Summary

Counter Arts is a publication seeking deep, analytical pieces from writers who are open to editorial collaboration to maintain high-quality standards, with a focus on art, culture, literature, equality, film, photography, and music, while rejecting any content that is demeaning or discriminatory.

Abstract

Counter Arts is a welcoming community for writers of various backgrounds, emphasizing quality writing and a collaborative editorial process. The publication accepts a range of content including essays on art, cultural commentary, literary reviews, equality advocacy, film, photography, and music. Submissions should be substantial in length, with a minimum read time of four minutes, and include a featured image with proper attribution. The publication has recently updated its categories, adding film and music, and no longer accepts tech-related content under the 'Design & Technology' category. Counter Arts is committed to publishing thoughtful and well-written pieces, particularly on sensitive topics like politics and religion, and strictly prohibits any form of discriminatory or demeaning content. Writers retain ownership of their work but grant Counter Arts a license to publish it. The publication encourages community engagement and support among contributors.

Opinions

The editor values deep, analytical writing and prefers longer pieces that allow writers to delve into their subjects with personal insights.
Quality and readability are paramount, with an expectation that writers will work with editors to refine their work.
The publication is inclusive, accepting both amateur and professional writers, but has a zero-tolerance policy for content that is misogynistic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, violent, or demeaning.
Original photographic work is not required, but a featured image is recommended, and proper attribution is mandatory.
Political and religious content is welcome if it is thoughtful and well-written, avoiding vicious rants or hate speech.
The publication has a dynamic approach to its categories, updating them to reflect the interests and contributions of its writers.
Writers are expected to use appropriate tags for their submissions to ensure proper categorization on the platform.
The ownership of the work remains with the writer, but Counter Arts requires a license to publish the submitted material.
The use of images in articles is encouraged, with specific guidelines to ensure quality and proper crediting, including the use of Alt Text for accessibility.
The editor emphasizes the importance of community within Counter Arts, encouraging writers to read and support each other's work.
Unsolicited offers for guest writing spots, especially those involving payment for advertising, are not considered, as this practice is not aligned with the publication's ethos.

So You Want to Write For Counter Arts?

Submission Guidelines

‘A Home For Your Two Cents’.

Hopefully you will find, as I have done, a community of writers here at Counter Arts who are so welcoming that this publication begins to feel like a home for you, the person behind the work, too.

Whether you are an amateur or a professional, you are welcome to this publication.

We are looking for people who write well.

At the very least, we would like our writers to be open to working with an editor to improve style and readability (where necessary).

We recognize that your work will always belong to you, but we would like to maintain a certain standard for the publication. I would like to continue building a good reputation for quality writing.

**Edit 11/1/2024** Regarding length of submissions, here at Counter Arts we will always look for quality over quantity — but as I’m looking to host deep, analytical pieces, my ‘rule’ is: the longer the better. We do not have a upper length limit. At the other end of the scale, shortform below 3 minutes will not be accepted, we look for a minimum 4 minute read (but prefer longer, really dig into your subject — and add some personal insight, opinion or experience when possible).

You do not need to use original photographic work but we do like to see a featured image. Just make sure to attribute it properly.

We are happy to accept both political and religious content. These could fit into either ‘Culture’ or ‘Equality’ category. However….editors will only allow pieces of work on these subjects which are thoughtful and well written. Vicious rants, name-calling, unsubstantiated claims and hate speech are absolutely NOT going to be accepted.

What Do We Not Publish?

We will REFUSE to publish anything that is in any way misogynistic, racist, homophobic, transphobic, violent, or demeaning. Please put the full content in your submission. We will not publish articles where the copyright is in doubt.

Medium Rules

undefined

Who Owns My Work?

You own your work. In fact, by submitting to Counter Arts, you are representing that you own the rights to the material you have submitted and have the right to publish it at Counter Arts. You are giving Counter Arts license to publish your work for as long as you and Counter Arts mutually agree. You are solely and exclusively responsible for the content of your pieces.

Images

Use a header image on your piece of work and place it directly beneath your title block.

Please DO NOT use images of firearms.

If you are submitting a lengthy piece of writing, it is often better to ‘rest’ the readers eye by interspersing additional images in appropriate places.

Make sure the image quality is good and not watermarked.

Make sure to credit the source properly on each image used — and if it is an original photo include a caption explaining so. You are also encourage to fill in the Alt Text captions, to assist the reading enjoyment of anyone using the audio files.

For further information of writing style and presentation etc, please refer here:

Housekeeping

Hints, tips, must haves and recommended reading

medium.com

How do I get in touch with Counter Arts?

If you want to be added as a writer, leave a message in the comment section below. Please include your Medium username to help make life easier for us when we add you to our community.

Send submissions through the platform once you are added as a writer.

You are also welcome to check out our literary publication Rainbow Salad.

Rainbow Salad welcomes all your fiction work poetry, flash, and short stories.

‘A place for misfit unicorns to publish their poetry and fiction’.

In the same vein as Counter Arts, it welcomes and encourages countercultural work, unreliable narrators, and all work highlighting minorities of all kinds.

WELCOME TO OUR COMMUNITY. DO PLEASE READ THE WORK OF OTHER COUNTER ARTS CONTRIBUTORS TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AND THE PUBLICATION.

If you would like to contact me directly, as the owner and lead editor of both Counter Arts and Rainbow Salad, you can reach me at: [email protected]

*Please note: we do NOT have any openings for ‘guest writers’ from outside of this platform. You must have an account on Medium to be a writer for and submit work to Counter Arts. Please do not send emails offering payment to use a ‘guest’ spot to link and advertise your wares or your website. We DO NOT do that, it is not how this publication operates.

Thank you for reading. Stay safe. Stay well. Keep writing! — Sadie.