Consider This Your Invitation
Writer/Creator Submissions: If you’ve been waiting for permission to share your stories, consider this post as a pretty envelope with a wax seal.
PR Pitches: We’re eager to learn more about the people, places, and businesses that are pushing culture forward. Add us to your press list!
editors@colorcodedmag.com
When we say we want to amplify historically underrepresented voices, we mean it. But we also know that statement is basic industry wallpaper, at this point. It’s become something that many publications say and few actually practice.
Here’s what it means to us:
We want to hear from the artist who’s never been interviewed. The writer who’s been sitting on a draft for years. The photographer documenting their block because no one else will. The chef whose food tells a story no one’s written down.
If that’s you or if you just have something to say and need a place to say it—send it our way. We’re listening!
Color Coded Magazine is a thing because we believe the culture is coded on street corners, in basement studios, around dinner tables, and in the quiet moments between people who create. We see ourselves as the documentarians of those moments, but we can’t document what we can’t see. Which is why we’re turning to you.
What We’re Looking For
We publish work that lives in full spectrum. That means we’re interested in:
| Category | We Want | We’re Less Interested In |
|---|---|---|
| Music | New music, a meaningful look at old music, profiles/interviews, album reviews, concert reviews, essays, producer deep dives, regional scene reports, and more. | Sponsored posts disguised as journalism |
| Art | Photo/video submissions of original visual art, artist profiles/interviews, studio visits, gallery reviews, essays, and more. | Art world gossip |
| Literature | Author interviews, book reviews, essays on the craft of writing, short stories, poetry, and more. | Fan fiction. Alas, we’ll have to create a space for that. |
| Film | Interviews, cinematography deep dives, film reviews, festival coverage, essays on cultural impact, and more | Film pitches. We don’t produce films at Color Coded Mag but you can Click Here to talk to someone at CCMG about pitching your ideas to the right people. |
| Cannabis | Strain reviews with cultural context, industry profiles, news reporting, political commentary, cannabis travel guides, essays | “I got high and watched a movie” pieces |
| Fashion | Personal style profiles, style news reporting, designer interviews, essays on fashion history and cultural aspects, street style documentation | Hauls or shopping lists |
| Lifestyle | Food and drink culture, travel essays, profiles of creative spaces, the intersection of daily life and art | Generic listicles |
What We’re Not Looking For
We love passion. But we also have standards.
Please do not send us:
- Exclusively AI-generated content (if we wanted a robot’s opinion, we’d ask the one in our pocket)
- Work that exploits or extracts from communities you don’t belong to
How to Pitch Us
We accept two types of submissions:
1. Finished Work
If you’ve already written the piece or have other finished work, send it! We’d rather experience what you’ve created than read an email about it.
2. Pitches
If you have a press release, send it with a short note explaining why you think it’s a good fit for our site. please If it’s an idea you want to workshop with us, send a brief (3-5 sentences) explaining:
- What you want to write about or create
- Why you’re the person to write it or create it
- Why now
- Any visual assets available (photos, illustrations, video)
Response Time
Our goal is to respond to everyone within 2-3 weeks. If you haven’t heard from us in a month, feel free to nudge us politely.
A note: if we say no or if you receive no answer at all, it’s often not about quality—it’s about fit. We may love your work and simply not have the right home for it right now. Please don’t take it personally. Please do pitch us again.
Send all writer/creator submissions, inquiries, and pitches to: editors@colorcodedmag.com
Please include at least the basics in your message:
- Your name, pronouns, and brief explanantion of who you are, where you’re based, what you do, and what you want from us.
- Always LINK to your work (no attachments when possible, please!)
- A subject line that makes sense.
To inquire about working with Color Coded Media Group, CLICK HERE.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you accept simultaneous submissions?
Yes. Just let us know if your work is accepted elsewhere so we can withdraw from consideration.
Do you accept international submissions?
Absolutely. Culture has no borders. Just be mindful that we’re based in Denver, CO (Mountain Time), so response times may vary.
Do you accept pitches for ongoing columns or series?
Yes. If you have an idea for a regular feature, pitch it. Tell us the vision, the frequency, and why you’re the person to sustain it.
What about photography portfolios?
Yes. Photo essays, documentary series, and portrait portfolios are welcome. Send a curated selection (10-15 images) with context.
Do you accept fiction?
Yes. We’re primarily a non-fiction publication, but if you have literary fiction that engages with culture in a meaningful way, we’ll read it. No genre fiction (sci-fi/fantasy/horror) unless it’s doing something truly unexpected with cultural themes.