Snatch Magazine Issue 2 Submission Guidelines
Theme: Winter Games
The Winter Games issue will look at women’s sports through the lens of winter. Not just the Olympic Games, but the idea of games themselves. Play, ritual, endurance, fandom, training, recovery, and joy in cold conditions. We’re interested in how sport lives when the weather is harsh, the days are short, and community matters more.
This issue welcomes stories about athletes and fans alike, with a stronger balance between think pieces, first-person work, and reported or observational pieces.
READY TO GO? Pitch here.
What We’re Looking For
Open to essays, reported features, photo essays, illustrated work, and multi-format submissions. If you work across disciplines, pitch something that shows it.
Especially interested in:
Para-sports and adaptive sports
Queer stories in winter sports
Global perspectives (winter looks different everywhere)
Amateur, collegiate, rec league, community sports
Unexpected angles that surprise
Winter Games as a theme is not strictly about the Olympics. The focus is play, process, fandom, and how sport creates meaning in cold places.
What We’re Not Looking For
Olympic recaps or event summaries
"Why women's sports matter" essays (already established)
Spectator stories without a distinct point of view
Inspirational fluff
Anything that reads like AI wrote it
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Anyone. We welcome writers, photographers, illustrators, designers, athletes, fans, and multi-hyphenates. You don’t need prior publishing experience, but your pitch should be thoughtful, specific, and aligned with the issue theme.
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No. We care more about perspective, clarity, and intention than credentials. That said, submissions should be polished and ready for editorial collaboration.
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Yes, but selectively. We’re aiming for a balance of personal, reported, and observational work. First-person pieces should offer a clear point of view beyond personal experience alone.
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No. All work should be human-made. Snatch reserves the right to decline work that appears AI-generated or request revisions to phrasing that reads as automated.
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All women’s sports are eligible, but submissions for this issue should be winter specific. This includes professional, amateur, collegiate, para-sports, rec leagues, and community-based play. Snatch defines women’s sports expansively and inclusively.
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No. Queer stories are welcome and valued, but queerness does not need to be the focus of every piece.
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Snatch is an independent, self-funded publication and we’re committed to paying contributors while keeping the magazine sustainable.
Selected contributors receive:
$20 honorarium
One complimentary copy of the magazine
Domestic shipping included
International contributors will be asked to cover the shipping cost, which typically range from $15-25 USD plus any applicable tariffs.
Honorariums are tiered based on format and scope of work. Commissioned illustrations are compensated at $100-200 flat rate depending on scope and are paired with written pieces.
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Read the theme carefully, be specific in your pitch, and show us why this story belongs in Winter Games and why you’re the right person to tell it.
Timeline
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Submission Process
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Timeline ⇢ Submission Process ⇢
Pitch Window & Timeline
Pitches help us shape the issue before pages are assigned.
A pitch should include:
Working title
2–4 sentence summary of the idea
Format (essay, photo essay, illustration, etc.)
Any relevant access or reporting notes
If your pitch is accepted, you’ll be invited to submit the final piece during the submission window with clear word counts, specs, and deadlines. View the full timeline below.
Illustration: Phase 2
Selected written pieces may be paired with original spot illustrations commissioned separately. Illustrators will work from early drafts, not final layouts. Not every accepted piece will receive an illustration. Illustration direction and placement are handled by the Snatch editorial and design team.
To be considered for illustration or graphic art, fill out our open call form here.
Timeline & Process
This issue will work in clear stages so contributors know what to expect at every step. Please read the full timeline before pitching.
Pitch Window Deadline: Friday January 9
We accept pitches only during this time. You may submit concepts for writing, visuals, interview ideas, etc. Pre-existing photo work is welcome, as long as it hasn’t been widely published and clearly fits the Winter Games theme. Please don’t submit finished work unless your pitch is accepted.
Selection & Assignments Notified: Tuesday January 13
Accepted contributors will be notified during this window with confirmation, format + word count. You will be notified if your pitch wasn’t selected for this issue.
Illustrators on our open call list will be contacted with spot illustration opportunities.
Submissions Working Deadline: Friday February 6
This is when accepted contributors work on their pieces. If your piece involves interviews, we strongly recommend scheduling them early in this period.
Editing Period: Until Wednesday February 18
Editing happens on a rolling basis. Contributors should be available for light revisions and timely responses. Late or non-responsive submissions may be cut from the issue.
Final Notes
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Final Notes ~
All submissions must be original and unpublished
Contributors retain rights to their work; Snatch retains first publication rights for one year, after which all rights revert to the contributor.
Selected contributors will receive clear timelines, contracts, and expectations
Snatch is a queer women’s sports magazine with punk roots and a grown-up point of view. This issue will prioritize clarity, good taste, and work that feels human.
If that sounds like you, we’d love to read your pitch.
