Thread by @lillydancyger

This is a #CallForPitches for NON-COVID essays, for @CatapultStory! I'm looking for personal essays that use an external artifact to illuminate a personal story—I've put out calls for these before, but will go over deets again in this thread (please read it before pitching!!):

By "external artifact," I mean a critical/researched component, engaging with a piece of art or a resonant story from history or a scientific concept or something decidedly outside of your personal experience, as a lens through which to explore the personal story

IMPORTANT: I'm NOT looking for timely pop culture takes abt a movie/album/show that recently got a lot of media coverage. Dig deeper, bring in your random idiosyncratic fascinations, I want to learn something. The more obscure/surprising, the better.

ALSO IMPORTANT: The personal narrative should still be the main focus. There needs to be an arc, you need to learn something abt yourself, or change as a person somehow. The artifact is there to further this change, but it shouldn't steal the show. These are still personal essays

And I said this in the first tweet but it's worth reiterating: I am looking for essays that are NOT about COVID-19! There are tons of outlets that are publishing quarantine essays, I want to read about something else, please.

Email pitches or completed essays (1,800-2,500 words) to lillydancyger at gmail by 6/1.

This is a paid opportunity.

(Please read the pitch specs in the next tweet before emailing!)

Pitches should be thorough: explain the narrative arc, the emotional growth, and how the artifact relates.

Completed essays as Word docs *only*. (And even if you're attaching a draft, tell me a little bit about the essay in the email!)

PLS don't pitch in DMs or replies

Here are some examples—I've shared all of these before, but they're enduring favorites and worth revisiting. And it's definitely a good idea to read at least one before pitching! No thread can ever explain a style of essay as well as an actual example:

. @AlisaValdesRod1 used the story of a female composer almost lost to history to write about finding her own creative voice despite external forces that tried to crush it: bit.ly/2M3m5yi

. @ninastpierre used the life story of an Italian saint to explore her own relationship to desire, devotion, and the body, and her tendency to let herself be consumed in romantic relationships: bit.ly/2WZnyZz

. @jeannakadlec used the love letters of Vita & Virginia to articulate her experience dating another writer: bit.ly/2WU2Fi9

. @britnidlc used the history of the Miami Marlins to explore her relationship with her hometown: bit.ly/35XwOkO

. @harmonopoly used wrestling to tell the story of coming into her own queerness and finding joy after depression: bit.ly/2LtWcFC

See what I mean? In each of these, the personal story—a narrative of personal growth/realization/discovery—is the central focus, but it's scaffolded by an external, secondary story that lets the writer find a new way into the story. Send me essays like these, please!

Thank you everyone who shared this! I'll brace for the influx of brilliant ideas.

And I can't believe I forgot to add: PLEASE do not follow up after two days or a week to "make sure" I got your pitch. If you sent it, I got it! And I will respond. But it might take a few weeks.