Open Call for Submissions: Submit your Essays & Stories

The Open Letters Is Now Accepting Submissions (March & April + Future Issues)

Writers, this is your sign.

The Open Letters is officially welcoming new submissions for upcoming issues starting with March and April, and continuing into May and the months ahead.

If you’ve been sitting on a piece that means something to you… This is the place for it.

This platform was never created to chase trends. It was created to hold stories. Real ones. The kind that feel like they were written at 2 AM. The kind that don’t try too hard. The kind that say something honest.

And now, I want to read yours.

What Kind of Writing Are We Looking For?

There is no single “type.”

You can submit:

• Personal essays

• Think pieces

• Reflective writing

• Open letters

• Poetry

• Creative nonfiction

• Fictional letters

• Or anything that feels raw, thoughtful, and intentional

If it carries emotion.
If it carries thought.
If it carries truth.

It belongs here.

The Open Letters has always believed in storytelling that feels human. Writing that isn’t afraid to be vulnerable. Writing that makes someone pause mid-scroll and think, “I’ve felt this too.”

Your piece does not need to be perfect.
It just needs to be yours.

Currently Open Months

📅 March Issue

Limited slots available.

📅 April Issue

Limited slots available.

📅 May & Future Months

Submissions are open on a rolling basis. You’re welcome to submit for any upcoming month beyond April as well.

If you’re unsure which month to submit for, simply mention your preferred month in the subject line.

Each month, 8 submissions will be selected and featured in The Open Letters.

Submission Requirements

Word Count:
Minimum 900 words.
No maximum word limit: but clarity and intention matter more than length.

Original Work Only:
Your submission must be completely original. No plagiarism.

If your piece has already been published on your own Substack or elsewhere, it must be removed once selected. We feature exclusive work only.

Format:

• Submit as a Microsoft Word document, Google Doc link, or PDF

• Do not paste the piece into the body of the email

• Use simple formatting (12pt font, Arial or Times New Roman)

• Include your name and Substack ID at the top

Author Bio (Optional):
Include a short bio (100–150 words) at the end of your document if you’d like readers to know more about you.

How to Submit

Email your piece to:

hasifnewsletter@gmail.com

Subject line format:
Open Call Submission – [Month]
(Example: Open Call Submission – March)

If you’re submitting for a later month, simply replace it with your preferred month.

What Happens If You’re Selected?

If your essay is chosen, you will receive:

1. You’ll receive a confirmation email & payment link.

2. A $25 feature fee will be required only if your essay is selected. Entry to submit your essay is completely free.

   • Why? Because The Open Letters & Postcards by Hasif has always been free to readers, even though with 120k subscribers from both publications, I could easily have switched to paid subscriptions and earned $5,000+ per month. I want my writing to stay accessible to everyone.

   • For The Open Letters, I’ve brought an editor on board to help review submissions and assist me with my novel and editorial work. The fee helps sustain this effort, cover editing, design, and ensure the community keeps growing while maintaining quality.

3. Once payment is completed, we’ll coordinate with you via email to finalize the title, thumbnail, and posting dates.

4. Your essay will be published in The Open Letters (38,000+ readers) and cross-posted in your own account, giving it even more exposure.

5. Your Substack publication will be recommended by The Open Letters for a week, which boosts traffic to your publication and increases your subscriber count.

After making the payment, we’ll confirm your feature date, reserve your slot and communicate with you through email.

Why Submit Here?

Because this isn’t just a publication.

It’s a space where stories aren’t filtered into something “safe.”
It’s where essays don’t need to sound academic to be important.
It’s where vulnerability isn’t edited out.

This community exists because people are brave enough to write honestly.

And maybe your piece is the one someone needs to read next.

If you have any questions about submissions, timelines, or format, email me directly at hasifnewsletter@gmail.com.

I’m looking forward to reading what you’ve been holding onto.

Your voice matters here.