Call for contributors & blogging guidelines

(29.07.2025) We have updated the text below to include guidelines on what (not) to post, together with some specific formatting requirements to ensure quality and relevance for the broad chess community.

Our new website is open for everyone to register and contribute. Participate in the Belgian Chess Community by:

• posting comments
• sharing information on your socials
• writing your own article(s)

The RBCF aims to promote the Belgian chess community in an accessible and inclusive way. We encourage clubs, organizers, trainers, arbiters, and individual players to contribute content. To ensure quality and relevance for a broad audience, please follow the guidelines below.

📝 Who Can Register?

Registration is open to everyone who wants to actively engage with the Belgian Chess Community. There are no restrictions on who can join; if you have a passion for chess and a desire to contribute, you are welcome here.

Just visit our registration page, fill out the form, and start contributing. Your registration will be active immediately, and you’ll be ready to make your first post in no time.

Publication guidelines

An account is required in order to write your own article(s). Articles can be written and submitted for review. A member of the RBCF will approve your article before it gets published here.

✅ What You Are Welcome to Post

Content that is relevant to the wider Belgian chess public, including:

• Announcements of tournaments open to a wider audience
  • If you post a tournament announcement on the blog, it is mandatory that the tournament is also listed in the official chess calendar.
  • Please include a registration link and tournament details if possible.
• Reports from tournaments or events
  • Especially those with national or regional significance (e.g., interclub matches, youth tournaments, championships, simuls)
• Interviews with Belgian players, juniors, arbiters, organizers, coaches
• Articles with commentary or opinion on chess development, trends, pedagogy, or technology
• Analysis of notable games (preferably involving Belgian players)
• Calls for volunteers, projects, or collaboration
• Initiatives promoting diversity, youth development, or chess outreach

❌ What Not to Post

To avoid clutter and maintain focus:

• Announcements of closed or internal club championships
  • These are better suited for internal club communication channels
• Tournament announcements that are not listed in the official chess calendar
  • Please ensure the event is submitted to the calendar before sending in your blog post
• Overly commercial promotions
  • Posts that primarily advertise a product or service without chess-related value
• Repeated or excessive promotion of the same event
  • Try to consolidate updates or use the event calendar for scheduling info
• Content that is not neutral or respectful
  • Offensive or polarizing content will not be published

🛠 Formatting Requirements

• Language: Dutch, French, German or English
• Ideal length: Between 300 – 800 words
• Include at least one image where possible (with appropriate rights or permission)
• External links are allowed, but should be placed in clear context
• For tournaments: always include date, location, target audience, and calendar link

💬 Editorial Review

The RBCF board of administrators reserves the right to edit or decline submissions

💬 Comments

Comments are open for everybody, but we do not allow anonymous comments. An account is not required. Please state your full name (first & last name) whenever you comment on this site. Comments are moderated before they appear on the website.

🧩 Social media sharing

Every article and page contains a list of most common sharing buttons. Feel free to use them.

📖 Short instructions on how to write your own article(s)

1. Once you are logged in, a small administration bar appears at the top of the page
   Choose ‘+ New’ > Post to start writing your own article
2. In the editor, start composing your first article.
   • Use the ‘+’ button in the top left corner to add various content blocks (headings, paragraphs, images, list items, …). Links can be added as well.
   • Make sure to supply article details in the right sidebar:
     • featured image: this will be shown on the front page)
     • excerpt: this is a short summary, also shown on the front page
     • tags: any relevant keywords that describe the content of your article
     • language (important): make sure this corresponds to the language you are writing in!
   • Afterwards, use the button ‘Submit for review’ to have your article reviewed by one of the administrators of the RBCF. You can make changes to your article at any time afterwards.

The images below show you the editor with important elements highlighted (click on them to enlarge). In case of questions, you can get in contact through the comments, or in private at steven.bellens@frbe-kbsb-ksb.be

Alternatively, you can send your article (in Word or plain text format) to info@frbe-kbsb-ksb.be.