This week, I’m marking another year of life around the sun. Being an only child taught me early how to sit with my own thoughts, how to trust my own voice, and how to move forward even when the path feels unclear, unsupportive, and uncertain. That has shaped everything I’ve built. This work is about courage, and creating space where it didn’t exist before. Thank you for choosing to be here, for walking alongside me as this next chapter unfolds. 

EDITORS ON THE HUNT

This week’s opportunities are an invitation to slow down, think deeper, and submit work that carries voice. These editors are seeking stories rooted in lived experience, creative risk, and thoughtful interrogation of food, power, and change. If you’ve been holding a piece that feels personal and necessary, this is your signal. 

SEVENTH WAVE MAGAZINE HAS OPEN CALLS FOR SUBMISSIONS

Seventh Wave is a BIPOC- and queer-led literary and culture magazine that publishes voice-forward narrative writing, essays, poetry, hybrid work, and digital art. Their Issue 19: Little Changes submission window has been extended through December 31, 2025, and they are also accepting applications for their Spring 2026 Narrative Shifts residency program (open through January 7, 2026) — both great opportunities to submit thoughtful, culturally resonant pieces that push creative boundaries.

Where to send pitch: https://theseventhwave.org/submit/ or email submit@seventhwavemag.com with your work and brief cover letter

SERVIETTE MAGAZINE IS SEEKING PITCHS

Serviette Magazine is currently seeking freelance food writing pitches for Issue 08: “Food Is Vice”, exploring bold, cultural, investigative, and narrative angles on food culture and its intersections with society. They are open to reported features, essays, profiles, and creative storytelling with a deadline of January 7, 2026, and they offer competitive pay (approximately $1 per word). Sure Media Agency

Where to send pitch:
Email your story idea or pitch to hello@serviettemag.com with a concise summary of your angle and why it fits the theme.

ABOUT PLACE JOURNAL SPRING 2026 CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

About Place Journal is an arts and culture publication focused on writing and visual work that explores place, power, resistance, and community. They are accepting submissions for their Spring 2026 issue, “The Ground Beneath Us,” which welcomes prose, poetry, visual art, multimedia, and hybrid work that engages deeply with land, environment, culture, and social relations. The call is open from January 1 through March 10, 2026 and includes editorial themes of environment, displacement, belonging, and resistance. About Place Journal

Where to send pitch: https://aboutplacejournal.org/submissions/

EDITORIAL MOVES

Editorial power shifts quietly, but its impact is immediate. These recent promotions signal evolving coverage priorities and fresh decision-makers shaping what gets published next. Knowing who’s stepping into influence now helps you pitch smarter, earlier, and with intention.

LAYLA BROWN-CLARK STARTED - NEW FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR AT HYDE PARK HERALD

Meet Layla Brown Clark, a recent MSJ graduate from Northwestern Medill who reports on news, arts, and culture. She crafts engaging stories that inform and inspire, from profiles of cultural figures to entertainment trends, offering fresh perspectives on the cultural landscape.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/layla-brown-clark/
Website: https://laylabrown-clark.journoportfolio.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laylabrownclark/?hl=en
Twitter/ X : https://x.com/laylabclark?lang=en
Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/layla-brown-clark

LONDON ALEXAUNDRIA WHITSON NEW CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR ESSENCE MAGAZINE

Meet London Alexaundria Whitson, an award-winning journalist, self-care expert, and founder of The Self-Care Writer, a wellness platform promoting rest, reflection, and intentional living.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/london-alexaundria-whitson/
Muck Rack: https://muckrack.com/london-alexaundria-whitson
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theselfcarewriter/
Website: https://www.theselfcarewriter.com/

KERBI RUCKER-LOUIS IS THE  NEW MANAGING EDITOR AT HER AGENDA

Meet Kerbi Rucker-Louis, an entertainment and culture journalist with a strong background in social media management and content creation. A recent graduate of the University of Georgia with a master’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication, Kerbi is the managing editor of The Curvy Fashionista and the founder of To the Soul Mag, a music publication. With interests spanning beauty, politics, entertainment, and pop culture, she is passionate about storytelling and continues to grow as a dynamic communication professional.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerbilynn/
Website:https://kerbilynn.myportfolio.com/

EDITORIAL ACCESS

Credential windows are opening—and they won’t stay open long. These upcoming events offer timely editorial access for journalists ready to show up, report, and be seen. Move quickly, apply strategically, and position yourself where the stories are unfolding.

MAGIC LAS VEGAS (FASHION TRADE SHOW)

Date: February 17–19, 2026

Overview: MAGIC is North America’s largest fashion trade marketplace, gathering buyers, designers, brands, and trendsetters. It’s ideal for journalists and publicists focusing on fashion retail trends, emerging brands, and industry innovations.

Media credentials: https://www.magicfashionevents.com/en/events/magic-las-vegas/press.html

PROJECT LAS VEGAS (FASHION + RETAIL TRADE SHOW)

Date: February 17–19, 2026 (co-located with MAGIC)

Overview: PROJECT showcases the latest in fashion, accessories, and industry innovation, offering editorial and trend coverage opportunities with product launches and brand interviews.

Media credentials: https://projectfashionevents.com/en/events/project-las-vegas/press.html

CURVE NEW YORK (INTIMATE APPAREL & LINGERIE)

Date: February 1–3, 2026

Overview: Curve Expo is a specialized trade event spotlighting intimate apparel, swimwear, loungewear, and related fashion segments — great for niche fashion coverage and networking with designers and press alike.

Media credentials: https://www.curve-newyork.com/

View December 22nd Edition of the Stylists Suite News