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RI Stories of Solidarity
SOLIDARITY is a zine anthology unifying stories of activism, solidarity and social change in Rhode Island. It calls upon outsiders and activists from our past and speaks into our future with a multiplicity of voices. Writers, artists, archivists and activists with ties to Rhode Island are invited to submit written/spoken/illustrated work on the theme of solidarity.
The deadline for submissions has past.
About the Open Call:
What Cheer Writers Club invites submissions from activist and outsider voices for its SOLIDARITY zine anthology, a contemporary archive of Rhode Island stories of solidarity. As the culminating feature of our Activism in the Archives series, SOLIDARITY will consider the disparate histories of Rhode Island and how they inform the present moment with narratives of activism and social change. The zine prioritizes the work of Black, Indigenous, POC, Queer, Trans, Disabled and/or any other historically underrepresented identities. Please read through our FAQs below before submitting.
The publication was made possible through a grant funded by the National Writing Project as part of the National Endowment for the Humanities’ American Rescue Plan: Humanities Grantmaking program.
FAQs
Who's eligible to submit?
Writers, artists, archivists and activists, or others eager to submit who may not identify with these terms/roles/categories, who live in Rhode Island or have significant ties to the state. Contributors must be 18+.
How many pieces can I submit?
To ensure there is space for all voices, please submit only one piece.
Is there compensation?
Yes. Each artist featured in the zine will be paid $100.
Will I maintain the rights to my work?
Yes! Both What Cheer Writers Club and our artists will maintain the rights to selected pieces. We may use selected pieces to promote this program, in addition to publication in the zine itself. You may also continue to showcase and profit off your work as you please, outside of this project.
We will not use your submission for this, or any future use, without obtaining your written permission in advance. If selected, we’ll both sign a contract that protects your rights to your work.
What kind of pieces can I submit?
Submissions must engage with historical or contemporary stories of activism, solidarity, inclusion, or social change in Rhode Island. Written submissions must be 1,000 words or less, uploaded as single pdf file formatted as the work should be printed. If submitting visual work, please submit no more than 3 images with a resolution of at least 300 ppi. Audio submissions should be capped at 15 minutes. Submissions may include:
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poetry (up to 3 poems per submission)
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essays
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articles
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stories
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hybrid work
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recovery portfolios
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prints
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drawings
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scans/photos of paintings or visual art
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collages
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song lyrics (up to 3 songs per submission)
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comic strips
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link or QR code to a podcast episode
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link or QR code to a reading or spoken word piece
Please Note: Our organization will not accept submissions we consider discriminatory, hateful, or threatening. Please be mindful and considerate of your audience, which may include readers with their own experiences of trauma, discrimination, disability, and identity. If you think your work may need a content warning, please note this with your submission. We appreciate your care!
How should I format my work?
Please submit high resolution files (images should be at least 300 ppi), up to 10 MB. Supported file types include: .jpeg, .tiff, .bmp, .png, .pdf, links, and QR codes. Written works should be uploaded as single pdf file formatted as the work should be printed.
Is there a word count limit?
Yes! Your submission should be no longer than 1,000 words. Audio submissions should be 15 minutes max. A max of 3 visual images is allowed.
What is the selection process?
A review committee will screen each submission for any discriminatory, hateful or threatening content. Beyond that, we will accept as many solidarity-related submissions as can be accommodated by our budget on a first come, first served basis, while prioritizing the work of those who identify as Black, Indigenous, POC, Queer, Trans, Disabled and/or any other historically underrepresented identities.
We maintain the right to review all submitted work and determine if we will publish it.
How do I apply?
Fill out our form below by 11:59pm on Dec 15. Late submissions will not be accepted.
When will I hear back?
We will respond to everyone by Feb 15.