NorwayExplained publishes practical, trustworthy guides for traveling in Norway, moving here, and navigating everyday life once you arrive. If you know Norway well and can write in clear American English for an international audience, we want to hear from you. Strong contributors combine local knowledge with step-by-step advice and real examples that help readers act with confidence.
The short version is simple. We accept pitches from writers with verifiable experience in Norway, pay competitive freelance rates, and edit closely for clarity, accuracy, and usefulness. If this sounds like your lane, keep reading for what we commission, how to pitch, our editorial standards, and the nuts and bolts on payment and rights.
If you are ready to contribute or still deciding whether your idea fits, this page lays out everything you need to know. Let’s take a deeper dive into how to write for NorwayExplained and what makes a pitch stand out.
What We Publish
NorwayExplained covers three pillars. Travel planning that actually works on the ground, moving and settling content that de-stresses bureaucracy, and day-to-day living tips that explain how Norway ticks. We love articles that start with an outcome and then walk the reader through the exact steps, including the little details travelers and newcomers often miss.
We commission destination guides, how-tos, neighborhood walkthroughs, seasonal planning pieces, transport explainers, hiking and outdoor primers, cultural etiquette, and moving checklists. Stories that blend clarity with local texture are our best performers. If an insider tip can save someone thirty minutes or forty euros, include it and explain how you know it works.
Who Should Pitch
We are open to freelancers, guides, researchers, expats with serious time on the ground, and Norwegians who understand both local reality and international expectations. If you can translate Norway into practical moves for visitors and newcomers without talking down to them, you will fit our tone.
Fluent American English is required. If English is not your first language but you have strong knowledge and clean structure, we can help with polish. What we cannot fix is lack of grounding. Firsthand knowledge or careful, on-the-ground reporting is essential.
Topics We Need Right Now
Our needs shift with the seasons. These areas are consistently in demand and are good bets for a first pitch.
- Step-by-step transport guides that decode tickets, platforms, and transfers in major hubs
- Seasonal itineraries that prove what is realistic in a weekend, four days, or one week
- Family travel in cities and nature, with stroller or wheelchair notes where relevant
- Hut-to-hut hiking primers and realistic gear lists for first timers
- Moving tasks in sequence, such as bank accounts, leases, registration, and healthcare
- Practical neighborhood guides for Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Tromsø, and Stavanger
- Rain plans and storm day alternatives for coastal regions
- Clear comparisons where travelers get stuck choosing between two good options
Our Voice and Quality Bar
We write like a thoughtful local who respects your time. Plain language, no fluff, and explanations that help readers decide. We do not hype. We tell you when the scenic route is actually slow, when a ferry sells out, and when a hike needs microspikes. Everything we publish must be accurate, current, and testable in real life.
We expect clean structure. Use short paragraphs, informative subheadings, and concrete examples. If a step could fail, warn the reader and give a plan B. When official terms are confusing, translate them once and keep using the simplest version.
Originality, Ethics, and Fact Checking
All work must be original and written for NorwayExplained. We do not accept AI-written drafts, thin rewrites of other sites, or content that copies phrasing or structure from any source. We welcome your lived experience and reporting. If you interview an operator or cite a local rule that changes by municipality, say so clearly and explain how the reader can double-check.
Disclose any relationships with companies you mention. We keep editorial independence at the core and will remove recommendations that do not meet our safety and reliability bar.
Word Counts and Formats
Most commissions fall between 1200 and 2000 words. Some guides need more, especially multi-part itineraries or moving checklists. We rarely commission pieces under 900 words because depth is what helps our readers succeed. When in doubt, pitch the angle and the structure. We will confirm the target length with you.
We accept Google Docs or Markdown files. Please do not embed tracking links, automatic formatting, or unusual fonts. Keep tables simple and only when they add clarity.
Photos and Visuals
You do not need to supply photos for your pitch to be accepted. If you do have original, high-resolution images you own, list them in your pitch with captions and locations. We cannot run images you do not have rights to. If images are essential, we will coordinate separately on licensing and credits.
How To Pitch
Email a short pitch using the subject line format: Pitch: Working Title – Primary Angle – Your Name. Keep the body focused and include enough detail for us to evaluate quickly.
A strong pitch includes three parts. First, one paragraph explaining the angle, who it helps, and what decision it unlocks. Second, a short outline with your proposed H2s and any key H3s. Third, a line on your qualifications and how you will report or verify details that change by season or municipality.
Please also include one or two relevant clips. If you are new to publishing but have deep local knowledge, write a short sample paragraph in the pitch that shows your voice and specificity.
Editorial Process
We confirm fit, scope, rate, and deadline by email. Once assigned, you will receive a short brief with audience notes, focus points, and any required inclusions. First drafts are due by the agreed deadline. We usually edit in one to two passes, focusing on clarity, accuracy, structure, and reader utility. You will see line edits and margin notes and can respond to questions directly in the document.
After acceptance, we may update the piece later for seasonal changes. We keep bylines intact and will contact you if a major rewrite is needed.
Payment, Rates, and Rights
Rates depend on complexity, reporting needs, and specialist expertise. Typical commissions for new contributors begin at a flat fee per article and scale with depth and original reporting. We pay within 15 days of acceptance via standard international methods.
NorwayExplained purchases first web rights and perpetual non-exclusive rights to host, update, and promote the article. You retain copyright to your words. You may republish an excerpt on your portfolio after the piece goes live, linking back to the original. Republishing the full article elsewhere requires our written permission.
Bylines, Bios, and Links
Every accepted article includes a byline and a short author bio. You may include one non-promotional link in your bio to your professional site or social profile. Within the article body, we limit external links to official resources, safety information, and truly essential tools. We do not publish hidden affiliate links from contributors. If we add affiliate links on our side, we disclose them and maintain editorial independence.
What We Do Not Publish
We pass on generic listicles, hype pieces, thin destination overviews, and content written without firsthand knowledge or careful reporting. We avoid “secret spot” pieces that risk damaging fragile sites. We also decline anything that relies on unauthorized access, risky behavior, or advice that conflicts with Norwegian safety norms or Leave No Trace principles.
Accessibility and Inclusion
Our readers include families, older travelers, wheelchair users, neurodivergent travelers, and people who prefer low-stimulation environments. When relevant, weave in practical access notes. Mention entrance types, elevator locations, surface types, restroom access, ticket desk height, and staff assistance norms. These specifics turn a good guide into a great one.
Timelines and Communication
We respond to most pitches within a week, Monday to Friday, Oslo time. If your idea is time sensitive, say so in the subject line. If you have not heard back in seven days, you are welcome to follow up. Accepted stories will have clear deadlines and check-in dates. If anything changes, tell us early. We will do the same.
Make Your Pitch Stronger
A good pitch shows that you understand both Norway and the decisions our readers need to make. Before sending, ask yourself whether the article helps someone choose a route, pack smarter, budget realistically, or avoid a common mistake. If the answer is yes, you are close. Add the specific tips only a local or well-prepared reporter would know, such as which platform avoids stairs with luggage or how Sunday trading hours hit an itinerary in winter.
Ready To Pitch
Send your idea using the format above and include two clips that show your clarity and practicality. We are excited to meet writers who respect Norway’s rhythms and can help readers travel and settle with confidence. If that is you, let us see what you want to build with us.