Guidelines for Bloggers – The Opinion Desk
Welcome, and thank you for your interest in writing for The Opinion Desk. Our platform aims to provide thoughtful analysis, diverse perspectives, and meaningful conversations on issues that matter. By publishing your work with us, you can share your ideas with a wide and engaged readership.
If you would like to submit a blog, please review the following guidelines carefully. Following these instructions will improve the chances of your article being published.
General Writing Guidelines
• Blog posts should generally be 800 to 1000 words. If you reference sources, include them as hyperlinks within the text rather than listing them separately.
• Blogs may be written in a narrative style or in the first person. Unlike formal columns, blogs are usually more conversational in tone. However, they should still present a clear argument, opinion, or insight, and the story or experience should be connected to a broader context.
• Choose topics that are relevant, realistic, and grounded in facts.
• Avoid writing content that provokes unnecessary religious or sectarian controversy.
• A blog is different from a feature story. If the article mainly consists of interviews and quotes from multiple people, it is considered a feature rather than a blog.
• A blog is also different from news reporting. Simply rewriting or summarizing a news story does not qualify as a blog.
• Blogs are best used to analyze an issue, reflect on public opinion, or interpret current events. They may also connect different articles or viewpoints on a single topic, but the post should clearly explain how these perspectives relate to each other and why they matter.
• We particularly welcome blogs that discuss current affairs, social issues, political developments, and national or international matters. Historical topics are also welcome, but they must be supported by reliable references.
• Scientific topics are welcome as well. However, since The Opinion Desk is not a specialized scientific journal, please focus on subjects that have a direct impact on society or public life, especially issues relevant to Pakistan and humanity at large.
• Writers should be careful with language and tone. Avoid abusive language, personal attacks, or defamatory statements.
• We encourage you to use AI tools to proofread, check your grammar, or refine your sentence structure (especially helpful if translating thoughts across English, Urdu, or Arabic). However, the core argument, experiences, and text must be your own original work. We do not accept articles that are entirely generated by AI. Purely AI-generated content lacks the authentic human voice our readers expect.
• We do not publish prayers or religious supplications on the website. Since our platform also contains images, videos, and other multimedia content, such material may appear in contexts that could cause confusion or discomfort.
• Avoid writing content that directly targets or attacks any religion or sect. Some matters are universally accepted facts, while others are sensitive debates that fall outside the scope of this platform.
• When referring to victims of violence, it is preferable to state the cause of death clearly rather than using honorific titles.
• Any article submitted to The Opinion Desk must not have been published elsewhere previously. After publication on our website, you may republish it on your personal platform, provided that a note is included stating: “This article was first published on The Opinion Desk.”
• Once your article is published on The Opinion Desk, it should not be submitted to another publication or website without prior permission. If you wish to republish it elsewhere, please request approval via email.
• Due to editorial scheduling, we may not always be able to specify exactly when an article will be published. However, we try our best to inform contributors whether their submission has been accepted.
Submission Format
Please include the following when submitting your blog:
• A two-line author bio, including your name and brief background (such as profession, interests, or education). • A profile picture. • Your Twitter/X handle (if available). • If you wish, you may also include your email address or personal website in your author bio.
If you are submitting a photo blog, please send all images in their original size, resolution, and color quality.
How to Submit
Please send your blog to: editor@theopiniondesk.com
For any questions or additional information, you may contact us through the same email address.
Important: Submit your article as an MS Word document, and attach any related images separately. Images should not be embedded inside the Word file.
