Want to write for Lacuna?

First of all, read our about page.

We welcome unsolicited submissions and proposals from both new and established writers, artists and photographers. Our focus is on skilled storytelling rather than academic essays and we welcome styles including journalism, comment, fiction, interviews, reviews, podcasts and photography. Lacuna’s aim is to provide high-quality, accessible and compelling content. Please read our work before submitting ideas.

All content sits loosely within the theme of human rights, whether it sets out to: challenge indifference to suffering, inspire action for change, promote wider understanding of complex rights issues or shine a light on injustice.

Send a brief outline of your pitch to hello@lacuna.org.uk including:

  • your proposed working title,
  • a one-line introduction and a three-line summary of your article,
  • any supporting images/audio/video, and
  • links to your work (if you’re a published writer) and an explanation of why you are well placed to write the article.

We will get back to you as soon as possible. We do read finished articles but can’t guarantee publication. Please note that we are a small team dealing with a large number of requests.

Here’s a rough guide, with examples, to the sorts of things we publish (it’s not set in stone, we’re flexible):

Features

We publish deeply reported and well researched features covering a range of social and political issues. These pieces are longform and investigative, and can run up to 3,000 words.

We also publish shorter features between 1,000 to 2,000 words. These should provide some unique or original insight, involve on-the-ground reporting or be related to your own expertise on a subject. Good examples:

Comment

Lacuna is committed to supporting new writers. This could be students and people just starting out in their field, who might value feedback and assistance in developing their work. Or academics interested in translating their research for a wider audience. Good examples:

Witness

We also publish unheard voices, often of people affected personally by injustice. That might be through your work or in your everyday life. Hopefully, we can offer the space and support for you to tell your own story. Good examples:

Insider

A mix of interviews, profiles and inside accounts from human rights professionals and activists. This could be a useful guide to campaigning, an inside account of particular human rights work or a reflective piece. Not limited to the written word, have a look at these three very different inside accounts put together for LacunaFilms. Good examples:

Interviews

We welcome interviews with well-known activists, lesser-known people working in interesting fields, and with ordinary members of the public who have extraordinary perspectives to share. Good examples:

Creative

We consider all forms of visual and multimedia art and writing: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, film, animation, photography, podcasts, illustration. Good examples:

Reviews

Lacuna welcomes sharp and engaging critiques of the best human rights books, art, theatre, film, music and more. These must be current and accessible to our audience. If you want to review a relevant event, exhibition, film or book, drop us a line. Good examples: