Write for Us — Offbeat Site / TheOffbeatSite.com / Offbeatis.com

We love original voices that help our community of life explorers: thoughtful travel, creative projects, art and photography, practical self-growth, philosophy, and offbeat lifestyle pieces. If your work is original, well-researched, and a little bit brave, we want to read it.

If you’re interested, email info@offbeatis.com with your pitch.

Quick overview — what we publish

We accept guest contributions across the site’s core editorial pillars:

• Travel & Adventure — itineraries, microadventures, local guides, slow travel, road trips.

• Creativity & Art — visual art, creative processes, project how-tos, photo essays.

• Self-Growth & Mindset — motivation, productivity, mental wellness, journaling, life experiments.

• Philosophy & Big Ideas — essays, contrarian takes, thought experiments, values and ethics.

• Lifestyle & Well-Being — intentional living, simple routines, community projects, wellness.

• Photography & Visual Storytelling — tutorials, workflows, photo essays.

• Gear, How-Tos & Practical Guides — honest reviews, packing lists, field testing.
  
  

We want: original reporting, first-person experiences, practical how-tos, photo essays, thoughtful essays, and evergreen guides that give readers something useful they can’t find everywhere else.

We do not accept: plagiarized or duplicate content (previously published elsewhere), thin SEO farms, overtly promotional product pages, or content that gives unsafe or illegal advice.

Topic approval & submission process (must read)

Step 1 — Pitch & SEO package (required).
Before writing a full draft, submit a pitch. We must approve the topic and SEO package before you deliver a full draft.

What to include in your pitch (incomplete pitches will not be considered):

1. Proposed headline + 2 alternate headlines.

2. Short pitch (≤ 300 words) — what you’ll cover and why Offbeat readers will care.

3. Category / Pillar — choose one: Travel, Creativity & Art, Self-Growth, Philosophy, Lifestyle, Photo/Visual, Gear/How-To.

4. SEO package (required):
   
   

   • Primary target keyword (exact phrase) and source of metrics (Ahrefs/SEMrush/Moz/Google Keyword Planner/etc.).

   • Monthly search volume for primary keyword (tool + screenshot or permalink recommended).

   • Keyword Difficulty / Competition score from your tool.

   • 2–3 secondary keywords (with volume + KD).

   • Top 3 ranking URLs for the primary keyword and one line on how your piece will be better.

   • Suggested SEO title (≤ 60 chars), meta description (≤ 155 chars), and suggested URL slug.

   • Suggested internal links (1–3 Offbeat pages to link to).
     
     

5. Outline — 500–700 words or a 5–7 header breakdown with approximate word counts per section.

6. Estimated final word count (typical ranges below).

7. Author bio (1–2 sentences), headshot (optional), website/socials.

8. Samples of published work (1–2 links).

9. Image plan — list of images you’ll provide and confirmation you own or have licensed them.

10. Disclosure: any affiliate links, sponsorships, or paid relationships (we must know up front).
    
    

Step 2 — Topic approval.
We’ll review your pitch and reply with: Approved / Needs changes / Declined. Only write the full draft after approval.

Step 3 — Submit draft.
If approved, submit the full draft as Google Doc or Word doc with images attached or shared. Include alt text + captions for images. We may request revisions.

Step 4 — Publication.
We’ll edit for style, clarity, and SEO. You’ll receive the published URL and optional promo copy when live.

Editorial & SEO requirements (final draft must follow)

• Original content only. Must be 100% original and not published anywhere else prior to publication. (After publication on Offbeat, you may republish only with a canonical link pointing to our URL.)

• SEO-ready: Use the primary keyword you proposed and 2–3 secondary keywords naturally. Match search intent.

• Quality: Well-written, fact-checked, and free of obvious grammar errors. We will copy-edit but expect high baseline quality.

• Formatting: Use H2 and H3 headings, short paragraphs, bulleted lists, and bold/italics where helpful for scannability.

• Images: High-resolution images (preferably 1200px+ width). Provide captions, photographer credit, and license info. If you supply images, confirm you own rights or provide license/receipt.

• Links: You are allowed to add dofollow links to your site. However, the content must be 100% original and high-quality. Affiliate links are allowed only if disclosed in the pitch; we may set affiliate links to nofollow at our discretion. We reserve the right to edit link attributes and remove low-quality links.

• Citations: Link to authoritative sources when making factual claims. Don’t link to obvious link farms.

• No spam: No hidden keyword stuffing or doorway pages. No thin content created solely to boost links.

• Safety & legality: No instructions for illegal or unsafe activities. We won’t publish content that encourages harm.
  
  

Word count & structure guidance (by category)

• Travel & Itineraries: 1,500–2,500 words. Day-by-day sections, maps, photography, practical tips.

• Creativity & Art: 900–2,000 words. Project steps, visual examples, downloadable prompts welcome.

• Self-Growth & Mindset: 800–1,500 words. Actionable takeaways, exercises, journaling prompts.

• Philosophy & Essays: 900–2,200 words. Strong thesis, linked sources, thoughtful conclusions.

• Lifestyle & Well-Being: 800–1,600 words. Practical how-tos, routines, recipes, or experiments.

• Photo Essays / Visual Storytelling: 300–1,500 words + gallery (images are the main focus). Include captions and story context.

• Gear & How-Tos / Reviews: 1,000–1,800 words. Honest pros/cons, testing notes, comparison tables.

Acceptance checklist (what we look for in a pitch)

• Topic fits Offbeat’s pillars (Travel, Art, Self-Growth, Philosophy, Lifestyle, Photo, Gear)

• Primary keyword + SEO metrics included with source (screenshot preferred)

• Clear outline and realistic word count

• At least one writing sample included

• Image plan with rights/license information

• No prior publication of the same content

• Disclosure of affiliate/sponsored content (if any)
  
  

Common reasons pitches get rejected

• No SEO data or weak keyword rationale.

• Thin content, promotional pages, or product spam.

• Previously published or duplicate material.

• Poorly written samples or many grammar problems.

• Overuse of affiliate links without disclosure.

• Topic outside our editorial focus or low relevance to our audience.
  
  

Tips to get accepted

• Pick a focused long-tail keyword and show competitor gaps.

• Offer unique reporting or personal access: interviews, local sources, exclusive photos, or first-hand testing.

• Make it easy for us: provide a clean Google Doc with headings, images uploaded, and a 1-line promo blurb for social.

• Provide real SEO screenshots/links — they speed up approval.

• If you’re pitching a photo essay, include a small proof gallery (3–6 images).
  
  

Category-specific idea starters

(These are examples to inspire pitches — include your keyword data when you pitch.)

Travel & Adventure

• 48-hour offbeat weekend in [city]: hidden cafés, murals & micro-museums.

• Microadventures near [city]: 8 routes under a day.

• How to plan a slow travel week in [region] with no fixed schedule.
  
  

Creativity & Art

• 5 creative projects to re-ignite your sketchbook habit.

• How to build a local zine: interviews, layout, distribution.

• Photo essay: the craft markets of [city].
  
  

Self-Growth & Mindset

• Practical journaling prompts for 30 days of clarity.

• How to build a morning routine that actually sticks.

• Recovering from a creative slump: an offbeat recovery plan.
  
  

Philosophy & Big Ideas

• Short essay: “Why boredom is a creative superpower.”

• Contrarian take: “Hustle culture is overrated — here’s an alternative.”

• Thought experiment: designing a week without rules.
  
  

Lifestyle & Well-Being

• Minimalist apartment hacks for creative people.

• Community rituals: starting a local book/skill swap.

• Rituals for ending the workday and reclaiming time.
  
  

Photography & Visual

• Phone photography workflow for travel photo essays.

• Editing tips for moody landscapes.

• How to curate a 10-image photo essay for an online audience.
  
  

Gear & How-Tos

• Best daypacks for urban explorers who occasionally hike.

• Packing list: essentials for 48-hour microadventures.

• Honest field test: 6 compact tripods for travel photographers.
  
  

SEO & discovery terms (use on page as tags / meta to help writers find this page)

write for us • write for us travel • write for us art • write for us self help • write for us philosophy • guest post travel • guest post art • guest post self help • submit guest post • submit guest post travel • submit guest post art • travel guest post guidelines • travel writer submissions • contribute travel articles • submit creative essay • submit photo essay • submit journal prompts • travel guest post seo • submit lifestyle guest post • contribute to travel blog • contribute to art blog • submit self-growth article • submit philosophy essay • guest post lifestyle travel • write for us life explorers • write for us creativity • write for us motivation • travel guest post submission • guest post outdoors • write for us hiking • write for us vanlife • submit market guide • submit slow travel piece • submit sustainable travel article • submit experiential travel piece • submit packing list • travel photographer submissions • travel writer pitch • submit road trip article • submit local guide • submit cultural travel piece • travel personal essay submission • submit wellness travel article • travel guest post SEO • submit listicle travel • submit art tutorial • submit creative project • submit mindful living article • submit philosophy thought piece

(You can copy these into on-page tags, metadata, and your CMS’s hidden search terms.)

After publication — promotion & reuse

• We’ll share the piece across our channels when appropriate and send you the live URL.

• You may share the post on your channels. If republishing elsewhere, include a canonical link pointing to the Offbeat URL.

• Want extra promo? Include a short 1-line promo blurb in your submission for social.
  
  

Final notes

• You are allowed to add dofollow links to your site, provided the content is 100% original, high-quality, and aligns with our editorial rules. Affiliate links must be disclosed upfront and are subject to our review.
  We reserve editorial control and may edit for clarity, voice, and SEO. All final publication decisions are ours.
  
  

If you’re ready, send your pitch and SEO package to: info@offbeatis.com — we’ll review topic approvals and get back to you.

Thanks for wanting to contribute — we’re excited to see what offbeat ideas you bring.