Write for Wayfinder: Submission Guidelines for Contributors

Welcome to Wayfinder#

Wayfinder is built on a simple belief: honesty beats hype, community beats algorithm-chasing, and real value trumps viral tricks every time.

We’re not here to teach you 37 ChatGPT hacks or promise you’ll 10x your productivity with one weird trick. We’re here to share what actually works—backed by real data, honest failures, and lessons learned from getting our hands dirty.

If you’ve been looking for a place where you can write about what you’ve actually learned (not just what sounds good in a headline), where vulnerability is valued over polish, and where building genuine community matters more than gaming metrics—welcome home.

What Wayfinder Is About#

Wayfinder focuses on practical insights for creators, entrepreneurs, and people figuring things out as they go.

Our core content areas:

Business & Entrepreneurship

Starting and growing businesses without the Silicon Valley BS
Real revenue strategies and monetization experiments
Practical tools and frameworks that actually work
Lessons from failures (we have plenty)

Content Creation & Medium Strategy

Honest takes on what works on Medium (and what doesn’t)
Building sustainable creator businesses
Community-first content strategies
SEO, structure, and storytelling that respects readers

Productivity & Personal Growth

Time management strategies that account for being human
Habit building without toxic hustle culture
Mental health and wellness for creators
Emotional intelligence and self-awareness

Technology & AI

Calling BS on AI hype cycles with actual data
Practical tech reviews from real-world use
Critical thinking about tech trends
Tools and platforms that genuinely solve problems

What connects all of this? We prioritize substance over style, data over dogma, and community over clicks.

The Spirit of Our Community#

Before we get into the technical guidelines, let’s talk about what makes Wayfinder different.

Honesty Over Perfection: We value writers who admit when they don’t know something, share their failures alongside their wins, and treat readers like intelligent humans instead of engagement metrics.

Data Over Hype: If you’re making claims, back them up. Real numbers, cited sources, and actual experience matter more than “trust me bro” assertions.

Community Over Commerce: Yes, we all want to make money from our writing. But we do it by providing genuine value, not by manipulating readers or gaming systems.

Nuance Over Hot Takes: The internet loves extremes. We love thoughtful analysis. “It depends” is a valid answer when followed by actual reasoning.

Who Should Write for Wayfinder#

You’re a good fit if you:

Have actually done the thing you’re writing about (not just read about it)
Can back up your claims with data, examples, or honest personal experience
Write to help readers, not just to rank in search
Value community building over follower counts
Aren’t afraid to admit when something didn’t work
Can be critical without being cruel
Want to build something sustainable, not just chase viral moments

You’re probably not a good fit if you:

Write primarily AI-generated content
Focus on clickbait over substance
Promote get-rich-quick schemes or MLM strategies
Can’t cite sources or provide evidence for claims
Write generic advice that could apply to anyone/anything
Prioritize going viral over providing value

Content Guidelines#

What We’re Looking For#

Experience-Based Content:

“Here’s what I learned building X” beats “10 ways to build X”
Real case studies with actual numbers
Lessons from failures (these often perform best)
Behind-the-scenes looks at experiments and tests

Data-Backed Analysis:

Research-supported arguments
Cited sources (no “studies show” without linking the study)
Real examples and case studies
Screenshots, charts, or data visualizations when relevant

Practical How-Tos:

Step-by-step guides based on real implementation
Tools and frameworks you actually use
Specific examples, not vague platitudes
Honest assessment of what works (and what doesn’t)

Thoughtful Commentary:

Critical analysis of trends and hype cycles
Nuanced takes on complex topics
Questioning conventional wisdom (with evidence)
Connecting dots between different domains

What We Don’t Accept#

AI-Generated Content: No AI-written articles, even if labeled as such. AI tools for editing and research are fine, but the writing and thinking must be human.

Plagiarism: Original work only. If you’re building on someone else’s ideas, cite them. Reposting your own previously published work is fine if you mention it.

Clickbait Without Substance: Compelling headlines are great. Headlines that promise what the article doesn’t deliver are not.

Unsupported Claims: “Studies show,” “experts say,” or “it’s been proven” without citations will be rejected.

Generic Advice: If your article could be written by someone who’s never done the thing, it’s too generic.

Promotional Content: Articles that exist primarily to sell a product/service rather than provide value.

Offensive Content: No racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, or content that dehumanizes others. This should go without saying, but here we are.

Submission Requirements#

Length#

800-3,000 words is the sweet spot. Shorter is fine if you make every word count. Longer is fine if the depth warrants it.

Format#

Draft submissions only (submit via Medium’s draft system)
Include a hero image (we can help if you need one)
Use clear section headers for scannability
Cite sources with hyperlinks or footnotes
Add relevant tags (including “Wayfinder” if you want to help us grow)

Structure#

Your article should include:

Hook: Grab attention in the first 100 words
Problem/Context: Why does this matter?
Content/Solution: The meat of your piece
Takeaway: What should readers remember?

Bonus points for:

Data visualizations or screenshots
Real examples with specific details
Honest assessment of limitations
Links to related resources

Technical Requirements#

Images:

Unsplash, Pexels, or your own images (properly attributed)
AI-generated images are fine if cited as such
Label personal images as “Author’s image” or similar

Citations:

Link directly to sources when possible
Use footnotes for references
No “studies show” without linking the actual study

Grammar:

Run your work through Grammarly or similar tool
We’ll edit for minor errors, but clean copy moves faster

Promotional Content:

Links to your other work, newsletter, or services are fine
Just make sure the article provides value beyond the promotion
Heavy sales pitches go to the back of the queue

Our Content Niches#

We’re actively looking for content in these areas:

Primary Focus:

Medium monetization strategies and community building
Content creation and blogging best practices
Business operations and growth
Productivity and time management systems

Secondary Focus:

Technology trends and critical analysis
AI tools and productivity (with honest assessments)
Personal development and mental health
Freelancing and entrepreneurship

Emerging Areas:

Health and wellness for creators
Emotional intelligence and leadership
Marketing strategies that respect audiences
Career development and transitions

If you write in adjacent areas that fit our community values, we’re open to it. When in doubt, pitch it.

How to Apply#

Joining Wayfinder is simple:

Step 1: Follow the Publication Find us on Medium: Wayfinder Publication

Step 2: Read These Guidelines Actually read them. We can tell when you haven’t.

Step 3: Comment Below Leave a comment on this post stating:

“I’d like to write for Wayfinder”
Your Medium username
Confirmation you’ve read and agree to these guidelines

Optional but Helpful:

Follow Athena personally
Share what topics you’d like to write about
Link to 1-2 examples of your writing

Timeline: We’ll add you as a writer within 48-72 hours of your comment. Sometimes faster, sometimes slower—we’re human.

After You’re Added#

Submitting Your Work:

Write your article as a draft
Submit it to Wayfinder through Medium’s draft system
Use the tag “Wayfinder” to help the publication grow
Be patient—we review submissions in the order received

Editorial Process:

We’ll review for alignment with guidelines and quality
Light editing for grammar, clarity, and structure
May suggest revisions if the piece needs work
Will provide feedback if we can’t publish something

Publication Queue:

Well-edited, guideline-following pieces move to the front
Heavy promotion or sales pitches move to the back
We publish multiple times per day when possible
Peak hours may have limits to avoid traffic cannibalization

Revenue Opportunity: All published articles are eligible for Medium Partner Program revenue. We don’t take a cut—100% of your earnings are yours.

Community Standards#

Engagement:

Support fellow writers in comments
Share work you genuinely find valuable
Build relationships, not just follower counts
Engage authentically, not transactionally

Growth:

The bigger Wayfinder grows, the more readers see your work
Use the “Wayfinder” tag to help us grow together
Share our publication with writers you respect
Quality over quantity—always

Respect:

Treat other writers and readers with respect
Constructive feedback, not cruel criticism
Disagree thoughtfully, not aggressively
Remember there’s a human behind every screen

A Note from Athena#

Hey there,

I started Wayfinder because I was tired of the fake-it-till-you-make-it culture dominating online content. I wanted a place where honesty matters more than hype, where community beats algorithm-chasing, and where we can all figure things out together.

This publication reflects my values:

We’re not perfect. We miss deadlines (like this newsletter that was due the 28th but came out the 29th). We experiment and sometimes fail. We’re learning as we go.

But we’re doing it honestly, openly, and with a community-first mentality that creates real value instead of just chasing metrics.

If that resonates with you, welcome to Wayfinder. Let’s build something that lasts.

—Athena

Frequently Asked Questions#

Q: Do I need to be in the Medium Partner Program?#

A: Yes. We accept Partner Program members and Friends of Medium. This ensures published work can earn revenue.

Q: Can I republish my own content from other platforms?#

A: Yes, as long as you own the rights. You must:

Add a note at the very bottom stating: “Originally published at [URL] on [date]”
Set the canonical link in Medium’s story settings to point to the original URL (see Medium’s canonical link guide)

Fresh, original content is preferred, but quality republished content is acceptable with proper attribution.

Q: What if my submission gets rejected?#

A: We’ll provide feedback when possible. Common reasons: doesn’t fit guidelines, needs more depth, or too promotional. You can revise and resubmit.

Q: How long until my piece gets published?#

A: Usually within a week, sometimes faster. Well-edited, guideline-following submissions move to the front of the queue.

Q: Can I write about topics outside the main niches?#

A: If it fits our community values and provides genuine value, yes. When in doubt, ask first.

Q: What if I want to leave the publication?#

A: You can remove yourself as a writer at any time. No hard feelings.

Q: Can I promote my own products/services?#

A: Yes, as long as the article provides value beyond the promotion. Make sure readers get something worthwhile even if they don’t buy.

Q: Do you accept guest posts from brands?#

A: Case by case basis. Must be genuinely valuable, clearly disclosed, and aligned with our values. Most will be rejected.

Ready to Join?#

If you’ve read this far and you’re thinking “yes, this is my kind of place,” drop a comment below.

We’re building a community of writers who care more about substance than style, who value honesty over hype, and who want to create something that lasts beyond the next algorithm update.

Let’s figure this out together.

To join Wayfinder as a writer, comment below with:

“I’d like to write for Wayfinder”
Your Medium username
Confirmation you’ve read these guidelines

Connect with Wayfinder:

Medium Publication: Follow Wayfinder
Athena’s Profile: Follow Athena
Newsletter: The Wayfinder Periodical
Website: wayfinder.page

Looking forward to reading your work.