These are themed non-fiction pitch/submission calls; a few outlets also publish other formats, like fiction and poetry. Some themes are: The Art of Narrative Storytelling; Culture; Home & Away; Love; Caretaking; Misinformation in Immigrant Communities; Roots; Whiskey; and The Power of Thinking Positive. – S. Kalekar
Country & Town House: Home & Away
Country & Town House (you can read about them here) is looking for pitches. “Country & Town House is looking to hear pitches for / commission a design feature our upcoming Interiors Book – theme is ‘Home & Away’ so we’re looking to hear about cool, disruptive design the world over…” About what to pitch and what is already covered, they say, “Couple things to bear in mind: we’re a UK based luxury publication, and we’re recently B Corp (so basically bonus points if it’s eco). Plus we’re already covering off a generic young talent hotlist & Brit designers in the US – everything else is totally fair game”. And, the editor wants to hear pitches “by the end of next week” (for a post that’s dated 12th February). Pay is 40p for 1,000 words. See this thread for further details of what they are (and aren’t) looking for.
History News Network: Newsletter Pitches
Their website says, “In December 2023, HNN transitioned to a new editorial model that centers on its weekly email newsletter. Each week, the newsletter serves up short-form essays and conversations to help readers make sense of the ways in which currents from the past continue to swirl through the present…. We are currently accepting pitches for original pieces to include in our newsletter.” They want pitches for pieces that fall into any one of the following basic types (see guidelines for details): Reflections on the connections between current and past events; Explainers by historians about their sources/methods/analysis that give non-specialists a better understanding about how historical “knowledge” is created; Historiographical essays that illuminate, in accessible and engaging language, the various ways that historians have understood and written about a given topic; and Reconsiderations that address major works and their impact on scholarly and/or public understanding of the past. They accept both, submissions and pitches, though they prefer pitches. Their published pieces are generally in the 1,000-1,500 word range, and they pay $300. Details here.
Den of Geek: Movies, TV, and Games
This is a call for US and UK writers. The editor of Den of Geeks has issued a pitch call – “Good time to pitch me Movies, TV, and Games pieces for Den of Geek! Primarily looking for evergreen features, retrospectives, and fun listicles, but also interested in original reporting. If you’re a pop culture writer looking for freelance work, reach out!” Pay is $75 for 1,000~ word pieces, and they are open to discuss depending on how ambitious the piece is. Details here.
Book IX: Love
Book IX is a literary journal, housed at Hamilton College’s Arthur Levitt Center for Public Affairs. You can read about them here. They publish personal essays, memoir, fiction, science fiction, humor, and poetry with philosophical themes. “We will consider only previously unpublished and philosophically informed creative work (though our understanding of “philosophically informed” is capacious).” They want submissions on the ‘Love’ theme. They accept prose of 2,000-7,000 words (will consider shorter or longer – see guidelines); they pay $200 for prose and $50 for poetry. The deadline is 8 March 2024, or until filled. Details here and here.
NPQ: We Stood Up column
NPQ (Non Profit Quarterly) is a US-based magazine of the nonprofit sector. You can read about the organization here. They have an ongoing submission call for the magazine for a column, We Stood Up.
“The past few years have seen a flurry of workers organizing across the country, from Starbucks and Amazon workers to new forms of cooperative ownership and governance sharing. NPQ announces a new column called “We Stood Up,” featuring the voices of people doing the hard work of realizing economic justice in their workplace. We invite writing from workers who want to share their experiences building a democratic economy and a fairer world, so that others can learn from their efforts.
We welcome pieces of around 500 words, with an answer to one or more of the following questions:
Why did you stand up and organize your workplace?
How do you build bridges and connect with other workers?
What has been the biggest barrier to making change happen at work?
In what ways have you implemented democratic practices in your workplace? We are offering $300 for contributions to this new space dedicated to showcasing worker voices.” Details here.
Ninth Letter: Caretaking
Ninth Letter is accepting submissions on the ‘Caretaking’ theme for the web edition. Submissions for the themed web issue are free, and submissions for the print issue are charged. They have detailed guidelines on the theme, including, “To define Caretaking, to our mind, as being separate from but not exclusive to love: sometimes we find our way to it, but other times we are chosen to take it on.
Send us fiction, poems and essays that capture and navigate practices of care for others. This call for submissions is not limited to care for people, but for care of anything other than ourselves. We want pieces that show both caretakers and cared for in a variety of settings and circumstances – through difficulties and successes.” Pay is $75 for prose up to 3,500 words, and $25 for poetry. The deadline is 31 March 2024. Details here and here.
The Heduan Review: Narratives of healing, reflection, and rebirth
The Heduan Review is a literary magazine, and they are looking for pieces on ‘Narratives of healing, reflection, and rebirth’. “In essence, we are looking for pieces that explore how we experience change in the face of triumph over challenges and what it means to introspect. Whether through personal essays, poetry, short fiction, or analysis of another work, we look forward to delving into your pieces on the human condition. This theme is meant to be fluid to encompass any number of works and a wide variety of authorship”. They accept personal essays (up to 3,500 words), book and film reviews (300-1,000 words), as well as fiction, poetry, and prose poems. Pay is $0.05/word. The deadline is 25 February 2024. Details here.
Mother Jones: Culture
Mother Jones is looking for pitches from “culturally minded writers and freelancers” for Mixed Media, their print culture section. Their editor’s post/thread says, “A few types of stories that could work well for us right now: Essays that explore a provocative idea as it appears across several books/films/art
Essays or dispatches about how internet culture and/or disinformation are shaping real world/physical culture, Profiles of musicians/artists/writers using form in creative ways to respond to or subvert debates about identity/capitalism/justice/gender”. Essays and profiles for this section are assigned at 2,500 words, and pay is ~$2/word. Their general freelance writer guide is here and the post/thread is here.
Logic(s)
Logic(s) was previously called Logic Magazine; it is housed within Columbia University’s INCITE institute. Their website says, “The mission of Logic(s) is to draw in voices and perspectives that remain outside, underexplored, and essential to thinking critically about technology from below.” Their editor has issued a pitch call: “I would like to commission 3-4 writers who are thinking from/with Sudan for the upcoming June/July issue of @logic_magazine. we are a black and asian queer tech magazine that defines technology v capaciously”. And, “We pay $2-4k USD depending on length and additionally fund translation into local languages if of interest.” See the pitch call/thread here.
,
Maisonneuve Magazine
This Canadian quarterly magazine of arts, opinion & ideas is accepting pitches for their summer issue. “What we want are pitches for articles that intertwine a well-written narrative, smart analysis and skillful research in a compelling way. In particular this issue, some general subjects we’re looking for pitches on: Palestine, LGBT rights, weird Cdn history, healthcare, prisons.” Their editor also says, “I’d love to hear ideas for solutions stories that delve into a response to a specific social issue.” And, “because we’re a Canadian magazine, we need most, if not all, of our stories to have a Canadian connection.” See the pitch call/thread for further information on what they are (and aren’t) looking for. Pay is CAD0.15/word. The pitch deadline is 26 February 2024. See their general pitch guide here, this pitch call here, and their editor’s post here.
The Markup: Misinformation in Immigrant Communities
Their tagline says, “Challenging technology to serve the public good”. They have an extensive pitch call, including, “The Markup is seeking pitches for stories on how misinformation impacts immigrant communities, especially non-native English speakers, in the United States, as a part of our “Languages of Misinformation” series. They want to hear from those who are already connected to an immigrant community experiencing misinformation; able to communicate with that community in their native language; Excited to create resources for communities, in addition to reporting out their stories; and Journalists, or people who have experience writing for news outlets. And, “We’re especially interested in communities with many non-native English speakers, communities who are dealing with that language divide between generations and within families, and immigrant communities getting most of their news from social media platforms and nonmainstream media outlets. We’re also interested in how misinformation is affecting these communities during an election year.” Pay is $1/word for estimated word count: “If we agree a story should be an estimated 1,000 words, we’ll commission you to do the story for $1,000, regardless of whether the final published work is 700 words or 1,300 words.” Details here.
Writers Victoria: The Victorian Writer – Golden
The Victorian Writer is the magazine of Writers Victoria, an Australia-based organization that supports writers. They accept work from members and non-members. The theme for their winter edition (June-August) is ‘Golden’. They accept articles/writing of 600 words (AUD100) and 1200 words (AUD200) in the print edition, with particular interest in the craft of writing and the writing life; they accept pitches as well as submissions. They also accept fiction and poetry. The final submission deadline is 4 March 2024. Details here and here.
(Writers Victoria is also accepting applications for Round 11 of their Nielma Sidney Literary Travel Fund for Australian writers, grants up to AUD10,000, deadline 17 March 2024, details on their Submittable.)
Gnaw: Roots
Scotland-based The Skinny is launching a new food magazine called Gnaw. “We want it to be a fun, engaging and unexpected look at food in Scotland”. The theme for Issue 1 is ‘Roots’, and they want pitches: “The theme for gnaw Issue 1 is roots: where our food comes from, the stories behind our favourite places, and our own histories with food and drink. What is the origin story behind your favourites, and what makes them important to you?” And, “We want to explore ideas that push the edges at this idea of ‘roots’ in food in fun, exciting and/ or unexpected ways. We especially want to hear from new and underheard perspectives on food in Scotland, and from new and emerging writers.” They’re still working out what to pay. The pitch deadline is 29 February 2024. Details in the post/thread here.
Art UK: Drawings
Art UK was previously known as the Public Catalogue Foundation. Their website says, “Art UK’s mission is to open up public (art) collections (in the UK) for enjoyment, learning and research.” Their commissioning editor has issued a pitch call: “I’m commissioning stories about drawings.
I’d love to hear from anyone with ideas for stories, especially: stories about artists who primarily worked on paper themed features that bring together different artists and works”. Pay is £250”. Details here.
BBC Studios: Cultural conversations in travel, entertainment, science/sustainability, and more
This is a pitch call from BBC Studios: “I’m assigning same-day, next-day, mayyybe 3rd-day reported takes with a strong news hook. Must be unbiased reporting w/multiple credentialed sources, minimum 50% women/nonbinary folks
This is NOT the place for: opinion, personal essays, products, anything promotional. It IS the place for well-reported takes responding to/kicking off big cultural conversations in travel, entertainment, science/sustainability, and more!” Pay is $350 for features of 600-800 words. See the pitch call/thread here.
Men’s Journal: Whiskey
This is a pitch call for Men’s Journal: “A reminder to all spirits writers that I’m still open for pitches for @MensJournal. Specifically looking for hot take op-eds and spicy essays about whisk(e)y.” They pay $250 for pieces of 600-800 words. See the call/thread here.
Parabola: Reality
Parabola is a quarterly journal that explores the quest for meaning as it is expressed in the world’s myths, symbols, and religious traditions, with particular emphasis on the relationship between this store of wisdom and our modern life. “We look for lively, penetrating material unencumbered by jargon or academic argument. We prefer well-researched, objective, and unsentimental pieces that are grounded in one or more religious or cultural tradition; articles that focus on dreams, visions, or other very personal experiences are unlikely to be accepted.” They publish articles and translations (1,000-3,000 words), book reviews (500 words), retellings of traditional stories (500-1,500 words), forum contributions (up to 500 words), and poetry (up to 5 poems). The theme for their Summer 2024 issue is ‘Reality’, and the deadline is 1 March 2024. They have other themes listed too, with later deadlines. Details here.
Channel
They have detailed submission guidelines, including, “Although we draw inspiration from local and international traditions of nature writing, as well as from the many dedicated platforms for writing on climate and ecology that exist today, much of what we publish falls outside common definitions of nature writing and eco-writing. We love work that speaks directly of a writer’s bond with and fear for our planet, and work that takes a local landscape, or a local flower, as its subject; equally, though, we love work that draws on an aspect of nature as setting, image or metaphor.” They have specific submission windows for fiction and poetry (closed now); non-fiction for the print (up to 6,000 words) and online magazine, as well as the blog, and art are accepted through the year. Pay is €35 per printed page, up €250 per piece and with a minimum fee of €50 for single-page works. For work published online, they pay €35 per 400 words, up to a maximum of €250 per piece and a minimum of €50. Details here.
Taproot Magazine: Thread
They want pieces exploring the topics of food, farm, family and craft. The magazine is divided into three sections: Head – essays about living a more connected life; Hands – recipes, crafts and projects to make yourself; and Heart – the personal experience of more connected living. Also, “We are looking for traditional and modern crafts. We are looking for recipes, and techniques to be carried into the kitchen, the garden, the pasture, the urban homestead, the rural farm.” Articles are 800-4,000 words. Their theme for issue 63, to be published in late Autumn 2024, is ‘Thread’. The deadline is 1 April 2024. Pay varies. Details here.
Sentient Media
They have refreshed their pitch guide. They have detailed guidelines, including, “Sentient Media is a non-profit news outlet publishing stories and solutions for a changing world. Our primary focus is factory farms, and their impact on food, climate, health, politics and more. A successful pitch will fit within at least one of our verticals: food and farming, science, climate, health or policy.” Rates start at $300. See their editor’s call here and general pitch guide here.
Going Places Newsletter
The Content Marketing Director of Going (formerly Scott’s Cheap Flights) has issued a pitch call: “For assignments, looking for writers deeply familiar (lived there, visited multiple times) with Canberra, Cairns, Brisbane, Zambia, Mozambique, Madagascar, Botswana. There are 1400-1600 words and pay starts at $350.” See the pitch call here and the pitch form here.
The Welsh Agenda: Welsh current affairs, culture, society, education, technology
The Welsh Agenda is a current affairs magazine of Wales; “We are open for pitches! This is a paid opportunity starting at £100 for articles on current affairs, culture, society, education, technology – all with a Welsh angle. We’d love to hear from you even if you’ve not been published elsewhere before.” See the pitch call here and their general, detailed pitch guide here.
Chicken Soup for the Soul
They publish true stories and poetry. Here are excerpts from two of their themed submission calls: ‘Miracles, messages from heaven, angels’; and ‘The power of thinking positive’.
– Miracles, messages from heaven, angels: “Stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events!
We are looking for powerful, astounding, stories that will make people say “wow” or give them chills. This book is for everyone, whether religious or non-religious.” Some of the suggested themes are: Signs and wonder; Divine intervention; Angel visitations; Everyday miracles; Messages or guidance from those who have passed on; Dreams and premonitions; and Miraculous healings or recoveries. Deadline: 28 February 2024.
— The power of thinking positive: “We know that using the power of thinking positive helps you to achieve your goals and lead a happy, purposeful, and productive life. Almost anything is possible if you think you can. You can dream big, overcome challenges, create the best life possible for yourself, and turn adversity into opportunity. What do you do to think positive and how did it change your life? Tell us your success story about using the power of thinking positive!” Some suggested themes are: How your attitude has made a difference in your life; Have you used the fake it till you make it strategy?; The unexpected benefits of challenges; and Putting things in perspective. Deadline: 28 February 2024.
Chicken Soup for the Soul pays $250 for works up to 1,200 words. Details here (themes), here (general guidelines). Also see their FAQ about submissions. They are accepting works for other calls too, with later deadlines (see guidelines): Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, New Year’s; Funny stories; Cat Stories; and Dog Stories.
Grow: The Networks Issue
Grow “tells creative stories about synthetic biology.” They have examples in their guidelines of various formats they publish in: Dialogues; Q&As; Reportage; Essays; Histories; and stories about equitable futures. They also publish science fiction. The theme for 2024 is ‘Networks’. They have detailed pitch guidelines, including, “The rise of artificial intelligence has enabled the world to think differently about ways of working — how connections, data, and information can lead to efficiency and advancement. In biotechnology, digital networks have superpowered our abilities to engineer proteins and solve once-impossible protein folding problems. At the same time, AI’s meteoric ascent has sparked both fear and excitement across economic, political, and social nodes. Artificial neural networks were developed in the mid 1900s to mimic the brain — yet biological networks have been around for billions of years. The neuronal architectures present from ant to elephant, the metabolic cascades underpinning all organisms, the oscillating harmony between flora, fauna, and the abiotic environment. What have we gleaned from these networks as old as life itself, and how can we use these lessons to peer into the future of AI?” And, “Rates vary based on scope and a writer’s experience, but are paid on a project-based fee that generally averages out to $1+ per published word. We will be accepting pitches year-round, but our editorial calendar does fill up, so keep that in mind.” Details in the pitch guide here; see the pitch call here.
Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.
