GoGreenGuru is a social enterprise network dedicated to the cause of sustainability and social enterprises in that field. We are an integrated, community-led portal that provides a platform for all things related to sustainability. We aim at leveraging the power of media, communities, social networking, and e-Commerce to inform, educate, inspire, collaborate, transact and make an impact in the sustainability space. We intend to provide a streamlined experience, where we connect the dots and present a holistic picture of sustainability. Our mission is to make sustainability a part of everyday life across homes, establishments, industries, and the society at large. GoGreenGuru provides a platform for community members to share their ideas, expertise, experiences, successes, and challenges. It is also a platform to share about various initiatives, sustainable brands, products, services, NGOs, and community groups.
Each of us may have some knowledge and experience related to the field of sustainability. We may have one piece of the puzzle. But together, we can see the bigger picture. Share your story with the world!
Content can be in the form of articles or stories. The content format can be in the form of text, graphics, artwork, animation, audio clips, podcasts, video clips, short films, and photostories. We support most formats. If you have any ideas or leads for any of the above, please share the same at submissions@gogreenguru.com.
How do I submit to GoGreenGuru?
You may mail your submissions/story ideas and leads to submissions@gogreenguru.com.
What kind of articles can I contribute?
How-To’s
How-to’s are guides on how to practically implement a sustainable practice – for instance, ‘How to do rainwater harvesting’ or ‘How to use a menstrual cup’. Here you can explain sustainable practices in simple, clear, detailed steps, such that people can learn about the practices and implement them. This could be in the form of text with supporting images and/or video content.
Informative pieces
Informative pieces include explanations on topics of sustainability that are based on research and analysis.
Some examples are, ‘Rainwater harvesting and its types’, ‘Different grades of plastic’ and ‘The technology behind electronic vehicles’.
Opinion pieces
Opinion pieces include sharing perspectives and insights on particular topics of sustainability. For instance, ‘Solar is the way to go: here’s why’.
You may even offer critiques on certain policies and practices. For instance, ‘Why X project is not sustainable in the long run’, ‘A possible solution to the water crisis’.
Based on your area of research and interest, you are encouraged to write about sustainability from your domain. Sustainability can be connected to anything! Be it science and technology, history, politics and public policy, sociology, economics, literature, media and communications, psychology, law, architecture, education, and literally anything, we are looking forward to hearing your take on different aspects of sustainability.
However, keep in mind this is for a general audience as well, who may not be familiar to your topic of study, so kindly write in a simple, understandable language without too much academic jargon 🙂
Expert column
We invite experts in various fields of sustainability to share valuable insights on their areas of expertise and experience. If you have been working for and championing a cause of sustainability and/or done research in any area concerning sustainability, we would be happy if you could share your expertise with the GoGreenGuru community. If you would like to contribute, or if you know someone who has expertise in any aspect of sustainability, kindly write to us at submissions@gogreenguru.com.
What do I keep in mind while contributing articles?
You are welcome to share your personal insights and perspectives, as that would add value to the piece. However, be balanced in your presentation. Don’t vilify people or entities. Instead, you can offer constructive criticism on policies and practices. Be solutions-oriented in your approach, as much as possible.
What kind of stories can I contribute and how do I go about it?
Personal stories
You can write personal stories by sharing your life experiences, thoughts, reflections, philosophies, dreams, challenges and successes in the sustainability space. Make it unique. You may also share the personal story of another person who has worked in the sustainability space by interviewing them. Also, emphasise the relevance to the reader and what they can take away from your story.
Community action and NGO stories
You can write about community or NGO initiatives in the space of sustainability, which could include campaigns, movements, awareness initiatives, efforts to conserve/rejuvenate a certain space (for instance, saving trees from being cut or rejuvenating a lake), or community-level sustainable practices, (for instance successful rainwater harvesting or waste management in a village or community), etc.
Brand stories
We feature sustainable brand stories on GoGreenGuru. However, we do not encourage open submissions for the same. If you want your brand story featured, or know of a brand that deserves to be featured, write to us at submissions@gogreenguru.com.
Interviews
We feature interviews of sustainability experts, practitioners and activists. If you have done work in the sustainability space or know of someone who deserves to be featured, write to us at submissions@gogreenguru.com.
Short stories, and poetry
You may contribute short stories and poetry to the portal. Ensure that they link to the theme of nature and sustainability and/or encourage consciousness, individual or community action in this space.
What kind of points could I cover while writing a story?
Some pointers you could include in your story are listed as follows:
- The inspiration for the initiative
- The issue(s) being addressed
- The steps taken to address the issue(s) and mobilise people to take action
- The people and groups involved in the initiative, with quotes from some of them
- The challenges faced and how they are overcoming them
- The impact of the initiative
- Learnings from the initiative
- A call for action for the reader, clearly detailing how they can contribute to the cause/initiative. You could include relevant contact details where applicable, with permission from the concerned person/organisation. You may even form a community group or forum on GoGreenGuru and put a call for action for people to join the same and contribute to the cause.
- Accompanying pictures, videos and relevant media
What are some key guidelines to keep in mind while contributing to GoGreenGuru?
- Keep in mind the purpose of the article/story and the takeaway for the reader. What will one get from reading your article/story? Food for thought? Inspiration? Guidance? Write with this purpose in mind.
- Make your piece descriptive and action-oriented. This would help people practise, participate and contribute to the cause more effectively.
- Ensure your piece has a clear call for action. This could include specific steps of action one could take, relevant useful resources, donating, volunteering, contact information, joining a relevant community group or forum on GoGreenGuru or elsewhere, etc. The call for action is an important step as we want to complete the loop and encourage more people to participate and contribute to the cause you are talking about. This will increase the impact of your article/story.
- Emphasise ‘what is in it for the reader’ if they contribute to the cause, or practise what you shared in your piece. You can highlight the environmental, societal, individual, health and wellness benefits as applicable. This would inspire and encourage more people to implement the sustainable practices elaborated and contribute to the cause discussed.
What are some general guidelines to follow while writing an article or story?
- Keep the language simple, clear and easy to understand.
- Have a clear narrative flow that is interesting to read.
- You may add subheadings to structure your article/story if it is relevant and would make it easy to read.
- Ensure your claims are substantiated. They must be backed either by scientific research or personal experience. Mention how you came across a claim. Provide references where applicable.
- Do not plagiarise content or violate any copyright law. You may research and take inputs from multiple sources; however, present the information you learnt in your own words.
- Try to offer fresh insights. Even if you are writing about topics that have been discussed a lot, focus on different aspects of the topic and offer your unique perspectives, insights and tips.
- There is no fixed word limit. However, an ideal length could range from 350-1200 words. Ensure it is detailed and covers all the points but is not repetitive or dragging.
- Adhere to all Community guidelines!
Can I add other media and links to my article/story?
You are encouraged to add photographs, artwork, illustrations, comic strips, audio, video and any other media content to your article/story. Mention credits and the source clearly. Ensure that you hold the copyright for the same or have express written permission from the concerned person.
You may add relevant hyperlinks and embed videos to the article/story, following all guidelines of our site and of the sites you link to. We would decide to publish the links based on our discretion.
Can I submit photographs, illustrations, videos and other multimedia content even without submitting an article?
Yes definitely. You can mail photographs, photo stories and photo essays, art, illustrations, comics, videos and other multimedia content to submissions@gogreenguru.com, with a caption (optional), your full name, social media handles (if you want us to tag you when we share them on the respective social media handles) and consent for us to use your images.
Kindly note that we would add the content to a relevant article/story or a stand-alone post, social media posts and newsletters and give you credits for the same. Ensure you own the copyright to the content.
I want my story featured/ a sustainable brand story featured/ have a story brief/ know a person/organisation/community that can be featured. How do I go about it?
Please share the story brief with submissions@gogreenguru.com. Kindly share relevant contact information if possible, which would help with further discussions and clarifications.
What happens when I submit an article/story?
It would go through an editorial review process. If accepted, it will be published based on a schedule. The time depends on the number of submissions received and relevant time gaps. We may not accept an article/story in case the content is unsubstantiated or violates any of our guidelines.
We would do some editorial edits before publishing. We may add an introduction and relevant multimedia content, edit the title and make edits to improve the language, flow and readability of the piece. We could also add additional relevant or supporting links within the GoGreenGuru portal or any external sites.
We would get in touch with you in case of any major edits in terms of content or for any clarifications.
Kindly note that we may use portions of your published content (written and multimedia) to promote on social media and newsletters.
Once your piece is published, do share it across widely! Let us make an impact!