Call for Pitches: Geez 60 Resurrection

by Geez magazine | Published 15th October 2020

Dandelion Credit: varmfront.se CC (link below)

Deadline November 10, 2020

“If they kill me, I will rise again in the Salvadoran people.” – Oscar Romero
 
“What does it mean? Is it more magic?” cried Susan
“Yes!” said a great voice behind their backs. “It is more magic.” – The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

As much as the forces of Empire would like us to believe otherwise, death is not the end of any story. Would we really be a fringey-Christian magazine if we publish an issue on death and dying and said that’s that? Well, maybe. But we want to follow these stories a little further. As we look ahead to the spring, we can’t help but hold onto dreams of stones being rolled away, of new life (that’s really not new at all), of compost, of return. Let’s bring spices for anointing and walk to the tomb together – perchance we just might stumble upon resurrection.

For this issue, we hope to only accept pitches that pack a punch, that shock us in their absurdity, that are irreverent in all the best ways, or that threaten to bring the walls crumbling down by their sheer provocative belief in hope and life.

Questions to Get the Imagination Flowing

Scripture Story

• The women who first witnessed the resurrection were headed to anoint the dead. Is it only by looking death directly in the eye that we find resurrection? Who is doing this today?
• Through word or paint brush, beckon these badass women who are the first witnesses of resurrection to come alive before us again.
• Dive us deep into the historical moment of Jesus’ state-sanctioned murder. What did his resurrection say and signal to the powers that be?
• Write an alternative dialogue between the women who found the empty tomb and the disciples they told about it. 
• Tell us the story of resurrection from the perspective of the stone. 
• We’re all familiar with characters like Aslan and Gandalf as Christ-Figures in fiction – what about other fictional characters that have resurrected from the dead? Let’s hear the case for Buffy Summers, Jon Snow, Han Solo, Juliet Capulet, Spock, Sherlock Holmes… Others? 

Theology

• In all honesty, do you actually believe in the resurrection? How do you reconcile this miraculous event with your faith?
• If resistance to the powers and principalities is living in freedom from the power of death, is that the same thing as resurrection? How has (or could) the language of resurrection figured into liberation movements around the globe?
• Tell us about the etymology of the word “resurrect.” 
• Can theologies themselves be resurrected? 
• How does the concept of resurrection frame the relationship between life and death? Does this play into a false Western binary?

Signs of the Times

• Where do you see spaces of resurrection in this moment? (How) is resurrection related to revolution?
• What would it take to resurrect a city? A neighbourhood? A planet? 
• Summon your inner mystic – prophesy an imminent resurrection. 

The Earth Knows Resurrection

• What does resurrection look like within the earth? How do we look to Earth to teach us in the ways of life and death and life?
• Some animals freeze their bodies in the winter at the cellular level and thaw back to life in the spring – what might it feel like to melt back to life? 
• This issue will be released in the springtime, in Eastertide, when the Earth is beginning to wake up from winter and grow new life. What can we learn from this seasonal rhythm? And what ancient Celtic or other earth based traditions lie underneath the Christian liturgical season of Easter?

Our Lives

• Wendell Berry said, “Practice resurrection.” What does that mean? Where does resurrection show up in your daily life? 
• Who taught you the art of resurrection? Who will you pass those lessons to? 
• Is there a difference between resurrection and remembrance? Can we honour our ancestors without necessarily bringing them back to life? 
• Write a recipe for resurrection.

Notes about Submissions

We’re looking for long-form journalism, personal stories of transformation, short bursts of feelings, and nuggets of inspiration. Choose an aspect of the topic and expand with personal experience, researched wisdom, or spiritual insight.

A great pitch  will describe the piece, explain why it’s a perfect fit for Geez, list the sources you’ll consult, and state why you’re the best person to write it. Please include a brief bio and where you live. 

Ideally, pitches are a page or less. Note: if you send us 20 pages, we likely will not be able to read it. If you already have a completed manuscript, poem, photo, or design, feel free to submit it as well.

1. Long-form nonfiction (600, 1200, or 1800 words)

We’re looking for creative nonfiction essays, investigative articles or research-based pieces on the topic above. While a reference to your personal experience is welcome, readers need wisdom from other sources as well (interviews, books, articles, theologians, social-justice activists, academics, and moms and dads). 

2. Flash nonfiction (50-300 words)

These are short, personal experiences or insights. Your piece should capture a moment that illuminates a larger issue or convey a feeling familiar to us all. This is a chance to bring hope, insight, emotion, and connection to readers. Think of it as a snapshot with words.

3. Photos/Illustrations:

Consider the topic above and send original photographs (i.e. you took the photo) or illustrations that provoke or pacify, animate or incite. Or, if you know of a photographer or illustrator who can deliver an awesome photo essay or series of drawings and is willing to get big play in a premium little magazine for a modest honorarium, please pass this pitch along. Note: artwork pitches and submissions will be given more time, due June 15. 

4. Poems:

In each issue we aim to publish 2 or more poems, often with one poem per page. Poems may relate closely to the theme, or not. We’ll look at them all.

Additional Info:

Before pitching, please read our guidelines for writers. Ideally we would like to respond personally to every piece of correspondence we receive. But given the number of submissions we receive – and having tried to respond to all – we realize it is just not possible. If you do not hear back from us within four weeks of the deadline assume that we were unable to use your submission.

Deadline for pitches: November 10, 2020

We look forward to seeing your submissions!

Sincerely,
Lydia Wylie-Kellermann, managing editor
Kateri Boucher, associate editor
Lucia Wylie-Eggert, art director

Send pitches, manuscripts, and images to: 
Geez Editors
email: stories [at] geezmagazine [dot] org
mail: Geez magazine, 1950 Trumbull, Detroit, MI 48216 USA
To join our Writers List, click HERE.

Image credit: “Dandelion,” varmfront.se, Flickr.