Hello Fisi’s,
A few months ago I started something that has quietly become one of my favorite parts of Postcards by Hasif.
The collaborative essays.
If you’ve never come across one before, here’s how they work.
You write an essay on a topic that interests you.
Then I read it and write a response of my own. Sometimes I agree with what you’ve written. Sometimes I see it differently. Sometimes your essay reminds me of something I hadn’t thought about in years.
The final post becomes two essays in one. Your perspective first, mine second.
I’ve loved doing these over the past few months, so I’m opening submissions again.
This time, I’m looking for essays to publish in October.
I’ll be selecting around 4–5 writers.
What should you write about?
Anything you’ve genuinely been thinking about.
You don’t have to pick something from a prompt list. If you’ve had an idea sitting in your notes for months, write that.
Here are some themes you can write about if you’d like inspiration:
The Cost of Always Knowing What’s Happening
When Curiosity Becomes a Way of Escaping Life
Why Humans Invent Traditions
The Beauty of Things That Were Never Finished
The Burden of Having Too Many Choices
Why Ordinary Days Are the Hardest to Appreciate
The Psychology of Waiting
The Invisible Influence of Weather on Human Emotion
Why We Keep Rearranging Our Spaces
The Human Desire to Make Sense of Randomness
What We Lose When Everything Becomes Efficient
The Kindness We Never Realize We Needed
The Feeling of Standing at the Edge of Change
The Quiet Joy of Being Inexperienced
What Makes Something Feel Like Home Without Being Home (about environments rather than homesickness)
Why We Resist Simplicity
The Courage Required to Stay Curious
The Emotional Life of Empty Spaces
The Things We Learn Without Being Taught
Why Humans Need Seasons, Not Just Weather
The Beauty of Things That Cannot Be Owned
Why Humans Love Watching Things Burn (Figuratively)
The Beauty of Being Unremarkable
What Makes an Idea Worth Dying For?
The Quiet Violence of Certainty
Why Every Generation Thinks It’s Living Through the End
The Fear of Running Out of First Times
The Stories We Tell to Make Randomness Feel Fair
The Strange Comfort of Familiar Disappointment
The Illusion of Fresh Starts
Why Every Goodbye Creates a Different Person
The Hidden Cost of Endless Information
Why We Want Our Lives to Make Sense
The Difference Between Being Alive and Feeling Alive
Why Ordinary Days Are the Hardest to Appreciate
The Psychology of Waiting
The Beauty of Things That Cannot Be Owned
The Difference Between Being Alive and Feeling Alive
The Hidden Cost of Endless Information
The Illusion of Fresh Starts
Why Humans Need Seasons, Not Just Weather
The Beauty of Being Unremarkable
And if none of those resonate with you, ignore them.
They’re only there to spark ideas.
Some of the strongest essays I’ve published came from writers who followed their own curiosity instead.
How the Collaboration Works?
Your Essay:
You’ll write a 500–600 word essay on the topic you choose. It can be personal, reflective, analytical, or narrative whatever style feels most natural to you.
You don’t need to arrive at a final answer. Sometimes the most powerful essays are simply explorations of a question.
My Response:
After reading your piece, I’ll write a 500-word response where I engage with your ideas. I might agree, challenge something you wrote, or add another perspective.
That’s what turns the essay into a genuine exchange of thoughts.
The Final Piece:
Your essay will appear first, followed by my response, forming a collaborative essay of 1100+ words that reads like a written conversation.
Submission Timeline
Submissions are currently open for Oct, Nov and Dec
You can send your essay anytime during these months, and it will be considered for one of the upcoming collaboration slots.
However, if you’re hoping to be featured in Oct, I recommend submitting sooner rather than later. Once selections are made, I’ll need time to review the essay, write my response, and schedule the post.
You’re also welcome to submit older essays you’ve written before, as long as they fit the reflective tone of Postcards by Hasif.
Since there are only a few spots each month, earlier submissions naturally have a better chance of being selected.
Once an essay is chosen, I’ll reach out personally via email to confirm the collaboration and schedule the publication date.
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:
Microsoft Word document
Google Docs file
PDF
Avoid pasting the full essay directly into the email.
Use a simple font such as Arial or Times New Roman, size 12.
At the top of the document, include:
Your name
Your Substack publication
You can also add a short optional bio at the end.
Send your essay to: hasifnewsletter@gmail.com
Subject line: Co-Author Submission
In the email body include: [Chosen Topic] – [Your Name]
You’re also welcome to 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 isn’t about influencer culture, and it certainly isn’t 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. (150,000+ readers).
Exposure to 150,000+ 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, currently reaching 150,000+ readers.
You’ll also receive:
Exposure to a large, engaged audience
A collaborative essay featuring my written response
A one-week recommendation of your Substack
Your publication will appear as:
“Postcards by Hasif recommends [Your Publication Name]”
which helps introduce your writing to new readers.
If you’ve been thinking about sending something for a while, I’d love to read it.
Whether it’s an idea you’ve carried for years or something that occurred to you yesterday afternoon, don’t worry about writing what you think I’ll want to publish.
Write the essay only you could have written.
I’m looking forward to reading it.
For any queries, please reach out: hasifnewsletter@gmail.com