Write for The Downspout
We publish pieces by people who work with water in Sonoma County and its neighbors. Send a short pitch or a draft to hello@thedownspout.com.
Who we want to hear from
- Local groups and agencies working on water, creeks and watersheds.
- People who do the work: well drillers, graywater and rain catchment installers, landscapers, farmers and ranchers.
- Researchers and students studying water here.
- Residents with a story about the water where they live.
What we publish
- How-tos and explainers a Sonoma County homeowner can use.
- Field notes: what you tried, what worked, what it cost.
- Views on local water questions, labeled as opinion.
What we ask
- Write plainly, for a neighbor, not a specialist.
- Link a source for every number and rule.
- Something new: not a copy of a piece published elsewhere.
- No sales pitches. A short bio and one link to your work are welcome.
How it works
- Email hello@thedownspout.com with two or three sentences on your idea, or the draft itself.
- We check the facts and may edit for length and clarity. We may use AI tools to help edit and check sources. You see the final version before it goes live.
- Your name goes on it. Most pieces also get a read-aloud audio version.
- Nobody pays or is paid for a piece.
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