- this literary life
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- no. 16
no. 16
book bans are "hoaxes" now? plus, new calls for pitches
Nicole Tommasulo
January 26, 2025
In partnership with
hey there.
As always, thanks for signing up and scrolling through. I hope your pitches and/or queries land and the words flow this week.
Without further ado.
Table of Contents
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tips for freelance writers + novelists
craft
Writing is a solitary act, but finding your writing community could be the key difference between a manuscript gathering dust and one that makes it to publication. Whether through online platforms, genre-specific organizations, or local writing groups, connecting with fellow writers provides crucial benefits: brainstorming partners, honest feedback, and, most importantly, moral support when the writing journey gets tough. (Writer Unboxed)
Think of foreshadowing as your story's shadow play. Direct foreshadowing acts like a spotlight pointing to future events, while indirect foreshadowing works subtly, like gentle shadows adding depth to a painting. The key is balance and to use direct hints sparingly to build suspense (think Chekhov's gun), but sprinkle indirect clues (atmosphere, symbols, and small details) throughout to make your plot twists feel natural and earned. (Jane Friedman)
Want readers to connect with your characters on a deeper level? Tap into "hidden experiences,” those universal emotional challenges we all face but rarely discuss, like imposter syndrome or wrestling with tough choices. By weaving these relatable moments into key plot points, you'll create instant emotional bonds that keep readers invested. (Writers in the Storm)
Creating a distinctive character voice isn't just about what your characters say; it's about how they say it, from word choices to thought patterns. The best dialogue reveals personality instantly. If you can't identify who's speaking in your manuscript without context, it's time to develop that character's voice more deeply. (Writer Unboxed)
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all things book publishing
book bans
The Authors Guild (AG) and NAACP are fighting against censorship with a federal lawsuit in Colorado, where a school district banned 19 acclaimed books and implemented harsh restrictions targeting works by diverse authors (without reading them first). This case joins the AG's nationwide legal battle against politically motivated book bans, marking a crucial moment in the fight to protect students' First Amendment rights and diverse voices in literature. (Authors Guild)
Meanwhile, the U.S. Department of Education dismissed multiple book ban complaints as a "hoax" on Friday. This is despite over 10,000 instances of school book bans in 2023-2024 — nearly triple the previous year's numbers. Several states, including Florida, Utah, South Carolina, and Tennessee, have implemented official statewide book bans, particularly targeting works featuring LGBTQ+ characters and characters of color. The government now claims book removal is "a question of parental and community judgment, not civil rights.” (PEN America)
scams
There's a wave of ghostwriting scams targeting first-time authors through social media, often masquerading as legitimate publishers. These scammers typically either vanish with your money, deliver poor-quality work, or use initial services as bait to pressure you for endless additional payments. Protect yourself by avoiding sponsored links, being wary of DMs, and doing your homework through trusted resources (like the Alliance of Independent Authors). If a publishing offer slides into your DMs, it's probably too good to be true. (Writer Beware)
for querying writers
Reminder:
I have openings + a quick turnaround on query letter edits.
The next #MSWL day is scheduled for Feb 12 at the new official Bluesky location. Starting at 9 am ET on Feb 12, literary agents will be sharing what they wish was landing in their inboxes.
Hana El Niwairi, literary agent at Cooke McDermid Literary Management, is open to queries for the last week of every month. She is looking for speculative YA set in our world, especially if they have horror elements; romantasy as heavy on worldbuilding as it is romance; and stories about sentient houses (esp if connected to/reflecting on intergenerational trauma, anticolonial legacies, dark histories, etc). She’s also open to historical romance from/about marginalized perspectives, especially sapphic. Query Hana on QueryTracker.
Liv Maidment, literary agent at Madeline Milburn Agency, has updated her MSWL and is looking to add more bold, zeitgeisty literary, upmarket, and bookclub fiction to her list that will spark conversation and excitement. Specifically, she wants voice and character-led stories exploring complex relationships or themes around what it means to be human (interpersonal politics, the weight of history, society, or identity). She also wants closely told narratives and literary leaning genre fiction “grounded in the human stories at the heart of the novel.” Submit queries through MMA’s website.
calls for pitches +
paid creative opportunities
FYI: You can sign up for a subscription to receive pitches and creative opportunities a day early or right when I find them. If you appreciate these weekly roundups, feel free to leave a tip or buy me a coffee.
Reminder: Vet each opportunity before submitting.
Inclusion does not equal endorsement.
reported stories + personal essays
Features on Echoes: Sophia Epstein, editor at Digital Frontier, is looking for pitches for features on the theme of “echoes.” This can be interpreted as “however you want — as long as it relates to emerging and digital tech, and its impact on our lives.” She's interested in past cultural movements, strange theories about tech moguls being historical figures reincarnated, and more. Rate: up to £0.30 per word. Pitch: [email protected] by February 4.
Upcycling Clothes: Ellen Freeman, founding editor of Mildew Magazine, is looking for pitches of “surprising, thoughtful stories that inspire readers to think about old clothes in new ways.” They are particularly interested in pitches on “a reuse practice that’s a special part of your family/community/religion/location and how it shapes ideas around ownership/clothes/trash,” “artists who create work (digital, sculpture, musical theater—anything goes) around themes of recycling, old clothes, found ephemera, etc.,” and more. They are not looking for “stories about fashion made from new materials (no matter how slow and sustainable).” Rate: $0.50/ word, “negotiated as a flat fee at the time of commission.” Pitch:[email protected] by February 9.
Tech, Humanity, + Power Rules: Reboot is looking for pitches of nonfiction (essays, interviews, or software criticism) and creative writing (poetry and fiction) on the theme of “rules” related to tech, humanity, and power. Please, no “X won’t save us,” “capitalism is the root cause,” or “techno-solutionism is doomed to fail” style arguments. Rate: $200-$350 for nonfiction, $50-$300 for creative work. Pitch: nonfiction or creative pitch forms by February 1.
Neurodivergent Living: Lauren Quinn, managing editor at Motley Bloom, is always looking for pitches of “voice-driven pieces that feature lived experiences of neurodivergence” on “travel, beauty, home design, work and career, product reviews–anything that falls under the umbrella of Neurodivergent Living.” Rate: $300 (short articles) to $500 (longer researched and/or first-person pieces). Pitch: [email protected].
Gaming: Jack King, British GQ contributing editor, is always looking for writers (including US-based) to help expand gaming coverage. “I'd love to meet some great writers — especially with experience across profiles and in-depth feature reportage, and a distinct voice — in the space.” Pitch: [email protected].
Outdoors: Ryan Wichelns, founding editor at Trails Magazine, is looking for North American-focused pitches for features and reviews for upcoming issues with the themes of “Efficiency” (Issue 10) and “Connection" (Issue 11). Rate: $0.50 per word. Pitch: [email protected].
LGTBQ+ History: QueerAF is looking for pitches for 700-1000 word history articles for Trans+ History Week. They want 'think piece’ style histories, aiming to be thought-provoking and speculative, focusing on the lessons we can learn from history. To pitch, you must provide examples of previous work, a working headline, and four to five bullet points about what your article will cover. One of these bullet points should tell us how the piece will conclude with what learning there is from this history lesson. Pitch here.
Food: Vittles Cooking is opening the cooking section for pitches for the first time. Although there are no restrictions on what you can pitch – beyond the need to be related to home cooking in one way or another – they’re especially interested in stories on “the rules don’t matter” (the pleasures of ignoring the ‘right’ way of doing things), “..maybe they do” (techniques and approaches that transforming/optimize cooking), “cooking and work” (fitting cooking into daily life), “cooking and climate crisis” (impact of ecological disasters and seasonal disruptions in markets and the kitchen), “cooking under duress (what it takes to keep yourself/othere fed during illness, grief, turmoil), and recipe sets. They’re also particularly interested in hearing from people whose work challenges the traditional European and/or American-centred perspective of mainstream food writing. Rate: £150/40p a word for shorter pieces, £500 for 500 - 800 word essays. Pitch: [email protected] with the subject, COOKING PITCH.
from previous issues
food + travel
Grocery Diaries: Stephanie Pitera Statile, Lifestyle/Entertainment editor at Business Insider, is looking for fresh pitches for their Aldi, Costco, and Trader Joe’s grocery diaries. Rate: $175. Pitch here.
Whisky: Glug Magazine’s sister, Stramash, is looking for contributors who have fresh, interesting things to say about the whisky world. Rate: $.25/word. E-mail pitches to [email protected].
Travel: Stephanie Pitera Statile, Lifestyle/Entertainment editor at Business Insider, also wants short (500 - 600 word) essays on disappointing travel experiences. Think: your dream vacation didn’t live up to the hype, an underwhelming cruise, and regrets about moving countries or states. Rate: $200. Pitch here.
Food/Drink/Travel: Daria Smith at Late Checkout seeks travel, food, and drink stories with Gen Z energy. Pitches must be newsworthy/have a news angle (why does this story need to be told now?) and have accompanying visuals. Successful pitches also focus on one specific column, are 200 words max, nail Late Checkout’s voice, and have a fleshed-out concept. Rate: $200. Read full pitching guidelines here. E-mail pitches to: [email protected].
Food, Travel: Stephanie Pitera Statile, Lifestyle/Entertainment Editor at Business Insider, is looking for stores on: food/beverage rankings, traveling to many US states/countries, and visiting chain restaurants for the first time. She’s also looking for stories from longtime service-industry workers. Pitch through this form.
New England Travel: Jen Rose Smith, editor at Seven Days, is always looking for pitches for a travel series “about visiting Québec aimed at people living in Vermont.” “We're next-door neighbors, so stories can assume some basic familiarity. (i.e., this is not the place for ‘Montreal!! A cosmopolitan wonderland with Euro flair!!’)." They generally cover places within a few hours of the Vermont border — Montréal, the Eastern Townships, Québec City, etc., “but we're also open to big, dreamy stories that showcase how vast and diverse the province is.” Rate: $250-$325 for 1,200-1,800 words. Pitch: [email protected].
Travel and Food: Atlas Obscura and Gastro Obscura are open for pitches. They have a very in-depth breakdown of how to pitch them, including examples of what they’re looking for. Pay: $.50/word.
Food Writing: Taste Cooking is looking for a variety of topics, including recipes and food culture features. "We’re most interested in your well-reasoned idea. A story with a strong point of view that is backed by clear reporting and/or supported by proven expertise." With your pitch, please include "why you are qualified to write this story. And if we don’t know you, we’d like to see some of your work. Links are great. The pitch should outline the story in detail, with specifics. For us, the excitement comes from not just colorful copy but substance to back it up. A wise turn of phrase is not a substitute for detailed observation and reporting. If you pitch a feature involving recipe development or sourcing from chefs, clips of similar work are required." E-mail pitches to Matt Rodbard at [email protected].
Travel: Off Assignment seeks submissions for their "Letter to a Stranger," "Under the Influence," "No Equivalent," "What I Didn't Say," and "Witching Hour" columns. Only completed drafts are considered for publication. Simultaneous submissions are accepted. Pay range: $100 (Witching Hour) - $300.
Culture: Douglas Greenwood, film editor at i-D, is looking to commission across “culture, fashion, art, and photography for i-D this month. op-eds, new talent profiles, left-field looks at what’s cool rn, and introductions to what will be cool tomorrow.” Pitch: [email protected]
parenting + relationships
Parenting: Rosemary Donahue, Health & Parenting editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches of personal essays on “co-parenting, nontraditional engagements, parenting in 40s or older, not following milestones in relationships in the traditional order, supporting a family financially/being the breadwinner,” and more. Rate: starts at $225 for about 600 words. Pitch: [email protected] with [Pitch: Your proposed headline] as the subject line.
lifestyle + culture
Homelife: Sofia Rivera of Apartment Therapy seeks pitches from Black writers for Black History Month. Specifically, she’s looking for untold histories of household items, ways to honor your identity in your home, family heirlooms/traditions you keep up with, etc. Pitch: [email protected].
Health, Culture: Starlight Williams, editor at Nat Geo, is open to “smart (not academic), interesting (not just to you), and relevant (to a global audience)” pitches. Some examples include hidden histories, health explainers, health debunkers, or “I wonder” stories. Be sure to include sample hed/dek that matches Nat Geo style, plus a Nut Graph that answers the 5 W’s, emphasizing why you are telling this story, and your bio plus relevant clips. E-mail pitches: [email protected].
Moving: Paige DiFiore, Deputy Editor of Lifestyle and Entertainment at Business Insider, wants pitches from “folks who moved away from a place they loved living in for years, moved for a job or a partner's job, unexpectedly fell in love with living in a place they never thought they'd love, or have lived many places until finding one that they adore.” Rate: $240 for 600 - 700 words. Submit pitches here.
Renovations: Paige is also looking for stories from writers who “who recently did renovations and remodels and have regrets. Outdoor spaces, bathrooms, kitchens, fixer-uppers — you name it.” Rate: $230 for 600 - 700 words. Submit pitches here.
Literary Life, Culture: LitHub is always open to pitches about "literary life and culture," especially "the ways that books or their authors fit into the culture at large.” They also note they “enjoy rigorous criticism for a general audience." Send pitches (2 - 3 paragraphs outlining your idea) to [email protected].
literary magazines
Many literary magazines pay to publish your creative work, whether they’re short stories, essays, poems, or other mediums. ChillSubs has an amazing (free) database you can use to find the right opportunities.
For this issue of this literary life, I’ve included a curated list of literary magazines with submission deadlines on or before January 31.
Reminder: Vet each opportunity before submitting.
Inclusion does not equal endorsement.
Emerge Literary Journal, a free verse and flash fiction publication, will close to general submissions for poetry, fiction, and CNF, plus submissions to Esperanza Corner (mental health-focused work) on January 28. Rate: $15.
The Rebis, a literary magazine focused on tarot, seeks submissions for their fourth anthology inspired by The Devil (XV) tarot card. Think: power, oppression, rebellion, freedom, shame, sin, pleasure, etc. They are looking for various mediums (creative nonfiction, short stories, researched articles, interviews, poetry, photography, comics, collages, etc.). Payment: $200. The submission window closes on January 31.
Brink will close its submission window on January 31. It seeks poetry, prose, artwork, and hybrid entries focused on Renewal. Rate: $25 to $1000.
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remote writing + editing jobs
Since we’re all already on LinkedIn, I will do my best to find remote writing and editing jobs that have yet to be shared or are set to Easy Apply. These job listings were active when this newsletter was scheduled to be published (Jan 25) but may have expired since.
You can sign up for a subscription to receive job opportunities either day early or right when I find them. Or, if you appreciate these weekly roundups, feel free to buy me a coffee.
Reminder: Vet each opportunity before submitting.
Inclusion does not equal endorsement.
Dotdash Meredith is hiring multiple remote roles for PEOPLE Magazine, including a full-time Digital Weekend News Editor ($35-$38/hr), a full-time Digital Night News Writer ($30 - $35/hr), a full-time Digital Morning News Editor ($35 - $38/hr), a full-time Digital News Writer-Editor ($35/hr), and a full-time Digital News Writer-Editor (Crime) ($35/hr).
Dotdash Meredith is also looking for a full-time Senior Library Editor for Simply Recipies ($77k - $92k/yr), a full-time News Updates Editor for Better Homes and Garden, a full-time contract Business & Finance News Writer for Investopedia, and a part-time contract Copy Editor and Fact-Checker ($25/hr) for Food & Wine.
Gymshark Central wants to add more freelance writers to their database. Writers should have experience in fitness, wellness, food, or fashion.
from previous issues
Everyday Health is looking to hire more freelance editors. Ideal candidates have experience working on clinical and lifestyle content. They should also be able to write assignment briefs, edit new and updated content, and perform minor updates to optimize existing content. The rate is $30/hr.
Food & Wine is hiring a contract, part-time copy editor/fact-checker to “thoroughly fact-check and copyedit print stories.” Candidates should have at least two years of copy-editing and fact-checking experience. Rate: $25/hour. Requires working 25 hours per month for six months (with the possibility to extend).
Axios is hiring a full-time Media Editor to join their team. You will be responsible for “overseeing and elevating” all aspects of their coverage, including newsletters, breaking news, live events, and membership programs. You will also support the reporting team “in pursuing scoops, data-driven insights, and distinctive pieces that dig deeper than the obvious storylines.” Pay: $110,000 - $145,000 + benefits.
Additionally, Axios seeks a full-time Senior Technology Reporter. The ideal candidate is “obsessed with chronicling the companies and individuals who are building AI. You must be well-sourced inside the major tech companies and AI upstarts, and eager to break stories and explain the day’s news to Axios readers.” Pay: $87,500 - $175,000 + benefits.
The Dallas Morning News is looking for a full-time Interactive News Developer. You will be responsible for partnering with “reporters, editors, photographers, videographers, and audience engagement editors to help develop visualizations, tooling, and workflows for ambitious, in-depth investigative stories and quick turn dailies. You'll also be able to pitch, report, and develop your own project ideas.” Ideal candidates have front-end coding experience (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) as well as experience with data analysis tools, web scaffolding knowledge, and back-end web development experience.
Eleven is adding more freelance Topic-Expert Writers on a rolling basis. Ideal candidates have “subject-matter expertise as demonstrated by a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent or 3+ years’ industry or relevant writing experience,” plus familiarity with SEO, research skills, and the ability to take constructive feedback. Pay: monthly basis.
Dexerto is still looking to hire more freelance TV and movie writers to pitch stories and accept commissions. Ideal candidates have an “understanding and knowledge of the TV and movie landscape” and experience with CMS, Google Sheets, and SEO.
The Nerd Stash is looking for part-time weekend Entertainment and Celebrity reporters. Ideal candidates have a proven track record in covering celebrity news, soap operas, reality TV, and related entertainment verticals at established media outlets.
recommendations
books
podcasts
Thanks to beginning a rewatch of The West Wing (yes, it’s back on Max!), I finally got around to starting to listen to the recap/rewatch podcast, The West Wing Weekly.
Even if you’re not in the middle of a rewatch like I am, I highly recommend listening to this interview with Dule Hill and this one with Richard Schiff. I knew I’d like the conversations and interviews, but I didn’t think I’d find them so relevant to what I’m struggling with creatively/professionally. They have great things to say about timing + the creative process.
Also, if you haven’t subscribed to Vibe Check yet but are struggling with how to feel about the news this week, please listen to The Baddest Bunny.
TL; DL — your outrage is a precious resource that should be guarded. Do not give away your anger at every push notification. As Sam Sanders says, “What I can’t do is spend the next four years is just perform outrage […] every day. I don’t have that much outrage in my account, and I want to make sure the outrage that I spend is spent wisely.”
And as always, here are the podcasts I listen — and re-listen — to.
limited series
culture, news, politics, history
books, movies, tv, writing
true crime
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