PITCH-A-STORY GUIDELINES

Creatiwox Internet Private Limited (hereinafter referred to as “The Logical Indian” / “We” / “Us” / “Our”) would like to share with you the process for sharing your idea or story with Us. These Pitch-a-Story Guidelines explain what We consider a worthy The Logical Indian story and how You may go about developing and pitching the same to Us.

Write to Us

You can pitch a story to Us at editor@thelogicalindian.com. The story may be in the form of written features, opinion, long-reads, interactives, photo-essays, videos or such other visual or audio content that is publishable.

Consideration and response time

We usually consider all received pitches at the pitch meeting scheduled at fortnightly intervals. At the pitch meeting, members from each team get together to sift through all of the pitches they have received and make decisions about those they wish to commission. These decisions may not always be a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’; We may like the story idea but not the manner in which it is conveyed or planned to be conveyed.

If there are time sensitivities associated with your pitch and you expect a quick revert from Us, please clearly state so at the time of making your pitch. We will accordingly endeavour to respond promptly since waiting till the next pitch meeting may not be in the interest of a time-sensitive story.

We are mindful of the fact that waiting to hear from Us can be vexing for you. However, We take the time to give your pitch a thorough consideration which not only gives it a higher chance of getting commissioned but also the likelihood of ending up before the most appropriate editor for your story.

The editor assigned under Clause 2.3 is the custodian of your pitch and advocates on your behalf during the pitch meeting. It is highly likely that it shall be the same editor who commissions you, works with you to develop and hone the brief for your story and then eventually edits the final version – an engagement that requires multiple back and forth with you to ensure that best possible publishable content.

Other points to note

While pitching a story to Us, in addition to the foregoing, you shall also have to keep in mind the expansive guidelines specified in Our Community Guidelines. You are also notified that you shall not pitch a story which contains any malicious intent or such language including but not limited to animosity against someone and as such, a pitch of this intent or nature will not be considered by Us.

You are also notified that We shall do Our own independent verification of the information contained in the story that you pitch to Us. Your pitch shall also be subject to Our Fact-Checking Policy 

To the extent applicable, your pitch to Us is subject to the Website Terms.

Tips for a winning pitch

Even though your pitch may not find acceptance at the first instance, it can mark the onset of a meaningful working relationship with Us. A rejection does not necessarily imply that the quality of the pitch failed to meet the expected mark. It is possible that We may already have had approved something on similar lines just a short while ago or that the topic features low on the priority given other topical issues or developments in the particular context of the time your pitch was being considered.

Generally, there are certain attributes of a winning pitch. We have compiled some tips from different editors with a view to sharing some guidance with you:

Express with 3Cs: Clarity, Conciseness and Confidence

Your pitch should be easily understandable. Your manner of conveying the pitch will also be telling of the manner you write in. The crucial information answering the what, when, where, why and who of your story should come across with the 3 (three) Cs of writing: Clarity, Conciseness and Confidence. The fact that you are able to convey with the 3Cs in a pitch will give us the comfort that you will be able to replicate the same in the story, which will enable Us to move towards a favourable decision.

Ruminate like an engaging storyteller

Editors are captivated by those possessing an engaging and exciting knack for storytelling. Enchant Us with your plans of telling the story – who are your characters? Where is your story set? How does it address the topic at hand? What details may We expect?

Though you may not have a good command over the English language, We are very willing to invest Our time and work with you as long as you are able to convey a good sense of story. Be mindful of the fact that no amount of refined language or grammar support by Us can replace the depth of emotion that must come from you as the original writer. For instance, the sense of despair experienced by a victim of road accident on being reduced to a wheel-chair existence and without a job is for the writer to deliver to the reader.

Know that there is no set formula

Contrary to popular opinion, there is no set formula for developing a compelling story. We suggest that as a writer, you ask yourself how you can best communicate the story. It could possibly be as conventional a feature as it gets with several voices, but it may equally be a first-person account, a letter, a video story, a photo essay or the works.

Convey to the editor in the pitch your approach to writing the story. While your commissioning editor may have other ideas, your creative thinking will be appreciated.

Stay at it

Stay at it – even if your pitch is turned down. It is a privilege to be able to tell important stories. Seek feedback from your editor for improvisations.

Looking for ideas?

If you cannot think of a story to pitch to Us, you may refer to the following to identify as to what We consider a The Logical Indian story:

So, what is a The Logical Indian story? It’s about the topic, in part.

Does this story give a ‘voice to the voiceless’? If it does, that’s a good start.

Does it question dominant, mainstream narratives? That’s also important.

But it is also about more than that. The way you tell a story also helps to determine whether it is a The Logical Indian story. Because you can talk to the ‘voiceless’ without necessarily giving them a ‘voice’.

The way you approach your storytelling is almost as critical as the stories you choose to tell.

Where is the balance of power in your story, with you as the narrator, the journalist, the storyteller or with the characters in your story?