Deadline for all Content Call to be considered for print is Sunday, 2nd of March 2025 unless otherwise stated.
Please reach out to the respective section emails or leave a comment below to claim a prompt. The prompts are simply guidelines, if you have other ideas that relates for the theme, you can of course still reach out and pitch your articles!
Features — features@palatinate.org.uk
Hello writers! Hope you’ve had a relaxed weekend and are raring to go for our next print!
For this fairytale edition, we’re diving into the blurred lines between the stories we grew up with and the ones we live every day. Fairy tales aren’t just about castles, curses, and happily-ever-afters — they reflect the struggles, magic, and transformations we all experience. Fairy-tales don’t just provide a form of escape from reality; they reflect it in their own logic, and allow us to understand our world much more closely. For Features, we think that it’s best for you to reflect on the role these stories and narratives play in your life, both in and out of university.
Here are some prompts, but these are just suggestions:
A time when something seemed perfect but came with hidden challenges.
Have you ever been the antagonist in someone else’s story? Was that a role that you wanted to take up, or was it because of their actions?
Who or what helped you when you needed it most? Do ancient tales provide you with a form of escapism that allows you to cope with daily life? Or were you helped by the solidarity you feel with your friends?
TAKENWhen did you realize you were the protagonist of your own life? Do you think that this is a good thing, and why? Would you ever want to be like a secondary character?
What fairy-tales and folk stories have played an important role in providing a semblance of stability to your busy life?
We’re looking for pieces to be between 800-850 words and are always accepting alternate pitches that follow along these lines – as always, happy writing!
Film & TV — film@palatinate.org.uk
For the ‘Fairy Tales’ print we want all things related to fantasy/mythology! As usual, feel free to take one of the prompts below or pitch any ideas you find relevant to film@palatinate.org.uk
Disneyland is Fairyland: Any discussion of fairy tales in Film & TV would of course be incomplete without mentioning Disney (and Disney Pixar)! From the iconic 2D-animated princess narratives adapted from Hans Christan Andersen’s and the Brothers Grimm’s stories, to the talking animals in the recent Mufasa, Disney is about all things fantastical. Feel free to write on thematic tropes/ideas across the Disney universe or focus on any one specific Disney movie/show.
Folklore, legends and myths: Legendary figures like Robin Hood and King Arthur have haunted the big screen for decades. For this prompt, we’d like to hear about any on-screen adaptation of a (local) folk story you’re especially attached to. As horror movies often draw upon folklore, pitches on these would also be welcome! And articles don’t have to be limited to English or even Western legends – think Mulan, or the tanuki in Studio Ghibli’s Pom Poko.
The darker side of the “fae”: Because of the powers they possess (which are often outside the boundaries of human ability and perception/understanding), fantastical creatures are often perceived as threats by humans. In recent years, there has been a particular influx of films revising the stories of traditional villains from other, older films and revealing the hidden pressures/motives/backstories behind their actions e.g. Maleficent 1 and 2, Wicked. For this prompt, we’d like to have an examination of villains, antiheroes, or characters perceived as morally ambiguous – regardless of whether they’ve had their own rewritten narrative yet or not!
Fantasy classics: Lastly, if you have any thoughts on iconic media like The Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, Game of Thrones, The Witcher etc., we’d love to hear an opinion piece on a classic fantasy film/TV show and what you think shapes its canonical status.
Ongoing Series
Let us know what example you’d like to focus on when requesting one of these articles!
The Indigo Canon: What film or television feature/series do you think deserves to be labelled as a ‘classic’? We’re open to multiple pitches for this series, just say which show/film you’d want to discuss in the comments!
Must-Watch Docs: This is an ongoing series that gives you the opportunity to write about a documentary that has impacted you. Whether it’s about the environment, social issues, history of art… you name it, we want to hear what you think about it!
Director/Actor Spotlight: Is there a particular director/actor you think deserves some recognition or has had a particularly interesting career?
‘Being seen on screen’: which films or TV series have you seen that have accurately depicted real life experiences that you relate to? For example, queer representation, racial inequalities, life as a young person etc. How have these helped you understand communities/identities?
If you have any other ideas that are not featured here, feel free to contact us at film@palatinate.org.uk
Happy Writing!!
Creative Writing — creative.writing@palatinate.org.uk
For this edition, we are looking for writing around the theme of fairy tales! You may consider rewriting a fairy tale from the point of view of a peripheral character, in a contemporary setting, or place a dark twist on a childhood classic. A lot of fairy tales are based on folklore, so have some fun inventing or researching local myths that you may put a creative spin on! We would particularly love to see some work spinning Durham folklore into magical tales. For inspiration, you could read fairy tales by the Grimm brothers, The Bloody Chamber by Angela Carter, or Folk by Zoe Gilbert.
Whether in prose, flash fiction, poetry, or creative essay, we want to be enraptured by your magical writing with childlike wonder. (800 word limit).
If you are not enchanted by this theme, feel free to send in creative writing at any time, with any theme or style, to be considered for online publication. And be sure to keep an eye out for our bi-weekly writing prompts that will be published in the 'website content calls' on the Indigo substack. Happy writing!
Music — music@palatinate.org.uk
Hi everyone! We hope the Epiphany term is going well for you all! We have our final print of this term coming up, and it’s Fairytale themed! Here is our content call for that. Please comment below or email music@palatinate.org.uk to claim…
“Defying Expectations: How Wicked Reinvented the Fairytale Musical" Analysing how Wicked subverts traditional fairytales, from its music to its portrayal of ‘good’ and ‘evil,’ and what we can expect from the upcoming part 2 of the movie adaptation.
“Happily Ever After? The Dark Side of Fairytale Music"
A look at how music in fairytales isn’t always whimsical, exploring eerie scores like those in Pan’s Labyrinth, Coraline, or Into the Woods.
“Pop's Fairytale Obsession"
How artists like Taylor Swift (Enchanted), Lana Del Rey (Once Upon a Dream), and Florence + the Machine (Queen of Peace) use fairytale themes in their music.
TAKEN - “The Villains Have the Best Songs"
Exploring why fairytale villains get the most memorable, dramatic musical numbers (Poor Unfortunate Souls, Be Prepared, No Good Deed, etc. etc.)
TAKEN “How fairytales inspire classical music”
Explore how composers like Tchaikovsky (Sleeping Beauty), and Stravinsky (The Firebird) have drawn inspiration from fairytales.
“Once upon a Song: Music’s Role in Fairytale adaptations.”
Exploring how music creates atmosphere in fairytale adaptations, either in film, on stage, or both!
As always, if you have any other ideas regarding print or online articles, please do get in touch via email! Happy writing!!
Visual Arts — visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk
For this fairytale themed edition, we are looking for a piece responding to one of these prompts (or anything inspired by the theme of fairytales):
Victorian storybooks – in the Victorian period, fairy tales began to increase in popularity, as well as the beautiful and elaborate imagery which accompanied the stories. Look at illustrations by illustrators such as John Dickson Batten
Sleeping Beauty – explore depictions of sleeping or resting figures – think Flaming June, Van Gogh’s The Siesta, In the Bed by Henri De Toulouse-Lautrec, or any other presentations of sleep.
Paula Rego – Rego reimagines fairy tales, often making them unsettling and disturbing. She suggests that perhaps the fairy tales we are so familiar with are actually horror stories. Explore her retellings of tales.
TAKEN - Pre-Raphaelites – inspired by Arthurian romances, Shakespearean tales and traditional fairy stories, the pre-Raphaelite brotherhood was obsessed with fables and fantasies.
TAKEN Flora and fauna – discuss your favourite depictions of flowers/animals in art. Think Georgia O’Keefe’s florals, Van Gogh’s sunflowers, Mat Collishaw’s burning flowers, William Morris’ nature-inspired textiles. You could even explore the symbolism of certain flowers: how can one symbol represent love, decay, purity, and more.
Articles should be 650-800 words. Please send your submissions to visual.arts@palatinate.org.uk.
Books — books@palatinate.org.uk
Hello! Gwen and I are super excited about this print, and we’d love for as many of you to submit pieces as we can have… We encourage contributors to get creative with this print, and ask that all submissions are given in by Sunday 2nd March, and are 700-800 words.
TAKEN - The origin of fairytales – consider why fairytales came about for their moral value, and how their origin and evolution has been traced back through different cultures. What is the significance of both oral and written storytelling within this, and is the oldest fairytale actually known?
The darker side of fairy tales – piece covering the real stories and hidden meanings of traditional fairytales. Explore the original tellings of the Brothers Grimm fairytales, considering the origin of the stories as a collective, or a story that interests you in particular. Why have these stories been adapted over time?
The reproduction and influence of fairytales – piece covering the contemporary resonance of fairytales, exploring why we keep retelling them, and the enduring cultural appeal of these stories. How might traditional tropes such as the passive heroine be evolving over time? How have fairytales influenced modern storytelling such as that of Tolkien?
Non-Western fairytales – how might tropes in non-Western fairytales differ from the West? Explore the cultural origins and resonance of these stories apart from the Eurocentric stories we’re familiar with.
Fairytale villains – explore traditional tropes of the fairytale villain, why are they so essential to these stories? How have perspectives of villains changed over time to subvert tradition and humanise these characters in modern retellings?
Piece on your favourite fairytale – explore the origin, moral meaning, reception and resonance of a fairytale that you love.
Please send in your articles to books@palatinate.org.uk
Love, Emily and Gwen x
Style — style@palatinate.org.uk
Hey everyone! This week’s print edition is themed ‘Fairytales’. If you have an idea of an article you’d like to write for this edition, email us at style@palatinate.org.uk. If you fancy a bit of inspo, consider writing one of the articles below, just email us to let us know which one you’d like to claim!
As always, if you have any other article ideas unrelated to this print edition, please do email us with your pitch. We’d love to hear from you.
Bel and Indigo x
TAKEN - Creating Fairytale Worlds in Fashion
Think about how fairytale worlds are cultivated by brands and designers. Consider the Chanel museum in Paris, how do they turn couture gowns into gorgeous artefacts that float up staircases and ornament the walls. Explore how fashion can create immersive fairytale environments- what do these worlds look like, and how do they capture our imaginations?
Breaking Down Fairy-Core: Microtrend or Timeless Aesthetic?
What exactly is fairy-core, and why has it seen a recent resurgence on social media? Is it a fleeting microtrend, or is it here to stay? Dive into the origins of this aesthetic, from its mystical allure to its influence from artists like Stevie Nicks. Uncover who first championed the fairy-core movement and its evolution from niche subcultures to mainstream appeal.
Ethereal Makeup: Defining Otherworldly Beauty
Explore ethereal makeup in fashion magazines and editorial shoots. Which famous looks have defined this mystical style? Examine how the merging of human features with fantastical elements, like pixie-inspired makeup, is reshaping beauty standards. What is it about this ethereal look that feels both dreamlike and groundbreaking?FKA Twigs: Cultivating Dark Fantasy through Fashion and Music
How does FKA Twigs cultivate her signature dark fantasy aesthetic? Discuss her approach to blending otherworldly grace with haunting fashion. From her music videos to her red carpet moments, discover how she fuses dark fairy tales with modern-day mythology, creating an enigmatic yet captivating persona. A great article to look at: https://www.vogue.co.uk/video/watch/life-in-looks-fka-twigs-breaks-down-18-memorable-looks-from-2014-to-now
Travel — travel@palatinate.org.uk
Hi everyone!
We're looking for travel articles with a focus on Fairytales - we've left some ideas below as inspiration. but as always feel free to email us with a pitch at travel@palatinate.org.uk
Content call prompts:
Fairytale destinations. Think castles and picturesque villages - drop us a travel guide for anything that really embraces that dreamlike aesthetic.
What do you do when your fairytale vacation goes wrong? Tell us about your own experience fixing a holiday gone wrong.
Disneyland and adventure parks. Are these tourist attractions really selling the on-screen dream or is it a different experience entirely?
Fairytale traditions. The little mermaid is Danish, beauty and the beast is French - write a piece on where our favourite fairytale stories are set, and how we can visit them in the present day!
The dark side of fairytales. Whether it’s Dracula’s Castle in Romania or Germany’s eerie abandoned forests, tell us about the eery/haunted places of classic fairytales
Happy writing...
Interview — indigo.interview@palatinate.org.uk
Hi everyone! We hope you’re having a lovely term and we look forward to seeing your contributions for this print, with the theme of Fairy Tales! This print, the Interview section are looking for interviews with:
Anyone with fun ideas or opinions on Fairy Tales and/or their evolution over the years
People with experience in music surrounding Fairy Tales - perhaps those involved with orchestras in the university, even the university Ballet Company!
Creative and Production Teams for upcoming productions of Fairy Tales in Durham - think Hansel and Gretal at the Gala Theatre, or The Little Mermaid at the Assembly Rooms!
As always, these are just suggestions, and we would welcome any ideas you may have! Shoot them our way at indigo.interview@palatinate.org.uk!
Lucy and Samara
Food & Drink — food@palatinate.org.uk
The role of food in fairytales and folklore, write about how food from folklore gives us a glimpse of history;
Explore foods from your favourite movie/series
Famous foods from cinema (cherry pie from twin peaks, Harry Potter world foods, cosmopolitan sex and the city, ratatouille from ratatouille, eggo waffles from stranger things); What is it about appearing on screen makes it so appealing?
Feel free to reach out to us with your own ideas regarding the fairytale theme, as there are endless topics to explore! Happy writing!
For any general inquiries please direct them to indigo@palatinate.org.uk
Image credit: Ashley Zhou
Hi, please can I do one for the features prompt about being a protagonist
Can I do book prompt 1 please?