Dear colleagues,
We invite contributions to Positionality Stories, an ongoing Medium blog collection exploring the role of positionality in research, teaching, and professional practice across Writing Studies, Communication Studies, and related fields.
Developed as a companion to our edited collection Storied Practices: Positionality in Writing Studies (WAC Clearinghouse, 2026), the blog publishes first-person narratives that move beyond surface-level acknowledgments of identity to explore the genuine complexities of doing this work. Since launching in March 2024, the publication has accumulated 2,473 views and 1,187 reads with a 48% read-through rate, well above the Medium platform average.
What we’re looking for
First-person narrative essays (up to 2,000 words) that reflect on questions such as:
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How have your identities, lived experiences, or social positions shaped your research questions, methods, or interpretations?
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What challenges have you faced in articulating your positionality in a dissertation, article, classroom, or workplace?
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How do you navigate positionality when working with communities whose experiences differ from your own?
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How has your positionality evolved across stages of your career, or as you’ve moved between academic and non-academic contexts?
We especially welcome contributions from graduate students, contingent and tenure-track faculty, independent scholars, industry professionals, those who have transitioned between academic and non-academic careers, and multiply-marginalized scholars whose stories are underrepresented in scholarly conversations about research and teaching.
Submission details
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Format: First-person narrative, up to 2,000 words
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Style: Accessible and reflective; citations limited to publicly available sources
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Include: Brief author bio (50–100 words) and headshot
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Submit to: positionality.stories
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Timeline: Rolling submissions, with light peer review within 4–6 weeks. We aim to publish 3–4 essays per quarter in 2026.
All stories are published open access and remain freely shareable for teaching, citation, and discussion. Our editorial process engages anti-racist reviewing practices and provides developmental feedback to support authors in strengthening their narratives.
The full CFP is available here (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1TOS_Q29lEqaTj8SxNvnIAQv9Djh09k8K/edit?usp=sharing&ouid=117223173416611252272&rtpof=true&sd=true)
Questions or interested in discussing an idea before submitting? Reach us at positionality.stories.
Please feel free to share with colleagues and graduate students who may be interested.
We look forward to reading your story.
Warmly,
Editors: Kristine Acosta, Michelle Cowan, Rebecca Rickly, Nancy Small, and Erica M. Stone
Erica M. Stone, PhD
Email: erica.m.stone@gmail.com