Commissioned writing
Guest columns, guides, white papers, and case studies
Practitioner-written for trade publications, editorial organisations, and corporate communications teams who need a senior voice — someone who has shipped the thing, not just read about it.
What this studio is for
Shipped Words does four jobs: sell ghostwriting, give small newspapers free columns, demonstrate the craft, and take broader commissioned writing. This page is the commissioned door — often with a practitioner byline, sometimes without.
Publishing and consulting field notes live on a separate site. The writing record you can judge here starts with samples and the live column series. Rates on request; a clear editorial brief is required.
Who this is for
- Trade and industry publications covering WordPress, CMS and editorial technology, ed-tech, learning design, or government digital — audiences that read past the first paragraph.
- Organisations that need a practitioner voice for a white paper, technical brief, or case study: content that reads as written by someone who has made the calls being described.
- Corporate communications and L&D teams commissioning thought-leadership for senior or executive audiences in media, education, government, or professional services.
Who this is not for
- SEO content mills, AI-content enhancement shops, or publications whose model is publishing at volume with no editorial standard. One piece well, not ten pieces fast.
- Topics, platforms, or positions I can’t stand behind. The byline question gets settled before the brief does.
- WordPress builds, audits, accessibility remediation, SEO implementation, or speaking engagements — those stay with the consulting practice, not this studio.
What I write
- Guest column / contributed article · 800–1,800 words. Opinion or analysis backed by delivered work. Suitable for trade publications, association newsletters, and industry blogs with a senior readership.
- Technical how-to · 1,200–3,000 words. Step-by-step for practitioners who already know the basics — developers, L&D managers, digital directors. Diagrams where they earn their keep.
- Case study · 1,000–2,500 words. Real engagement, real constraints, real decisions — including the call that was wrong the first time.
- White paper or long-form report · 3,000–8,000 words. Research-backed argument with a clear position. For associations, government bodies, and vendors who want a credible practitioner voice, not a marketing listicle.
- Thought-leadership · 600–1,200 words. Short-form for executive or senior-practitioner audiences — LinkedIn long-form, internal publication, or external byline.
- Ghostwriting · same formats when the credit belongs with your author or organization — see Ghostwriting.
Topics I can write from practice
Not a menu — areas where I’ve delivered client work or run production systems and can write from having made the calls.
WordPress at editorial and institutional scale
Content models, editorial workflow governance, performance under a live news desk, migration decisions, and the gap between what the block editor promises and what a newsroom can actually use.
AI operations for teams
Routing, cost attribution, governance documentation, and the practical side of running a multi-provider stack — without miracle claims.
Learning technology and LMS architecture
LearnDash, Sensei, LifterLMS from the inside; curriculum design; what L&D teams get wrong when they buy a platform before they design the course.
Government digital and accessibility
WCAG 2.2, AODA, public-sector delivery patterns, and accessibility as a design discipline rather than a scanner score.
How an engagement works
Email with a brief: what you want, for whom, and when. I’ll tell you in one email whether I can help and at what rate — no discovery call required for standard formats. For white papers and commissioned reports, a thirty-minute scoping call sets the structure before a word is written.
I don’t do spec rounds or unpaid pitches for publications with a budget. Turnaround is typically two to three weeks for articles; four to six weeks for white papers. Rush rates apply for timelines under ten days.
Every piece gets a second pass before it reaches an editor — the same reason a second draft matters for anything meant to be read closely.
Proof before the brief
Start with samples and the free column series under Columns — twenty published editions editors can already run. Ghost clips for paid evaluation ship privately on request. For contributor pages, use the short bio below or ask for a headshot.
Author bio
Christopher Ross is a senior WordPress and accessibility practitioner based in Fort Erie, Ontario. He has built for the web since 1996 and worked in WordPress since 2007, with past client work including Postmedia (Calgary Herald, The StarPhoenix), the National Post, and federal government digital properties. He has published 20+ plugins on WordPress.org and is a MA candidate in Learning & Technology at Royal Roads University. Writing studio: shippedwords.com.
Contributor bio (for editorial listings)
Christopher Ross has built for the web since 1996 and worked in WordPress since 2007. He writes on WordPress at editorial and institutional scale, AI operations for teams, learning technology, and government digital and accessibility. He has published 20+ plugins on WordPress.org, spoken at 18+ WordCamps across Canada and the US, and is a MA candidate in Learning & Technology at Royal Roads University. Columns and commissions: shippedwords.com. Based in Fort Erie, Ontario.
Common questions
What do you write?
Guest columns, technical guides, white papers, and case studies for trade and business press, at final-draft quality. Diagrams included when they earn their keep. Ghost versions of the same formats live under Ghostwriting.
How long does a piece take?
Articles typically two to three weeks; white papers four to six. If you are working to a publication date, say so early and I’ll build back from it.
Do you write under my byline?
That depends on the outlet and the arrangement, and we settle it before I start. Some pieces run under my name as a named practitioner; others are yours to publish. Either way you get final-draft copy, not an outline.
Is the writing about WordPress only?
No. WordPress is where the depth is deepest, but the work spans AI, learning technology, and the business of building things that outlast the people who built them.
Can our small paper run a free column?
Yes — that’s a separate, free door: Columns.
Commission a piece that earns a second one
Trade publications and editorial organizations commission repeat work when the piece lands. Practitioner-written, final-draft quality, no revision theatre. Send the brief and I’ll tell you if I’m the right fit.