How to Contribute
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Our profiles, overview essays, and other posts are typically solicited by the editorial team and written by established film scholars, historians, and PhD students focusing on early cinema, as well as film curators and archivists. The Women Film Pioneers Project does not accept unsolicited manuscripts.
To inquire about writing for WFPP, please contact us at wfpp@columbia.edu. If you have never written for us, please include a writing sample (preferably about silent film) and a copy of your CV.
Whether you are interested in writing a career profile, a peer-reviewed overview essay, or a Projections post, please follow the specific guidelines (below) for each category and, most importantly, familiarize yourself with our published content.
We evaluate pitches on a rolling basis and make every effort to let people know as quickly as possible whether or not a pitch is accepted.
To Propose a Profile
- If you have a specific pioneer in mind, double-check our list of unassigned pioneers to make sure she is not already assigned.
- Send a short email that introduces yourself and your background in film.
- If you have never written for us, please include a writing sample (preferably about silent film) and a copy of your CV.
If your proposal is accepted, you will be given a deadline of six (6) months to one (1) year from the date of assignment, depending on the amount of archival research required. Submit your finale draft and any images to wfpp@columbia.edu by that date.
After submission, your profile will be reviewed by the editorial team, who will respond with any necessary comments, queries, and suggestions for revisions. A new deadline will be set in conjunction with the editorial team and will be based on the amount of work necessary to finalize the piece. Once the profile has been reviewed by the editorial team, finalized, and placed online, you will receive a link to the final version to review prior to publication.
To Propose an Peer-Reviewed Overview Essay
- Send a one (1) paragraph description of your topic and a one (1) paragraph description of the archival research to be conducted, along with a short preliminary bibliography and a brief bio.
- If you have never written for us, please include a writing sample (preferably about silent film) and a copy of your CV.
If your proposal is accepted, you will be given a deadline of one (1) year from the date of assignment. Submit your finale draft and images to wfpp@columbia.edu by that date.
After submission, your essay will be sent out for blind peer review. If your essay is acceptable for publication, there will be a period for any necessary revisions. A new deadline will be set in conjunction with editorial team, and will be based on the amount of work necessary to finalize the piece. Once the essay has been reviewed by the editorial team, finalized, and placed online, you will receive a link to the final version to review prior to publication.
*Guidelines for Overview Essays*
To Propose a Projections Post
- Send a one (1) paragraph description of your proposed idea that clearly outlines your desired media and presentation format (what types of files you plan to send or what software or applications you plan to use, etc.). Be specific in your proposal about how your idea relates to the overall mission of WFPP.
- If you have never written for us, please include a short writing sample or work related to your proposed idea (preferably about silent film) and a copy of your CV.
If your proposal is accepted, you will be given a deadline. These vary and will depend on format and type of content.
After submission, your piece will be reviewed by the editorial team, who will respond with any necessary comments, queries, and suggestions for revisions. A new deadline will be set in conjunction with the editorial team and will be based on the amount of work necessary to finalize the piece. Once it has been reviewed by the editorial team, finalized, placed online, you will receive a link to the final version to review prior to publication.
After Publication
As a digital resource, we are fortunate to be able update published content as new information and archival discoveries come to our attention. At any point after publication, you may be asked to either revise and update your published piece or sign off on an editorial research update note (this will depend upon the extent of the new information or archival discovery). We will note at the end of the text when a profile has been updated for the reader’s convenience.