FN – Root Quarterly Seeking Submissions on the Theme of: Kith & Kin

SPRING 2025 // Kith & Kin

The phrase kith and kin—which means friends and relatives—is decidedly folksy, and definitely brings to mind more rural sensibilities. Long ago, “kith” could also refer to knowledge, or to a homeland—how are they all related? Do Americans think of themselves as one people anymore? What should we make now of the adage “Out of many, one”? What makes a friend or neighbor, and why are they important? “Kin,” of course, is still in use as a stand-in for “family.” Who do we consider family? Do non-human animals count? Do plants and insects? Will AI chatbots really replace human interaction?

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

• Fiction, including experimental fiction and erotica, is welcome. Please send pieces of 500 to 2,000 words.

• Personal essays or articles for our “Switchbacks” section that relate points of inflection in a person’s life that have taken them to an unexpected and new place. Please send full pieces for consideration.

• Essays, book reviews, provocations, cultural criticism and think pieces of 500 to 3,500 words (We’re themed, so make sure you tell us when you submit why it fits the theme). You can write about big issues, movies, TV, books, art exhibitions or anything else that has sparked a good idea. We’re particularly interested here in exploring the media and meaning crises, and nuanced ways to understand the current culture war. Please send full pieces for consideration.

• We are not accepting unsolicited poetry at this time, though we do have an ongoing poetry series in the magazine.

  TONE & STYLE

  It’s okay to have a distinctive voice! But we’re also looking for writers who will largely forgo snark, condescension, bullying, point-scoring, self-serving virtue signaling, etc., and will instead try on for size some finesse, awe, grace, wit, and humility. It’s okay to have questions and not answers. Ideas and issues are complicated, and they take time to unwind.

  We’re also looking for people who aren’t afraid to write a piece even if people within their bubble might disagree with it. Two great examples are here in The Atlantic and here in Seattle’s Weekly, The Stranger. Both are written by hardcore liberals who are willing to call on other liberals to be more rigorous with their arguments.

  Be wild, be funny, be weird, be contrarian. The worst we can say is ‘no.’

  COMPENSATION

  This is a volunteer-run project, and it’s a barn-raising in every way. Printing bills are expensive. But we know your time is valuable and that art isn’t free. That’s why we’ve got a subscription-based model and we don’t give our content away online.

  We typically give honorariums of $50 to $150 depending on the piece and its length, as well as for artwork contributions that illustrate articles. Longer, solicited profiles or articles will be compensated at 10 cents per word, to be determined at the time we agree on a proposal and consult our current funds. If there’s a piece that absolutely needs to be written but would require more time and research, we’re willing to look into grants that may fund the work; we are a fiscally-sponsored project of Cultureworks in Philadelphia, and can accept tax-deductible contributions.

  *If you are suffering from financial hardship and can’t afford a single issue at $15, you may send an email to editor@rootquarterly.com and we’ll work something out.

  HOW TO SUBMIT

  Take in all of the above, do a little reading, cozy up with an issue.

  Then you can send us an email keeping all those guidelines and principles in mind. If you’re sending a personal essay or cultural criticism and we haven’t worked with you before, please send your full piece as a submission and a 75- to 100-word contributor bio.

  We thank you in advance for considering joining our community.