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 piss into the writer pool here. If you’ve got a unique voice, some solid writing ability, and –most importantly– something to say, we’d be happy to have you on board.

Here are some requirements (they’re few, but important):

1. An ability to write. Alright, this might sound stupid to mention, but we’re a bit short staffed, and not looking to be full-time editors of other people’s work. If you can string basic sentences together without too much trouble, please move to #2.
2. Fluent in English. Again, this goes back to #1. 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.
3. 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. However, our payment structure rewards writers who write more.

What about topics?

It’s all pretty much fair game, but should relate to China and/or foreigners in China. 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 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? 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. Remember thy roots ma brothas and sistas . 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.