it matters. We use it wherever the piece is listed, so it has to stand alone. |
| Intro | About 100 words. The facts a listener needs before the rest makes sense. |
| Body sections | About 350 to 550 words. As many sections as the topic needs. Suggest headings for your sections. |
| “What this means to you (the listener)” | About 50 words on what changes for a listener. |
| “My view” | About 50 words where you say what you think. It should follow from the facts you laid out. Pieces we write here ourselves at AR are headed “Our view”. |
| Tone | A knowledgeable friend explaining how this aspect of audiobooks works. Your article will be narrated. |
Field Guides
400 to 600 words. 2 to 3 minutes narrated.
| Info block | Your name (byline), proposed title, estimated reading time at 200 wpm. |
|---|---|
| Summary | About 30 words saying what the guide answers. It is used as the summary wherever the piece is listed, so it has to stand alone. We will rewrite it if needed. |
| Keywords | Suggest possible keywords. |
| Intro | About 50 words. Answer the title’s question immediately. |
| Body sections | About 280 to 480 words. Headings and bullets. Suggest headings for your sections. |
| “The bottom line” | About 40 words. Plain summary, where to go next. |
| Tone | Straightforward, warm and unhurried. Your article will be narrated. |
House style
- Listener-first, not anti- or pro-anybody. Name a product or service only if it will help a listener understand distinctions.
- Narrator-forward: Please credit a narration as “narrated by” or “performed by” rather than “read by.”
- Wry humor is ok. Snark is not.
- Avoid softening terms like “arguably” or “somewhat.”
- We welcome audiobook-related jargon. Please explain it inline the first time you use it. For example: “The producer emailed the narrator a recordable (the final annotated version of the manuscript).”
Sources: what to send
Please send a link for every source. Usually that is all we need.
If you have any questions about sources, please email us at articles@audiobookrush.com.
Sending it in
Please send your finished piece to articles@audiobookrush.com.
We will confirm your submission and reach out with any questions. We expect to publish within about a week after we have completed the final edit.
Thank you for bringing your expertise to AudiobookRush.
Happy Writing!