Shedoesthecity has always been a place where many writers got their first byline. We love this part of our story, and it’s been such a privilege to witness contributors develop their voice, gain confidence, and move on to other publications or creative projects. 

To ensure that this is part of our legacy moving forward, we’ve established a Writers Fund. The $10,000 New Voices Fund will be allocated to emerging writers, particularly from underrepresented communities, who have never been published or have less than 20 bylines to their name. This fund is open to women, transgender, and non-binary writers of all ages, because we believe that life should be full of twists and turns, and that you can try new things or reinvent yourself at any time.

To apply, please email newvoices@shedoesthecity.com a pitch for a piece you’d like to write, and briefly explain your perspective. Please also include 2 samples of writing (via links or .Word attachments), and a brief bio. For more advice on how to pitch a story, go here. Pitches will be reviewed by Shedoesthecity’s editorial team. We’re excited to publish the first accepted pitches this May. 

We’re always keen to publish personal essays that explore a variety of themes, but right now a priority is the theme of recovery (personal, familial, systemic, societal, environmental), and we’re especially interested in examining the intersection between the arts and recovery. 

How can literature, film, art, music, and theatre lead the way to a brighter future? We want to spotlight daring projects that deepen our understanding of societal issues and one another, and ultimately guide us to a better place. The world is healing in so many ways right now, and that is where we want to focus our lens in 2021.

For more information on the New Voices Fund, go here. We hope to continue paying it forward.