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There are two types of creative pieces you can pursue on the creative pathway: either a short-form narrative (autobiographical, autofiction, or purely fictional), or a personal reflection on a specific artwork (such as a book, film, painting, or piece of music) that has deeply influenced you.
It is up to you which type of creative piece you would like to write, but to pitch for this pathway we kindly ask you to produce either a 500 word short-form narrative or a 500 word personal reflection as this allows us to see whether your creative writing style aligns with The Cultural Me.
❖ Option One: A Short-Form Narrative
What is a Short-Form Narrative?
Written in the style of Literary Fiction, these short-form pieces can be autobiographical, autofiction, or purely fictional. The aim is to capture the romance of life by using literary techniques with style and artistic flair. By ‘romance’ we mean: A quality or feeling of mystery, excitement, and remoteness from everyday life. The finished pieces should be 500 words or less.
Techniques for Crafting a Beautiful Story
Imagery
Include visual or other sensory details where necessary to strengthen your descriptions.
Think about all five senses.
Internal Awareness
Include descriptions of your thoughts and feelings.
Give details of your emotional state.
Emotional Depth or a Unique Cultural Perspective.
Your story needs to have a purpose. The details should have emotional or philosophical depth, such as describing a significant or life-changing event. Alternatively, you could delve into something uniquely cultural — for example, describing an experience rooted in a specific tradition or setting. Ensure your story incorporates at least one of these elements to bring your narrative to life with authenticity and meaning.
What To Avoid
Moralising
We aim to publish beautiful pieces of writing that differ from informative blog posts or LinkedIn-style posts that are abundant on the internet. We want readers to appreciate the beauty and emotion in your piece for its own sake; we do not want to destroy the romance by dissecting it and presenting an explicit meaning. Allow the reader to draw their own conclusions.
Being creative for the sake of creative writing
Try not to think of this as an exercise in creative writing.
Try to conjure up a scene in the reader’s mind without relying on overly flowery and descriptive language.
The aim is to produce natural writing with an organic flow.
Developing Your Story
To create your piece of writing, carefully choose what you will write about. Does your idea provide a momentary insight into the human condition? Or does your experience have romance? Or is there something culturally unique that you want to convey? When you have chosen your scene write a first draft of no more than 500 words.
Published Examples
❖ Option Two: A Personal Reflection on a Specific Artwork
What is a Personal Reflection on a Specific Artwork piece?
These are short, reflective pieces that explore how a specific artwork, be it a book, film, album, painting, or performance, has left a lasting mark on your life. We're not looking for traditional reviews or summaries, but stories of impact.
What We Want to Know About the Artwork:
What moment did the specific artwork arrive in your live?
What did it shift or change in you?
How did it influence your thinking, creativity, or worldview.?
We are looking for honest, vivid, and emotionally resonant writing that makes readers feel something, and maybe even want to seek the work out themselves.
Once you have chosen which specific artwork you would like to write about, please produce a draft of no more than 500 words.
A Collaborative Process
Please be aware that although short, both types of creative piece are meticulously crafted and may take longer than you expect to reach publication. We typically have many questions as we delve into the details of your piece to create an evocative and captivating piece of artistic writing.
Once we have approved your piece, during our editorial stages, you can expect friendly and critical feedback on your draft, leading to a high-quality piece of published writing of which you can be proud.
Ready to Submit?
Check that you are able to answer ‘yes’ to all the following questions before submitting.
✅ I have read and understood the above information.
✅ I have chosen to pitch either a short-form narrative or a personal reflection on a specific artwork
✅ I am submitting one 500 word pitch
👉 Submit your pitch here:
Please email your pitch to sara@thecultural.me
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