A Letter To…
Some things are easier to write than to say out loud.
A Letter To… is a collection of personal letters and essays from people who identify as masc, exploring the experiences that shape us, the things we carry, and the words we may never have had the space to say.
A letter can be to a person, a place, a younger version of yourself, your body, masculinity, grief, love, family, friendship, or something you are still learning to understand.
Your story does not have to be perfect. It just has to be yours.
What We’re Looking For
We welcome honest, personal writing rooted in lived experience.
Your submission might explore topics such as
- Identity and masculinity
- Family and upbringing
- Love and relationships
- Friendship
- Expectations
- Career and ambition
- Mental health
- Recovery and healing
- Softness and vulnerability
- Body image
- Belonging
- Becoming who you are
- A letter to your younger self
- Confidence
- Loneliness
- Grief and loss
- Oversexualization
- Healing After Sexual Abuse
- Inimate Partner Violence
These are starting points, not limitations. If there’s something you want to write about that isn’t listed here, we still want to hear about it.
Who Can Submit
- Submissions are open to people 18 or older who identify as masc.
- We welcome people from different backgrounds, cultures, identities, experiences, and parts of the world. No professional writing experience is required.
- We care more about your voice and your story than perfect writing.
Submission Guidelines
- Written submissions should generally be between 800 and 1,500 words.
- Submissions should be original work written by you and based on your own experiences, reflections, or perspective.
- Your piece may be written as a traditional personal essay or directly in the form of a letter.
- Previously unpublished work is preferred. If your piece has appeared somewhere else, please let us know when submitting it.
- Your story should respect the privacy and dignity of other people. Names and identifying details may be changed when appropriate.
- We understand that some stories are deeply personal. Writers may choose to have their work published using their full name, first name, a pen name, or anonymously.
- Your identifying information will not be included in the review process when submissions are shared with readers or judges.
About AI
We want A Letter To… to reflect real human experiences and real voices.
- Submissions should not be generated by AI. Tools used for spelling, grammar, or light editing are okay, but the story, ideas, experiences, and writing should fundamentally be your own.
Editing
Selected pieces may receive light editing for grammar, clarity, length, or formatting.
- We will work to preserve the writer’s voice and meaning. Significant changes will not be made without the writer’s knowledge.
Rights
- You retain ownership of your original work.
- By agreeing to publication, you give Masc Aura permission to publish, reproduce, promote, and distribute your selected piece as part of A Letter To…, including digital and printed editions and promotional materials related to the project.
- We will provide additional publication details to selected contributors before final publication.
Selection
- Submitting a piece does not guarantee publication.
- Submissions will be reviewed based on authenticity, storytelling, fit with the collection, and the overall range of perspectives represented in the final project.
- Writers whose pieces are selected will be contacted with next steps.
This collection isn’t about having the most dramatic story or finding the perfect words. It’s a space to share personal experiences, reflect on your healing, or express things you may have never had the opportunity to say and help others find their voice.
It’s about telling the truth of an experience that mattered to you.
What would you write if you knew someone like you needed to read it?