Welcome to Anxy Magazine
about 7 years ago – Mon, May 01, 2017 at 05:08:48 PM

Today we’re unveiling issue one of Anxy. It’s a new print magazine about the way we live our lives—and at the heart of it is a question: What happens when people spend a lifetime pretending everything is OK… but it isn’t?

The inaugural issue is our answer to that question. We created it to bring difficult stories to light, acknowledge them, honor them—without judgment. Because we think that pretending you’re OK, creates a distorted perception. It tells us we’re broken, or weird. It isolates us. We should stop putting an Instagram filter on our emotions.

We started Anxy to make a space where vulnerable personal stories, the kind of stories we often keep to ourselves because we feel ashamed, can be shared.

And we’re beginning on the theme of anger. 

It might sound like an appropriately provocative way to start, given the political climate. The reality is, though, that we had it in mind long before the events of the past year unfolded. Why? Because anger is one of the most prevalent and challenging emotions, and so often misunderstood. For some people, anger runs the show; others avoid it all together. Anger helps us feel less vulnerable and more powerful. Our fear and sadness and other more sensitive feelings are more easily ignored, pushed aside, or justified when we stay in the angry places. And so, in this issue, we want to explore the spectrum of anger, how and when it is useful, and when it’s harmful.

What we wanted for Anxy №1 was to present you with surprising, thoughtful perspectives on how we deal with anger, coming from a range of different voices and perspectives.

 We’ve got an interview with the author Margaret Atwood, whose book The Handmaid’s Tale has just launched as a gripping series on Hulu. We’ve got reporting on what happens when people get angry at the ones they love; we’ve got storytelling from the streets of Turkey; we’ve got interviews from people who work at the frontlines of fury.

And then there are astonishing photo essays from three wonderful photographers: Matt Eich, Melissa Spitz, and Brian Frank. Each of them explore how their emotions and anger drive their work.

On top of this, there are essays from the likes of Ijeoma Oluo, Aleks Krotoski, and Kate Speer, and contributions covering poetry, food, music and so much more.

Bringing an idea to fruition is never simple or easy. I am so lucky to have had such great encouragement all the way along; from you, our Kickstarter supporters, who gave us the funds to get started, and our growing community of readers, who have boosted us everywhere we publish.

And I couldn’t have done any of it without the Anxy team. They dared to join me on this journey and challenge the odds. Their generosity warms my heart and I’m so grateful to have them all in my life. Thank you.

So I want to take a moment to appreciate all of our family members, friends, collaborators, contributors, patrons, and supporters. You believed in Anxy, even when it was merely a concept, encouraging me and giving us confidence that this project was relevant. It means so much to us to count you as part of our community.

We share our first issue with great pride and gratitude.

Here’s to the possibilities.

— Indhira Rojas

Anxy №1: 144 pages of beautiful, thoughtful, and thought-provoking storytelling that you won’t want to miss.

 

Anxy Issue no. 1 is almost here!
about 7 years ago – Wed, Apr 26, 2017 at 05:56:38 AM

This post is for backers only. Please visit Kickstarter.com and log in to read.

Building the First Issue
about 7 years ago – Fri, Mar 03, 2017 at 04:24:52 PM

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Our inaugural issue is in the works!

This morning we sat around the editor’s table and laid everything out—the stellar drafts we’ve received, illustrations and artwork, and that big interview you’ll just have to hold your breathe for.

We will not stop until we get these stories in your hands. Our team is hard at work writing, editing, and designing the first issue, all about anger, just for you. We will release the magazine in May (A.K.A. Mental Health Month), and we invite you to read our newsletter until then.

In December, we asked Anxy people everywhere for a change, big or small, that improved their mental health this year. The responses poured in, and you can find a selection here. In February, we started talking about anger. Our very own Kati Krause spoke with Charlene Carruthers, National Director of the Black Youth Project 100, about anger and activism in her work training black teens to be future leaders and activists.

Like these stories? Share them with friends and family using #weareanxy.

More news: We’ve got the goods.

Yes, the Anxy tote bags and pins finally arrived. The posters and postcards are in production with Redindhi Studio’s in-house Risograph. We hope you are as excited as we are to flaunt your new Anxy swag. If you didn’t get a chance to grab some, all items are still available for purchase.

If you’re wondering when you will actually be able to sport your new tote, the answer is: SOON. We’re sending out the rewards in the next two weeks.

Closing in on our big push to print, we remind ourselves to stop, take a deep breath, and acknowledge all of your continued support.

We are Anxy.

Xo,
The Anxy Team

PS. We will be having a release party of sorts. Details are TBD so make sure to check your email or Facebook in the next couple months for an update.

Backer Survey & Submissions Guidelines
over 7 years ago – Wed, Dec 07, 2016 at 01:10:41 PM

Hello Lovely Backers,

We are now finally ready to send out our Backer Survey! In conjunction with our rewards partner BackerKit, we’ll collect your shipping information and reward details—and even allow you to upgrade your pledge with any other add-ons.

Look out for an email from BackerKit in the next 48hrs. Or if you’d rather not wait, take the survey here: https://anxy.backerkit.com/

ICYMI: We’re now accepting pitches for the first issue of the magazine! Read our contributor guidelines to find out what theme we’ll be tackling and learn more about what we’re looking for.

Finally, know someone who would love Anxy, but missed our Kickstarter campaign? Anxy pre-orders are now available.

Best, 
The Anxy Team

Thank You For Making Anxy a Reality
over 7 years ago – Wed, Oct 19, 2016 at 02:19:28 PM

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Anxy became real today, and it's all thanks to you.

Being Anxy is not limited to those with marginalized voices but it often encompasses them. Those who are most at risk to experience the kind of trauma that shapes an anxious mind are least likely to have a platform to share their stories. 

At Anxy, we fundamentally believe in the power of storytelling. 

We see proof of it every day. We hear it in the people who stand up and speak the truth, even in the face of bullying, intimidation, and self-doubt. We see it in people who tell the stories behind words like depressed, addicted, confused, and scared. Welcome to our ragtag band of misfits. We created this magazine and this community for you.

#weareanxy

What happens next? 

Kickstarter will process all pledges and allow us to successfully receive the funds. This is where your Anxy hopes turn into reality. If any transaction issues arise during this period, we will follow up directly via email.

Two weeks from now we’ll send you a survey where you can complete your backer information, including your address, so we can mail you your rewards.

For those interested in contributing to the magazine, we hope to post contributors’ guidelines to the site some time in the next month. We will alert folks when those guidelines are live through our newsletter. Please hold any pitches until we post the guidelines.

We’re excited about where things can go from here.

Thanks for all your help and support!

Xo, 

The Anxy Team