Call for Submissions | U-Talk Magazine (Vol. 4, No. 4)

Theme: Algorithms of Desire: Gen Z, Art, and Digital Life

Hello everyone,

U-Talk Magazine invites submissions for its upcoming thematic issue, Vol. 4, No. 4: “Algorithms of Desire: Gen Z, Art, and Digital Life.”

Algorithms increasingly shape what we watch, read, create, desire, and share. At the same time, Gen Z is finding new ways to use digital spaces for creativity, identity, community, social commentary, and protest.

This issue asks: What does it mean to live, create, connect, and speak in a world increasingly shaped by algorithms?

We welcome creative essays, personal stories, poetry, short fiction, critical reflections, photography, visual art, and other forms of creative expression.

Suggested themes include:

• Personal stories and first-hand accounts of Gen Z participation in protests, student movements, and social action
• AI, algorithms, and platform culture: how they influence creativity, identity, relationships, and everyday life
• Memes, hashtags, and social media as new forms of political voice, humour, commentary, and vernacular resistance
• Digital art and new forms of creative expression
• Mental health, screen fatigue, surveillance, loneliness, and life in hyper-connected digital spaces
• Online communities, belonging, friendship, and relationships in the digital age
• The possibilities and anxieties of growing up with AI

We welcome: essays, reflections, personal narratives, poetry, short fiction, photographs, visual art, and creative memes.

Submission Deadline: September 10, 2026

Fee: No publication fees. 

We accept submissions in the following categories:

Articles / Essays
Short analytical or reflective pieces engaging with social, cultural, philosophical, or contemporary themes.

Creative Writing
Short stories or literary narratives that explore human experience, imagination, and storytelling.

Poetry
Original poems in any language or translated works accompanied by the original text where possible.

Travelogue
Narratives reflecting journeys, places, encounters, and cultural experiences.

Book Reviews
Critical reflections on recently published books in literature, philosophy, social sciences, or related fields.

Health & Healing
Short reflective pieces on wellbeing, mental health, traditional healing practices, or personal experiences of recovery and care.

Art & Visual Contributions
Paintings, sketches, illustrations, and photography that capture aesthetic, cultural, or social perspectives.

Submission Guidelines

• Submissions must be original and unpublished.
• Articles: 1200–2000 words
• Creative writing / travelogue: up to 1200 words
• Book reviews: 800–1200 words
• Poetry: up to 2 poems per submission
• Images (artwork or photography): high-resolution JPEG or PNG with a short description.

How Our Selection Works (or Submission Deadline) 

As a quarterly publication, we curate content for four distinct issues. While there is no fixed deadline, we select early submissions for the current cycle. If your work is submitted after an issue has been finalized, it will automatically be considered for the subsequent publication period.

Annual Publication Periods

Issue 1: January – March
Issue 2: April – June
Issue 3: July – September
Issue 4: October – December

Submission: Click the submission button below  
For any queries, please contact us uara@umran.org.in

A Certificate of Publication may be issued for selected academic articles upon request.

U-Talk is published by Umran Academic Research Association (UARA) and aims to build an open platform for dialogue between scholarship, creativity, and lived experience.