[ANNOUNCEMENT] Introducing the r/indieheads Album of the Year 2024 Write-Up Series!
Howdy Gang! Yes, the indieheads AOTY write-up series IS returning for 2024! (with a small twist)
Indieheads Album of the Year 2024 Write-Up Series!
Hey y'all, we're back again to announce the latest entry of our Album of the Year Write-Up series. As we have every year since 2015, we're opening up the subreddit to a series of extensive writeups on our users' favorite records of the year, brought in by you! Starting on this MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND, we’ll be opening up a submission thread for everyone to submit pitches for write-ups about their favorite albums from that year. This year we will be taking 20-25 pitches for this series. It will run January 6th-January 31st All we ask is that you follow the Ground Rules for writing submissions, shown right here:
- In the comments of the pitch thread, submit a 50-200 word pitch on the album you want to discuss, explaining why you want to write about it and what your unique writing angle will be on it. While we will tolerate a track-by-track review or two we are specifically trying to avoid these and generally will not be taking this kind of writeup if we have to, as we would prefer to curate more original and interesting work. Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable or experimental with your format. You don’t need to have a twenty page masterpiece, just something that shows you take pride in your own work. The best writing always comes from a place of genuine connection to the art that inspired it, with an honest perspective attached. (If you need examples, there should be some from us, ( and in the first pitch thread.)
- If you have any previous music writing experience (e.g. previous AOTY series, Canadian Indie Rock, FYC, In Triplicate, outside blog writing) on the sub or elsewhere, be sure to add it to your pitch! While we’re happy to take on newcomers and people of any writing skill, it helps us a lot to know you have a good track record of previous writing about music. We love to see both new and returning names in these series every year! (And we always have plenty of both!)
- Every year we have issues with this but it still needs to be established. Your writeup must be a Google Doc turned into us at least TWO DAYS BEFORE POSTING DATES, no exceptions. We need that time to get proper editing and revisions done, and ensure that your work is worthwhile. (Also, we don't want to have to work on this during Christmas just as much as you don't want to.) If you don’t turn in on time, we will replace you with a backup, as we’ve done before in previous series.
- Please have a method of contact outside of Reddit. If we accept you in the series, we need to be able to get in touch with you easily so you can actually make your due date on time. Too many times we’ve had writers send us a solid pitch and then vanish from this website entirely. Having a method of contact such as Discord or e-mail makes our own lives easier when we’re trying to set these things up, and the easier you are to communicate with, the less likely it’ll be that we have to harass you to get ahold of your work.
- Only pitch albums that are normally allowed to be posted on this subreddit, so, y'know, indie music. I know everyone's clamoring for a Taylor Swift piece, but we have our limitations here! (though we do allow indie rap artists that are allowed on the subreddit for pitches as well) Just pick something that would normally be allowed here, of which there should be plenty to choose from just albums that released in February.
- Have fun with it! As long as you submit a nice, detailed pitch, you’ll get a response as quickly as is appropriate from us. Just do your best and your effort will shine through. If you need inspiration, look at some of the pitches from our 2020 Submission Thread.
That's all! Send us your pitches in the upcoming submission threads on MONDAY, DECEMBER 2ND and we’ll accept them as soon as possible. The series this year is set for January 6th-January 31st, and we hope to make it a great one as always!