"Happily, we can report that American soccer writing is entering a golden age as the sport burrows itself deeper into the national conscience."
- The Fox Soccer blog looks at the launch of XI and the Howler this month.
Issue one of XI Quarterly is going to press this week! Reminder, the introductory quarterly subscription price of $7.99 is only available til 8/31.
XI Issue Two Open Submissions Call
XI Quarterly is currently accepting queries from new and established writers for submissions to XI issue two, themed around the idea of “Americans Abroad.”
XI publishes a variety of writing in each issue. This can include, but is not limited to, long-form essays, interviews and in-depth reportage. XI also publishes photography and art submissions as standalone contributions.
All queries for issue two should relate to the issue’s theme, “Americans Abroad.” How have the experiences abroad of North American soccer players, coaches, administrators or media shaped the sport’s development both domestically and internationally? North America, for the purposes of XI, includes the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
Before submitting a query, please consider that we favor hands-on reporting and research over opinion and look for creative ideas that explore the unique nature of North American soccer culture, whether the focus is contemporary professional, collegiate, grassroots and youth soccer or on the history of the game.
Issue two of XI will be published in early November 2012; the deadline for submission queries to be sent to the editors is July 31, 2012. Send all queries via email to submissions@xiquarterly.com
A big thank you to everyone who backed XI Quarterly’s successful Kickstarter campaign! Stay tuned for details on issue #1, coming this summer…
49 hours left for XI on Kickstarter. Here is a reminder of the rewards on offer for supporting a new independent North American soccer print publication:
- $2
Feel warm & fuzzy: see your name listed as an XI backer in issue #1 - $5
It’s all about the content: you’ll receive a digital copy of issue #1 delivered one week before general release + see your name listed as an XI backer in issue #1 - $15
Pin or stick your love of good soccer writing: an XI sticker/button pack will be yours + everything above - $25
Grace your coffee table: a print copy of issue #1 will be shipped to you one week before general release + everything above - $50
Your wall: Your XI issue #1 poster + everything above - $75
Wear it: spread the word around town with an exclusive XI t-shirt + everything above - $100
A year of unique soccer writing: a four issue print subscription to XI, delivered to you one week before general release + everything above - $200
Show your support for life: receive an embroidered scarf with the XI logo and enjoy a lifetime digital subscription + everything above - $300
Get fancy: show-off a beautiful XI screenprint + everything above - $500
The personal touch: a first edition of XI signed by every issue #1 contributor + everything above - $750
This one’s special: a print of your personal XI as part of a specially designed cover for issue #1 + everything above
Please reblog and help launch a new print soccer quarterly in North America!
XI Quarterly Hits Fundraising Goal (What Next?)
Tom Dunmore with some thoughts on XI Quarterly hitting its fundraising target:
This has truly been a grassroots effort, and demonstrates the broad desire of a North American soccer public keen to have serious content to digest about the game they love: this project was not funded by a donation write-off by a major corporation, or by a rich individual with money to burn, but by 250+ individuals reaching into their pockets with pledges ranging from $2 to $750 to make this happen.
For the XI team, that broad range of support is just as important as the cash in hand to actually publish XI - it confirms that there is an audience out there that wants to delve deeper into understanding the past, present and future of North American soccer, beyond the news wire releases repeated over and over. Fans want to consume quality writing, original photography, fresh perspectives, and to help support a publication to be proud of - not one imported from overseas, but one written with a focus on this continent, by content producers on this continent.
Thanks to your support, XI Quarterly has reached its funding goal on Kickstarter of raising at least $11,000!
A new North American print soccer magazine will now be a reality this summer. Thank you, 11,000 times over!
(P.S. - any further donations will only improve XI’s coverage of North American soccer, so please reblog & keep spreading the word!)
The XI Kickstarter drive ends a week tomorrow at 3pm. The all-or-nothing target of $11,000 is in reach as you can see above, but there’s still $1,517 to raise. Can you help support new soccer media by reblogging this or pledging as little as $2? Pledge at: http://kck.st/H51kHc
Beyond the Blog: The Future of American Soccer Journalism
XI co-founder Tom Dunmore on the present and future of soccer writing in North America.
Morning Kickstarter update, future XI readers: $6,481 pledged of $11k goal to launch XI in print, 13 days to go. Help us get there by donating whatever you can - even $2 helps! - and by giving this a reblog. Please support the birth of new soccer journalism in North America.
Please reblog to help launch XI on Kickstarter! If XI doesn’t hit the goal of $11,000 by Tuesday, May 2nd not a cent will go to launch the new soccer journal.
XI is now 48% funded on Kickstarter. If 100% of the target isn’t reached by two weeks tomorrow, nothing goes to XI to launch the magazine. Please share and support as you can here: http://kck.st/H51kHc
Interview with PI Founder Tom Dunmore
Check out an interview with XI co-editor Tom Dunmore.
If, for some strange reason, you want to know why yours truly has spent years blogging about soccer since moving to Chicago from England, Jetting Around has kindly put together an interview you might want to take a gander at.
What North American Soccer Topics Will XI Explore?
Content being king and all, here are some thoughts from the XI editorial team on the topics the magazine will explore.
