Whether you’re a seasoned writer, an award-winning video host, or just getting started on your media career, Gaywheels needs you! We’re happy to accept your review, interview, how-to video, or other content for consideration. There are, however, a few important “dos” and “don’ts” to keep in mind:

DO

1. Be critical when writing. That doesn’t mean “negative”, it means that we want an informed opinion. Why should we like this car or accessory or ad campaign? Or why should we hate it?
2. Be original. Pulling specs from a manufacturer’s website is important for accuracy, but it can’t make up much of your review. Similarly, if you’re presenting a how-to video (e.g. how to change a spark plug), your personality is just as important as the instructions you provide. Think of this as a creative challenge — one in which we need to hear your own authoritative voice.
3. Be fun. Few people want to read a dull, 1,000-word essay on the Ford Mustang, no matter how factual it may be. We’re not a “dry” news site; funny, poignant, engaging writing is what we’re looking for.
4. Consider the LGBT perspective. That’s why we’re here, after all.
5. Hype yourself. Give us your Twitter handle, the address of your blog, and a link to your Facebook page. This is your chance to get new readers!

DON’T

1. Submit previously published work, unless it’s been substantially rewritten or re-edited. That’s for both technical and editorial reasons. (Note: if you’re a video type who has a YouTube channel and wants us to cross-post future auto-related videos, that’s a-okay.)
2. Get too technical. Do we want to hear data about horsepower and fuel efficiency? Heck yes! But know where to draw the line for our general-interest readers.
3. Get offended when we edit your article. As fantastic as many of your submissions are, nearly all of them have to be edited for space, content, structure, voice, grammar, and so on.
4. Treat this as a free ad for your business. We are all about giving you the opportunity to gain exposure as a writer or media personality. If you’re more interested in promoting your insurance website or car dealership, that’s fine too, but that’s what we call a “sponsored post” or a “paid review”. Those are ads that require payment. (For more details about advertising opportunities, contact us.) If you submit such an article anyway, with mentions of your website or business and embedded links to it, we’ll assume you’ve ignored these guidelines; please don’t expect a response.

Think you’ve got what it takes? Then send what you’ve got to [email protected]. For reviews and other written pieces, we encourage you to attach photos or illustrations (so long as they’re free of copyright restrictions). If you’re submitting a video that’s fairly big (i.e. over 5mb), use a service like Dropbox or Box. Alternately, you can upload it to YouTube as a private clip and email a link to it.

We try to evaluate submissions very quickly so you can know whether or not your piece has been accepted.

Payment

We’re a small organization, and at the moment, we don’t have the funds to pay for contributions. However, we can offer budding auto journalists plenty of exposure (the professional kind), and if we like your style, we may invite you to become a member of our core team of writers. That means you’ll be invited to first drives, previews, and other industry events. Submit your best work!

Legal stuff

By submitting items to Gaywheels, you acknowledge that you own those items or otherwise have the right to use them for publication. In particular, we encourage you to submit photos and videos that you have shot yourself or that have been provided as part of a publicity kit. In your cover letter, please let us know the origin of any work that isn’t your own.

Thanks for your interest. We’ll be in touch!

Click here to submit an article to Gaywheels.