Lounge exists for the ideas that don’t neatly fit into a journal article or a conference talk. We want essays that bring two seemingly unrelated ideas together and show us something we hadn’t see before. We’re especially drawn to pieces that sit at the intersection of healthcare and technology, policy, history, culture, or design – where there’s a real potential to change how things are practiced.
We value interesting observations that go deeper than what we typically see. Not the run-of-mill takes, but the ones that make you pause and reconsider something you thought you understood. The kind of thinking that happens when a clinician has been turning something over in their mind for months and finally puts it into words.
We give our authors more freedom than an academic journal would. You’re allowed to wonder. To follow an argument somewhere unexpected. To draw on personal experience alongside evidence. The one thing we do ask: your piece should carry an optimistic slant. Not naive optimism, but the kind that comes from genuinely believing things can be better and being able to articulate how.
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Who can pitch
How to pitch
Send us a half-page to one-page description of your idea to editor@hallway.press. It helps if this is somewhat structured.
Tell us:
Your main argument. What are you claiming? What's teh core insight or observation? State it clearly, even if the essay itself will be more nuanced, we want to understand the thesis.
Why it matters. What changes if people understand this differently? Who should care and what might they do with this information?
A rough sense of how you'd get there. You don't need an outline, but give us a general sense of the structure, the evidence, examples, or observations you'd draw on.
That's it. You don't need a polished writing sample. You don't need a CV. Just show us you've thought deeply about this and have something specific to say.
What happens next
Our editorial process is collaborative, more so than most publications. Here's how it works:
1. We review your pitch. If your idea interests us, we will talk through it. We may suggest a different angle, broad scope, or a sharper focus. If it's not right for Lounge, we will let you know.
2. We develop the idea together. Before you write the essay itself, we will work with you to flesh out the argument, structure, and direction. This might involve an outline, a longer conversation, or a few rounds of back-and-forth on the core thesis.
3. You write, we edit. Together. The writing process involves a lot of back-and-forth. Our editors will push you to sharpen your arguments, find the right examples, and make the prose as engaging and readable as possible. Think of it less like submitting a paper and more like working with a writing partner who wants your ideas to reach as many people as they can.
4. We publish. Final essays typically run 3,000-6,000 words. When the piece is ready, it goes into Lounge and we do everything we can to promote it.
A note on pace: we move quickly, but it can take time. Not every pitch becomes and essay and not every essay makes it to publication. But if we are working with you, it's because we believe in the idea and are committed to making it as strong as it can be.
Ideas we'd love to see
To give you a sense of the kind of thinking that excites us, here are a few essay concepts we'd be thrilled to receive a pitch for.
Nuclear Power and the Future of Medicine.
Radiology has always depended on nuclear technology, but with AI driving up power requirements across healthcare, should the profession be looking at nuclear energy as part of its future? What does it mean for a field to advocate for the energy source it has always quietly relied on?
What Architecture Can Teach Emergency Medicine
How the physical design of emergency departments shapes clinical decision-making—and what would happen if we designed them around cognitive load rather than patient throughput.
The Case for Slow Technology in Fast Healthcare
Not everything in medicine needs to move faster. An argument for deliberately slow digital tools—and what we might gain from technology designed to create space for reflection rather than eliminate it.
These are just starting points. The best pitches are usually ones we never would have thought to ask for.
Common questions
I've never written anything like this. Can I still pitch?
Absolutely. Writing experience is not a prerequisite. A huge part of what we do is help people develop their ideas into polished essays. If you have the insight, we’ll help you with the craft. Our process is built for this—it’s collaborative, iterative, and designed to bring out the best version of your thinking.
Do I need to include references?
Not all essays need them. If your piece draws on specific data, studies, or claims that benefit from sourcing, we’ll work with you to incorporate references. When we do use them, we follow Chicago style. But many of our best essays are grounded more in observation and argument than in citation.
Do you pay writers?
Not at present. Hallway Press is a nonprofit, and we’re building toward sustainability. What we will do is invest significant editorial time in your piece and promote it across our channels. We want your ideas out there.
Is there a guarantee my pitch will be published?
No. We’ll be honest with you at every stage. Some pitches aren’t right for us. Some ideas evolve in unexpected directions during development. And sometimes an essay doesn’t come together despite everyone’s best efforts. But if we’re investing time with you, it’s because we believe in what you’re working on.
How long does the process take?
It varies. Some pieces move quickly; others take months of development. The collaborative nature of our editing means there’s genuine back-and-forth at every stage. We care more about getting it right than getting it fast.
I have an idea but I’m not sure it’s right for Lounge.
Pitch it anyway. The worst that happens is we say it’s not the right fit, and we might be able to suggest a different angle that works better.
Ready to Pitch?
Send your idea to the editor.
A half page is plenty.
editor@hallway.press
