Call For Submissions Issue 4

Cyclista Zine is excited to announce that submissions for our fourth issue is now open! For this fourth issue, we are sharing short stories, visual art, photography, thoughts, poetry, rants, essays, how-to’s, mini zines and doodles all related to themes of ‘representation’ in cycling! BIPOC, trans/queer folks of color, and disabled folks are especially encouraged to submit their work. 

GUIDELINES

Deadline: Jan 6, 2021

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:

For our fourth issue, here are some potential ideas for material on the topic of representation to include, but are not limited to:

Visibility / Media: Culture, Diversity, and Self-expression (or lack thereof) and its relation to feminism (Intersectionality, Indigenous feminism, Womanism), access, self-representation, equity and equality in transportation, sport, or media. Cultural identity and how it influences how one relates to cycling. Creating space for greater representation of marginalized identities in cycling mass media or small-scale media. Reflections on current calls and stories for “diversity and inclusion in the outdoors”. Misrepresentations and their impacts. Reflections or critiques on calls for women, trans folks, and BIPOC to “take up more space” in the outdoors, in cycling, or mainstream outlets. Critiques on “diversity and inclusion” initiatives.

Dis/Ability: Chronic conditions, mental illness, ableism, invisible disabilities, accessibility, and resilience in or through cycling. What helps people to accept disability/impairment and what helps in the creation of community around disability. We recognize that society is the thing that disables, or creates barriers for people, but welcome responses that explore and challenge it. The intersection of race, gender, class and disability; illnesses & how they impact one’s daily life depending on how visible they are to others; caring for disabled loved ones.

Language: Nuanced terminologies we use & how they impact us and social justice movements. Choosing how to express one’s sensitivities & vocalize need where you are not represented. Using cultural language to express your connection to the outdoors and cycling. Calculating personal disclosure & censorship on social media and writing. Code switching and linguistic changes between close friends & family versus strangers in cycling spaces. Critiques on bike cultures insistence on rigid and insular terminology. Language rooted in colonialism in cycling and the outdoors.

Inclusion/Exclusion: White supremacy and xenophobia within transportation and cycling. Transmisogny in women’s cycling sport and spaces. Concrete strategies to “show up” for our community members facing backlash for speaking out, exclusion, or tokenism. Organizing in solidarity with identity based cycling communities “WTF” or “BIPOC” spaces. Invisibility of disabled and migrant cyclists in transportation data and initiatives. Invisible narratives of older FTW cyclists. Families who bike with kids.

The Body / Self: Dysphoria, body struggles, body shaming, eating disorders, toxic fitness and weight loss culture in biking. Other issues with embodiments in lived realities as cyclists. How bodily representations in cycling media affect the vulnerability of marginalized groups in real life. Having a body that is visibly marked as “other”, intentional or unintentional politics of bodily presentations. The aging body and cycling. We will be prioritizing BIPOC, disabled, trans/queer, and larger bodied perspectives on this topic.

All written submissions would ideally be between 500-1,500 words, between 1-3 single-spaced pages in 12point font, Time Roman, submitted through Google doc. Accompanied with images (photos, drawings, collages, paintings, etc) that will format properly as background designs — this means fitting into a vertical 5.5 inch x 8.5 inch page as accurately as possible. We strongly prefer photography and art that does not just portray thin / white / cis people. Please attach a short bio along with your social media handles, website, cash apps, and mailing address. All accepted material will be cash compensated. along with one digital print, and one physical copy of the zine, pins, and a feature on IG. 

If supporters are interested, feel free to send us your pitches for topics for the zine. As always, we are open to feedback and willing to work with you during any and every stage of the zine process. The sooner you send us your feedback and ideas, the better! Thank you so much to every contributor, reader, and supporter of this zine. We look forward to seeing your work.