We welcome essays, feature stories, personal reflections and unusual narratives rooted in place, history, folklore or the overlooked dimensions of everyday life. We also consider speculative essays — critical or interpretive works that engage with uncertainty, cultural patterns or phenomena not easily explained. Submissions should be grounded in thoughtful inquiry and maintain a respectful relationship with factual reality, even when exploring its edges.
What to Include:
- A draft of your piece, ideally between 800–2,000 words.
- Any accompanying photos or illustrations you’d like considered. Please only submit photos you’ve taken yourself or that you have clear permission to use.
- A short contributor bio.
What to Expect:
- We aim to publish new work on Saturday mornings.
- If your piece is accepted, it will appear on the site, go out to newsletter subscribers and be promoted on our social media channels.
- We may suggest edits or provide notes — but won’t publish anything without your approval.
Rights and Publishing Policy:
- We ask for original, unpublished work unless otherwise discussed.
- Contributors retain full rights to their work.
- Republishing elsewhere after appearing on Driftless Times Media is allowed — we just ask for a note crediting the original appearance.
A Note on Payment:
Driftless Times Media is a one-person, non-monetized operation. At this time, we’re not able to offer payment for submissions — just sincere gratitude and a thoughtful editorial process.
To pitch or submit, email our editor at walker@driftlesstimesmedia.com.