Dear Writers —
Here are 15 publications that work directly with freelance writers, and pay up to $1.00 per word.
Be sure to carefully study each publication before sending them a pitch.
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.
Here are some resources to help with your pitching:
- How to Pitch a Listicle About Pop Culture
- How to Write a Pitch that Gets You Paid (Based on Real-World Examples)
- Case Study: How I Became a Regular Contributor to My Dream Publication
- Case Study: How I Broke into the Smart Mouth Newsletter and Earned $1 per Word
Experience Life is a progressive “healthy-way-of-life magazine.” It comes out 10 times a year and has a circulation of 700,000. They aim their content at 30 to 45 year-olds. Payment reports suggest that they pay $1.00 per word. Further information can be found on their writer’s guidelines page.
The Intercept is a nonprofit news organization that is devoted to holding the powerful accountable through its fearless, adversarial journalism. According to payment reports, they pay up to $1.00 per word. To contact them, refer to this page.
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.
New Scientist seeks feature articles. They want “science and technology stories from around the world that will intrigue, entertain and inform the widest possible audience, be they physicists, biologists or people with no science background at all.” Payment is negotiated, but reports indicate over $1 a word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
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.
Plate Magazine explores the culinary world to meet the most innovative chefs of the industry and uncover interesting food and drink ideas. Each issue of the magazine focuses on a singular culinary theme. According to payment reports, they pay $1.00 per word. To learn more, visit this page.
Harper’s Magazine is America’s oldest general-interest monthly magazine. The magazine provides its readers with a unique viewpoint on “politics, society, the environment, and culture.” They do not consider unsolicited nonfiction manuscripts. They also do not consider unsolicited poetry. However, they do consider unsolicited fiction. Reports suggest that they pay $0.25 to $1.00 per word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
Today’s Parent is “Canada’s #1 source for parenting content that informs, inspires and builds a sense of community.” Their articles help parents of children from birth to 9+ tackle a range of parenting issues including discipline, health, behavior and education. Payment reports suggest that they pay up to $1.00 per word. To find out more, visit this page
Chicago Magazine is a print and online publication that focuses on the culture, lifestyles and politics of Chicago. They want writers to send a brief pitch of 1 to 3 paragraphs stressing why their idea is unique and compelling for their readers. They do not publish stories which lack a Chicago angle. Payment reports suggest that they pay up to $1.00 per word. To learn more, visit this page
Washingtonian is a general-interest magazine for the DC area. They cover politics, technology, art, entertainment, dining, shopping, health, parenting, and personalities. They publish profiles, true-crime yarns, pieces of narrative journalism, trend pieces, column-length arguments, comprehensive lists, and photo essays. According to payment reports, they pay about $1.00 per word. To learn more, refer to their writers’ guidelines.
Sonoma Magazine is a bi-monthly publication that covers Sonoma County’s events, restaurants, hotels, bars, wineries, breweries, culture, style, and more. Payment reports indicate that they pay $1.00 per word. To contact them, visit this page.
Institutional Investor is an international business to business publisher that focuses mainly on international finance. They are looking for “stories that feature conflict, narrative, access, and disclosure”; “international content that will resonate with American readers”; “articles based on novel data or research about the asset management industry”; “cultural stories about the financial industry”; and “freelancers who know the institutional investment world.” The pieces should ideally be 1,000 to 2,000 words long. Pay is $1 a word plus reasonable expenses. To contact them, visit this page.
D Magazine is a resource for news, food, arts, health, business, weddings, and more in Dallas, Texas. Payment reports indicate that they pay $1.00 per word. To contact them, refer to this page.
Atlanta Magazine is a general interest publication based in Atlanta, Georgia. They cover news, culture, food, travel, entertainment, style, and all things Atlanta. They are interested in stories focused on Atlanta and the metro region. According to payment reports, they pay up to $1.00 per word. To submit a pitch, visit this page.
Texas Monthly is a magazine and website that covers Texas news, politics, culture, food, travel, history, music, crime, and more. According to payment reports, they pay $1.00 per word. To contact them, refer to this page.
