Frequently Asked Questions

FAQ’s on Submitting an Article

Do I have to be a woman or non-binary person to submit an article to Parachute?

No. Anyone and everyone is welcome to write for Parachute. However, Parachute publishes content for an audience of Gen Z women and non-binary people of color. Your work should keep that audience in mind. 

How long should my article be?

You can choose between a short article or a long article. Short articles should be between 500 and 800 words. Long articles should be between 1200 and 1500 words.

When will my article be published?

After you submit an article, our editors will go over it. You should get an email within a few days on the status of your article. If it is approved, you will get a publishing date. If it is not approved, you will be notified and you can try again. 

To increase your chances of your article being approved, see our editor’s checklist.

Will editors edit my article?

Editors are authorized to make small changes on articles. Those changes may include grammar, word choice, photos, paragraph size, etc. Editors are not allowed to change the tone, structure, content or message of the piece.

Can I submit an article that I already published somewhere else?

Short answer: no. Parachute does not republish articles. You may write about the same topic and repurpose that article for Parachute’s audience. 

What are some reasons why my article would not be published?

There are multiple reasons why an article would not be published. Here are a few:

  • The article does not match Parachute Media’s mission

  • The article does not fit into any of our 7 sections

  • The article is written academically instead of journalistically

  • Article is offensive or problematic to a group or community

  • Article does not have hyperlinks to credible sources

  • Article has plagiarism or copyright infringement

  • Article is not factually accurate

Can I curse in my article?

Parachute allows cursing in articles. However, use your judgement. If an article is factual and formal, cursing may not make sense. If an article is more of an opinion piece and written in a casual tone, cursing is acceptable. To remain credible, don’t curse excessively in your article. Your editor will have the final say on this matter. 

FAQ’s on Becoming a Parachute Contributor

What is the 4 week writing cycle?

The contributor program runs on a 4 week timeline that restarts at the beginning of every month. *For each stage, the Managing editor, Aarna, will send reminders through Parachute Club. These dates are uniform for everyone*

  • Week 1: You have 1 week to sign up for a prompt or pitch an article idea (Pitches and article ideas will not be accepted before or after this week).

  • Weeks 2 & 3: You have 2 weeks to write your article.

  • End of Week 3: Deadlines for articles (No late articles accepted. You may submit your articles early.).

  • Week 4: Editors will read your article and make edits. 

    • If your article is approved, you will get a date for when your article is published. 

    • If your article needs work, you will get it back with comments. You will have 1 week to edit it and send it back to the editor.

    • If your article is not approved you will be notified.

Can I write more than once a month?

Through our contributor program, you may only write once a month. In special cases, you may get approval from Parachute’s Managing Editor to write 2 articles a month. If you would like to write more than once a month, you may submit finished articles.

When will my article be published?

After you submit an article, our editors will go over it. You should get an email within a few days on the status of your article. If it is approved, you will get a publishing date. If your article needs some work, an editor will get back to you with some feedback. You will have one week to make changes and resubmit. If it is not approved you will be notified and you can try again. 

To increase your chances of your article being approved, see our editor’s checklist.

What happens if I miss the window to sign up for an article prompt or pitch an article idea?

The contributor program runs on a strict schedule. If you miss the window to sign up for a prompt or pitch an idea, you will have to wait for the next window at the beginning of the next month. However, if you are reacting to an event that happened, or a wider discussion currently taking place in media and culture, you may submit regardless. 

What happens if I miss the deadline to submit an article?

The contributor program runs on a strict schedule. If you miss the deadline, you will not be able to submit the article through the contributor program. If your article is finished but you were not able to submit it, you may submit it through the submit an article. This is not linked to the contributor program.

If you submit through there, the article will either be approved or rejected. There will be no opportunities for you to work with an editor and make changes. 

Who do I contact with questions?

You may email contribute.parachute@gmail.com.