Share your criticism. Challenge ideas. Start conversations.
NYCritics.com welcomes original submissions from critics, writers, reviewers, academics, journalists and independent voices from around the world.
Submission Guidelines
We publish thoughtful criticism, commentary, reviews and analysis across politics, culture, film, television, books, literature, arts and related subjects.
You don’t have to be based in New York to contribute. NYCritics is open to writers and perspectives from anywhere in the world.
What We Accept
We are particularly interested in original work in the following areas:
Politics & Analysis
- Political analysis
- Public affairs
- Policy and institutions
- Elections and political developments
- International affairs
- Political commentary
- Long-form analysis
We welcome reasoned arguments from different political perspectives. We do not require contributors to follow a particular political viewpoint.
Film & Television
- Film reviews
- Television and streaming reviews
- Film criticism
- Director and actor analysis
- Cinematic trends
- Retrospectives
- International cinema
- Essays about filmmaking and popular culture
Books & Literature
- Book reviews
- Literary criticism
- Author profiles
- Literary essays
- Fiction and non-fiction analysis
- Publishing and literary culture
Culture & Arts
- Cultural criticism
- Social and cultural analysis
- Theatre
- Music
- Visual arts
- Media
- Popular culture
- Cultural trends
What Makes a Good Submission?
We look for writing that offers something more than a summary of what has already been reported.
A strong submission should have:
A clear point of view
Tell us what you think and, more importantly, explain why.
Original thinking
We value interpretation, argument and analysis rather than rewritten material.
Strong evidence
Claims should be supported by reliable sources, facts, quotations or relevant examples.
A distinctive voice
We want writing that sounds like a person—not automatically generated or recycled content.
Substance
A short review can be excellent, but longer essays should earn their length through meaningful analysis.
Original Work Only
Submissions must be original work created by the submitting author.
We do not accept:
- Copied or substantially reproduced articles
- Rewritten articles from other publications
- AI-generated articles submitted as original human work
- Content published solely for SEO or backlink purposes
- Promotional articles disguised as editorial content
- Articles containing undisclosed paid placements
- Content generated primarily to promote a product, service or website
If a piece has previously appeared elsewhere, please tell us when and where it was published when submitting it. We may consider previously published work in exceptional circumstances, but this must be disclosed.
AI-Assisted Writing
We understand that writers may use technology as part of their research or editing process.
However, NYCritics.com is a publication for human criticism and independent thought.
We do not accept articles that are primarily generated by AI and presented as the writer’s original work.
If AI tools have been substantially used to generate, structure or develop the article, please disclose this when submitting.
The submitting writer remains responsible for:
- Accuracy
- Originality
- Sources
- Arguments
- Quotations
- Copyright
- Factual claims
Reviews & Criticism
We encourage honest criticism.
A positive review is not required.
A negative review is not a problem.
We publish criticism, not promotional endorsements.
However, criticism should focus on the work, argument, performance, product or subject being examined. Personal attacks, harassment and unsupported allegations about individuals are not acceptable.
Reviews should make clear when the writer has personally experienced, watched or read the work being reviewed.
Political & Opinion Submissions
NYCritics.com does not require contributors to share a particular ideology or political position.
We welcome disagreement and competing interpretations.
However, opinion pieces should distinguish fact from opinion and should not present unsupported allegations as established facts.
Political submissions should:
- Use credible sources
- Provide context
- Avoid deliberate misinformation
- Clearly identify opinion and interpretation
- Give appropriate attribution to sources
Strong opinions are welcome.
Careless claims are not.
Sources & Fact-Checking
Authors are responsible for the accuracy of their submissions.
Please provide links or citations for:
- Statistics
- Research
- Studies
- Public records
- Major factual claims
- Direct quotations
- Statements attributed to third parties
We may fact-check submissions and request clarification or supporting sources before publication.
Where appropriate, we may edit headlines, wording or claims for accuracy and clarity.
Copyright & Permissions
You must have the right to submit the material you provide to us.
Do not submit:
- Copyrighted material copied from another publication
- Photographs you do not have permission to use
- Images taken from websites without appropriate rights
- Unlicensed excerpts beyond applicable quotation limits
Authors are responsible for obtaining permission for material they do not own.
Editorial Independence
Submission does not guarantee publication.
Every submission is subject to editorial review.
NYCritics.com may:
- Accept a submission
- Reject a submission
- Request revisions
- Edit for grammar, clarity, structure and style
- Edit headlines and subheadings
- Fact-check claims
- Add appropriate contextual links
- Request disclosure of conflicts of interest
Editorial decisions are made independently of an author’s political, commercial or personal interests.
Conflicts of Interest
Please disclose any relationship that could reasonably influence your writing.
This includes:
- Financial interests
- Employment
- Personal relationships
- Sponsorships
- PR relationships
- Ownership interests
- Complimentary products or services
- Paid travel or accommodation
- Other material connections to the subject being covered
Disclosure does not automatically disqualify a submission.
Undisclosed conflicts may result in rejection or removal of published work.
Promotional & Commercial Content
NYCritics.com is an editorial publication.
We do not accept ordinary guest posts whose primary purpose is to obtain backlinks or promote a business.
A relevant company, organisation, book, film, product or service may naturally appear in an article when it is genuinely relevant to the subject.
However, editorial coverage cannot be purchased through our ordinary submission process.
If you are interested in advertising, sponsorship or other commercial opportunities, please use our Advertise With Us page.
Submission Format
Please submit your article in a clean, readable format.
We recommend:
Title: Clear and specific
Author: Your full name
Bio: 50–100 words
Article: Approximately 800–3,000 words for most submissions
Sources: Links or citations where appropriate
Images: Include only images you own or have permission to use, with attribution information where required.
Long-form essays may exceed 3,000 words when the subject warrants it.
Quality matters more than word count.
Author Bios
Published contributors may receive an author page and short biography.
Your bio should accurately describe your professional or personal background relevant to your writing.
For example:
Jane Smith is a film critic and writer based in London. Her work focuses on contemporary cinema, streaming and popular culture.
Do not use your author bio primarily for keyword stuffing or promotional links.
International Contributors Welcome
NYCritics.com is open to writers from all countries and backgrounds.
You do not need to live in New York.
We are particularly interested in perspectives that bring readers into conversations about:
- Different cultures
- International cinema
- Literature
- Politics
- Global affairs
- Regional cultural movements
- Emerging artistic communities
Our goal is to create a publication where geography does not determine whose ideas deserve to be heard.
How to Submit
Send your proposed article or completed manuscript through our Submission Form or use email: submit@nycritics.com
Please include:
- Your name
- Email address
- Article title
- Article category
- Short description/pitch
- Full article or draft
- Author biography
- Links to previous work, if available
- Any relevant conflicts of interest or disclosures
For first-time contributors, we recommend sending a short pitch before writing a very long essay.
What Happens After Submission?
We receive submissions from writers with different levels of experience.
Established critics are welcome. Emerging writers are welcome too.
We review submissions based primarily on:
Quality of thinking + originality + relevance + writing
not simply the writer’s existing reputation or follower count.
Because of the volume of submissions, we may not be able to respond individually to every pitch.
If we are interested in your submission, our editorial team will contact you within 7-15 working days.
Our Editorial Principle
At NYCritics.com, we believe criticism should do more than tell readers whether something is good or bad.
It should make readers think differently.
A great review can change the way we see a film.
A great essay can challenge an assumption.
A great political analysis can make a complicated issue understandable.
A great cultural critique can reveal something hiding in plain sight.
That’s the kind of writing we’re looking for.
Have something worth saying? We want to hear it.
Submit your work to NYCritics.