Pitches wanted for "Underground" issue | $500-$1,000 per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: OREGON HUMANITIES

Deadline: 20 August 2022

The theme for our Fall/Winter 2022 issue is “Underground.” We want to hear stories about all things hidden and buried, as well as the things that literally and metaphorically lie beneath the surface. We’re interested in myths of underworlds and abysses, covert movements past and present, and everything under our feet: earth, pipes, bones, worms, roots, and rock.

We’re looking for nonfiction pieces that unearth little-known subcultures, clandestine organizations, forgotten histories, deep archaeology and geology, urban infrastructure, and occult motives. Tell us about ideas or initiatives outside the mainstream that are emerging or have yet to emerge.

We welcome all forms of nonfiction writing, including essays, journalism, and excerpts from forthcoming or recently published books. Successful submissions will reflect our vision of an Oregon that invites diverse perspectives, invites challenging questions, and strives for just communities. We encourage submissions from writers of all levels of experience.

We encourage stories created with or by communities—classrooms, neighborhoods, congregations, or any other group with shared interests and experiences. Some examples follow:

• “In These Uncertain Times,” a photo essay drawn from submissions by people across Oregon.
• “One-Person Protest,” a class project by our Humanity in Perspective Class
• “Our Story on Our Territory,” a story of the Chinook People’s reclaiming of land.
• “What They Carried,” stories of refugees told through objects
• “Stake Your Place,” a profile of a Portland neighborhood

Please send drafts of personal essays, which should push beyond simple narrative and consider larger thematic questions. If you’re pitching a journalistic or researched piece, please send a proposal, links to your clips, if any, and tell us why you’re the person to write this story. Features generally range between 1,500 and 4,000 words. All contributors are paid between $500 and $1000, depending on the length and complexity of the piece. Currently the magazine is distributed free to 12,000 readers. Work from Oregon Humanities has been reprinted in textbooks, the Pushcart Prize anthology, Utne Reader, and Best American Essays, and featured on public radio programs Think Out Loud, State of Wonder, and This American Life.

If you are interested in contributing to this issue, please read past issues and the guidelines for writers. Please note that we only accept work by writers who reside in Oregon, though no proof of residence is required. Then, submit one proposal or one draft by August 20, to editors@oregonhumanities.org.

CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):

Questions / submissions: editors@oregonhumanities.org

Website: https://oregonhumanities.org

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