Contribute

An open invitation

For writers, photographers, scientists and anyone with a fermentation story to tell.

The Fermentalist is built by people fascinated with what fermentation does, says, and means. If that includes you, we would love to read your work.

What we publish

Essays, interviews, scientific perspectives, field notes, photo stories. Pieces that take fermentation seriously as a lens onto something larger, whether culture, science, food, memory, or the future of how we live. Writers do not need to be scientists, and scientists do not need to write like academics. What we look for is curiosity and care.

What we don't

  • Political commentary
  • Brand-funded content
  • Pieces written to rank for a keyword
Tell us the story you can't stop thinking about.
Scope

Length follows the idea.

Around 2,000 words is a comfortable home for most pieces, but length should follow the idea. Shorter dispatches and longer essays both have a place here.

Pitches

Tell us the story first.

Send a short pitch, a paragraph or two, describing the piece you want to write, why it belongs here, and a sentence or two about you. Drafts are welcome too, but a pitch first usually saves everyone time.

Photography and visual essays are welcome alongside or instead of text.

The fine print

The Fermentalist is, for now, an independent publication. We cannot yet offer payment, but every contributor is credited fully, with their work, their name, and a short bio linking wherever they would like readers to follow them next. As the publication grows, the intention is for that to change.

Write to us

We read every submission.

contribute@thefermentalist.co
— The Editors
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