Like to write? Got something to say about being a foreigner in China? Why not contribute your thoughts and opinions to the Lost Laowai Blog?
We’re looking to put some fresh expat pee into the writer pool here. If you’ve got a unique voice, a solid ability to write, and — most importantly — something to say, we’d be happy to have you on board.
Here are some requirements (they’re few, but important):
- An ability to write. We’re not looking to be full-time editors. You should have a decent handle on grammar and write with a colourful and engaging style.
- Fluent in English. If you are not a native English speaker, please don’t be dissuaded. We’re happy to have writers whose first language isn’t English, but we are an English blog, and so solid crafting of written English is key.
- Interesting, funny or both. We’re not just looking to add mass to the medium. We want to create and maintain a quality resource for our readers. You should have the ability to write engaging posts with a unique style or voice.
I already have a blog, can I still be a writer here?
You sure can. In fact we offer you a spot in your Author Profile to display a link to your blog to help promote it. We do ask however that the content at least attempt to be original, as it doesn’t make much sense to just repost (word for word) something you’ve written for your private site.
How often am I required to write?
This is up to you. You can post twice a day or twice a month. We’re more interested in what you’re writing, not how much you write it.
What about topics?
It’s all pretty much fair game, but must relate to China and should be focused on foreigners in China in some way. Humour, rants, insights, warnings, WTF moments, casual observances… it’s all open. The only thing we ask is that you be mindful not to be too litigious in your writing – the small sums the ads on this site pull in barely cover costs, never mind lawsuits.
If I have my own blog, what would I write here?
Stories about monkeys attacking foreigners in secret caverns under Shanghai? Really, who are we to say? Generally speaking personal blogs are designed to give friends and family outside of China a glimpse of what you’re up to. Writing for us could be your opportunity to delve a bit deeper into your prose and pull out some gems of the written word. Lost Laowai is a growing community that receives a solid amount of traffic and in turn could give you a wider exposure as a writer.
So, do you pay?
We wish we could, but a China blog is just not as lucrative as one might think. I know, I know — it seems like it would be night after night of baijiu-infused partying with hot bodies, dice and fast cars … the reality surprised us too. In all seriousness though, we don’t do this for the money, and our opinion is that neither should our contributors. We write about China because we love to share our thoughts, insights and experiences on the subject. If you like to do this too, you’ll fit right in.
So what’s in it for me then?
The Lost Laowai blog is a long-running, well-recognized source of opinion and insight into being an expat in China. And while writing for us may not be as prestigeous as interning at the New York Times or Guardian, it does offer some byline experience, a place to hone your writing skills and make a bit of a name for yourself, and an opportunity to share your thoughts with a wider audience. We also occasionally receive event invites, book/product/service reviews and other neato comped things, which we happily pass on to the most qualified contributor in our midsts.
Do I retain copyright over my work?
Absolutely. We maintain no rights over your work or any media you attach to it, other than the right to present it on this site. What’s yours is yours and you’re free to republish it as you see fit. Of course should you republish it, we’d love for you to say that it was “originally published on Lost Laowai” or some such thing. Also, Lost Laowai operates under a Creative Commons: Attribution-No Derivitive Works license, meaning other sites may use anything published on this site as long as it’s not changed and is properly attributed.
Still interested? Contact us with your details and any links to your writing we can review and we’d be happy to consider you.
