Radical Interpretations is a publishing project i’m running through 2022: a space for imagined futures that brings together established and emergent voices. My aim is to curate and support a dozen or so articles, and editorial, with strong art design, exploring the mid term future state.
This is not work that shares ‘answers’, but rather work that will provoke and inform the debate.
A series of ‘what ifs’ to help us to think.
Today i am opening up the Abstract Submission process: abstracts should be 150-300 words, and include:
- An explanation of what your work will explore, indicating the unique perspective you will bring
- An indication of your methodology: is this imaginative work alone, or will you draw on data, or existing ideas, case studies or examples of outliers. Any approach is fine, but it may help you to shape your idea if you can articulate your approach.
- A description of what your work will be: prose (an essay or article) or another format, like art, poetry, fiction, infographic etc. Please note that publication for issue 1 will be print and static online only, so no video or interactive formats at this stage.
Radical Interpretations will explore different themes. Examples include:
- What is a radical interpretation of the Future of Work?
- What is a radical interpretation of Leadership?
- What is a radical future of Learning?
- What is a radical future of HR?
- What is a radical future of the NHS?
- What is a radical future of Society?
Your approach can build on existing beliefs, or knock them aside: maybe you wish to explore democracy beyond geography, markets beyond money, or radically diversified healthcare systems?
Your work could be evidence based: painting a revised model of further education, an evidence based approach to kindness, or a technology led approach to leadership.
Or your work could simply imagine: what if ‘tasks’ were desegregated from ‘jobs’, what if ‘home’ was disaggregated from ‘ownership, and what if ‘creativity’ was codified into a harder currency?
The Peer Review Process
This work will be developed with a light peer review process: if you are an experienced academic writer, this will feel easy, but if you are new to it, here is what to expect.
Your Abstract should give a clear idea of what you want to write about. But it can carry a lot of uncertainty: maybe you know the topic, but are unsure of the sources to draw upon. Maybe you have an idea but unsure if anyone else will be interested.
Use the Abstract to get your idea, your creativity, and your interest across. You will then get feedback: perhaps it’s good to go, perhaps it needs rework, or perhaps the feedback will be that it does not quite fit this space.
I am finding my way with Radical Interpretations too: the work needs to be of a quality, but can hold very diverse perspectives. It must be respectful of others, but can challenge ideas.
If your Abstract is accepted for development, you will get individual support in a ‘writing buddy’ to give feedback on subsequent drafts.
All final articles will include a ‘response’ letter – to propose a counter view, or supporting perspective.
Partnerships and Developmental Support
What if you have an idea, but have not yet found a voice? I hope that Radical Interpretations will appeal to established and respected voices, but also to those just finding theirs, or keen to explore the creative opportunities of collaboration.
If you are an artists seeking ideas, or a writer who seeks art, a scientist seeking a philosopher, or an accountant seeking dreamers, get in touch: perhaps we can match you up?
Don’t be afraid to fail
My abstracts get rejected more often than they are accepted, and of the ones that get accepted my work is most often weak or incomplete.
Don’t be afraid to fail: this work is not coming from a place of certainty, but curiosity.
Submissions
Submit your ideas, or ask questions, on hello@seasaltlearning.com
julianstodd
Julian Stodd's Learning Blog 