Punctuate

To punctuate means to insert punctuation marks into a text, but it also means to interrupt, to connect. We believe in both definitions. Through each comma, each ampersand, each sentence, we believe in the power of disruptive works to interrupt status quos, transforming and connecting worlds. We created PUNCTUATE to also interrupt a trend that is starting to feel all too common: a trend where only students who come from privilege have access to writing opportunities. We created this database of over 100+ opportunities—many of them free or low-cost—that will help you share your disruptive stories with the world. We want to democratize access to the tools that trained us back when we were young, emerging writers.

This database was created by two writers, both of whose work came of age through the opportunities listed below during our emerging years. We testify to the power of these resources; they have interrupted our own lives, profoundly transforming us. Most of the opportunities listed below aren’t pulled from the internet but pre-vetted; we have done (or know someone who has done) a majority of them. We strive for accuracy, but we also recognize that this landscape is ever-evolving. PUNCTUATE is a living database, one we hope to expand constantly. If you want to add an opportunity, email us at punctuateapp@gmail.com.