Reality Scratch – “Journal of the Now,” and we do mean that as in right now – is relaunching after a short hiatus with a call out for contributions to Issue #3.
As “Journal of the Now” suggests, we are of course looking for submissions that reflect the contemporary – but what does that mean beyond the obvious?
The present age isn’t one with an abundance of patience (or even sympathy) for prophecy. To be contemporary is precisely to be caught in the stream of time; even the poorest day passing over our heads is but the conflux of two eternities; one shooting all the way back beyond history – and the other likewise remotely into the future, apocalypse notwithstanding. Concern yourself with the now, and the past and future will take care of themselves: You won’t escape the stream.
What you can do, however, is put that stream down on paper (or whatever digital format suits your medium) and send it in to us at Reality Scratch!
The “Reality” of Reality Scratch is international Berlin, here and now. This entails a certain lack of polish – submit what you’re working on now (as in right now) – rip it from the womb, Ceasar-style. There’s a messy beauty to the present tense, that yet-to-be-defined now. Just as there are incidental discoveries to be found in the here; the ocean of everything is boring and diffuse in the widest scope.
So, Reality Scratch is a print magazine looking for prose, poetry, illustration, photography, painting – but also sound and video works, either as stand-alone pieces or as complements to text. We have some ideas for integrating the time-based into the 2D. We’ll also happily accept proposals for regular columns or work to be serialized over several issues; in fact, that fits our MO especially well.
If you’re interested in meeting our team and airing out your ideas (or grievances) in person, follow our Instagram or sign up for our newsletter for details of our regular upcoming contributor meetings.
⚫ Submissions deadline: March 12th, 2025
⚫ Please submit works made between September 2024 and March 2025
⚫ Written submissions up to 2,000 words
⚫ Visual works can be submitted in B&W or color
⚫ For sound and video works, drop us a line to talk formats