It’s a dark and confusing world out there, and sometimes the hardest part is trying to figure out what’s going on. Our future is being decided in group chats you’ve never heard of. Members of technical staff are filling the timeline with cryptic warnings, and everyone you know has an opinion on third-party AI evaluations.
We can’t claim we’ve never been part of any shadowy cabals,1 but we still like to dig up dirt. That’s why Asterisk’s Winter 2027 issue is Secrets. Don’t go telling everyone, but we’re particularly interested in the following topics:
Group chats, underground networks, and how the culture of secrecy affects everything else
Arms race dynamics, and whatever is going on at the labs
Niche or obscure histories, oddly influential but underrated arcane knowledge
National security, cybersecurity, and physical security
Taboos and open secrets
Genetics and medical privacy
Covert operations, bribery, and secret money
Persuasion, deception, manipulation, and cover-ups
The unconscious and the collective unconscious
Our magazine pieces tend to be long (3000 to 5000 words on average), evergreen, and deeply researched. We welcome pitches and drafts from everyone, not just academics or professional writers.
Email us at submissions@asteriskmag.com by October 31. Write a few paragraphs explaining the idea, how you would complete the essay (which sources would you reference? is it reported?), a target word count, and a little about yourself, including any relevant expertise.
We will reject all pitches that include AI-generated text. Due to the volume of submissions we receive, if you do not hear from us within two weeks, please assume that we have passed.
In confidence,
Clara, Angela, and Nadia
Just look at our funding disclosures.
I really want one on group chats! So much goes on in group chats now. Feels like the new social media.
do you mean Winter 2027 or Winter 2026?