Looking for Writers to Collaborate With!
Hello Fifi’s,
Some of my favourite pieces published on Postcards by Hasif over the past months have been the collaborative essays.
If you’re new here, let me quickly explain how they work.
Instead of the usual guest post format, where someone writes a piece and it’s published on its own, these essays are structured as a conversation. A guest writer shares their thoughts or personal reflections on a topic, and then I respond with my own perspective.
Two writers. Two viewpoints. One shared piece.
I’ve grown to really appreciate this format because it reflects the way ideas actually unfold in real conversations. One perspective leads to another, and the discussion becomes deeper because it isn’t just one voice speaking.
With that in mind, I’m opening submissions again for the next round of collaborations.
I’ll be selecting 4–5 writers each month to collaborate with across May, June, and July.
If your essay is selected, you’ll write a 600-word piece, and I’ll follow it with a 500-word response. Together, the two sections become a collaborative essay that reads like a dialogue between perspectives.
Topics You Can Choose From:
Overcoming the Fear of Change
The Strange Comfort of Ordinary Days
The Journey to Becoming Your Own Hero
The Strain of Being Always Available
The Fear of Not Being Enough, Despite Everything You Do
The Weight of Expectations and the Freedom of Letting Go
The Quiet Courage in Facing Your Own Insecurities
Rediscovering Yourself After Losing Your Way
The Need to Be Seen vs. the Desire for Privacy
The Fear of Missing Your Own Life
The Burden of Holding on to the Past
The Journey of Finding Your True North
The Complexity of Healing from Emotional Wounds
The Fear of Not Being Able to Let Go
The Small Rituals That Quietly Shape Our Lives
The Art of Noticing
The Beauty of Unfinished Conversations
The Lives We Imagine for Strangers (sonder)
The Unwritten Rules of Human Connection
The Curious Habit of Talking to Ourselves
The Rise of Performative Authenticity Online
The Modern Obsession With Optimization
The Slow Death of Privacy in the Digital Age
The Romanticization of “Busy” Culture
The Strange Comfort of Background Noise
The Emotional Cost of Always Being Reachable
The Gentle Grief of Outgrowing Someone
The Strange Feeling of Being Understood
The Invisible Architecture of Everyday Life
The Curious Warmth of Random Memories
A Quick Note
You don’t have to limit yourself to this list.
If you already have a personal essay, reflection, or story that explores an idea you care deeply about, you’re welcome to submit it even if it doesn’t fit perfectly into one of these themes.
Some of the most interesting essays come from writers bringing their own experiences and questions into the conversation.
So if you have something thoughtful to share, feel free to send it.
What the Collaboration Looks Like
Your Essay
You’ll write around 600 words on the topic you choose. The style is completely open it can be personal, reflective, analytical, or narrative.
You don’t need to arrive at a final answer. Often the most interesting essays are simply exploring an idea or asking a question.
My Response
After reading your piece, I’ll write a 500-word response reflecting on the ideas you’ve shared. Sometimes that response might agree with your perspective, sometimes it might challenge it, and sometimes it might simply expand the discussion.
The Final Piece
Your essay will appear first, followed by my response. Together, the two sections create a collaborative piece of around 1100+ words that reads like a written exchange of ideas.
Submission Window
Submissions are currently being accepted for collaborations scheduled across May, June, and July.
You can send your essay at any point during this period and it will be considered for one of the available slots.
However, if you’re hoping to be featured in May, it’s best to submit sooner rather than later. We’re already approaching the publishing schedule for that month, and I’ll need time to read submissions, write responses, and prepare the final posts.
You’re also welcome to submit older essays you’ve written in the past, as long as they fit the reflective essay style of the publication.
Since only a limited number of collaborations happen each month, earlier submissions generally have a higher chance of being selected.
If your essay is chosen, I’ll contact you directly via email to confirm the collaboration and schedule the post.
Submission Guidelines
Original Work Only
All submissions must be your own original writing.
Word Count
Your essay should be around 500-600 words.
Format
Please send your submission as a:
• Microsoft Word document
• Google Docs file
• PDF
Avoid pasting the full essay in the email body.
Use a simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12.
At the top of your document, include:
• Your name
• Your Substack publication
You may also add a short optional bio at the end.
Previously Published Work
Submissions should be exclusive. If the piece already exists on another platform, please remove it once your essay is selected so it can appear exclusively on Postcards by Hasif.
Where to Send Your Submission
Send your essay to: hasifnewsletter@gmail.com
Subject line: Co-Author Submission
In the email body, include: [Chosen Topic] – [Your Name]
You may also include links to your Substack or social media.
If Your Essay Is Selected
You’ll receive a confirmation email & payment link.
A $50 feature fee will be required only if your essay is selected. Entry to submit your essay is completely free.
Before you jump in, I just want to say something important. I know when I introduce something like this, it can feel a bit… transactional. But please don’t take it the wrong way. Postcards by Hasif will always remain free to read. I have no intention of turning it into a paid publication, and I never will. Every piece I write, your submissions, my reflections, and my essays will always be accessible to anyone who wants to read them. I also don’t want to bring in brands, sponsorships, or ads. This space is not about marketing, it’s not about influencer culture, and it’s certainly not about monetizing in a way that compromises the essence of what this publication stands for. This is about creating a genuine community of thinkers and writers, exploring topics that matter, sharing perspectives, and giving both you and me a chance to engage meaningfully with readers. The $50 fee isn’t about making a profit; it’s a small way to ensure this collaboration is valued and taken seriously, while also helping me maintain the publication sustainably. Postcards by Hasif will always be my voice, my vision, my space. This collaboration is simply a way to bring in other voices I respect, share ideas, and build something together without compromising what this place stands for.
Once payment is completed, we’ll coordinate with you via email to finalize the title, thumbnail, and posting dates.
Your essay will be published in Postcards by hasif (120,000+ readers).
Exposure to 120,000+ readers: Your voice will reach a large, engaged audience that values thoughtful, reflective writing.
Recommendation of Your Substack: As part of the collaboration, I will recommend your Substack publication for a week. This means followers will see “Postcards by Hasif recommends {Your Publication Name}”, increasing traffic to your page.
Collaborative Content: This is more than just a guest post. You’re collaborating with me in a meaningful way, creating a written conversation that will resonate with readers.
What You’ll Receive
Your essay will be published on Postcards by Hasif, which currently reaches 125,000+ readers.
You’ll also receive:
• Exposure to a large and engaged readership
• A collaborative essay featuring both of our perspectives
• A one-week recommendation of your Substack publication
Your publication will appear as:
“Postcards by Hasif recommends [Your Publication Name]”
This recommendation helps introduce your work to new readers across the platform.
I’ve genuinely enjoyed reading the perspectives many of you have shared in these collaborations over the past months.
Each writer brings a different way of looking at ideas we often think about privately but rarely discuss openly.
If you’ve been thinking about submitting something, this is a good time to do it.
I’m looking forward to reading what you send.
If you have any questions, feel free to email me at hasifnewsletter@gmail.com.
Best,
Hasif
Hello! I just posted an article about The life of a showgirl album by Taylor Swift. Please do read it. If you enjoyed then like, subscribe and comment!! Stay tuned for more!
https://substack.com/@popkulture1/note/p-193903321?r=81f5s2