The Doctor Weighs In publishes health and medical writing for a general reader. We are looking for contributors who can explain evidence clearly, without overstating what it shows.
These guidelines cover what we publish, how to pitch, and how to prepare a piece for submission. Read them before writing — most rejections are for reasons listed here.
Who We Publish
We give preference to writers with a clinical background, or with experience directly relevant to the topic they are writing about: physicians, nurses, pharmacists, researchers, allied health professionals, and health journalists with a record of accurate work.
That is a preference, not a requirement. A well-researched piece from a writer who knows the subject and cites it properly is more useful to a reader than a credentialed byline on thin work.
Every published piece carries your byline, your credentials, a short biography, and links you choose to include.
What We Do Not Publish
- Previously published work. We do not accept articles that have appeared on another site.
- Copied or AI-generated text passed off as original. Submissions are checked. Anything flagged is rejected without further review.
- Pseudoscience and unsupported health claims. Nothing built on evidence that does not exist, and nothing in the register of “drop 20 pounds in 10 days with this supplement”.
- Promotional content. No sales copy, no product placement, no pieces written to drive traffic to a service you are connected with.
- Material you do not have the rights to. Text, images, charts, or video belonging to someone else, without permission.
- Hateful or demeaning content. No exceptions.
Pitching
Send a specific pitch. A subject line, a paragraph on the argument, and why you are the person to make it.
We cannot reply to open-ended enquiries — “I would love to write for you, what should I cover?” — and we do not assign topics. Spend some time reading the site first to see what we publish and where the gaps are.
Before pitching, check that your central claim still holds. Guidance changes; a piece built on a recommendation that was revised two years ago will not survive review.
Public relations agencies: if you represent a clinician or author and want us to consider an interview, story, or book, send a specific proposal to info@thedoctorweighsin.com rather than a general introduction.
Topics We Cover
- Primary care and preventive medicine
- Chronic conditions and their management
- Mental health and cognitive health
- Nutrition, fitness, and healthy aging
- New therapies, treatments, and medical devices
- Pain management and end-of-life care
- Women’s health and parenting
- Public health and health policy
- The healthcare system, insurance, and access to care
- Technology and digital health
This list is a starting point, not a boundary. A strong piece on a subject outside it is still worth pitching.
What Makes a Piece Work
Evidence you can point to. Every factual claim needs a source a reader can follow — a peer-reviewed paper, a clinical guideline, a regulatory document, or a reputable medical reference. Not a news article summarising a study; the study itself.
A reason to exist. If the topic has been covered widely, say something that has not been said, or say it for a reader nobody else was writing for.
Detail, without condescension. Our readers can follow a mechanism or a trial design. Explain the difficult parts rather than removing them.
Honesty about uncertainty. Where the evidence is mixed, preliminary, or contested, say so. A piece that acknowledges what is not yet known is more useful, and ages better, than one that does not.
Something to take away. A reader should finish knowing something they can act on or think with.
Structure and Length
Length. At least 1,000 words. Pieces of 1,500 to 3,500 words tend to serve a subject better and perform better in search — but do not pad. A tight 1,200 words beats a padded 3,000.
Title. Lead with the subject, not with intrigue. “How a Plant-Based Diet Affects Weight Loss” tells a reader what they are getting; “You Can Beat the Odds” does not. We may adjust titles for clarity or search.
Opening. Three or four sentences establishing the topic and why it matters now.
Subheadings. Break the piece up. Keep each section under roughly 300 words.
Bullet points. Use them for genuine lists rather than burying items in a long sentence.
Close. A summary, or a question worth leaving the reader with.
Search and Keywords
We want pieces to be findable years after publication. Identify the phrase a reader would actually search for, and use it in the title, an early subheading, and within the first hundred words.
Use it naturally. Repeating a phrase until the sentence stops making sense does not help search rankings and does make the piece unreadable.
Sources and Citation
Link directly to sources within the text wherever possible. Peer-reviewed literature is preferred — PubMed, or major clinical centres such as Mayo Clinic or Cleveland Clinic.
Where a direct link is not possible, use endnotes in JAMA citation style, marked with superscript numbers.
Put everything in your own words. Unintentional copying from a source you have read closely is common and is still copying — run your draft through a plagiarism checker before sending it.
Internal Links
If we have published something related to your piece, link to it. Search the site before submitting.
Where a related article does not fit naturally in the text, mark the place in capitals and we will add it as a related link. We may add further links of our own.
Images and Media
Every piece needs a featured image. You may include further images, charts, or video in the body.
You must own the media you submit or hold permission to use it. Stock licences must cover editorial use on a commercial site. Anything we cannot verify, we will replace.
Before You Submit
- Every factual claim is sourced, and every link works
- Sources are current — check that guidance has not been revised
- The piece has been proofread, not just spellchecked
- You hold the rights to every image included
- The work has not been published elsewhere
Review
Review takes two to three weeks, depending on the queue and how much work a piece needs. Because of the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot guarantee a reply to every one.
If we accept a piece, we will work with you on it before publication. Editing is normal and is not a judgement on the writing.
After Publication
Exclusivity. Work published here should not appear in full elsewhere. You are welcome to publish a summary, or the first hundred words, with a link to the full piece on this site.
Keeping a piece current. Health information dates. If guidance changes or new evidence emerges, contact us and we will update the piece, keeping its original URL. Where an author is unavailable and an article needs substantial revision, our editorial team may update it — and the byline will show that clearly.
Sharing. We encourage you to share your work. Tag us and we will amplify it.
How to Submit
Send your work to info@thedoctorweighsin.com once you have read these guidelines.
Include the following, so we can review the piece without going back and forth:
- Your draft, as a document or in the body of the email
- Your byline and credentials, written as you want them to appear
- A short biography, up to about 100 words
- A headshot
- Any links you would like included — a website, a professional profile
- Sources, if they are not already linked in the text
Put the working title in the subject line. It makes the queue easier to manage and your piece easier to find.
Submitting does not guarantee publication. Our editorial team decides what is right for our readers.