Contributor Rules of Engagement

As a contributor to CtrlShift, you help shape our voice and reach. These rules of engagement ensure clarity, quality, and a professional partnership. By contributing, you agree to act in good faith and to meet the obligations below.

Good faith. We expect all contributors to act honestly, meet commitments, and collaborate constructively. In return, we support your byline, link back to you where appropriate, and treat your work with respect.

Requirement: link back to CtrlShift

Contributors must maintain a visible link to CtrlShift (or to their published article) in their author bio, personal site, or wherever they list their bylines. When promoting your work, link to the article on CtrlShift. This supports our brand and helps readers find the canonical version of your work.

Link in bio, personal site, or “Writing” / “Portfolio” page.
When sharing your article on social or in newsletters, link to the piece on CtrlShift.
Use the official URL we provide; do not obscure the destination.

Rules of engagement

All contributors must meet the following. These are the standards we use to evaluate ongoing contributor relationships.

Publishing & frequency

Publish at least one (1) article per week on the agreed day(s). Unused slots do not carry over to future weeks.
Submit drafts by the deadline set by the editorial calendar (typically 2–3 business days before publish date).
Respond to editorial feedback and revision requests within 2 business days so we can meet publish dates.
If you cannot meet a deadline, notify the editorial team as soon as possible and in good faith—repeated no-shows may affect your contributor status.

Linking & attribution

Include a clear, visible link back to CtrlShift (or to the specific article) in your author bio, personal site, or social profiles where you list your bylines.
When promoting your CtrlShift work on social media, newsletters, or your own channels, link to the published article on CtrlShift (not only to a paywalled or third-party mirror).
Do not strip or replace CtrlShift links when republishing, syndicating, or summarizing your work elsewhere without prior written approval.
Use the official CtrlShift URL we provide (e.g. ctrlshift.com or the full article URL) when linking; do not use shorteners or redirects that obscure the destination.

Good faith & conduct

Act in good faith in all dealings with CtrlShift: meet deadlines, communicate honestly, and collaborate constructively with editors and other contributors.
Do not submit content you know to be false, misleading, or plagiarized. All claims and sources must be accurate and properly attributed.
Disclose any conflict of interest (e.g. financial ties, personal relationships) that could affect the objectivity of your piece before assignment or publication.
Treat readers, editors, and fellow contributors with respect. No harassment, discrimination, or unprofessional behavior in comments, DMs, or correspondence.
Do not use your contributor status to pressure editors, game review scores, or editorial decisions. Editorial independence is non-negotiable.

Content & quality

Original work only. Do not submit material previously published elsewhere (including your own blog or Medium) unless we have agreed in writing to republish.
Follow our style guide and formatting requirements (headings, links, images, captions) so we can maintain a consistent reader experience.
Ensure copy is fact-checked and spell-checked before submission. Egregious or repeated errors may result in delayed publication or removal from the contributor program.
Content must align with our content policy: no hate speech, misinformation, illegal content, or promotion of prohibited products or services.

Rights & exclusivity

By submitting work to CtrlShift, you grant us the rights set out in your contributor agreement (typically non-exclusive license to publish, promote, and archive).
Do not license the same piece to a competing outlet in a way that undermines our first or exclusive publication window, unless we have agreed otherwise in writing.
Notify CtrlShift before republishing your contributed work elsewhere (e.g. personal site, anthology) and include appropriate attribution and link back as above.

Communication & availability

Maintain a working email address and respond to editorial messages within 2 business days where a response is requested.
Attend or participate in any mandatory contributor briefings or training (e.g. style, ethics, tools) as communicated by CtrlShift.
Inform the editorial team of extended unavailability (e.g. vacation, leave) so we can adjust the calendar and avoid missed deadlines.

Non-compliance

We take these rules seriously. Outcomes may include:

•Failure to meet the rules of engagement (e.g. repeated missed deadlines, no link-back, or conduct not in good faith) may result in a warning, reduced assignment volume, or removal from the contributor program.
•Serious breaches (e.g. plagiarism, fraud, harassment, or material misrepresentation) may result in immediate removal and, where applicable, legal or other recourse.
•CtrlShift reserves the right to edit, unpublish, or remove content that violates these rules or our content policy, and to update these rules with reasonable notice to contributors.

Want to contribute?

If you’re ready to write for CtrlShift and can meet these rules of engagement, we’d like to hear from you.

Get in touch