How to Pitch, Write & Get Commissioned by Black Ballad (step-by-step)

1 · Understand Black Ballad: mission, audience, and commissioning

Black Ballad is a UK-based lifestyle and culture platform centring the experiences of Black women. It publishes features, essays, how-tos, and community-led stories and runs membership content, events, and workshops. Their official pages clearly state their editorial mission and who they commission. See their home, about, and pitch pages for the primary rules and contact details.

Quick verification tip: open the Pitch to Black Ballad page and the About page before you draft your pitch.

2 · Choosing the right idea (how to shape a story they’ll want)

Good pitches are not “broad topics” — they solve a clear problem, fill a gap, or broaden a conversation the community cares about. Aim for stories that are specific, timely, and personal or that connect cultural context to practical advice.

Three quick fit checks

1. Relevance: Does the idea speak directly to the lived reality of Black women (or Black trans/non-binary people) in the UK or the UK diaspora?
2. Specificity: Can you summarise the piece in one sentence that starts, “This story shows how to…”?
3. Evidence & access: Do you have interviews, first-hand experience, or data to support the article?

Note: Black Ballad loves “niche” and “nuanced” — a narrowly angled piece with depth usually outperforms a generic one.

3 · Prepare samples & a small public portfolio

Before you pitch: collect 2–5 high-quality writing samples. If you’re new, publish first on Dev.to, Medium, Substack, or your own blog. Include at least one piece that demonstrates you can handle the structure and tone Black Ballad prefers (clear storytelling, strong personal voice, sources or interviews where necessary).

Keep your best sample behind a stable URL (not a Google Doc). Editors want links that don’t disappear.

4 · Practical pitch workflow (a simple SOP you can reuse)

Follow this workflow every time you prepare to pitch Black Ballad or similar outlets.

1. Read the pitch page carefully. Open Pitch to Black Ballad and note eligibility, required fields, and any sample questions.
2. Research recent site coverage. Spend 30–60 minutes reading 3–5 recent Black Ballad pieces on topics close to yours. Notice tone, length, and how sources are used.
3. Write one-sentence pitch & outline. One sentence summary + a 6–10 point outline (sections with short sentence descriptions) is usually enough for the form.
4. Link to evidence/sample. Include 1 full published sample and links to any relevant resources (GitHub, audio, docs).
5. Submit via the official pitch method. Use the form or email specified on their pitch page — do not DM social accounts unless the page says it’s acceptable.
6. Follow up politely once. Wait 2–4 weeks, then send one short follow-up if you haven’t heard anything. Keep it friendly and include the original pitch.

Editors are busy. A clear, tightly-focused pitch is easier to accept than one with multiple vague ideas.

5 · Pitch templates you can copy into the Black Ballad form

Two templates below: one for a personal/feature piece, one for a practical/how-to article. Fill in your specifics and paste into the pitch form.

Template A — Personal / Feature pitch

Template B — How-to / Practical guide pitch

Tip: Keep the pitch concise. Editors read many submissions; the clarity of your outline and the strength of your sample matter more than a long cover letter.

6 · How to write a publishable Black Ballad article

Once commissioned, follow good editorial practice. The editor will ask for drafts, images, and permissions. Below are practical tips to make editing smoother and increase chances of acceptance.

Structure & tone

• Open with a strong personal hook or clear problem statement.
• Use subheadings to break the flow into digestible sections.
• Keep paragraphs short (1–3 sentences). Use lists and bolding for actionable steps.

Sources, quotes & interviews

If you quote people, include the interview notes and permission statements. Editors prefer verifiable facts and named sources for claims (or clearly framed personal observations).

Images & assets

• Provide high-resolution images (3000px wide preferred) or fully credited stock images.
• Include alt text and captions for every image.

Accessibility & readability

Use accessible headings, avoid tiny text in images, and add transcripts for audio — these small details help editorial approval and readers who rely on assistive tech.

Deliverables checklist for editors

• Final draft (Google Doc link or docx) with inline links
• Author bio (25–40 words)
• Headshot (high-res) and social links
• Image files with captions and alt text
• Permissions or release forms for interviewees

7 · Money, rights & republishing

Black Ballad’s pitch page notes that they pay for commissioned pieces — payment details tend to be negotiated per assignment or communicated during commissioning. If precise rates are important to you, confirm them with the editor before you accept.

If you are offered an ongoing series or recurring commissions, ask whether the fee is per piece or part of a retainer.

For background: Black Ballad operates a membership model and events in addition to editorial content — building a relationship with their audience through quality pieces can lead to additional paid opportunities (events, workshops, mentoring programs). See their site for membership details and public fundraising histories.

8 · Ethics, lived experience & using AI responsibly

Black Ballad exists to centre the voices of people with relevant lived experience. This is both an editorial value and a boundary for commissioning — respect that boundary.

Golden rule: if you’re not prepared to speak to any detail in your piece in an editor call (who/what/when/how), do more reporting before pitching.

9 · Final pre-pitch checklist (use this each time)

• I read Pitch to Black Ballad and confirm I meet the eligibility requirements.
• I can explain the story in one sentence and list 6–9 section headings.
• I have at least one public sample link and a short bio ready.
• I have at least one working image or visual asset and permissions for any interview quotes.
• I saved the pitch form draft and double-checked spelling/links before submitting.

10 · Useful links & resources (open these before you pitch)

Please open each of these to familiarise yourself with the site, style, and the form.

Tip: Open the official Pitch page in one tab and three example stories in other tabs. Compare structure and language before finalising your pitch.