“The Digital Imaginaries of Abya Yala”

Description: We are increasingly defined by our individual and collective digital footprints—in some cases, lack thereof. Much like the Space Race of the mid-20th century, the potential for new horizons places undue emphasis on the preoccupations of the few as the many suffer. But unlike last century, many individual lives have dramatically changed, for better or worse, whether they have a say in it or not, because of new technologies. 

In Abya Yala, the digital divide is no different. From uncontacted peoples in the Amazon, to the possibilities opened by new apps, and the (failing) experiment with Bitcoin in El Salvador, there are extremes to be found throughout the region. While Latin American cities compete to be the next Silicon Valley with various digital enterprises, simple technologies, like the ancient agricultural practices in Peru, have reemerged in response to the pandemic. 

In this next issue of Huellas, a writing contest, we are looking for stories that speak to the digital imaginary of Abya Yala. What are the tensions between futurists and luddites in Latin America? What does it mean for us to find a place in the metaverse while others return to the analog experiences of the past? How has progress redefined our human experience? Has it complemented it, or supplanted it? Who is pushing to immerse ourselves more in technology, and who is trying to maintain our connection with the physical world as society is remade in the digital realm?

We are looking for long-form nonfiction narrative stories that tell stories about how technology has impacted the lives of people in Abya Yala. Stories that show how people have been impacted by devices, digital connections, or the cultures that arise from them, in a way particular to places far from the centers of production of these technologies. We are not looking for Silicon Valley or Wall Street stories.  

Here are a few general topics we are interest in, but not limited to:

• What is a story that illustrates the way technology alleviates or heightens generational divides in Latin America and/or Latinx communities? It can be within a national or global context, since digital realities allow us to mostly ignore the arbitrary notion of borders. 

• What are the limits of the digital infrastructure of our lives? Can we truly balance our existence in the digital realm with our experiences in the “real” world? What happens when we pursue extremes, eschewing one reality for another? 

• What communities or individuals are living off the grid, intentionally or not? What ancient technologies have found renewed purpose in the face of climate change, food insecurity, and other problems?

• Some have reacted so drastically—either by fully embracing a digital existence in the metaverse or completely eschewing digital life—that they make us question our assumptions and rethink the limits, inherent goods and evils of digital existence. What are some of these experiences from Abya Yala or members of the Latinx community elsewhere?

• How has new technology––be it a device, a social network, a finance app–– changed someone’s life completely? Maybe they lost their job, or maybe their job was made easier and they discovered a new way of living; or maybe they could relocate to start a new life. Here, we are looking for dynamic transformations with a strong narrative arc and interesting characters.

Guidelines: 

• Please send manuscript submissions (no pitches) to huellas.mag@gmail.com by September 15th, 2022. If you do not hear back from us within a week to confirm receipt, please feel free to follow up. We will be reviewing article submissions on a rolling basis and we will announce three winners by mid-October.

• Manuscripts should be between 3,000-5,000 words and may be submitted in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. After a final round of editing, all published articles are translated into English or Spanish. We will also do our best, via translation, to accommodate indigenous and creole languages of the Americas. 

• Please include your name, pronouns, and a short bio (250 words or less). 

  • First place: USD 500

  • Second place: USD 300 

  • Third place: USD 200

• We are seeking original non-fiction narrative storytelling; we will not accept articles that have been previously published. We are most interested in atypical stories where authors transmit to the reader a sense of their excitement and interest in a given topic. *We do not accept fiction submissions at this time.