Content guidelines

Grief Collective aims to serve as a valuable and supportive resource for those who are navigating the difficult journey of loss. To ensure that the content remains helpful, respectful, and sensitive to a broad range of experiences, here are guidelines for creating a blog post.

Please refer to the Grief Collective’s mission for more details on why these guidelines are in place, and if you have questions please reach out at hello@griefcollective.com.


Format

  • Post length should be between 3-7 paragraphs, and should not exceed 2000 words.

  • Paragraph breaks and sub-headings are encouraged for better readability.

  • Links to external sources should be limited unless necessary or for citation purposes, and when they are used they should open in a new window.

  • Titles should fit on 1-2 lines and be written in Title Case.

  • Titles should prioritize clarity and specificity about the content (e.g. 5 Ways to Help Grieving Friends; How to Find a Therapist).

  • Unless otherwise specified (in the case of an interview, for example), content should be written from a “we” perspective rather than an “I” perspective (e.g. When we experience grief) or a third-person perspective (e.g. Grief is experienced by many people).

Imagery

  • Each post should include a high-res image (550x750px at 72 DPI, landscape orientation).

  • These images can be original art or photography - or they can be sourced via Unsplash.

  • Images should be credited to the original creator in the sub-heading.

  • In general, photos of people should be limited, as this can project an unconscious bias or a certain idea of what grief should “look” like.

  • Image content should consider different cultural, racial, and gender contexts and be sensitive to any possible biases that may be conveyed in the imagery.

written Content

Trauma-informed
Written content should be sensitive with regard to trauma. Information can be shared about loss/grief (e.g. my parent died from cancer), but details that may be triggering to readers (e.g. specific details of the dying process) should be avoided. Trigger warnings should be used where appropriate to respect readers’ wellbeing.

Inclusive
Grief knows no boundaries and affects people from all backgrounds and cultures. Grief Collective strives to take an inclusive approach when writing about grief. Content should recognize and respect diverse experiences, perspectives, and beliefs surrounding mourning. Avoid making assumptions or generalizations that may exclude or invalidate certain individuals or communities. Grief Collective is also non-denominational, so content should not be written from a religious perspective.

Supportive, not dismissive
Be mindful of the language and terminology used when discussing grief. The tone should be supportive, but it should be careful not to dismiss people’s very difficult experiences of grief. Steer clear of euphemisms or clichés that may unintentionally diminish the depth of the experience. Avoid language that suggests readers should grieve in a specific way.

Respectful to the ongoing, challenging nature of grief
Content should never suggest that there is any silver bullet to “solving” grief. Grief and healing are individual, non-linear, lifelong journeys. For many people, even if they have done healing work, their loss(es) and trauma will never be “okay.” Avoid statements with overly-positive generalizations (e.g. Everything will be okay) that perpetuate stereotypes of a linear and complete grieving process.

Approachable
Content should be easy to consume by people of varying comprehension levels. Straight-forward language is encouraged. Avoid language that is overly flowery and vocabulary that could pose accessibility challenges.

Empathetic
Subject matter should always be approached with empathy and compassion. Acknowledge the immense pain and vulnerability of those grieving, and strive to create content that fosters understanding, comfort, and connection. Use language that is gentle, sensitive, and non-judgmental, allowing readers to feel heard and validated.