To ensure transparency, we are making our submission guidelines publicly accessible. Every aspiring notionist must read these guidelines thoroughly before applying. ​Take the time to understand them—this is a crucial step in your application process.

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​​This submission guide is based on our own experience and the practices we have developed so far, while also incorporating a few useful elements from the submission guidelines published by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists and War on the Rocks. ​

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Humanotions thrives on diversity, and welcoming contributions from a wide and varied spectrum of voices, including students, early-career professionals, academics, and experts with firsthand experience. This commitment to inclusivity is reflected not only in the range of perspectives represented in its content but also in a recruitment approach designed to ensure equal opportunities for all candidates, regardless of background. 

Humanotions proudly features two teams of columnists —guests and core team— from countries across all six continents and warmly encourages applications from individuals of every nationality, belief, and background who meet our requirements.

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You Better Pitch!

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• ​If your application is pre-selected for an upcoming publication, please send us a pitch on your chosen topic. The pitch should be a maximum of 250 words and should be sent to hello@humanotions.com. Use the subject line “PITCH for X,” where X represents the month in which you will participate.

 

• The pitch should include your main argument and why you believe it is important to write about that particular topic. You can submit your pitch directly in the email or as a PDF. Please name the PDF: ‘’pitch_surname_month’’, the month you will participate.

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• If you are part of the core team or a guest notionist we have previously collaborated with, you are expected to pitch your idea before each publication you wish to contribute to.​

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• Review the current published pieces available on our website to avoid writing about similar topics with the same arguments. You may only write about a previously discussed topic if you have a different take on it.

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• There are no strict pitching deadlines, but the earlier you pitch, the better. We don’t allow multiple columnists to write on the same subject in one publication. If another notionist has already been approved for topic X, you’ll be asked to choose a different topic if you later propose X or something closely related.

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• If you submit your paper without pitching, we reserve the right to reject it. ​​

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Requesting Demo​

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• This rarely happens, but if we’re unsure how your pitch might develop and don’t want to turn it down outright, we may ask you to submit a short Demo Piece of up to 450 words. Please name the PDF: ‘’demo_surname_month’’, the month you will participate.​​​​​​​​

 

Submission Deadlines

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• We have set 2 deadlines for our publication: draft submissions are due on the 5th, and final submissions are due on the 15th. This cycle consistently repeats every month throughout the year 2025.

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• We expect you to inform us if you are accepted for a publication but are unable to contribute. 

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Editorial Feedback

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• We typically provide editorial feedback within 5 to 7 business days after you submit your work. However, please note that we are a very small team, and there may be times when we can't deliver feedback on schedule due to our workload or other factors. If you haven't received feedback within this timeframe, don't hesitate to reach out and inquire about its status.

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• Keep in mind that receiving editorial feedback may take time, depending on the subject of your piece. We put a lot of time into editing submissions. With pieces that cover complex issues, we prefer to take our time, think about it, review it a couple of times more, and then send you feedback.

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• To help us track your participation during the editorial rounds, we ask you to confirm within 5 business days that you have received the editorial feedback and are working on the revisions. This step is crucial as we remain in touch merely via email, and we have to track the status of the current pieces we collaborate on.​

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• Please keep in mind that submitting a full piece does not guarantee its publication. During the editorial review process, we may choose not to publish your work for various reasons. 

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• In certain exceptional situations, the editor may send you a meeting request to discuss your piece further. You can also request a meeting, but we cannot guarantee it, given our busy schedule.

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Submission Format

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• We are only accepting Microsoft Word (.docX) and Pages (.pages) formats. Do not convert your document to PDF. 

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• Once your piece is accepted for editorial rounds, we may raise questions or offer critiques to make it better. This process is here to help, not to be taken personally.

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• As for the editorial feedback, you will receive a draft with edits and comments made using the track changes function in Microsoft Word or Pages. 

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• Do not delete our comments, and do not turn off track changes to send back a clean copy. Not following these instructions will almost certainly delay the editorial process. 
   

• We do not accept any pieces that have been submitted to other platforms. If you submit your work to multiple publications, you have to let us know. For further details see Guidelines for Republishing.

We accept submissions in 4 categories:

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1 – Opinion Pieces

Personal, perspective-driven texts where the notionist shares their views, interpretations, or recommendations. These pieces are meant to spark dialogue, challenge assumptions, and engage readers with thought-provoking arguments.

 

2 – Articles

Informative and explanatory texts aimed at a broad audience. They provide context and background on political, social, or global issues in a clear and accessible way, without requiring specialized knowledge.

 

3 – Analyses

In-depth, research-based texts that explore causes, consequences, and implications of complex issues. They often use data, comparative perspectives, and structured arguments to provide a comprehensive understanding. Ideal for readers seeking a deeper, critical insight into a topic.

 

4 – Commentaries

Short, timely responses to current events, policies, or debates. These pieces are concise, critical, and engaging, designed to provide quick insights and provoke discussion while reflecting on broader implications.

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We mainly publish pieces on:

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• Regional Politics

• Conflict and Security

• Climate 

• Political Rhetoric/Philosophy

• International Law

• Diplomacy

• Gender Studies

• Media and Society

• Technology

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Regardless of its category, the final version of the pieces should be between 400 and 2000 words. 

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The Lede

 

• Open your piece with a provocative question, engaging anecdote, shocking fact, or humorous observation. Catch the reader’s attention from the first sentence.

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Content Matters 

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• Avoid excessively long and complicated sentences for the sake of improving readability, flow, and delivery. If a sentence is longer than 2 paragraphs, divide and paraphrase it. 

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• Do not use footnotes or endnotes.

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• Do not utilize any unreliable or leak-based sources. For the leaks, only use open sources, open news reports or analyses of these documents.

 

No Jargon

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• Don’t assume the reader shares your knowledge. Some may come from political, legal, or military backgrounds — but many will not. Keep in mind that your expertise isn’t theirs, so be sure to explain concepts and context that may feel basic to you—without oversimplifying.

 

• Don’t rely on terms that are familiar only to military staff, policy professionals, or lawmakers.

Shape The Discourse on Your Own Terms

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• Your chosen subject must be related to the discipline of International Relations. You are free to write on any topic under this umbrella. 

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• Multidisciplinary approaches are highly encouraged. Bring your unique voice and perspective, challenge conventional thinking, explore interdisciplinary angles, and shape the discourse in your own terms. 

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• If you would like to express the ideas of Gen-Z—or, if you belong to a different generation, to share your generation’s perspective—you are more than welcome to do so. Each generation reflects a distinct political era and mindset. We believe that these generational shifts reveal much about today’s political dynamics.

 

• Notionists are allowed to show their identity and worldview within the respectful and constructive framework we have set. It is an opportunity for each notionist to show their unique take to our informed and experienced readership. 

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Analytical Inputs and Examples

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• Integrate analytical insights and examples where appropriate, but do so sparingly—considering that we are a social sciences think tank.

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The Holy Trinity: Title + SEO + Content

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• Use a strategic title to catch the attention of the readers. Be engaging and concise (max. 60 characters). 

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• From our end, titles also matter for SEO (Search Engine Optimization) purposes. When we process a notionist’s paper for the website, we don’t just format the text and add images—we also handle the technical side, such as SEO. It relies on keywords and phrases that appear in your article. The more frequently a word appears in the text, the more important it becomes that the same word also appears in the title.

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• The coherence between title, SEO, and content, a.k.a. the holy trinity of blogs as we call it, increases the likelihood that your paper will rank higher in organic search results and reach more readers worldwide.

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Plagiarism, a sin.

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• Avoid any plagiarism, and always include proper bibliography in your paper. It is a big deal for us. Humanotions adopts transparent resource utilization and an open information policy. It is the responsibility of each notionist to incorporate the sources in the APA 7 format for any citations or claims made. Do not expect us to do your sourcing for you.

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Help Humanotions Combat Disinformation

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• You are responsible for the accuracy, timeliness, and completeness of your piece. Double-check all the indicated titles, names, treaties, numbers, years, etc. in your piece. 

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• In the age of knowledge warfare, disinformation poses a serious threat. It is important that you help us keep Humanotions a reliable source, as a way of combating disinformation.

 

• While we work hard to ensure accuracy, Humanotions cannot guarantee every detail and accepts no legal or other liabilities. See Legal Notices & Policies for further information. ​

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• If you are reading this and you will be applying to be a notionist, add your application the answer to what two multiplied by seven is. This way, we will know you are reliable and have fully read the requirements.

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Respect Our Values

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• We prioritize freedom of expression; however, in a framework where the message given in your piece respects the rights, dignity and well-being of others. Papers that contain any form of hate speech —be it direct or indirect— such as xenophobia, sexism, racism, homophobia, etc., will not be accepted for publication.

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• Stop accusing, serve solutions. No one wants to read a piece that is fully focused on negativities and creates a sense of stuckness. Think freely, question boldly, and don't hesitate to explore constructive solutions. 

 

• To gain a better understanding, please explore our core values, which can be found below the Legal Notices page.

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Inspire Our Readers

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• Make your closing lines memorable. Don’t just summarize, point toward what comes next. Use words that spark momentum, leaving readers inspired and ready to carry your ideas into their next conversation. Aim for an ending so striking that it becomes the beginning of someone else’s reflection.

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Third-Party Involvement in Editing & Design​​
 

• While no personal information about columnists is shared with third parties, the pieces may be partially or fully processed by third-party tools and services (e.g., design platforms or AI-detectors etc.) during editing and design stages, without notifying the columnists.

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Making AI Write Your Whole Piece

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Bad idea. Just don't. 

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Visuals

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• ​As we carry the task of selecting particular HD and royalty-free images, we don’t want any additional image suggestions unless there is a very particular situation.

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• We try our best to find a photo that matches your content; however, as we don’t allocate any budget for images, the images we find are completely up to the free libraries.

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• The image we use for your piece may not be from the region you mention in your piece. 

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• If the photo we choose doesn’t feel right, just let us know after publication.

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• Please don’t send us any images unless they are the photo/video you personally take.​

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Submitting The Photos-Videos Taken by You

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• If you submit a photo or video that you have created, it must first be reviewed and approved by us before any further use.

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• Once approved, your written consent will be required for its use on our website and across all our platforms indefinitely, in accordance with royalty considerations. Your name will always be credited alongside your work.

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• Do not submit content you do not own.

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• If you submit photo or video content while falsely claiming it as your own (please don’t), you will be fully responsible for any resulting liabilities. Humanotions accepts no legal responsibility in such cases. Act responsibly and avoid copyright infringement. No image or video is worth the risk.

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Memes

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• If you intend to write a piece about memes, please know that they may also be under copyrights and we won’t be adding the memes from the internet.

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House of Humanotions

 

​Each publication has its own house style, and we’re no exception. Ours matters deeply to us, and we adhere to it closely. Please know that we won’t make exceptions or adjust it on an individual basis.