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Issue Submissions

Submissions Period: 10:00 a.m August 15 - 10:00 p.m November 22 (JST)

2025 AUTUMN ISSUE: ECHOES OF THE PAST, VISIONS FOR TOMORROW

What does a persisting past look like, shaping the paths we walk today? How does history linger in the  decisions we make about the future we’re building?

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For our inaugural theme, we chose “Echoes of the Past, Visions for Tomorrow” to capture the essence of our mission: to reflect on history, critically analyze the present, and lead the future. This issue invites you to explore the echoes that reverberate across time. Whether it be through reflections on revolutions and resistance, retellings of forgotten histories, or imagined futures born from past injustices, we’re looking for submissions that speak across generations–we want you to disrupt, question, honor, and reimagine. 

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From poetic meditations on Rousseau’s general will and its influence on modern democracy to commentaries on Rosa Parks’ quiet defiance of racial segregation that catalyzed the civil rights movement, we want to see creative works that reframe the past to serve justice in the present.  

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Though rooted in historical thought, we are open to submissions in any genre, medium, or style– anything that pulses with creativity, daring, and thoughtful intention. We welcome critical essays, speculative fiction, photography, visual art, interviews, or any hybrid form you can dream up. 

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We wish to see works that are compelling, out-of-the-ordinary, and creative, with powerful and experimental elements interwoven throughout. Submissions that bridge the temporal gap between then and now are exactly what we’re looking for. 

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Let the past be your compass. Let the future be your canvas.

SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  • All pieces must be submitted via the form on our Submissions page or email: gyagforward@gmail.com.

  • ​We ask you to format all writing in 12pt, Times New Roman, and double-spaced.

  • We do not accept plagiarized work.

  • If your submission has been previously published, please indicate the place of prior publication.

  • If you wish to submit multiple pieces, please note this in your email or on the form.

  • If you wish to receive feedback, please indicate this clearly in your submission. We would love to offer free revision advice!

  • As a youth-centered forum, we ask that you refrain from using profanity or themes related to sexual violence. 

  • If you use any sources for your piece, please cite them in MLA format

  • The Global Youth Alliance does not accept any form of racism, sexism, or other offensive and harmful narratives.

Genres

​Prose

  • The word limit for prose submissions is 4500 words.

  • Please submit your piece as a PDF file.

  • You may submit a maximum of three pieces.

  • While we emphasize creativity in your work, we ask that you maintain either a historical tie or connection to current affairs, especially when writing fictional pieces

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Nonfiction​

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  • The word limit for nonfiction submissions is 5000 words.

  • Please cite your sources MLA-style.

  • Please submit your piece as a PDF file. 

  • You may submit a maximum of two pieces.

  • This includes essays.

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Poetry​

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  • The word limit for poetry submissions is 1000 words.

  • Please submit your piece as a PDF file. 

  • Please provide a brief 5-7 sentence paragraph indicating how your piece connects to either historical events or current affairs below your poem (this will not be included in your word count).

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Visual Media

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  • We accept all types of visual media, as long as your work can be submitted as an image (e.g. Photo of a sculpture, digital art, etc.). Unfortunately, this means that we are not able to incorporate videos.

  • Alongside your visual media submission, please provide a 200-300 word paragraph explaining how your work is rooted in either a historical event or current affair.

  • Please submit as a .JPG, .PNG, or .PDF file. 

  • Picture files must be above 450px*600px

  • You may submit a maximum of three visual media pieces.

TERMS OF SUBMISSION

  • 1. Originality and Ownership

  • The Contributor affirms that the submitted work (text, images, audio, or other media) is their original creation and does not infringe on any third-party rights.

  • If the work includes contributions from others (e.g., collaborators, photographers, co-authors), the Contributor must have obtained their explicit permission and must acknowledge their participation.

  • For contributors under 18, submission must be accompanied by a parent or guardian’s consent (provided through form).

  • 2. Publication Rights

  • The Contributor grants the Magazine a non-exclusive, royalty-free, worldwide license to publish, reproduce, edit (for clarity and format), and distribute the submitted work in any digital format, including the Magazine’s website, newsletter, and affiliated social media platforms.

  • The Contributor retains full copyright and ownership of their work.
    The Magazine will credit the Contributor by name (or pen name, if requested) with each use of the work.

  • 3. Archival Rights

  • The Contributor grants the Magazine the right to store and archive the work indefinitely on its digital platforms, including archived issues and collections.

  • Archived material may remain accessible to the public unless the Contributor requests removal (see Section 5).

  • 4. Right to Edit

  • The Magazine reserves the right to make minor edits for grammar, spelling, formatting, or clarity without altering the overall meaning or message of the submission.

  • Any significant changes will be discussed with and approved by the Contributor before publication.

  • 5. Withdrawal and Takedown

  • If the Contributor wishes to withdraw their submission before publication, they may contact the editorial team at [email address].

  • If the work has already been published and the Contributor requests its removal, the Magazine will make reasonable efforts to remove the work from public view within 30 days. However, removal from third-party archives or cached pages beyond the Magazine’s control is not guaranteed.

  • 6. Content Guidelines

  • Submissions must adhere to the Magazine’s content guidelines and community standards, which prohibit hate speech, plagiarism, explicit material, and harassment.

  • The Magazine reserves the right to reject or remove any submission that violates these guidelines or legal regulations.

  • 7. Compensation

  • Unless otherwise specified, submissions to the Magazine are unpaid. Publication is voluntary and for the purpose of sharing youth voices.

  • 8. Changes to Terms

  • The Magazine may update these Terms of Submission from time to time. Contributors will be notified of any significant changes affecting their rights.

  • 9. Contact

  • For questions, withdrawal requests, or guardian consent forms, contact us at:
    Email: gyaforward@gmail.com
    Instagram: @global.youth.alliance    ​​

By submitting your work, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms of Submission.

Submission Form

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