(Parentheses) Review

Aim

Help us to keep bringing art and culture writing that is grounded in personal experience to a wide audience for free.

(Parentheses) Review is a literary magazine, based in London but with a global purview. 

It was born from many conversations we had while studying together on the Writing programme at the Royal College of Art, particularly these ideas surrounding proximity and what it means to find connection through writing, or art.

The word, parentheses, means: “a word or phrase inserted as an explanation, something which adds extra information” and also “an interlude or interval.” It was with this premise in mind that, after graduating, we wanted to make a space to house personal writing that is critical and engaged; a space that has a global purview while never shying away from what makes us human, what connects us to one another and to the world we find ourselves in.

The writing already published in Parentheses Review, and the pieces in the pipeline, do exactly that, and more. Our contributing writers bring a breadth of interests, affinities, and curiosities. 

The initial response has been overwhelming, so positive and affirming. It goes to show the desire for people to not only write in a “personal” way, but also the need to read that kind of writing. We think that there is an incredible power in being vulnerable, in sharing experiences – good or bad. To have work talking about the infinitum of human experience is crucial and urgent. In a zeitgeist of violent ‘othering’, of ‘us vs. them’, the ability to seek and find understanding through works of art is undoubtedly important, across many layers and degrees of intensity. We have a responsibility to the work, to the world, to make the work we need, and needed. 

As well as bringing this writing to our audience online, we are also hosting in-person readings, building a community of likeminded, engaged people and fostering a sense of connection that can be somewhat difficult to come by.  

We want to be able to keep commissioning this type, and quality, of writing, and we want to ensure that all of our pieces are available to be read, for free, by everyone. We are also in the process of producing our first print issue. Your donations will help cover the costs of running the digital magazine and producing the print issue. 

Funding method

Keep what you raise – this project will receive all pledges made by 5th August 2026 at 2:23pm