NOTES Magazine: open call for pitches + submissions
introducing a new quarterly print magazine and digital publication.
Lorraine. Jimmy. Joan.
For a brief window of time, American culture was defined not just by political leaders but by a group of multi-racial creative intellectuals, activists, and everyday people. They used their voices to turn a mirror toward both the minutiae and injustices of their time, documenting their experiences through writing, music, and other art forms. NOTES Magainze seeks to honor this tradition while updating it for the twenty-first century, drawing inspiration from James Baldwin’s “Notes of a Native Son” essay collection.
Local Focus, National Reach.
During my time working across the country, I’ve had the privilege to meet people who are developing solutions to the biggest challenges of our time. Labor organizers fighting for fair wages. Nonprofit groups figuring out how to deliver services with razor-thin operating margins. Local art collectives and neighborhood groups piloting new ways to build community.
Yet these wins either aren’t widely celebrated or, if they are reported at a national level, often leave me wanting more - more depth, more storytelling, more ways in which people can actually do something instead of screaming into the void about how expensive/fascist/bleak the world is today.
What we cannot imagine cannot come into being.
- bell hooks
NOTES is grounded in the belief that cities are the theater in which our country’s founding principles are contested, transformative policies are piloted, and cultural trends emerge. We are guided in the pursuit of delivering clear, concise, and captivating content that helps people make sense of what’s propelling the country forward. By uplifting voices and ideas at the local level, we hope to remind people that they have the power to decide the country’s future through their daily interactions and choices - not just every four years during a national election.
Our stories bring you one level deeper into the conversations that define modern politics, news, and culture, pulling back the curtain to reveal the policymakers, artists, activists, and everyday people who are shaping American life.
NOTES core content pillars are:
NEWS. Surfacing emerging policy trends and providing greater context to topics dominating the national news cycle.
COMMENTARY. Reflections, criticism, and critiques on art, culture, and society.
ARTS. A space to profile new and diverse perspectives through a curated mix of visual media, fiction, poetry, and prose.
What we are looking for.
Notes by…Diverse and distinct voices, not simply defined by race, gender, or sexuality, but also class, country of origin, and other lived experiences that are traditionally left out of the mainstream news cycle.
Notes from…Off the slightly beaten path. The best NOTES bring us straight to the frontlines of emerging social, political, and artistic movements. We’ll have stories from New York and LA, but we also want to hear from Columbus, Omaha, Dallas, and other parts of the country - bring us into your world! What’s happening in your community that you think more people need to know about?
Notes on…The niche thing you won’t stop thinking or talking about. We’re not interested in hot takes reacting to an existing headline. We want your unique perspective on how you’re looking at the world. Tell us about the councilmember pushing the status quo, the artist-activist designing know-your-rights guides, the small business in your neighborhood that serves as a vital community hub.
NOTES inaugural print issue launches in July 2026.
While the founding principles and values of the Constitution still aren’t fully realized, there is something both inspiring and disheartening that the fight for liberty and justice for all continues 250 years later. As we approach this anniversary, we want our print issue to answer: whose stories are being recorded, whose are being erased, and how are we each contributing to the historical record?
We are seeking pitches and submissions from around the country for the following types of content:
PITCH US…
LONG-FORM & NARRATIVE CONTENT. Layered storytelling that captures the moment.
These are research-heavy and interview-driven pieces that explore a particular person, place, and/or topic. Illustrative examples of the types of stories we’re looking for include:
A drag artist challenging American exceptionalism through a puppet show
A group of housing advocates and neighbors forming a community land trust to prevent gentrification
INTERVIEWS & DISPATCHES. Transcripts and shorter observations.
Condensed, edited transcripts or micro-profiles on a certain person, place, and/or topic. Illustrative examples of the types of stories we’re looking for include:
Reflections from a key official of a mayoral administration
An organizer supporting anti-ICE efforts
An oral history from the eccentric local who is a fixture of your community
SUBMIT YOUR PITCH.
Submit a 150-word pitch and writing sample to kayla@notes-mag.com by March 1. Selected pitches will be notified on a rolling basis by March 15. The deadline for completed drafts is May 1, with one round of edits. Final revisions are due on June 1.
SUBMISSIONS
ESSAYS & COMMENTARY. Reflections, criticism, and critiques.
Longer-form observations about recent news, society, and culture.
POETRY & SHORT FICTION. Original literature.
Accepting all genres, as long as they address some aspect of American identity, culture, and/or history, either literally or figuratively. Due to space considerations, please limit submissions to fewer than 3,500 words.
VISUAL ART. Photo essays, cartoons, and other visual forms of storytelling.
Please submit via a Google Drive link or another online cloud storage. Note: We are adamantly against generative AI!
SUBMIT YOUR COMPLETED WORKS
Submit a completed draft version of your work to kayla@notes-mag.com by April 1. Selected submissions will be notified by April 15. There will be one round of edits, with final revisions due on June 1.
FAQ
Money, money, money.
At this time, we are a scrappy, self-funded publication without mommy or daddy’s pocketbook. As a contributor, you will receive a free copy of the issue at no cost and will also receive a cut of the proceeds from our launch party and fundraiser in July. We hope to use “America at 250” as a proof-of-concept to raise funds for future issues and be able to financially compensate contributors, editors, and others on the team moving forward. We appreciate you taking this leap of faith with us!
What’s the timeline?
February 1 - March 1: Pitches for longer-form content and submissions for completed work (e.g., short story) open.
March 1: Pitches for longer-form content are due.
March 15: Selected pitches are finalized.
April 1: Submissions of completed work are due.
May 1: First draft of long-form stories due.
June 1: Final drafts of all content are due.
Early July: Launch party and fundraiser.
Have another question or want to get in touch?
Emaill us at stories@notes-mag.com
