Write for Us
PunMagazine is open to outside writers and pun-obsessed readers. Send a themed pun list, a wordplay explainer, or a single pun too good to keep to yourself. Free to submit, and every accepted piece carries a real byline.
Why write for us
What you get for a piece that clears our bar.
A real byline
Single puns get credited too
A live, indexed audience
A light-touch edit
Topics we accept
Puns and wordplay are the whole beat. Here is where we are always looking.
Got an angle that is not on the list? We still want to hear it. If it is genuine wordplay and useful to read, pitch the topic and we will tell you if it is a fit.
How to submit
Four steps from pitch to published.
Pitch or draft
Email hello@punmagazine.com with your topic idea, a finished draft, or just a batch of puns.
Editor review
We check fit, originality and quality against our guidelines. Reply in 2-3 days.
Polish
A human editor tidies formatting, headings and links, and confirms your author bio.
Publish
Your piece goes live with your byline and your own author profile page.
Submission guidelines
Everything your piece needs to clear our editor. Follow these and acceptance is fast.
1. Originality
Everything you send must be 100% original and not published anywhere else, now or later. We check. Duplicate, spun or previously-syndicated content is declined and, if discovered after publishing, removed.
2. Every pun must be a real pun
This is the one we are strictest about. An entry has to turn on actual wordplay - a double meaning, a sound swap, a word hiding inside another. A relatable observation with a topic word bolted on is not a pun, and a list of them will be declined however well-written it is.
3. Length & depth
Aim for 800-1,500 words for an article, or 40+ puns for a themed list. Cover the topic properly - examples, specifics and a point of view beat padding. If 900 words says it, do not stretch to 1,500.
4. Topics we accept
Puns and wordplay, in every direction: animal, food, holiday, wedding, teaching, sport, work, travel, music, science and pop-culture puns, plus explainers on how puns work and how to write them. If it is genuine wordplay and useful to read, pitch it.
5. Formatting
- A clear working title and one
H1-worthy angle. H2/H3subheadings - short, scannable sections.- Short paragraphs (2-4 sentences), lists where they help.
- British or American spelling is fine - just be consistent.
- Supply any images you have the rights to; we may swap in our own.
6. Links
We link out wherever it genuinely helps the reader, and your author bio can carry your site or social profile. What we will not do is publish a piece that exists to carry a link. Rules:
- No keyword-stuffed or exact-match commercial anchor text - we will rewrite it to read naturally.
- No links to spam, malware, or deceptive pages.
- Anything that reads as an advert dressed up as an article is declined.
7. Voice
Write like a human talking to a smart friend. Opinions, first-hand experience and a bit of wit are welcome - this is a magazine, not a keyword page. Read a few of our guides to catch the tone.
8. Author bio
Send a 30-50 word bio and, optionally, a headshot and your social/profile links. We publish it on the piece and on your own author profile page (with Person schema) so the byline carries real E-E-A-T weight.
9. What gets rejected
- Plagiarism, spun content, or anything published elsewhere.
- One-liners and observations dressed up as puns.
- Thin, unedited AI filler with no original insight.
- Pure advertorials with no reader value.
- Hateful, illegal, deceptive or unsafe content.
10. Review & publishing
We reply within 2-3 business days. If accepted, we edit for clarity and formatting, confirm your bio, then schedule it - usually live within a week. We may make light edits without changing your meaning.
11. Rights
You keep authorship credit. By submitting, you grant PunMagazine the right to publish and keep the piece live, and you confirm the work is yours and does not infringe anyone else's rights.
Write-for-us FAQ
What can I submit?
Two things. Either a single pun or a batch of puns for one of our topic lists, or a full piece - a themed pun list, a wordplay explainer or a how-to guide. Both go to the same inbox.
Does it cost anything to submit?
No. Submitting is free and always will be. We do not charge for publication and we do not sell placements.
What topics do you accept?
Puns and wordplay are the whole beat - animals, food, holidays, weddings, teaching, sport, work, travel and more, plus explainers on how puns actually work. If it is genuine wordplay, pitch it.
How long should a piece be?
Aim for 800-1,500 words. Long enough to be genuinely useful, short enough to respect the reader. Original, never-published-elsewhere writing only.
How many puns should a themed list have?
For a full topic list, aim for 40 or more. Every entry has to be real wordplay rather than a relatable one-liner - that bar is the whole point of the site.
How long until I hear back?
We usually reply within 2-3 business days. If it is a fit, we schedule and publish quickly.
Can I link to my own website?
Your author bio can carry your site or social profile, and we link out in the body wherever it genuinely helps the reader. We do not accept pieces written around a link, and promotional anchor text gets edited or declined.
Do you accept AI-written submissions?
AI is fine as a drafting aid, but the finished piece must be edited by a human, factually sound and actually funny. Raw, unedited AI output is rejected.
Ready to send it in?
Email your idea, draft or batch of puns to hello@punmagazine.com. First time writing for us? Read our guidelines first.
Curated by Polly Esther, Founding Editor & Head of Wordplay.