Call for Submissions

The Changes Issue

Fall 2023

Rolling Until 11/30/23

When it comes to WAVES, we’re all about changes. Able to flow and transform with the passage of time. But at the dawn of a decade, what does change really mean? How does it look? How does it feel? Still undefinable, the 2020s is just now getting to know itself a bit more. We are finally shedding the decaying old with a fresh sense of new. But where will this newness take us? And how quickly will we adapt?

Well, that’s where you come in. We want your outlook on this new era of hope and optimism. Tell us what “revolution” looks like in a tech-dominated society. Reinterpret the ideals of “originality” a midst a world of repetition. In a time of extreme endings and beginnings, examine how culture evolves and who creates that evolution.

We want to hear the coolest, most powerful pitches that deconstruct the concept of “changes” and its effects and impacts on today’s generation.

Don’t censor. Don’t hold back. Be as innovative as the world around you.

Prompts: new leaf, dawn of the decade, breaking ground, innovation, seasonal change, renaissance, shift, transition, transformation, reconstruction, starting a new, letting go, making amends, adjustment, revolution, development, metamorphosis, chrysalis, beginnings, endings, originality, hope, optimism, resolve, evolve

What do we cover?

WAVES focuses on Culture, Politics, Identity, Distractions, and Life. These verticals allow contributors to create fresh, liberated stories with irreverence and personality. We want bold, unforgettable stories and journalism that disrupts the status quo and defies the boring homogony plaguing today’s youth media.

We are not about chasing trends or repeating the news cycle. We are looking for writers and creators who have something new to say.

WE WANT STUFF LIKE THIS...

  • Big narrative features and enthralling profiles.
  • Comprehensive reporting on things we talk about with our friends.
  • Deep dives and commentaries that explore niche, subcultural topics.
  • Pop culture journalism that goes deeper than a listicle, meme, or fluff piece.
  • Subversive takes on current affairs, politics, and social issues.
  • Underreported and hardly ever talked about stories.
  • Oral histories, weird encounters, and retrospectives.
  • Clever analyses of Internet culture and parasocial bullshit.
  • Flash fiction that serves as cautionary tales to our real lives.
  • First-person diaries ranging from earnest to offbeat.
  • Stories and reportage through the lens of actual young people.

wE WANT TO HEAR FROM WRITERS WHO ARE

  • Underpublished and ignored.
  • Perpetually bored with their student newspaper.
  • Looking to get their foot in the door of journalism and media.
  • Tapped into the pulse of contemporary youth culture.
  • People of color, visible minorities, disabled, or a part of the LGBTQIA umbrella.

Overall Guidelines

  • Know how to write in-depth longreads in AP Style.
  • Use a coherent and clear structure.
  • Write as if you’re writing for print.
  • Include your proposed headlines and article decks.
  • Include a brief bio line at the bottom of the article.
  • Thoroughly proofread the article before sending a final version.
  • Proofread for spelling errors and grammar mistakes.
  • Relevant sources and facts should be hyperlinked over specified text.
  • Additional sources and embedded media should be made available.
  • Do not send your submission anywhere else until we have accepted it.
  • All edits, notes, and suggestions will be in Google Docs.
  • We only accept submissions between 1000-2000 words.

How to pitch to us

To submit final drafts, direct yourself to our Submissions Portal.

For pitches, email us at pitches@waveswrld.com. We do not accept email attachments. Paste your pitch into the body of your email. Include “PITCH” in the subject line of your email, followed by a proposed headline or title.

For time-sensitive pitches, include “TIMELY PITCH” followed by a headline or title. Make sure all pitches include the following:

  • A complete synopsis.
  • A detailed outline or skeleton of the intended article.
  • A subject or list of sources you would interview.
  • Word length of the article.
  • The turnaround date of your draft.
  • Links to your portfolio and previously published works.

Payment:

We pay contributing writers $0.15 per word. If our editors select your story or pitch, you will be paid electronically within 30 days of publication. We ask that you invoice us via PayPal.