"You are a bold and courageous person, afraid of nothing." Those were the first words heard on my favorite record when I was 5 years old. That's also how we think of you, the bold and courageous person ready to dip into the scrappy world of independent, supporter-funded culture journalism. I'm thrilled that you're considering The Tonearm as a place for your words. We'd love to have you here.

If you haven't checked it out yet, our About page outlines the mission and vision of The Tonearm. Take a few minutes to read that as it helpfully explains our mindset.

And now, some FAQs. If I haven't addressed your pressing question here, then please don't hesitate to ask.

What types of articles does The Tonearm want from me?

We primarily seek articles that fall into one of two categories: interviews with artists or ‘perspective pieces’ that offer opinions or historical context on topics relevant to our coverage. I should also note that when I say 'artists,' I mean anyone creating cool stuff, whether that's a musician, filmmaker, visual artist, author, or an innovative person making the world better. The term ‘artist’ is defined loosely. Additionally, we’re not looking for reviews of records, films, shows, etc., but rather an analysis of a release, such as a critical essay that puts it in context with other things or ideas, is something we'd enjoy.

Do you assign artists to cover, or can I pitch my own ideas?

You are welcome and encouraged to pitch ideas. I don't assign anything, but I will give you suggestions of artists who have reached out to us (usually through their ‘people'). This will initially be in the form of a list of potential artists, but once I get to know what you're into, I can make more specific suggestions. That said, I do not want you to write about any artist that you're not genuinely into. There's no pressure to cover any artist I suggest.

OK, what about compensation?

LP (the co-publisher) and I are currently funding the site out of our own pockets. Although we feel it’s mandatory to pay our writers, we can’t afford to pay much just yet. Currently, we’re paying $50 per published piece. We've been building our audience and waiting for traffic to consistently grow before starting our supporter and underwriter programs. The time has come, and we hope to have all of that active mid-summer. Once all that's in place, and depending on initial support, we're hopeful our writer payments will increase.

What sort of themes or topics should interviews with artists cover?

Mostly that's up to you, and I want you to have fun with it. However, paraphrasing the text on our About page, the pieces featured on The Tonearm are threaded by an exploration of what it’s like to create cool things. Keep that in mind when conducting interviews. I'd like at least one or two questions about the creative process, how the artist executes their craft, what inspires them, etc. It's not all about the creative process, but it would be nice to get at least a little bit about it in the articles. Alternatively, we also like to address societal issues, such as climate change, inclusion, and wealth disparity. That said, I wouldn't want you to tackle any of those topics with an artist unless there's an entry point, such as a song with corresponding lyrical content.

How long should my articles be, and do you have any formatting requirements?

2000-2500 words is the sweet spot, but you are more than welcome to do more or less. I probably wouldn't want to go below 1250 words. If it's an interview, and the interviewee is compelling and generous, then the interview piece can go on for as long as it remains interesting. You should also write at least a couple of paragraphs of introduction for any Q&A piece, containing some words about the artist and the latest activity that serves as the basis for the interview. Be sure to treat this introduction as if it were the reader's first encounter with the artist. I should also note that interview pieces can be written in an article style, rather than in a Q&A format, if you prefer. And I'll provide the title and subhead, but I’m more than welcome to your suggestions on those.

What file type should I use to deliver the piece?

This is totally up to you. I can take it all: Word docs, Google docs, PDFs, rich text documents, whatever. I guess if I have a preference, that would be a markdown file. If you’re unsure what that is, don't worry about it! Additionally, if you have any hyperlinks you would like included, feel free to insert them or attach them at the end of your article, along with instructions on where they should be placed.

Does The Tonearm follow a style guide?

We follow the Chicago Manual of Style. But, you know what? Just write your article and have fun doing so. I can worry about adapting it to CMoS from here.

Do you prefer that I conduct interviews via video chat, phone, or email? Do you have a Zoom account I can use?

I'm open to whatever approach you prefer. I've found that artists who have a more compelling story or whom I’m familiar with work best in a video or phone interview. Email interviews are suitable if there isn’t a lot to go on initially regarding the artist’s story. I'll also note here that when conducting an email interview, follow-up questions are crucial. Don't be shy about asking follow-ups. As for a Zoom account, I'm afraid we don't have one to share. I'm happy to make suggestions as to what you can use, though. And, that said, I can create good transcriptions of your interviews using Descript on my side if you send me the audio file. I’m happy to do so.

Any other questions? Hit me up!