Synopsis
Last year I developed a series of contributor outreach templates that we used to reach out to prospective contributors. Though this strategy had some positive results, I now consider that those messages attempt to accomplish too much at once. In one lengthy email they invite the recipient to join the contributor network, participate in an interview, submit or republish articles, join collaborative groups, and potentially engage in future projects. Presenting all these options at once may overwhelm recipients and lower the response rate. It may be more effective to focus the first contact on a single ask: either joining us for an InterDialogue or contributing an InterArticle, though with a brief nod to other contribution options.
Between the two, an interview is a lighter ask than an article and may serve as an easy entry point into our broader contributor ecosystem, allowing prospective contributors to become familiar with the platform, establish a relationship with us, and demonstrate mutual interests before considering deeper forms of involvement. Opportunities for article contributions, collaborations, and community participation can then be introduced through subsequent conversations. In some cases, it may be appropriate to ask for a book chapter republication instead of or before requesting an interview or original article; I have prepared a separate template for this eventuality as well.
See below three templates that can be used for outreach to people in our recruitment database. These templates are intended as flexible models to be adapted and personalized as needed.
1. InterDialogue invitation
Dear [NAME],
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing on behalf of The InterPlex, an interdisciplinary publication and collaborative community exploring the intersections of science, society, policy, and culture.
I recently came across your work on [DETAILS], and was particularly interested in [SPECIFIC OBSERVATION]. Because effective communication across disciplinary and cultural boundaries is one of our core areas of interest, I believe your perspective would resonate strongly with our audience.
I would therefore like to invite you to participate in an InterDialogue, our long-form recorded interview series. We would be especially interested in discussing [DETAILS], though our conversations are typically wide-ranging and often explore broader questions connected to a guest’s work and intellectual journey.
Beyond the interview itself, many of our guests go on to contribute articles, collaborate with other contributors, or participate in our thematic working groups and community initiatives. Our goal is to foster lasting intellectual connections rather than one-off conversations. You may browse our contributor directory to see how members have contributed.
If you are interested, let me know and I will provide further information about our contribution workflow and proposed timeline. You can learn more about The InterPlex, our publishing formats, and our editorial standards here: [LINK]
Thank you for your consideration. I would be happy to answer any questions and discuss possible contributions further.
Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]
2. InterArticle invitation
Dear [NAME],
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing on behalf of The InterPlex, an interdisciplinary publication and collaborative community exploring the intersections of science, society, policy, and culture.
I recently came across your work on [DETAILS], and was particularly interested in [SPECIFIC OBSERVATION]. Because effective communication across disciplinary and cultural boundaries is one of our core areas of interest, I believe your perspective would resonate strongly with our audience.
I would therefore like to invite you to contribute an InterArticle, our flagship article format. We would be especially interested in an article exploring [DETAILS], though we would also welcome other proposals connected to your expertise and current interests. While we prefer to publish original contributions, we can also republish adapted excerpts and/or translations of previously published work where permissions allow. Contributors receive editorial support throughout the process, and we encourage a range of formats, including essays, commentaries, case studies, and syntheses of emerging research.
Beyond the article itself, many of our authors go on to contribute interviews, collaborate with other contributors, or participate in our thematic working groups and community initiatives. Our goal is to foster lasting intellectual connections rather than one-off conversations. You may browse our contributor directory to see how members have contributed.
If you are interested, let me know and I will provide further information about our contribution workflow and proposed timeline. You can learn more about The InterPlex, our publishing formats, and our editorial standards here: [LINK]
Thank you for your consideration. I would be happy to answer any questions and discuss possible contributions further.
Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]
3. Republication invitation
Dear [NAME],
I hope this message finds you well. I am writing on behalf of The InterPlex, an interdisciplinary publication and collaborative community exploring the intersections of science, society, policy, and culture.
I recently read your [article/chapter/book] entitled “[TITLE],” and found its discussion of [TOPIC OR SPECIFIC INSIGHT] particularly valuable. Because effective communication across disciplinary and cultural boundaries is one of our core areas of interest, I believe your perspective would resonate strongly with our audience.
I would therefore like to inquire whether you would be open to allowing The InterPlex to republish or adapt this work, where permissions allow. Our goal is to make important ideas more accessible while ensuring full attribution to the original author and publication. If permission is granted, we would clearly credit the original source, include links to the original publication, and work with you to ensure that any adaptation, excerpting, or translation accurately reflects your intended meaning. Depending on your preferences and any publisher restrictions, we are open to republishing the complete text, an excerpt, a translation, or an adapted presentation for a broader interdisciplinary audience.
Authors republished in The InterPlex are also welcome to contribute interviews and original articles, collaborate with other contributors, or participate in our thematic working groups and community initiatives. Our goal is to foster lasting intellectual connections rather than one-off conversations. You may browse our contributor directory to see how members have contributed.
If you are interested, let me know and I will provide further information about our contribution workflow and proposed timeline. You can learn more about The InterPlex, our publishing formats, and our editorial standards here: [LINK]
Thank you for your consideration. I would be happy to answer any questions and discuss possible contributions further.
Kind regards,
[YOUR NAME]
Related
3.6 Recruitment database
4.3 Institutional partnership templates