The theme for our Spring 2022 issue is “Care.” We want to hear stories about responsibility and custody, attention and affection, worry and grief. What do you care about, and why? Who do you care for, and who cares for you? Is caring a burden, a privilege, or something in between? Where do you see care, and where do you notice its absence?
We’re looking for nonfiction articles and essays exploring what it means to provide care and to receive it, to care about and to be cared for. Tell us how care shows up in our communities and the systems of our society. Share a fresh perspective on health care or childcare or eldercare or tender loving care.
Some topics we’re interested in include—but are by no means limited to—the following:
- Experiences of providing or receiving medical care
- The ways Oregon communities take care of or fail to take care of their members
- Experiences of giving and receiving care among family, friends, or colleagues
- Stories about how definitions of care have changed over time
- Ideas of how we should care for the land and each other
We welcome all forms of nonfiction writing, including all forms of essays and 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 Tuesday, December 21, 2021, to editors@oregonhumanities.org.