Guest posts bring fresh ideas to your blog. But you probably don't want a new writer publishing straight to your homepage on the very first day. This is where the Contributor role comes handy.
A Contributor is a user who can write and edit their own posts but cannot publish them. Every post waits for your approval.
What is a Contributor in WordPress?
Think of a Contributor as a trainee reporter. They can write as many stories as they like, but the desk editor decides what gets printed.
A Contributor can create new posts, edit their own drafts and delete their own unpublished posts. They cannot publish anything, create pages or touch posts written by other people. I give every new guest writer this role for their first few articles.
How does the review process work?
The workflow is pretty simple. Here is how a guest post usually moves from draft to live:
- First, the Contributor writes the post and saves it as a draft.
- Next, instead of a Publish button, they click Submit for Review.
- Now, the post gets the Pending status and shows up in your Posts list.
- Finally, an Editor or Administrator reads it, makes changes if needed and publishes or schedules it.
You can learn more about draft, pending and other statuses in our lesson on WordPress content status.
Limitations of the Contributor role
Two limits surprise many people. First, a Contributor cannot upload images or other files, because the role does not include upload access. Second, once you publish their post, the Contributor can no longer edit it.
Both limits are intentional. They keep new users away from your Media Library and your live content until you are ready to trust them with more.
Since Contributors cannot upload images, ask them to email you the pictures or share a folder link. You can then add the images yourself while reviewing the post.
When a Contributor proves reliable, you can promote them to Author from Users → All Users.
The Contributor role lets anyone write for you while you stay in full control of what gets published. That's how it works. If something is not clear, ask us in the comment box below.