Write for CluedUp — Contributor Guidelines

Quick answer: CluedUp welcomes contributors who can explain a South African process or everyday task clearly and accurately. We publish non-promotional, expert how-to and public-service guidance — not adverts in disguise. We are an independent publisher, not a government body, and every piece is edited to our standards. Pitch an idea and our team will review it.

Key takeaways

• What we want: clear, accurate, non-promotional how-to and public-service articles for South African readers.
• Who should write: practitioners and specialists who can make a process genuinely easier to follow.
• What we do not accept: thinly disguised promotion or attempts to place undisclosed or disguised paid links.
• Editorial control: our team edits for clarity, accuracy and standards, and has final say.
• How to pitch: send a short outline via our contact page or email [email protected].

What we publish

CluedUp publishes plain-language guides that help people do something: understand a document, follow an official process, avoid a common mistake, or make a confident everyday decision. The best contributions take a task readers find confusing and make it obvious. If your draft leaves someone able to act where they were previously stuck, it is the kind of writing we are looking for.

In practice that means we favour depth on a narrow, useful topic over broad overviews that skim the surface. A guide that walks through one process step by step, flags the points where people usually go wrong, and says clearly where to turn for the official word is far more valuable to our readers than a general essay. We also value honesty about limits — telling a reader when a situation is complex enough that they should seek professional help is a mark of good public-service writing, not a weakness in it.

Style and tone

Our house style is plain, warm and practical. We write for a busy reader who wants to get something done, not to impress other writers, so we prefer short sentences, everyday words and clear structure over jargon. Where a technical term is unavoidable, explain it the first time. Use headings and steps so a reader can scan to the part they need. British spelling is our standard. Above all, be accurate: a clever sentence that misleads is worse than a plain one that helps, and on public-service topics accuracy is the whole job.

Who should write for us

We especially value people with real, first-hand knowledge — professionals, advisers, educators, community workers and specialists who deal with a subject in practice. You do not need to be a journalist; you need to know your topic and be willing to explain it simply. Because we cover public-service subjects, accuracy and honesty matter more than style, and our editors will help with the polish.

What we look for in a pitch

• A specific, useful angle — the exact question or task you will help with.
• Why you are well placed to write it.
• A short outline of the main steps or sections.
• Any sources or official references you will point readers to.

A tight, specific pitch is far more likely to be accepted than a broad topic with no clear reader outcome.

Editorial standards

Every contribution is edited for clarity, accuracy and compliance with our published standards, and our team keeps final say over the wording. We check that official processes are described correctly and that readers are pointed to the responsible authority for the final word. We may ask for revisions or decline a piece that cannot be made accurate. This is how we protect readers who are relying on us to get something right.

What we will not publish

We do not run promotional articles dressed up as guidance, and we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links — a contributor byline is not a route to a hidden advert. Our independent guidance is never for sale, and a contributed piece is editorial, not a paid placement in disguise. If you want to promote a product or service, that is what sponsored content and advertising are for, and both are clearly labelled. We also decline content that misrepresents an official process or could mislead vulnerable readers.

How the submission process works

Pitch first; do not send a finished article unsolicited. If we like the idea, we will confirm the angle, length and deadline. You submit a draft, we edit collaboratively, and we schedule publication once it meets our standards. We will always tell you if a piece is not a fit rather than leave you guessing.

Accuracy and sources

Because readers act on what we publish, contributors are expected to get the facts right and to show their working where it matters. Point to the responsible official body or a reputable source for anything a reader might reasonably want to verify, and avoid presenting a personal opinion as settled fact. Do not invent statistics, examples or case studies; if you are not certain of a figure, leave it out or flag it. If a process has changed recently, say when your information is current as of. Our editors will check these points, and getting them right first time makes publication much faster.

Payment, credit and rights

Arrangements for credit and any payment vary by piece and are agreed before you write, so please ask rather than assume. Contributors are credited as authors where appropriate, which helps readers judge who is behind the guidance. We will be straight with you about what is on offer for a given piece, whether that is payment, a credited byline, or both, and about how we expect to use the work once it is published. If any of that is unclear, raise it at the pitch stage and we will set it out plainly before you spend time writing.

CluedUp is an independent publication with a named editorial team and published methods — read more about us and about how we verify and edit. Any commercial relationship on the site is disclosed in line with the FTC endorsement guidelines, and contributor articles are kept firmly on the editorial side of that line. Our guides are information only — not legal, financial or professional advice — and contributors are asked to write in that same honest, reader-first spirit.

Guest post topics we accept

We welcome how-to guest posts and contributor articles from writers with genuine expertise. Popular topics for a how-to guest post on CluedUp include:

• official processes and documents
• money and rights
• education
• everyday how-to guides

If your idea is a strong fit for our readers and is not already covered, we would like to hear it.

Guest post guidelines

To keep quality high, every how-to guest post must be original and unpublished, accurate and well-sourced, genuinely useful rather than promotional, and written in clear language. We edit accepted drafts to our standard and may add or adjust links for relevance. Purely promotional pieces are welcome too, but they run as clearly labelled sponsored content, not as an editorial guest post.

How to submit a guest post

1. Read these guest post guidelines and check we cover your topic.
2. Send a short pitch — working title, angle, why it helps our readers, and a line on your background — via our contact page.
3. On approval, send the draft; we review it for accuracy and fit.
4. We edit, schedule and publish, crediting you as a guest author.

Frequently asked questions

Can I include a link to my business?

A relevant, honest author credit may be fine, but we do not sell undisclosed or disguised paid links and do not accept promotional articles as guidance. For promotion, use sponsored content.

Do you pay contributors?

Terms vary by piece and are agreed before you write. Ask about current arrangements when you pitch.

Is CluedUp a government publication?

No. We are an independent publisher, not a government body, and not affiliated with or endorsed by any government.

What topics do you accept?

Clear, non-promotional how-to and public-service guidance relevant to South African readers, written by someone with genuine knowledge of the subject.

How do I pitch?

Send a short outline and your relevant background via our contact page or [email protected].

Will my article be edited?

Yes. We edit for clarity, accuracy and standards, and our team has final say on wording.

Can you guarantee publication?

No. We publish pieces that meet our standards and help readers; we may request revisions or decline a draft.

Do you accept AI-written submissions?

We value genuine expertise and accuracy above all. Anything published must be correct, original and written to serve the reader, whatever tools helped draft it.

Do you accept how-to guest posts?

Yes — original, expert how-to contributions that genuinely help readers. Pitch first via our contact page; promotional pieces run as clearly labelled sponsored content, not editorial.

What are your how-to write for us guidelines?

Original, accurate, non-promotional writing edited to our standards. Send a short outline and a line on your background to pitch.

How do I submit a guest post to CluedUp?

Send a short pitch via our contact page with your working title, angle and background. We reply to how-to guest post ideas that fit our readers.

Do you accept how-to guest bloggers and contributors?

Yes — we accept how-to guest bloggers and contributing writers with real expertise. Become a contributor by pitching an original, non-promotional idea first.

What are your how-to guest post guidelines?

Original, accurate, well-sourced and genuinely useful writing, edited to our standard. Promotional pieces run as clearly labelled sponsored content.

What how-to topics can I write about?

We accept guest posts across official processes and documents, money and rights, education, everyday how-to guides and related how-to subjects. Pitch a specific, fresh angle.

Do you accept sponsored or paid guest posts?

Editorial guest posts are unpaid and earn a byline. Paid promotion is welcome as clearly disclosed sponsored content — ask about options.