Writing for The Tonearm

"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 Tonearm's mission and vision. 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?

The founding focus of The Tonearm is broadly expressed in two of our unofficial mottos: "an online journal of unexpected music and culture" and "a shared exploration of what it's like to create cool and meaningful things." Our articles are inspirational and thoughtful, and offer productive takeaways for readers both in the present moment and years from now. I imagine that if The Tonearm sat in the center of a Venn diagram, the three circles could be Tape Op (for articles that aren't afraid to dive in and get geeky while also providing future reference), The Creative Independent (for generous insight into process how how artists maintain their drive through troubling times), and The Wire (for unexpected discovery and declarations of 'this is why you should pay attention to this').

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 someone making the world better in an artistic way. The term ‘artist’ is defined loosely. We also want to primarily feature artists who are tricky to pin down, such as a musician whose music can't be categorized by a single genre. One of our notions is that we live in an exciting time when genres and cultures actively intermingle and influence each other, but in a way that's far from homogenous. We want The Tonearm to report on artists working within this fascinating shift.

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. I'm happy to discuss angles that make an article fit The Tonearm's focus, and help you find that angle if it's not apparent at first.

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'). I'll post about available artists and releases daily on our Slack workspace (ask for an invite) or can send a list of what's currently in the mix. Once I get to know what you're into, I can make specific suggestions directly to you. 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?

We've just launched our supporters' program and intend to distribute most of what comes in to our writers. We're currently paying .05 a word (rounded up to the nearest 5.00). To clarify: a 2000-word piece = $100, and so on. The rate will increase as our supporter base grows. We will send payment once you've approved the online edited draft of your article. Please note that this rate is based on the words used in the final edit of your article, not what you turn in. That shouldn't be a problem unless you're fluffing things up with an extra helping of filler. 🤓

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 you to address the artists' creative process, how they uniquely execute their craft, what inspires them, and so on. The conversation doesn't have to be all about the creative process, but our readers are interested in what makes our subjects tick. Another terrific angle is learning how the artist continues to exist as a creative person in challenging times. These topics are instructive to our readers and offer insight that remains relevant well beyond the publication date. And 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 do I set up an interview?

Usually, I will send you an email introduction with the artist and/or publicist included in the thread. It will then be up to you to set up the details. I only ask two things of you: respond to my introduction and any other exchanges in the email thread promptly and professionally, and keep me CC'ed so I can follow the progress of the interview scheduling. Alternatively, if the interview came from your pitch and you are in contact with the artist, you are welcome to set up the interview on your own. I'd still appreciate being CC'ed on the conversation or at least being regularly updated on progress.

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. You could even do an in-person interview if it's possible. 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 much to go on initially about 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 excellent transcriptions of your interviews using my Descript Pro account if you send me the audio file. I’m happy to do so.

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 two or three paragraphs of introduction for any Q&A piece, containing some words about the artist's background 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. Sell the artist—why should the reader read the interview? I should also note that interview pieces can be written in an article style rather than 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.

When I'm writing an interview piece, what are you looking for in the introduction section?

You should treat this introduction as if it were the reader's first encounter with the artist. Sell the artist—why should the reader spend time on this article? So, at a bare minimum, I'd like biographical and/or contextual info, some background (and maybe your opinion on) the latest release or project, and then a toss to the interview (such as, "In my conversation with X, we discussed …"). But none of that is set in stone, and I encourage you to put your spin on it. If you have a more personal take or story to add, then please do. Readers enjoy that stuff, though I understand we can't all have a personal angle every time. And there's no set length—just however much it takes to accomplish the preceding ask—but I'd go for at least three paragraphs.

Our philosophical goal as a site is discovery—understanding that we cover niche, underexposed artists who bring a compelling perspective to the world—so I see the intros as quick explainers about the artist and why the reader should invest five more minutes (or whatever) in learning more about them. Thinking about it like that might help explain what should go in the intro (but don't overthink it!). The beacon is: "it's like a conversation you have about music with a hip stranger in an indie record shop."

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 had a preference, it 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.

One style suggestion: avoid mentioning corporate names unless they're essential to the narrative. For example, rather than saying you spoke with the artist over Zoom, write that you talked to them via video chat.

Do you need me to fetch photos or graphics for the article?

If this is an interview that I've pitched to you, then it's likely I'm getting what I need from the publicist. However, if you've set up the interview yourself from your pitch, then, unless you've given me a label or publicist contact, I'll need you to gather photos from the artist. I'm not picky, but I would like at least three different photos so I can have options. I'd also prefer an image that's at least 1200px on one side, but if it's at least 500x500px, I can probably work with it. Also, if you're writing a historical or opinion piece, I would love it if you could suggest images for me to use—just make sure they don't have any copyright restrictions. Wikimedia Commons is a great place to source unrestricted images for historical pieces.