Dear Writers —
Here are 19 publications that work directly with freelance writers.
Be sure to carefully study each publication before sending them a pitch.
Remember, if you want to succeed with your pitch, the most important work happens when you carefully study the publication, thoughtfully tailoring your idea to their specific needs.
If you’re not sure how to send a pitch, read this.
The Doe is a digital publication that shares anonymous, verified personal narratives to promote civil discourse. They are accepting pitches for stories from voices across the spectrum, including first-time writers. They publish anonymous, first-person narrative pieces and personal, verified non-fiction pieces full of vivid anecdotes. They want writers to keep their drafts to 500-700 words. According to their Twitter post, they pay around $100-300 per story. To learn more, visit this page.
Where the Leaves Fall (WtLF) is a print magazine that explores humankind’s connection with nature. They publish quarterly. They accept pitches for written features (1,400-3,000 words); Q&As (around 1,400-3,000 words); photographic features (with introduction of 500-800 words); dialogues (550 or 800 words); illustrations; and more. According to this Tweet, they pay £0.25 GBP a word. To contribute, refer to this page.
Sidetracked is a print and online journal featuring personal stories of adventures, expeditions, and exploration. They are looking for personal stories (about 1,500 to 2,000 words) of adventure accompanied by breathtaking photography. They’ve previously offered rates between £200 and £450, though the Tweets indicating those rates have since been deleted. If interested, email submissions@sidetracked.com. For more information, read their contribution guidelines.
Verso Books is an independent, radical publishing house. They publish 100 books a year. They accept pitches for their blog. They usually publish articles of 1,000 to 2,000 words. They do not consider fiction or poetry submissions. A Tweet by one of their editors suggests that they pay a flat fee of £150/$200 per article. For details, read their submission guidelines.
Nexus Media News is a nonprofit news service dedicated to climate change. They are always seeking pieces on how communities across the United States are responding to the climate crisis. They are especially interested in solutions-oriented stories centering on frontline and BIPOC communities. Their rates start at pay $500 for reported features (1,000 to 1,200 words) and single-subject profiles. For details, read their pitch guide.
IMPACT Magazine is a source of health, sports, and fitness information for Canada. The articles that they publish are provided mostly by experts in the health, fitness, and sports performance industries. The length of the articles varies. Department stories tend to range from 400 words to 1,500 words. According to a Tweet by one of their editors, they pay 0.40 per word. For more details, read their writer’s guidelines.
CBC News is a source for news from Canada and around the world. They are accepting pitches for first person columns from both new and experienced writers. They are particularly seeking “personal stories that reflect contemporary Canada, encompassing experiences from outside major urban centres, from people with disabilities, from Black, Indigenous and other people of colour, and from diverse economic-social perspectives.” They are looking for “interesting personal narratives” from 500 to 600 words. For details, read their first-person FAQs.
Mexico News Daily is an English-language news source for Mexico. They accept pitches and submissions (800 to 1,100 words) on travel, culture, history, the arts, and lifestyle. They pay freelancers 3 pesos (about $0.15)/word for 1,100 words maximum. For details, read their freelance submission guidelines.
La Jornada Filipina is “a Hispanic news magazine covering the Philippines.” They are seeking pitches with original reporting. They are “particularly interested in exploring how the Philippines’ Spanish colonial past continues to shape and impact the present.” They give priority to BIPOC and other marginalized voices. Rates: stories of 700 to 1,000 words pay US$50, articles of 1,300+ words pay US$75, and long-form pieces of 3,000+ words pay US$130. Please include in your pitch whether you will be writing the article in English, Spanish or both. To learn more, refer to this page.
Variable West is a platform for West Coast art, and they favor pitches from West Coast-based creatives. They have several pitch categories:
-Love Letters: Micro essays of 200-250 words on artists we can’t stop thinking about. Rate: $50
-The Why: Stories of 200-300 words on what inspires West Coast creatives. Rate: $50
-Pairings: “Art that makes us think of food and food that makes us think of art.” Rate: $75 for 400-450 words
-Exhibition Reviews and Artist Interviews: for exhibition reviews (600-800 words) and interviews (2,000 words), they are accepting pitches on the theme of “Stretching out for the future.” Rate: $150
-Dispatches: “Exhibition reviews of West Coast artists on view outside the West Coast (1,000 words). Rate: $200
For more information, read their call for pitches.
