September 2023 Update

Hello all!

Tomorrow, September 29th, 2023, marks two weeks since we reopened submissions for Rooted in Rights and WOW! Lots of great stuff coming in. If you submitted something and haven’t heard anything yet: 1) please be patient – in general I try to respond within a week or two of receiving them, but there are lots of submissions and we’re all spoonies here *wink* and 2) keep in mind that, while I do try to respond to rejections, unfortunately we don’t have the capacity to respond to every single rejected submission. But remember that a rejection doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s a “bad” idea, so keep trying new ideas if you don’t hear anything within the next week!

That being said, we have yet another IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT to make: while submissions remain open, this is a reminder that we only have capacity to publish twice a month. Because of this, our spots for the next few months filled up quickly! Prospective writers are free to continue pitching; however, any new pitches accepted won’t be published until Spring 2024 at the earliest. If that’s too long of a wait, we totally understand if you pitch elsewhere but, for those able to wait, we look forward to hearing from you.

Thanks so much for your patience and continued support! Please spread the word!

Most sincerely,
Denarii Grace
Editor-in-Chief, Rooted in Rights
she/they – mix it up!

The Rooted in Rights Blog is a platform dedicated to amplifying the authentic perspectives of disabled writers. We invite you to pitch us because your words have power and we want to help you share them. Please read the details below before submitting your pitch using the form at the bottom of the page, as some details have changed, as of June 2022, with the addition of a new Editor-in-Chief.

What we’re looking for:

We’re seeking reported and investigative articles, op-eds, creative nonfiction, personal essays, interviews, and short fiction on disability, with an emphasis on disability rights and justice, written by people who identify as disabled. Note that you are not required to disclose your disability. If you identify as disabled, you are welcome to send a pitch for consideration. We also welcome supported storytelling, meaning that a disabled person who is unable to write can work with someone to share their story through an interview or Q&A format.

Examples of supported storytelling:

• What Can Experiences of Chemically Sensitive People Teach Us During Social Distancing?
• The Fight for Disability Rights Led by Women and Girls in Haiti

In order to have your piece considered for publication, keep in mind that it’s important to interweave your personal insights and experiences with broader cultural and disability rights and justice issues in ways that make sense for the medium you use (i.e. what that looks like for a personal essay probably won’t be what it looks like for a reported piece or short fiction). To learn more about the mission and purpose of the Rooted in Rights Blog, read this letter from our new editor.

Topics can include, but are not limited to:

accessibility, community integration, criminal justice, current events, disability history and culture, discrimination, education, employment, healthcare, housing, immigration, intersecting marginalized identities, law, media, mental and physical health, parenting with a disability, relationships, sex, sexual harassment and abuse, stigmatization, technology, transportation, voting rights

What we’re not looking for:

• product or service promotions/advertisements
• poetry
• artwork
• political partisanship or content about international conflicts – this is not a reflection of our own politics, but a limitation of our organization type and funding
• pieces that have previously been published elsewhere
• submissions from non-disabled writers

What to know before you pitch:

• Rooted in Rights respects that language choice and identity are deeply personal, and will not edit how you refer to yourself, though we may alert readers to certain language use.
• We will review and consider all submissions, but we cannot guarantee publication.
• We accept both pitch ideas and drafts already written (known as “on spec”).
• Due to the volume of submissions we receive, we cannot reply to all pitches. However, we will attempt to respond as much as our capacity allows us.
• We prioritize pitches that are timely and that do not overlap with previously published pieces. If you don’t receive a reply to your pitch, please review our pitch guidelines and know you are always welcome to pitch again!
• If your pitch is accepted, in order to ensure publication, you must submit a complete draft and work with the editor on any requested revisions.
• Because we publish so few works per month, note that we may accept your pitch but advise that it be published at a later date.
• We pay on a sliding scale, with minimum payment being $400.
• Standard word count is 800-1000 words, particularly for creative nonfiction and personal essays, but it can be longer or shorter depending on the medium (interview, reported feature, essay, etc.) and story needs.
• We accept pitches from disabled folks from any country. You do not need to be based in the U.S. nor a U.S. citizen! In fact, we encourage international storytellers to join us.
• Pitches and publications need to be written in English.

Please send all pitches and spec drafts using the form below. If you have any questions or if the submission form is inaccessible to you, please contact us at blog@rootedinrights.org.

Submit a Blog Idea

Please note that email addresses may be added to our communications list to keep you updated!