Gain Professional Writing Skills by Volunteering with Us
The level of support, the attention to detail and the encouragement I experienced while writing for The Cultural Me was absolutely unprecedented in all my years of writing.
Editing is an underappreciated skill these days, as people are keen to publish content as quickly as possible. It is a testament to the commitment of the Editors at The Cultural Me for producing resources of the highest quality that they put so much time and effort into working with writers like me. I felt both stretched and valued.
Do you want to gain professional writing skills and have your named work viewed by thousands? Do you have a passion for great literature or fine art or classical or contemporary music or history or archaeology or something else in the humanities? Do you love to learn about other cultures, their cuisine, customs and language? Do you want to join a vibrant community of writers? Then write for us!
The Cultural Me is a platform for arts and culture with a focus on discovering practical solutions for mental wellbeing, leisure and travel.
We are now pleased to offer applicants a choice between two writing pathways, depending on their interests and qualifications:
Pathway 1: Analytical (Humanities Micro-Article)
Ideal for writers with a background in the Arts & Humanities, this route involves writing short, well-researched pieces (typically 750 words) on selected subjects, for example, a piece on Tolstoy, or Early Renaissance to Contemporary Art, or Latin American magic realism to Postcolonial Literature, or Sri Lankan culture, or Beethoven, or Film...
These micro-articles are academically rigorous yet accessible to the public, offering you the opportunity to develop mainstream writing skills while remaining rooted in scholarly research.
Pathway 2: Creative (Story & Reflection)
If your strengths lie in storytelling and emotional resonance, this pathway offers the chance to writeromantic, reflective, or expressive short-form narratives.
These creative pieces (typically ~500 words) take two distinct forms: short literary fiction (autobiographical, autofiction, or purely fictional), or personal reflections on a specific artwork (such as a book, film, painting, or piece of music) that has deeply influenced you. Examples include:
- Vestiges of a Love Remembered
- The Unspoken Life of Italian Piazzas
Creative contributions receive the same editorial attention and platform visibility as analytical pieces.
Required Qualifications
Analytical Pathway: We ask that applicants have a Bachelor’s Degree in the Arts or Humanities. This ensures you have the necessary academic grounding to produce articles to the editorial standards for which we aim. We will also consider alternative qualifications, provided you can demonstrate subject-matter expertise (and you love reading).
Creative Pathway: This route is open to a broader range of applicants. While many of our successful writers hold or are currently pursuing degrees, especially in the humanities or social sciences, we also welcome individuals from other academic or professional backgrounds who can demonstrate a strong sense of story, emotional intelligence, and stylistic flair.
If you’ve never written professionally before, that’s not a problem: we’re looking for potential, not polish.
Regardless of the path you choose, here’s what you can expect from us:
- Detailed and friendly, one-to-one editorial feedback on almost every line you write.
- How to write for a busy mainstream reader: developing a story.
- A language and style guide reflecting modern trends in mainstream media.
- The chance to develop a deeper understanding of the arts, history, philosophy...
- Publication of your work to a global audience on a fast-growing platform.
- A link to your writing portfolio that you can include in your CV.
- An (optional) fun-filled drop-in Video Meeting every Friday to meet fellow writers and to contribute to fun initiatives including Poetry Challenge (see poster).
In addition, if you provide The Cultural Me as a reference for a potential job, we will provide a personalised reference based on your portfolio. Our writers have secured jobs with organisations such asThe Red Cross, Kobalt Music, Oxford University Museums, amongst others.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone with a passion for the arts and culture to join a community on a worthy mission. If you love the idea, then apply now.
Comments from Our Writers
Claire Woods — MA Creative Writing, Open University
‘The editors have a keen eye for detail, and I’m learning so much already!’
Elise Czyzowska — BA English Literature & Language, University of Oxford
‘Writing for The Cultural Me has allowed me to continue practising my analytical reading from university, and given me the opportunity to share my thoughts on the literature I know and love.’
Nicholas Benton — BA English Literature, University of Sheffield
‘The Cultural Me provided me with a detailed commendatory reference that helped me secure a place on a master’s degree at the University of Birmingham.’
Tom Mackinnon — BA History of Art, University of Cambridge
‘Since starting to write for The Cultural Me, I’ve actually learned a lot about writing for mainstream readers. At the same time, I really enjoy being able to keep in touch with the topics I love. I do recommend this experience to anyone wanting to pursue a career in writing, curation or education.’