BlankIsYours (BIY) is a student-led multimedia magazine founded in late 2024 as an open platform for young people to engage with real-world issues without editorial restrictions. It was created after two students were barred from writing about the overturning of Roe v. Wade in their school publication.
Zine 01: ThisCityIsYours is the magazine's inaugural writing and art competition, inviting youth to respond to urban life, social justice, and the forces that shape their communities.
Five submission prompts:
- "That's Just How It Is" — Challenge normalized inequality and the systems we accept without question
- "The Liberty To Love" — Explore the lived experiences of queer youth and the courage of everyday acts of love
- "Two Sides of The Same City" — Reveal the dualities and disparities within a single urban space
- "Too Little, Too Late" — Capture the moment realization arrives when reversal may no longer be possible
- "Behind Closed Doors" — Explore the hidden gap between public appearance and private reality
Formats accepted: Written work (any form) and visual art (digital or traditional). All entries are considered for publication in the print/digital zine.
Prizes (per category — writing and art judged separately):
| Place | Prize |
|---|---|
| 1st | $100 |
| 2nd | $50 |
| 3rd | $30 |
Historical deadline: September 30, 2026.
Checked November 4, 2026: The official competition page still publishes Zine 01’s September 30, 2026 cutoff, free entry and international ages 12–21 eligibility. No later cycle or extension was verified, and the visible submission links do not establish current acceptance. The submission guidelines require original human-created work and prohibit AI-generated content and plagiarism. The writing guidelines distinguish a 1,500-word print limit from 5,000 words for digital-only publication, with a 15-stanza maximum per poem. Future competition dates and rules remain unknown.