Why Misfits?

When we went to work on Issue 1, we found ourselves holding onto ideas and essays that seemed to resist categorization, but we refused to set them aside. From there, the Misfits issue was born.

Dear Readers,

We are thrilled to present our second issue, Misfits, following the publication of our inaugural issue, Openings.

When our editorial team went to work on the Openings issue at the end of 2023 and into 2024, we found ourselves holding onto ideas and essays that didn’t quite align with the theme and seemed to resist categorization. Rather than set them aside, we embraced the opportunity to explore a different kind of narrative. From that determination, the Misfits issue was born.

While these essays originated as pieces that didn’t quite align with the Openings theme, their inclusion in this issue isn’t incidental. The essays that comprise the Misfits collection deliberately explore the concept of being “out of place” across a wide spectrum of social, political, and cultural topics. Our aim with Misfits is to encourage reflection on the spaces and moments we occupy—or feel excluded from. These contributions invite you to reconsider how “misfits,” in all their forms, shape and reshape the world around us.

As with Openings, you can expect the same level of quality and thoughtfulness in this issue. However, Misfits comes with two changes. First, we are rolling out the essays in stages: today, we release the first five essays, with the remaining five arriving in the coming weeks and into February.

Second, this issue marks the launch of our new podcast, Protean View, available on all major streaming platforms. As part of Misfits, we’re including two podcast episodes that focus more deeply on the themes and discussions of the present issue, especially what it means to be “out of place” in the contemporary world. We hope these conversations add another dimension to your experience of the Misfits issue.

We are grateful for the opportunity to share this collection with you and are eager to hear your thoughts. Whether it’s through an email or a message on social media, we urge and welcome your feedback.

If you are interested in publishing with Muftah in the future, do send us a pitch. For more information about the submissions process, visit our About Us page.

Finally, please consider supporting Muftah by contributing a donation or becoming a paid subscriber to get access to our archive and other exclusive future content. As an ad-free, independent magazine, we depend on the generous donations and subscriptions of our readers. You help us continue our work.

Gratefully,

The Muftah Team