Write for
Her Stories
We publish feminist journalism, personal essays, cultural criticism, and poetry — in Tamil, English, or both. Here is everything you need to know before submitting.
What We Publish
- —Long-form essays and reported features (1,000–3,000 words)
- —Personal narratives on gender, caste, identity, and culture
- —Cultural criticism — film, literature, art, music, fashion
- —Opinion and commentary on current events affecting women
- —Poetry and creative non-fiction
- —Interviews with women artists, activists, and thinkers
- —Translations of Tamil feminist writing into English (and vice versa)
Language Policy
Her Stories is a bilingual publication. We publish in Tamil, English, and bilingual formats. We especially welcome Tamil-language submissions and translations. If you are writing in Tamil, please use standard literary Tamil (செந்தமிழ்). Code-switching between Tamil and English is acceptable in personal essays.
All submissions must be original and not published elsewhere (including personal blogs and social media). If your piece has appeared in another language, please note this in your pitch.
Submission Standards
Word Count
- —Short essays and opinion pieces: 600–1,000 words
- —Feature articles and reported pieces: 1,200–2,500 words
- —Long-form narrative essays: 2,500–4,000 words
- —Poetry: 1–3 poems per submission
- —Translations: match the original length
Formatting
- —Submit as a Google Doc with editing access enabled
- —Use clear headings and subheadings where appropriate
- —Include a suggested headline and a 2-sentence summary
- —Cite all sources with hyperlinks or footnotes
- —Include a 50-word author bio and a headshot (optional)
Editorial Process
We review all pitches within 2–3 weeks. If we are interested, we will respond with feedback or a commission. Commissioned pieces go through one round of structural editing and one round of copy-editing before publication.
Submit your pitch via the Write for Us form. Include a working title, 150–300 word summary, and a sample of your writing.
Our editors review all pitches within 2–3 weeks. We read every submission, though we cannot respond to all.
If we are interested, we will commission the piece with a brief, deadline, and any editorial notes.
Submit your first draft by the agreed deadline. We will provide structural feedback within one week.
One round of copy-editing and fact-checking. We will share the edited version for your approval.
Your piece is published with your byline, bio, and author profile on Her Stories.
Rights & Payment
Her Stories is a volunteer-run publication. We do not currently pay contributors, but we are working toward a paid model. Contributors retain copyright to their work. We request first publication rights and the right to keep the piece in our archive.
After publication, you are free to republish your piece elsewhere with a note that it first appeared in Her Stories. We ask that you link back to the original.
What We Don't Publish
- —Content that is casteist, communal, or discriminatory
- —Pieces that punch down at marginalised communities
- —Unverified claims or misinformation
- —Content that has been AI-generated without substantial human authorship
- —Advertorial or sponsored content disguised as editorial
- —Personal attacks on private individuals
Ready to pitch?
We look forward to reading your work. Submit your pitch and we will be in touch within 2–3 weeks.
Submit a Pitch