1. LITERATURE
2. ART
3. FILM
4. MUSIC
5. IDEAS & CULTURE
   1. GUIDELINES
   2. EXTRA CONSIDERATIONS
6. WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER FOR DECADENT SERPENT?
   1. Volunteer Multimedia Producer
   2. Volunteer Literature Correspondent
   3. Volunteer Arts Correspondent
   4. Volunteer Film Correspondent
7. Posts
   1. Pitch to us!
   2. Support us

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Every month we choose a general theme for submissions, but we also accept general submissions outwith the requested theme. The theme is optional, for those looking for inspiration, however – consult the monthly theme. We always expand further on the theme on our social media so we invite you to follow us.

THEME FOR JUNE: REVOLT

We actively accept pitches relating to:

• Literature
• Art
• Film
• Ideas & Culture: anything relevant to the magazine, including but not exclusive to:
  • folklore
  • history
  • philosophy
  • music
  • archaeology, etc.

Please be mindful that we are not a political magazine. Decadent Serpent does not accept work that can be deemed ideological in any shape or form, on subjects that can be deemed divisive or polarising. We celebrate high art and focus on critical in-depth work that highlights the beauty of intellectual sophistication and in order to do so, we focus on fostering an environment of clear objective thought. We reserve the right to reject any pitches that could be construed as ideological. Alternatively, we will work with you to make the piece free from ideological influences.

LITERATURE

• Book reviews (700-1000 words) – if you would like to review a book, please contact us providing the link to the book and why you think this book should be on everyone’s radar.
• Creative writing (700-5000 words) – any subject, any style. We will also accept poetry. Please contact us with a short pitch on the subject matter
• Features (1000-5000 words) – contact us with your pitch and we can discuss the idea. Features can range from a biographical piece on someone in literary history, a literary period, a chosen writing style or literally anything. If you’d like to argue that JG Ballard is better than Dickens – do it! As long as you have a strong argument, we’ll take it :)

ART

• Exhibition reviews (700-1500 words) – if you would like to review an art exhibition, please provide a link to the exhibition and why you believe this exhibition is important to be seen.
• Features (1000-5000 words) – contact us with your pitch and we can discuss the idea. Features can range from biographical pieces on artists to a specific period in art, an art style, or a movement in art. Pretty much anything, we are happy to discuss them all. Quirky trivia is welcome!

FILM

• Current film reviews (700-1000 words) – send us a link to the film and explain why you believe it is important to be seen. We reserve the right to reject film reviews if they do not fit with the style of the magazine (action/comedy).
• Vintage film reviews (700-1500 words) – do you know of a film that’s old but worth bringing back into the spotlight? Let us know! Send us a link to the film, and explain why you believe it should be reviewed. We might be a little more lenient on the genre for vintage, so if you have an idea – let us know!
• Film Features (1000-5000 words) – do you feel like you really want to go all in on a subject matter? Pitch us! Send us a few sentences on your topic and why you’d like to cover it. It can be anything – a genre, a film director, anything!

MUSIC

• Concert reviews (700-1000 words) – send us a link to the event, alongside why you believe the gig should be reviewed. We might reject some pitches, depending on the vibe of the concert – generally accepted articles are for genres such as rock/alternative/classical and some other variations thereof. Pop rock and folk metal welcome.
• Album reviews (700-2000 words) – send us a link to the album, alongside a quick note on why you believe the album should be reviewed. Similar to concert reviews, we welcome mainly rock/alternative/classical and other variations.
• Music features – (1000-5000) – would you like to write in depth about a specific music genre? Do you have a favourite artist that needs to be talked about? Send us your pitch and we’ll be happy to discuss. Most genres are acceptable, but we do reserve the right to reject some pitches that don’t fit the theme of the magazine.

IDEAS & CULTURE

• Features (1000-5000 words) – As there are so many things we can cover on culture, this is your safe space for all things culture that don’t fit the above subjects. This gives you a lot of freedom on what to write about – an interesting person in history/philosophy, a cool historical trivia related to some event in history, folklore, archaeology, or anything that can be deemed as cultural. You can write about a whole philosophical concept OR you can just write a whole article about why you believe JG Ballard was a Nietzchean.
• Columns (700-5000 words) – would you like to write for us regularly? Send us your pitch for an idea for a column, on any subject relevant to Decadent Serpent and await the next steps.

Naturally, the aim of this magazine is to bring culture together, all into one place. There will be cross-overs. At the end of the day, there was futurist music, and many creatives dabble in many different outlets. If you wish to write a feature about any two categories – feel free! Simply send us a pitch and we’ll take it from there.

GUIDELINES

1. Use the form below to pitch your idea or email editor@decadentserpent.com
2. Tell us a little about yourself and the subject matter you would like to write about
3. Wait for the response!
4. Don’t feel intimidated – we will happily accept pitches from anyone, even if you’ve never been published before.
5. If you have been published before – show off your favourite work and send us a link to it
6. We will accept any pieces from 700-5000 words (see above for specific guidelines within categories)
7. If your pitch is accepted, please send us a bio with two sentences about yourself alongside the link to your own work you wish to promote.
8. Unfortunately, we have only launched recently with no funding or prior support so we won’t be able to offer remuneration. However, you will be featured on the website and we will provide books, cinema and event tickets for the reviews if required. Additionally, we will be running writing competitions with monetary rewards so keep your eyes peeled for those! As soon as this will change, we will update our submission details. We believe in full transparency so we hope you will work with us while we develop and grow!

EXTRA CONSIDERATIONS

We understand that sometimes you may wish to not use your name online. We respect this. As much as we want to showcase our writers and give them the credit they deserve, if you prefer to publish anonymously or under a nickname, we will respect that.

Additionally, we don’t care about fonts, sizes, and styles. Our policy is that you can submit articles in any form you feel is the most comfortable for you. For all we care, you can even write it on a napkin (please don’t, though) If there are any pictures included in the article, please attach them separately and ensure you took them yourself/there is no copyright issue.

The only requirement is the formatting of the document:

1. If your article has no pictures: please submit as a .doc/.docx
2. If your article has pictures: please attach all, a .doc file, a PDF with the picture placement, and relevant pictures separately in the JPG, JPEG, PNG format.

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WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER FOR DECADENT SERPENT?

Volunteer Multimedia Producer

As we expand our multimedia presence, we are looking for a passionate Volunteer Multimedia Producer to help shape and enhance our audio and video content.

Role Overview:
As a Volunteer Multimedia Producer, you will play a key role in growing DS’s audio and video presence across multiple platforms. This role is ideal for someone with a keen interest in digital media production, a passion for culture, and a talent for engaging storytelling through sound and visuals. You will have creative freedom to shape our multimedia output while working within the magazine’s intellectual and artistic aesthetic.

Key Responsibilities:

• Podcast Production – Develop episode ideas, record, edit, and produce engaging podcast content using professional editing software (e.g., Audacity, Adobe Audition, or similar).
• Publishing & Distribution – Upload podcasts to Spotify, YouTube, and other relevant platforms, ensuring consistency in branding and metadata.
• Audio Article Recordings – Maintain our audio presence by retrospectively recording DS articles and making them available as spoken-word content on Spotify and YouTube.
• Social Media Video Content – Create visually engaging TikToks and Reels to promote DS content, utilising clips from our podcasts, behind-the-scenes footage, and original creative concepts.
• Content Strategy & Growth – Collaborate with the team to develop a multimedia content plan that aligns with DS’s artistic and intellectual ethos.
• Quality Control – Ensure all audio and video content is polished, professional, and aligns with DS’s sophisticated brand identity.

What We’re Looking For:

• Experience (or strong interest) in audio and video editing.
• Familiarity with podcast production, including recording and editing.
• Ability to create short-form engaging video content for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts.
• Strong understanding of digital media platforms (Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, Instagram).
• Passion for arts, literature, film, and cultural commentary.
• Creative, independent, and self-motivated, with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work remotely and manage time effectively.

What You’ll Gain:

• Hands-on experience in multimedia production and digital storytelling.
• A chance to shape DS’s expanding audio-visual brand presence.
• Portfolio-building opportunities with real-world published content.
• The chance to be part of a passionate, intellectually engaged community of writers, critics, and creatives.

This is a volunteer role with flexible hours, ideal for someone looking to gain experience in digital media production, journalism, or cultural content creation.

How to Apply:
If you’re interested, please send us a short email introducing yourself, your experience (if any), and why you’d like to join DS as a Volunteer Multimedia Producer. If you have samples of previous multimedia work, feel free to include them.

Email: dinah.kolka@decadentserpent.com

Volunteer Literature Correspondent

Decadent Serpent seeks a perceptive and stylish Literature Correspondent to join our growing editorial team. This role is ideal for a writer who possesses a rigorous literary sensibility, a taste for the provocative, and a hunger to explore the written word through a critical yet creative lens.

You’ll be responsible for producing reviews, feature-length essays, and occasional interviews focused on literary fiction, translated works, and contemporary critical debates. Your work will form a cornerstone of the magazine’s cultural authority—offering readers a gateway into both emerging and canonical texts, refracted through Decadent Serpent’s signature blend of highbrow elegance and editorial bite.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write longform and shortform reviews of new literary releases, reissues, or under-appreciated classics
• Produce engaging literary features, profiles, and thematic essays
• Pitch and develop original ideas tied to contemporary or historical literary themes
• Collaborate with the editorial director to shape the magazine’s literary tone and direction
• Interview authors, translators, and literary figures where appropriate
• Maintain awareness of literary trends, prize circuits, and noteworthy publishing developments

What We’re Looking For:

• A distinct, confident voice and a demonstrable love of literature
• The ability to blend criticism with style: we want reviews that cut deep and essays that linger
• Strong research skills and comfort with literary theory, philosophy, or cultural critique
• Prior journalism experience is not required, however a strong, ideally academic approach to writing is expected
• A temperament that aligns with our magazine’s ethos: intelligent, highbrow, with passion for high art and preservation of culture

This is a volunteer role with flexible hours, ideal for someone looking to gain experience in journalism, writing, and digital media.

How to Apply:
If you’re interested, please send us a short email introducing yourself, your experience (if any), and why you’d like to join DS as a Volunteer Literature Correspondent. If you have samples of previous work, feel free to include them.

Email: editor@decadentserpent.com

Volunteer Arts Correspondent

Decadent Serpent is seeking a visually astute and critically sharp Arts Correspondent to bring depth, elegance, and rigour to our visual arts coverage. This role calls for someone who can move fluidly between reviewing contemporary exhibitions, excavating forgotten movements, and interrogating the aesthetic undercurrents of our cultural moment.

From museum retrospectives and boundary-pushing installations to iconoclastic painters, craft revivals, and veneration of European art—your pieces will provide our readers with clear-eyed insight, intellectual provocation, and a keen sense of aesthetic judgement. You’ll help anchor Decadent Serpent as a place where serious visual culture is not just reported on, but re-evaluated with wit and conviction.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write in-depth reviews of gallery shows, museum exhibitions, and visual art publications
• Produce thematic essays, artist profiles, or critical features that engage with historical and contemporary art practices
• Keep abreast of global art trends, emerging artists, and debates within the art world
• Collaborate with the editorial team on art-led issues, visual commissions, and cross-disciplinary features
• Suggest and develop original content ideas with conceptual clarity and flair

What We’re Looking For:

• A rich visual vocabulary and a well-honed eye for style, symbolism, and visual storytelling
• Strong research skills and the ability to contextualise art within philosophical, historical, or political frameworks
• A writing style that balances analysis and allure—your prose should seduce, even when it critiques
• Familiarity with both contemporary art scenes and historical movements; niche expertise welcome
• No previous experience required, however, a strong, ideally academic approach to writing is a must.

Bonus Points:

• Comfort interviewing artists or curators
• Interest in design, architecture, fashion, or material culture
• Ability to pair written work with visual suggestions (e.g., images, archival material)

This is a volunteer role with flexible hours, ideal for someone looking to gain experience in journalism, writing, and digital media.

How to Apply:
If you’re interested, please send us a short email introducing yourself, your experience (if any), and why you’d like to join DS as a Volunteer Arts Correspondent. If you have samples of previous work, feel free to include them.

Email: editor@decadentserpent.com

Volunteer Film Correspondent

Decadent Serpent is on the hunt for an insightful Film Correspondent to bring a blend of intellectual depth, critical flair, and cinematic passion to our film coverage. This role requires someone who is comfortable and well versed in both past and present of cinema, from dissecting classic masterpieces to analysing the latest arthouse works. If you possess a strong curiosity about film as both art and cultural commentary, we want you to join our editorial team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Write compelling, in-depth reviews of new releases, including feature films, documentaries, and short films
• Produce thought-provoking essays and features that explore film history, directors’ oeuvres, and contemporary cinematic trends
• Offer critical analyses of film techniques, performances, and visual storytelling
• Stay abreast of film industry movements, from Hollywood to the avant-garde, and engage with film culture on a global scale
• Collaborate with the editorial team on film-led issues, thematic projects, and cross-disciplinary content
• Suggest original content ideas that push boundaries, engage audiences, and elevate film discourse

What We’re Looking For:

• A passion for film and a deep understanding of its cultural, historical, and philosophical dimensions
• Strong research skills and the ability to place films within the wider context of global cinema and social-political discourse
• A writing style that is both analytical and compelling—your prose should stimulate thought, entertain, and offer fresh perspectives
• A broad knowledge of film, from mainstream to niche genres, with an interest in the intersection of film and other arts
• A critical and independent voice—able to identify both the triumphs and flaws of a film with balance and clarity

Bonus Points:

• Experience or interest in film criticism
• Familiarity with technical aspects of film production (e.g., cinematography, editing, sound design)
• The ability to pair written work with visual suggestions, such as screenshots, stills, or video clips

This is a volunteer role with flexible hours, perfect for someone looking to build their portfolio in film journalism, writing, and digital media.

How to Apply:
If you’re interested, please send us a brief email introducing yourself, your experience (if applicable), and why you’d like to join Decadent Serpent as a Volunteer Film Correspondent. Please include samples of previous work if available.

Email: editor@decadentserpent.com