Submissions

Anyone can write for LockeSmith. We encourage SFL LCs especially to submit articles which consider liberal ideas or current events that are relevant to SFL's broader mission. For our print issue this year, our topic is the consideration of the ideals as components of a liberal society, and how to protect them against illiberal forces.

We publish nonfiction articles that are accessible to intelligent lay readers. We emphasize the positive case for liberty in the political, social, and economic spheres. We avoid name-calling and partisan politics. The audience is general, not narrow or partisan, so the arguments and rhetoric should be structured not to exclude any potential reader.

LockeSmith assumes primary responsibility for the packaging and presentation of your piece, including title and image.

Requirements

Length. Preferably 800 to 1200 words. If you have an idea for a piece longer than 1200 words, we suggest you pitch your idea first.
Proper referencing. Be sure to always hyperlink your references, especially when dealing with numbers or claims. Do not list them at the end of your piece. All references must be from reputable and trusted outlets, not Wikipedia or personal blogs.
Add subheadings. Subheadings help the reader navigate your prose. They also help you to organize your writing.
Few long paragraphs. Digital reading is different from print. Paragraphing should be frequent, and a single paragraph should not be more than five to eight sentences. Breaking up long paragraphs will greatly improve readability.
Write clearly. Be professional, but please submit articles in English, not academic-ese.
Lead strong. Your opening should grab people and pull them into the rest of the article. Tell stories about people and events that are relatable.
Bios. Please add your preferred biography. This will save the editorial team time.
Here is an example of a good piece.

How to Submit

Submit articles via e-mail in MS Word format, or Google docs, with the Title of Article, Author Name as the subject line, to [email protected].
Please include a sentence or two explaining the main idea of the submission, as well as a brief two-sentence bio that we can use to identify you to our readers.

Rights

LockeSmith asks for no exclusive rights to an article. LockeSmith takes no rights from you but embraces the right to distribute articles accepted for publication in any format, including print, web, e-reader, and formats currently known or yet to be discovered. LockeSmith maintains an open-reprint policy. We use the Creative Commons CC-by guidelines.