Freelance Writing Opportunities — Call For Submissions and Pitches
Freelance Writing — 35 Writing Calls For Submissions (as of 04/25/22) — Paid Writing Opportunities For Nonfiction, Journalism, Art, Poetry, and Fiction
Here are the latest calls for submission, pitches, and expiring writing opportunities.
Welcome to this week’s roundup of writing calls for pitches and submissions. This week I have 35 different publications and websites currently looking for writers. These could be magazines that recently opened their submissions up, fast-approaching deadlines, shout out from editors looking for something specific right now, or just reminders that they are always open for pitches.
I cover all kinds of writing opportunities. These markets could be fiction, nonfiction, reported pieces, or poetry. Sometimes, these markets are also looking for artwork or photography.
All 35 markets in this article pay their contributors. A good portion of them either pay more than $100.00 minimum, or writers have the potential to make at least $100.00. Although, I do include some lower-paying opportunities as well.
Each of the freelance writing listings in this article will contain the following:
- The name of the publication, anthology, or contest.
- Some way to contact them (at least one of the following — a link to their published guidelines, Twitter handle, or email address).
- What type of writing they are looking for.
- How much they pay.
- Deadline, if any.
I am now including opportunities that I have mentioned before, and the deadline is within 7–13 days which I published the article.
When you scroll through these listings, you may notice this:
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
That is how I am indicating that less than 2 weeks are left on that writing opportunity!
Good luck finding the perfect writing market for your nonfiction, fiction, and poetry!
Various Companies
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $100.00+
Deadline: Ongoing
Don Reisinger tweeted that he is looking for help from additional freelancers. This opportunity would be for tech content. Payment is usually at least $100.00. If interested, send clips and info to [email protected].
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
Agbowo
Looking For: Fiction, nonfiction, art, and Poetry
Payment: $25.00–60.00
Deadline: May 8
Agbowo has released a call for submissions on their upcoming themed issue on reincarnation. They are looking for poetry, fiction, essays, one-act plays, and artwork. They have a separate page than what is linked above in the details/website that lists more on overall submissions and compensation, and that page can be found here. They pay as follows;
- Poetry — You can send up to 5 poems for consideration. If they publish one, you will be paid $25.00. If they publish 2–4 poems, you will be paid $50.00.
- One-Act Plays should have a run time between 10–30 minutes, and payment is $50.00.
- Artwork — You can submit 5 pieces for consideration, and visual art pays $35.00.
- Essays — You can submit one essay of no more than 5,000 words, and payment is $60.00.
- Fiction — You can submit one story of no more than 6,000 words, and the payment is $60.00.
Atlas Obscura
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $300.00+ — typically they pay about $0.50 a word
Deadline: Ongoing
Atlas Obscura’s mission is to inspire curiosity and wonder related to the world. They typically accept pitches for Places or Stories — which would be places you have seen or been before or stories that focus on one place. They also accept pitches for food-related stories.
They are looking for well-researched well-reported stories. The general topics they cover include geography, history, science, exploration, and culture.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
Bennington Review
Looking For: Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
Payment: $20.00–200.00
Deadline: May 8
The Bennington Review is published twice a year, and their current reading period is open to May 8th. They are looking for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry.
For poetry, send between 3 and 5 poems for consideration. They will pay $20.00 per accepted poem.
For Fiction and Nonfiction, they want 30 pages or less. If the work you are submitting is an excerpt, it must work as a stand-alone story. They will pay $100.00 for accepted works of 6 pages or less and $200.00 for 6 pages or more.
Best Health Magazine
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $500.00
Deadline: Ongoing
Best Health Magazine tweeted that they are looking for pitches for their Preservation series. This is a series that highlights wellness businesses and practices rooted in culture, community, and history. The Twitter feed lists payment at $500.00 for short profiles or Q&A pieces. Send questions or pitches to [email protected].
Channel Void
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: 300 AUD / $220 US
Deadline: Ongoing
Jacob Seferian, the editorial director at Channel Void, tweeted that he is looking for lethally honest essays from writers with unique perspectives on mental health, career, family, sex, art, burnout, identity and more. If interested, send pitches to [email protected].
Contingent Magazine
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $250.00
Deadline: May 10
Sacred Writes tweeted that Contingent Magazine is looking for pitches from non-tenure-track scholars. They want essays that cover the intersections of women, history, and religion. Payment is $250.00, and pitches are due by May 10.
Discover Magazine
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $300.00 For Internet Magazine, $1.00 a word for print articles
Deadline: Ongoing
Timothy Meinch, Features Editor For Discover Magazine, tweeted that they are looking for science writers. They are especially looking for web articles of about 700 words which pay $300.00 each.
The Dread Machine
Looking For: Fiction and Poetry
Payment: $0.05 a word for fiction, $10.00 per poem
Deadline: Ongoing
This publication takes new fiction, fiction reprints, and poetry. They pay $10.00 per poem, $0.05 a word for original fiction, and $0.01 a word for reprinted fiction. They are looking for speculative fiction. The guidelines have a wish list of types of stories, hard sells, and hard passes.
Eat, Drink, Do Good Newsletter
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $100.00
Deadline: Ongoing
The Eat, Drink, Do Good Newsletter is looking for pitches with a unique perspective on a social justice-related topic. If interested, pitches can be sent to [email protected].
Payment is $100.00 for the article and an additional $50.00 for accompanying audio/video content.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
Grist Solutions Lab — Climate Fiction
Looking For: Fiction
Payment: $300.00–3,000.00
Deadline: May 5
Grist Solutions Lab hosts a no-entry-fee contest called, Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction For Future Ancestors. Stories are Due 05/05/22.
They are looking for 3,000–5,000 words stories, and the story should be set somewhere between today and the year 2200. This short story should “show a path to a clean, green and just future.”
The core elements they are looking for in a winning story are hope, cultural setting, vivid characters, creative solutions, and decolonized futures. Winners will receive a cash prize and publication on Fix’s site in the fall of 2022. Prizes are as follows:
- 1st Prize — $3,000.00
- 2nd Place — $2,000.00
- 3rd Place — $1,000.00
- 9 Additional Finalists: $300.00
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
Guide Fall
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $100.00
Deadline: ASAP
Andrew Smith, the owner, and Editor-in-chief of Guide Fall, has tweeted that he is looking for guides of about 1,000 words, and the payment is $100.00. You can send pitches to [email protected].
In These Times
Looking For: Nonfiction, Fiction
Payment: $250.00–800.00
Deadline: Ongoing
In These Times has been published since 1976. Since its inception, it has been committed to covering controversial issues of the time. Its mission is to advance democracy and economic justice, informing movements for a more humane world, and provide an accessible forum for debate about the policies that shape our collective future.
Although there is no payment listed in the guidelines, typically, their range is $250.00–800.00 for articles 750–2,000 words. There are multiple things they are looking for (see guidelines page). However, they are specifically looking for cultural items right now. This would include essays, photo essays, and short stories that explore the ways gender, sexuality, race, and disabilities intersect with politics and class.
Another topic you might want to consider for a pitch is how capitalism affects your personal life or how specific government legislation has personally affected you.
The Jamestown Foundation
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $400.00
Deadline: Ongoing
The Jamestown Foundation tweeted that they are looking for pitches for technology, energy, and environmental policies, and the economy. Send pitches to [email protected].
Mental Health
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $150.00–500.00+
Deadline: Ongoing
P.E. Moskowitz tweeted sent a reminder tweet that she is always taking pitches for her mental health newsletter. Rates for Q+A start at $150.00 and go up to $500.00 or more for longer, reported pieces. The Twitter feed has examples of the type of work she publishes.
Mythulu Magazine Issue 5 — Wildly Original Fairy Tales
Looking For: Fiction, comics, and Nonfiction
Payment: $30.00 a page, up to $150.00 for comics, $0.08 a word for nonfiction, fiction pays $.04 a word capped at $75.00
Deadline: June 17
For issue 5, Mythulu Magazine is looking for original fairy tales. They do not want reimagined fairytales — must be completely original. These stories can be set in any era and world.
- Short stories are 500–2,800 words.
- Nonfiction articles are 200–1,200 words.
Graphic-style stories and comics are up to 8 pages, submitted in full color. Storyboard pitches are welcome for this type of submission but are due April 7th.
Mythulu Magazine Issue 6 — Symbiosis
Looking For: Fiction, comics, and Nonfiction
Payment: $30.00 a page, up to $150.00 for comics, $0.08 a word for nonfiction, fiction pays $.04 a word caped at $75.00
Deadline: October 2
For issue 6, they are looking for co-authored stories, nonfiction articles and commentary, and comics.
- Short stories are 500–2,800 words.
- Nonfiction articles are 200–1,200 words.
- Graphic-style stories and comics are up to 8 pages, submitted in full color. Storyboard pitches are welcome for this submission type but are due April 7th.
National Center For Business Journalism
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $500.00
Deadline: Ongoing
The National Center For Business Journalism is looking for articles from freelance journalists to cover topics for businessjournalism.org. If interested, you should pitch an article relating to the current business journalism world, including career advice, tops, or other resources for other freelance journalists.
They want each article to be about 500 words, and it must include at least one illustration or photo. The payment is $500.00.
The New Republic
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $400.00+
Deadline: Ongoing
The New Republic has an open call for submissions for the topic sold short, about inequality. They are looking for heavily reported articles with a strong angle. Typically, articles start at $400.00. If interested, send a pitch to the email listed on the guidelines / open call page.
New Scientist
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $300.00+
Deadline: Ongoing
Although The New Scientist guidelines do not specifically list how much they pay, online reports indicate around $300.00.
They are looking for new and exclusive stories. New Scientist covers health, technology, space, and physics. They are not looking for stories already covered by mainstream media.
Oar
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $350.00–500.00
Deadline: Ongoing
Oar is a website that helps people deal with Alcohol Use Disorder. They are looking for writers who suffer from this disorder and can write personal essays, guides, or opinion pieces. Payment will be between $350.00–500.00 depending upon the research involved and the length of the piece.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
The Orchards Poetry Journal
Looking For: Poetry
Payment: $30.00–50.00
Deadline: May 1
The Orchards Poetry Journal has open submissions until May 1. Each journal they issue “The Grantchester Award.” They will select two poems to receive a first and second place prize. The first-place winner receives $50.00, and the second-place winner receives $30.00.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
Planet Scumm — Issue 15
Looking For: Fiction
Payment: $0.05 a word (up to $250.00)
Deadline: May 2
You can send in one short story or a collection of flash fiction stories, but they have a hard word count of 5,000. It must be previously unpublished, and they do allow simultaneous submissions.
Planet Scumm is looking for speculative fiction, science fiction, weird fiction, and slipstream.
Poet Lore
Looking For: Poetry
Payment: $50.00
Deadline: May 31
Poet Lore has an open call for their next issue. You can submit up to 5 poems (10 pages maximum). Poet Lore pays $50.00 per published poem.
Prism
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $0.40 a word ($280.00–480.00)
Deadline: Ongoing
Prism has put out a call for pitches for nonfiction features. Payment is $0.40 a word. They cover mass incarceration and policing, racial justice, workers’ rights, electoral justice, gender justice, and climate emergency.
They are looking for reported new stories, features, and profiles (up to 1,200 words) or commentaries, op-eds, and personal essays (700–900 words). These pieces should be on the topics already mentioned, or they can be other stories that:
“…Have the potential to impact lasting social, culture and systems change.”
The Progressive
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $100.00–150.00
Deadline: Ongoing
Kassidy Tarala, an editor at The Progressive, tweeted that they are looking for writers to do a piece on abortion bans in Kentucky, Oklahoma, and Florida.
Refinery 29 UK
Looking For: Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
Payment: £180–250
Deadline: Ongoing
Maybelle Morgan, Entertainment Editor and Acting Operations Manager of Refinery 29 UK, tweeted, that they are always looking for entertainment pieces. They are especially looking for controversial or unique takes on new TV shows, books, movies, or trends. They also want personal essays about cult tv and films. Send pitches to [email protected].
Rize
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $200.00+
Deadline: Ongoing
Rize aims to disrupt white supremacy in the art world by bringing diverse stories forward. They publish stories about QTBIPCO and BIPOC people in the categories of art, music, culture, and features. You can check out some of the published content to see if this is a good fit for you.
You can send a pitch or completed manuscript to Rize and links to previously published articles. Pay rates start at $200.00 but can increase based on the story’s complexity, article length, and original photography included.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
Scum
Looking For: Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
Payment: $60 AUD
Deadline: 1st through the 7th of the month
Scum is looking for feminist-friendly work — this could be nonfiction, fiction, or poetry. They want works of less than 2,000 words for fiction and nonfiction. They want poems under 50 lines, a max of 3 poems for poetry.
Six-Word Wonder
Looking For: Fiction, poetry
Payment: $100.00
Deadline: November 30
This is a short and sweet and, of course, the best part, free contest. The winner will get $100.00. If you are unsure what a 6-word story/poem looks like — check out this link.
Sojourners
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $250.00–350.00
Deadline: Ongoing
Sojourners is looking for freelance writers to create reported pieces, commentary, and analysis on issues such as social justice or anything that would appeal to their faith-based audience. You can either pitch your idea or send an already completed submission of up to 1,000 words in length.
The guidelines page states that they pay based on research and depth of reporting, but it has been reported online that they typically pay $250.00–350.00.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
The Takeout
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $150.00–200.00
Deadline: ASAP
Jordan Calhoun tweeted that they are looking for pitches on cooking and fast food. They are looking for a few long-term freelancers. According to the thread, the pay is $150.00–200.00 for regular articles and slideshows. They pay less for quick and short news stories. They are looking for writers who can complete 3–6 articles a week.
**UPCOMING DEADLINE**
The Victorian Writer
Looking For: Nonfiction, Fiction, and Poetry
Payment: $70.00–200.00
Deadline: May 6
The Victorian Writer publishes poetry and nonfiction articles about the writing life and the craft of writing. Submissions for the Spring Edition close on May 6, and the theme is Tapestry. Payment is as follows:
- $70.00 for poetry
- $100.00 for articles of 600 words
- $200.00 for articles of 1,200 words
Visual Arts News
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $0.15+ per word
Deadline: May 15
Visual Arts News tweeted that they have an open call for pitches due May 15, 2022. The guidelines state they are looking for pitches for features between 1,000–3,000 words, exhibition reviews of 500–750 words, and artist profiles of 500–1,500 words. Artist profiles are the most popular stories they accept. Pitches should be sent to [email protected].
Wide Open Eats
Looking For: Nonfiction
Payment: $0.15+ per word
Deadline: May 10
Lyndsay Cordell, the Managing Editor of Wide Open Eats, tweeted that she is currently looking for freelance writers to join the team and writer about BBQ, grill, and smokers. They only hire US-based writers.
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