Submission Guidelines

By submitting your work to Runner’s Life, you agree to the following terms:

• We prefer original, unpublished drafts.
• Previously published pieces are accepted but will appear based on their original publish date. If sourced from another site, you must import the story by following specific instructions.
• Submissions must include at least one tag of Running; other tags are at your discretion. If the required tag is missing, editors will add it.
• Submissions will be edited for spelling, grammar, and formatting. If you do not consent to editing, your submission may be rejected. We aim to align pieces with Medium’s style and enhance readability by eliminating unnecessary content. However, we respect your message and will not alter it significantly. We will notify you of any edits made.
• All submissions must occur via Medium, and a Medium account is required. For more details, please refer to our process.
• Each submission must feature an image with appropriate attribution, preferably sourced from Unsplash, Pixabay, or Pexels.
• We reserve the right to incorporate imagery and other information, including links and advertisements, into submissions. If any additions are removed post-publication, we reserve the right to withdraw the work immediately.
• Once published, we expect your article to remain in Runner’s Life. Considerable time and effort are dedicated to reviewing articles and managing our social media presence. If you wish to withdraw your piece, please communicate with us first, as we would like to understand your reasoning. Frequent removals may lead to your exclusion as a writer.
• Writers are permitted to publish only one article per day.
• Only one submission per writer per day is allowed.
• While we strive for prompt reviews, we cannot guarantee publication timelines. Please allow up to 48 hours. If you have a specific publication date in mind, notify us via email, and we will accommodate if possible.
• Not all submissions will be accepted. If your submission is declined, Medium will inform you, and a note will be added. Extensive feedback may not be provided, as outlined below.
• Links to other articles are permitted at the end of a published piece, and self-promotion is encouraged. However, excessive links or promotional content that detracts from the article will not be accepted. In accordance with Medium’s best practices, please refrain from soliciting claps or similar actions.
• Familiarize yourself with Medium’s curation guidelines. For titles, we utilize title case for headlines and sentence case for subtitles, following AP style for capitalization. A free tool is available for checking these formats.
• As a reminder, we do not accept articles containing emojis; this is not a social media platform.
• We maintain a strict zero-tolerance policy towards plagiarism. Each submission will undergo plagiarism checks. Offenders will be removed from our writer roster and reported to Medium, with no exceptions.

As previously mentioned, we turn down many stories. Common reasons for rejection include:

• Excessive editing required, including grammar and clarity issues. Submitting articles with numerous spelling errors indicates a lack of effort and respect for the editor's and readers' time.
• The content lacks depth or fails to offer new perspectives, merely rehashing familiar topics. We seek stories that provide substance, not personal journal entries.
• Articles filled with clichéd advice that lack practical insights.
• Short articles (one or two-minute reads) that do not provoke discussion or engagement. Many three-minute reads also fall into this category.
• Topics that have been extensively covered in previous publications.
• Claims or advice presented without proper qualifications or supporting evidence.
• Content unrelated to running or closely related themes.
• Poor writing quality.

A crucial principle to uphold when submitting is Medium’s Quality Guidelines: “The story shows genuine regard for the reader.” This is the essence of Runner’s Life.

We prioritize quality over quantity. Well-researched and thoughtfully written pieces are more likely to be published. I prefer one exceptional article per week over 20 subpar submissions. We want our readers to recognize Runner’s Life as a source of high-quality writing and engaging narratives.

As you apply to become a contributor, please remember these guidelines. Ensure that your article is thoroughly edited and meets our standards before submission. Given our full-time commitments outside of Medium, we cannot dedicate excessive time to providing detailed feedback. Various online tools, like Grammarly and ProWritingAid, can assist with editing. Additionally, reading your story aloud can help you identify areas for improvement.

Request to Write for Runner’s Life

We are a welcoming community seeking writers eager to share meaningful work regularly. If your motivations align with our goals, and your writing meets our standards, we would love to consider you as a contributor.

To express your interest in writing for Runner’s Life, please click here or fill out the form below:

Questions?

For inquiries, please reach out to Jeff Barton.

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