Dear Writers,
Here are 10 publications that pay up to $1,000 per article or more.
We’ve found contact information for all of these publications. Note that they’re also covering the gamut of topics, including true-crime, marijuana, scouting, and Christian leadership.
If you’re not sure how to pitch these publications, then don’t! First, spend some time learning the pitching process. Also — as a bonus, read the pitch guidelines for Defector. It includes six examples of pitches that got accepted. It’s well worth a look, even if you are already good at pitching.
— Jacob Jans
Truly*Adventurous is a digital magazine that publishes longform stories by established and powerful nonfiction writers. About the kind of stories that they publish, they say: “Unlike most magazines, we have no topical mandates and couldn’t care less about chasing the news cycle. We tell incredible true stories by amazing writers. That’s it. We’ve published a lot of true-crime and real-life horror—subjects we love—but we also publish stories about wild adventures, clashing cultures, devilish mysteries, and unsung heroes.” According to their editor, payment starts at $1,000 plus a revenue share model. Send your pitches to team@trulyadventure.us. Learn more about them here and contact them here.
Scout Life (Formerly Boys’ Life) is a monthly magazine published by the Boy Scouts of America. Articles should interest and entertain scouts aged 6-17. They cover a broad range of non-fiction, from professional sports to American history. Department pieces include nature, aviation, health, pets, history and music. Fiction is assignment-only; do not query. Query by mail for non-fiction. Word count: 500-1,500 for major non-fiction articles; up to 600 for departments. Pay: $500-$1,200 for major non-fiction articles; $100-$600 for departments. Details here.
The Open Notebook is a “non-profit organization that provides tools and resources to help science, environmental, and health journalists at all experience levels sharpen their skills.” They welcome pitches for brief guides, story-behind-the-story interviews, and reported features. They pay $1,200 for interviews (1,500 to 2,000 words), and $2,000 for reported features (1,500 to 2,000 words). For details, read their submission guidelines. Also, read this interview with the editor.
High Times publishes articles about marijuana cultivation and counterculture lifestyle. They have a special interest in marijuana legalization. They publish both in print and on their website. They pay $500-$1,000 for features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Magic at the Margins is a food and beverage newsletter. They publish content that explores “history, culture, nuance, and/or identity through the lens of food and beverage.” They welcome freelancers interested in creating original and relevant pieces for their newsletter. They pay $1/word, capped at $1,000/piece. Majority of the pieces are 800 to 1,000 words. For more information, refer to their guidelines.
Alaska Magazine is the region’s most respected publication. They’re accepting queries for pieces that demonstrate an excellent narrative slant and focus completely on Alaska and its culture. They previously listed pay as $200 to $700, depending on word count, in addition to a total pay of up to $1,500 for authors contributing photographs. They’ve since removed the pay rates listed, so expect some negotiation. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Honolulu Magazine is a regional magazine for the city of Honolulu. They’re not a travel magazine, they’re a magazine for the residents of the city. They pay up to $1,800 for feature stories. They pay $100 to $600 for departments. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Inuit Art Quarterly is a magazine dedicated to “Inuit and circumpolar arts, connecting Inuit Nunangat and readers around the world.” $1 per word for print and online. They say this means they’ll pay $1,750 for feature articles and interviews and $500 for artist profiles and other front-of-book pieces. To learn more, refer to this page.
Bridal Guide Magazine offers everything that is needed to plan a wedding. They offer the latest wedding trends, registry advice, honeymoon information, real wedding photos, beauty tips, and more. According to one payment report, they paid $1,000 for a 2,000-word story. Contact them here.
Faith & Leadership is a biweekly, online magazine that is a learning resource for Christian leaders. They are always seeking new writers and stories. Their feature articles are 1,500-2,000 words, essays are 800-1,000 words, and Q&As are 1,000-1,500 words. They pay $1,500 for feature articles and $300 for essays. They also pay for mileage, parking, and other expenses. For details, read their submission guidelines.
