Write for
In Frame
Have something to say about a movie? We'd love to hear it.
In Frame is the editorial publication of Fort Worth Movie Club, dedicated to thoughtful writing about film, the people who make it, and the culture that surrounds it.
Whether you're a seasoned writer or someone who's never written a film review before, we welcome fresh perspectives, thoughtful criticism, and a genuine love for cinema.
Have an idea? Here's everything you need to know about writing for us.
How It Works
1. Pitch your idea
Have an idea for an article? Tell us about it using our pitch form!
Give us a quick overview of what you'd like to write, why it interests you, and an estimated word count. You don't need a finished article to submit a pitch.
Our pitch form is generally open year-round. If you have any questions before submitting, feel free to email us at hello@fortworthmovieclub.com.
2. We'll review your pitch
Our editorial team will review your idea and get back to you via email within two weeks.
We may approve your pitch, suggest a few changes, or work with you to explore a different direction.
We're a small team of movie lovers, so we appreciate your patience!
3. Get writing!
Once your pitch is approved, it's time to bring your idea to life.
We'll work with you to establish a reasonable deadline and discuss any specific expectations for your article.
4. Review
Once you've submitted your draft, our editorial team will review it and get back to you with any edits or feedback.
We'll handle small proofreading edits and work with you on any larger revisions. Our goal is to help make your article the best it can be while keeping your voice and perspective intact.
Editing is a collaborative process, and we're here to help!
5. Publish & Distribute
Once your article is finalized, we'll let you know when you can expect to see it published on In Frame.
After it's live, we'll share your work with the community through our Email, Instagram, and Discord channels.
And of course, we encourage you to share it with your friends, family, and fellow movie lovers!
What can I write about?
We're open to all kinds of film-related writing. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Film Reviews & Criticism: Your thoughts on a recent release, an overlooked favorite, or a film that deserves a closer look.
Essays & Features: Explore the themes, filmmakers, genres, and cultural conversations that make cinema interesting.
Film Lists & Recommendations: Share a curated collection of films around a theme, genre, filmmaker, or personal favorite.
Interviews & Community Stories: Highlight local filmmakers, movie lovers, and the people helping shape film culture in Fort Worth and beyond.
Have an idea that doesn't fit into one of these categories? Don't let that stop you! We're always open to exploring something new.
Style Guide
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Most articles should fall between 500 and 2,000 words.
These aren't strict limits—we care more about whether a piece has enough room to explore its idea without overstaying its welcome. If an article needs to fall outside this range, talk with an editor.
For lists and ranked features, keep individual entries relatively short. As a general guideline, aim for roughly 150–300 words per item.
Remember that list articles can become long very quickly. A reader shouldn't have to scroll through several paragraphs before reaching the next entry. Focus each item on what makes that film, performance, scene, or selection worth including rather than trying to provide a complete review.
When in doubt, say what you need to say and move on.
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Italicize film and television series titles.
Examples:
The Godfather
Twin PeaksUse quotation marks for individual television episodes, short films, articles, essays, and songs.
Example:
“The Suitcase” is an episode of Mad Men. -
Use a person’s full name the first time they are mentioned.
After that, use their last name unless doing so would cause confusion.
Example:
Greta Gerwig directed Lady Bird. Gerwig later directed Barbie. -
Write decades without an apostrophe.
Correct: 1990s
Incorrect: 1990’sUse clear, readable dates in prose.
Example:
The film was released on October 6, 2026. -
Spell out numbers one through nine.
Use numerals for 10 and above.
Use numerals for ages, percentages, money, measurements, ratings, and statistics when appropriate.
Examples:
three films
12 screenings
8%
$15
4 stars -
Use the Oxford comma.
Example:
The film is funny, strange, and surprisingly emotional.Use em dashes sparingly—and without spaces—to interrupt or expand on a thought.
Avoid excessive semicolons, parentheses, or overly complicated sentence structures when a simpler sentence works better.
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Use standard title case for article headlines and subheadings unless otherwise specified by an editor.
Do not capitalize genres.
Correct: horror, science fiction, romantic comedy
Incorrect: Horror, Science FictionCapitalize proper names of movements, organizations, festivals, and awards when appropriate.
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If an article contains major spoilers for a recent release, include a spoiler warning near the beginning.
Spoiler warnings are generally unnecessary for older films unless the article relies heavily on revealing major plot developments.
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Link to the original source whenever possible.
Facts, statistics, quotes, historical claims, and reporting from other publications should be sourced.
Do not rely on another article’s summary when the original interview, study, press release, or reporting is available.
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Writers may use tools such as Grammarly or built-in spelling and grammar checkers to help identify issues with grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, or tone.
However, AI-generated content will not be accepted for publication.
AI tools should not be used to write an article, generate substantial passages, develop arguments, or replace the writer’s own analysis and voice.
A good rule of thumb: using a tool to identify problems in your writing is okay; using a tool to write it for you is not.
The ideas, analysis, arguments, and final writing submitted to FWMC should be your own.