How to get involved:
One of the main objectives of this blog is to create a community of voices. We consider anyone with an interest in nonviolence (even if you are critical of it) to be a potential contributor. The easiest and most immediate way to contribute is to comment on a story.

Writing comments:
Tell us what you think. We don’t believe any one person has the answers. It’s through conversation that we come closest to the truth. When writing a comment be considerate of others, but don’t shy away from challenging their arguments. After you make your point, try ending with a question to keep the conversation going. Vibrant discussions are frequently taking place in the comments section and can be a breeding ground for new story ideas.

Sending queries:
If you have an idea for a post, send us a query that briefly explains the gist of the story you want to write. Make sure the focus is clearly on some aspect of nonviolence with an element of timeliness. We will be sure to respond within a day or two. If you prefer to skip the query and send us a completed draft, that’s fine, but it must be original. We don’t post anything that’s already been published, but we will do our best to promote your work and get it picked up elsewhere. Waging Nonviolence posts have been republished by The Nation, AlterNet, Common Dreams, Sojourners, Truthout, Yes! Magazine, Adbusters, In These Times, Counterpunch, Firedoglake, The Indypendent, Nation of Change, OWNI, and ZNet, among many other places, and our writers have appeared on the BBC, Al Jazeera, CBC, Russia Today (RT), Democracy Now!, NPR and dozens of other radio shows across the country to discuss their stories for the site.

What we’re looking for:
Before you send us anything, please read several of our posts to get a good sense of our content. Here are links to examples of our favorite types of stories:

• Offbeat news – Electronic Arts stages fake protest for publicity

• Humor – Verizon CEO becomes victim of company’s poor security measures

• Culture – Santa Claus: A champion of civil disobedience

• Videos – 10-year-old refuses pledge of allegiance until gays have equal rights

• Faulty logic – What’s wrong with a radical gay agenda?

• Technology – Primer on “digital security” for activists

• Historical pieces linked to anniversaries – Bayard Rustin, 40 years after Stonewall

• Regional coverage from your part of the world – Toronto’s “garbage strike” elicits public outrage and labour disunity

• Dispatches – Grief and solidarity on the road to Gaza

• Media analysis – Time favors wishful editorializing over concrete reporting in Iran

• Actions you took part in – The New York Post goes green for a day

• Theory – What to wear to a protest

• Personal essays – On pedicabbing and nonviolence

• Interviews – A conversation with Jonathan Schell about invigorating the climate movement

• Book and movie reviews – New “Yes Men” movie a must see

Basic elements of a Waging Nonviolence post:
We tend to keep things short and pithy. Posts are typically between 300-800 words, but we will run longer (or shorter) pieces if the story necessitates. Writers are encouraged to be opinionated and link to or excerpt sources that support their arguments. It’s always a plus if there are some practical suggestions for activists interested in working on the topic at hand. We like language that’s clear and direct, but also has some personality and humor. Visuals are important. So please be on the lookout for photos, illustrations, graphics or videos that we can include.

Would you like to be contacted with story ideas?
We come across a lot of interesting stories that we just don’t have the time to blog about. So, if you want to write for the site and are looking for story ideas, we’d be happy to pass some your way. Just send us an email with a few subjects that interest you (e.g. Palestine, health care or technology). We’ll then send you an email whenever we have an idea that matches your interests.