36 Magazines & Blogs that Pay Writers $1,000+ Per Article

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If you want to get paid more than pennies for your writing, then this is for you. It’s a list of 36 magazines, blogs, and websites that pay writers up to $1,000, and sometimes more, for the writing they publish.

It’s not a comprehensive list of every such publication — but the hope is that every reader will find at least one interesting possibility worth pursuing.

For even more opportunities, here are 80 Blogs that Pay Writers $100+ for Guest Posts and 51 Magazines that Pay Writers $500+.

Cruising World publishes articles about live-aboard sailing, sailboat chartering, cruising destinations, and gear. They pay $25 to $1,000 per article. Their guidelines are not freelancer friendly. For example, they ask that you submit an article exclusively to them, but do not state a time frame to expect a response. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Priceonomics bills itself as a “data studio.” They use data analysis and data visualization to deep dive into a diverse array of topics. They pay anywhere form $250 to $1,000 per article. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Roads & Kingdoms uses “talented local journalists, deep storytelling, and the good things in life—food, music, booze—to inform and inspire about destinations around the globe.” They pay $25 for a breakfast post, $150 for a basic feature and $1,000 and up for an in-depth longform for their Dispatched series. To find out more, visit this page.
Curbed, a website focused on housing and urban planning, is now seeking pitches for longform journalism, essays, and narratives for their website. They pay competitive rates, and reports indicate payment of up to $1,000 for a 4,000 word article. This website seems to be part of a new breed of niche websites that are able to pay reasonably well, taking the role that niche magazines long held. Interestingly, they are owned by Vox, which is now a major website publisher. To learn more, read this page.
Planning: Those who contribute to this publication–which is organized by the American Planning Organization–will writing about urban, suburban, rural, or small town planning. Planning news can focus on projects like neighborhood revitalization, social planning, and more. Writers can expect to be paid between $100 and $1,000 for successful submissions. Check out the contributor guidelines to learn more.
Scrap is the trade magazine for the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. They’re published bi-monthly. They represent around 1,300 companies throughout the U.S. They aim to provide practical information to help scrap professionals succeed in their business. They pay $600 to $1,000. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
The Earth Island Journal is a quarterly magazine that discusses the environment and how it relates to present-day issues. They pay 25 cents per word, and you can receive up to $1,000 for a feature. To learn more, make sure to read their full submission guidelines.
The Anne Magazine is a regional magazine covering Watenshaw county, which encompasses Ann Arbor Michigan. They pay $1,000 for centerpiece articles. They want “strongly written news features about Washtenaw County or about culture or trends from a Washtenaw perspective.” To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Seattle Magazine wants news-related stories about the city and region, civic and social issues, local travel, food news, home, interiors, and other lifestyle stories, arts and culture, home and garden, and front-of-book features. Query first. Word count: 1,500-3,500 for features; 1,200 for departments; 200-300 for very short pieces. Pay: $400-$1,000 for features; $350 for departments; $50-100 for very short pieces. Details here.
Outdoor California Magazine is part of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. Editors are looking for “the best in both writing and photography” – articles focusing on CDFW efforts to protect and preserve the state’s natural resources and the wild life. Payment is $250-$1,000 for 500-2,000-word articles. To learn more, read the submissions guidelines: https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Publications/Outdoor-California/Submission-Guidelines
Providence is “a journal of Christianity and American foreign policy.” They publish articles on the intersection of Christianity and national security, foreign policy, political theory, etc. They pay $100 for 500-1,000 word articles on their website. They pay up to $1,000 for print articles. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Popular Mechanics –– The departments accepting freelance articles are Home Journal, Science/Technology/Aerospace, Boating/Outdoors, Electronics/Photography/Telecommunications and occasionally, general interest articles – the guidelines detail what they want in each department, and the magazine audience. Query first. Pay: $300 to over $1,000. Details here.
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-$1,000 for features. To learn more, read their$nbsp; submission guidelines.
Science Magazine covers news on science, science policy and issues that are of importance to the scientific community. They want “everything from 140-word news briefs to 2500-word features to investigative projects.” According to payment reports, they pay up to $1 per word, and sometimes more. To learn more, refer to this page.
Marie Claire is a fashion publication for women with “a point of view and a sense of humor.” They prefer story proposals instead of completed work. According to payment reports, they pay an average of $1 per word. To find out more, visit this page.
National Parks is an award-winning, quarterly magazine known for high-quality photography and writing. The magazine is published by the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), a non-profit group dedicated to the protection and enhancement of the National Park System. Reports indicate they pay $1 per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines. Be sure to click “Downloads” on their guidelines page to access the file.
Rodale’s Organic Life covers “living naturally in the modern world.” Payment reports indicate payment rates of 25 cents a word for online posts, and $1 a word for print. Rates will need to be negotiated. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Central Coast Farm & Ranch is a quarterly magazine based in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in California. They publish articles that cover a variety of topics specific to Central Coast agriculture. They pay up to $1 a word for published features. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Chatelaine is a Canadian magazine that covers the topics of health, fashion, and beauty. They publish briefs, how-tos, and features. For seasonal articles there is a four to six month lead time. They pay $1 per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Teaching Tolerance publishes articles for a national audience of pre-K through 12 educators with a focus on diversity and social justice. They accept freelance submissions for articles, blog posts, and lessons that reflect their perspective. They pay up to $1 a word for features and their Story Corner section. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Air Canada’s enRoute Magazine. Air Canada’s magazine reaches over 1 million readers a month. They have an international audience, and high expectations. They accept submissions in a variety of categories. They aim to respond to submissions within 30 days. According to our sources, they pay $1 CDN per word. Be sure to read their full submission guidelines.
Travel + Leisure Magazine pays $1 a word. The vast majority of their writing is from freelance writers. They have a very large audience, with a circulation of 950,00. The editors “are looking for a compelling reason to assign an article: a specific angle, news that makes the subject fresh, a writer’s enthusiasm for and familiarity with the topic.” To learn more, read their contributor guidelines.
Journey is AAA’s magazine for their members in Washington and Northern Idaho. They reach over 600,000 readers a month. Payment reports indicate $1 a word for payment. They aim to “present readers with lively and informative stories on lifestyle, travel and automotive topics that encourage them to discover and explore the Northwest and beyond.” To learn more, read their submission guidelines. When visiting the page, type in the Zip Code 98225 so you can access the right page. You may need to do that, end then click the link again. (Yes, it’s difficult!)
AARP: The Magazine accepts submission from freelance writers on a variety of topics, including personal essays. They want “thoughtful, timely, new takes on matters of importance to people over 50.” According to our sources, they pay up to $2 a word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Writer’s Digest is a widely-read and well-respected magazine about the art of writing. They accept both manuscript submissions and queries for articles that “inform, instruct, and inspire” readers. Writers can submit to any of their departments, including their “5-Minute Memoir,” “Reject a Hit,” and writing technique sections. They pay between 30 and 50 cents a word for articles up to 2,400 words ($720-$1,200), and they also work with a 25% kill fee. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Brain & Life, formerly known as Neurology Now, is a consumer friendly magazine “for people with neurologic conditions, their families, and caregivers.” They publish research based articles that are well sourced. They pay 75 cents per word, up to 1,500 words. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Canadian Art is a print and online magazine about contemporary art in Canada. They publish smart and accessible prose. They seek “original thinking, under-told histories and marginalized voices that challenge the status quo.” They pay 75 cents per word for print pieces and 50 cents per word for online pieces. To learn more, read their contributor guidelines.
Reader’s Digest is a general interest family magazine. They usually assign original articles to the magazine’s regular contributors. They do, however, accept queries that detail the article idea. They “look for dramatic narratives, articles about everyday heroes, crime dramas, adventure stories.” According to our sources, they pay $0.06 to $1.50 per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
The Sierra is the magazine of the Sierra club, the non-profit environmental activist organization. Their readers are “are environmentally concerned, politically diverse, and actively enjoy the outdoors.” They pay up to $1.50 a word for feature articles. To learn more, read their submission 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 pay $200 to $700, depending on word count. Writers who publish both articles and photographs may receive up to $1,500. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Military Officer Magazine is a magazine for commissioned and warrant officers, families, and surviving spouses of the seven uniformed services: Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Public Health Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Topics of interest include current military/political affairs, recent military history, personal financial planning, and health and fitness. No fiction, poetry, or fillers. Query first. Length: 1,000-2,000 words Pay: $0.80/word. Details here.
Legion Magazine bills itself as Canada’s military history magazine. They cover military history, military and veterans affairs, policing issues, issues of concern to senior citizens, health, recreation, humour and current affairs of interest to a national audience. Payment ranges from $150 to $1,200, plus 10 percent if they post the article on their website. Query first. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
LiisBeth is a “a reader and community supported zine that examines entrepreneurship, start-up culture, and the innovation eco-system through a progressive feminist lens.” They pay up to $2,000 for articles. To learn more, read their submission
The Sun Magazine is a beautiful magazine with a literary bent and a very loyal following. They have no ads, and they pay their writers well. Up to $2,500 for non-fiction. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
High Country News is a non-profit magazine covering the American West. They pay between $.50 and $1.50 a word. Their feature articles can be more than 2,400 words. They accept article pitches on an ongoing basis. They do not generally accept pre-written articles. To learn more and to pitch them an article, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
Boys’ Life is a monthly magazine published by the Boy Scouts of America. Articles should interest and entertain boys of 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: $500-1,500 for major non-fiction articles; $100-600 for departments. Details here.

 

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