Pitches wanted (X-Files, monsters, futurism, etc.) | ~18 to 30 cents per word

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: CONTINGENT MAGAZINE

Deadline: 17 November 2023

Since it premiered on September 10, 1993, The X-Files has challenged its viewers to think about truth, memory, power, perspective, and technology.

To mark the thirtieth anniversary of the show, we are now accepting pitches for short essays (500–800 words) that explore The X-Files through a historical lens. We’re interested in pieces on cryptids, government secrets, technology, futurism, and other ways the show reflects the political and cultural concerns of the 1990s, from the post-Cold War world order to the environmental movement to the Satanic panic (1). Explore how the show depicted and recast history, meditate on how it influenced your views on the pursuit of truth, or put the evolution of Scully’s wardrobe in historical context. You can even explain to us the historical nature of the whammy.

To pitch, please use the form at the bottom of our Pitch Us page, selecting “TRUSTNO1” from the dropdown menu. With your pitch, please provide a short bio, and let us know whether you’re a Scully, a Mulder, or a Skinner. Pitches are due by Friday, November 17. You’ll hear back from us by Monday, November 20. Drafts will be due by Wednesday, November 29. Please note the quick turnaround time for this series.

Each author will be paid $150. As always, Contingent will prioritize pitches from people who have completed postgraduate work in history (or a history-adjacent field) but are working outside of tenure-track employment.

(1) Or: conjury or the black arts, or shamanism, divination, Wicca, or any kind of pagan or neo-pagan practice, charms, cards, familiars, bloodstones, or hex signs, or any of the ritual tableau associated with the occult, Santeria, Vodun, Macumba, or any high or low magic.

CONTACT INFORMATION:

• Submissions: Via the webform
• Website: https://contingentmagazine.org/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Contingent is a non-profit history magazine that is rooted in a principle that history is for everyone. While a lot of publishers and magazines think the audience for history is pretty narrow, Contingent thinks everyone can understand and find meaning in stories about the past. Contingent takes a much broader view of relevance and publishes pieces about such topics as dinosaur hunting, women’s wrestling gear, coal mines, and embroidery. More information here.
• Read through a selection of recent stories/articles on its website.
• Review the submission guidelines here.
• Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook Database and at SuccessfulPitches.com.
• Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.

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