no. 20

uptick in calls for pitches + advice for finding the perfect title

Author

Nicole Tommasulo
February 23, 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

Literary criticism is a vital art form that bridges personal connection with public conversation. It combines the solitary act of deep reading with the social drive to share insights. For writers crafting criticism, success lies in balancing three elements: the intimate "something speaks to me" moment with a text, the urgent need to tell others about it, and the craft of transforming that connection into compelling writing. (Point Magazine)

If you want your write authentic dialogue, you must become a better listener. The seven listening levels, from distracted nodding to deep emotional engagement, offer a powerful tool for crafting believable character interactions. By matching each character's listening style to their personality and relationships, you can create conversations that reveal character, build intimacy, and make emotional scenes resonate with readers. (Writers in the Storm)

Finding the perfect title for your book often involves three stages: starting with a personal, intimate placeholder title during drafting, evolving to a more market-conscious version when approaching agents, and finally landing on a published title that balances familiarity with uniqueness. The key is remaining flexible throughout the process and understanding that your title needs to serve multiple purposes: capturing your story's essence while also attracting readers who have no prior connection to your work. (Writer Unboxed)

The secret to writing genuinely funny fiction lies in creating situations where characters fail to adapt to their circumstances, delivering the humor with understated seriousness rather than forced jokes or wacky pratfalls. Success comes from treating absurd situations with deadpan gravity and omitting character reactions because, as author Eric Puchner writes for LitHub, humor lives in the space between sentences, not in characters laughing at their own jokes.

Great writers know how to guide readers through unexpected narrative turns, often planting subtle clues genre twists are coming from the very first page. You can weave carefully chosen details, dialogue, and character descriptions in a way that hints at what’s to come without giving the whole story away. This type of strategic foreshadowing helps prepare readers for major shifts while still catching them by surprise. (Writer Unboxed)

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all things book publishing

publishing news

Writers are increasingly tackling the 'incel' phenomenon by exploring the human stories behind the headlines without excusing or glorifying dangerous behavior. The trend reveals a crucial literary challenge: examining complex social issues and troubled characters with empathy and nuance while avoiding the trap of justifying toxic ideologies or violence. (Independent)

Two new Iowa bills threaten librarians with steep fines for providing certain books to minors, aiming to strip libraries of traditional obscenity protections and expand the definition of "inappropriate materials." For writers, this escalating censorship crisis (with Iowa and Florida accounting for 8,000 of 10,000 recent book bans) signals a crucial moment to defend literary freedom against politically motivated restrictions that could limit their work's reach to young readers. (Publisher’s Weekly)

for querying writers

Reminder:
I have openings + a quick turnaround on query letter edits.

Lee O’Brien, associate literary agent at Looking Glass Lit, is open to queries again and is extremely interested in horror and thrillers from all age ranges. They are also interested in Fantasy across all age categories and adult and YA romcoms. To query, e-mail [email protected] with your query and the first 10 pages in the body of your e-mail. No attachments, please.

Cathie Hedrick-Armstong, literary agent at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency, is looking for first-person narrative non-fic about Black children/a Black child integrated into a white school after Brown V Board of Ed. Submit your query via QueryTracker.

Natascha, a literary agent at Tobias Literary Agency, is looking for YA horror, especially involving mermaids. Submit your query via QueryTracker.

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

Girls and women: Sarah Little, founder of More to Her Story, is looking for more pitches on under-told stories about girls and women worldwide. Their focus isn’t just what’s in the headlines but the stories slipping through the cracks in mainstream media. Pitch here.

Flying: Conz Preti, Deputy Editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches on stories by parents whose child has been injured on a plane. “Whether this was because they were unrestrained, sitting on a lap, etc.” E-mail pitches to [email protected].

Cats: Catnip is looking for stories of joy and appreciation of “all things cat” through essays, interviews, and features. Rate is $.50/word (negotiated as a flat fee upon commission). E-mail pitches to [email protected] by Wednesday, February 26.

Outdoors: Stasia Stockwell, managing editor for Trails Magazine, is looking for pitches on backpacking food. “We need recipes as well as stories: Think a profile of a backcountry chef or a review of a unique piece of camp kitchen gear. Rate: $.50/word. Pitch: [email protected].

Living with disabilities: Rooted in Rights is looking for pitches for blog posts from disabled writers interested in “sharing resources ranging from organizing tips, strategies on getting basic needs met, highlighting a direct service organization, to things that bring you joy, books, comedy, or media recommendations, accessibility workaround, tips for finding community, strategies for rest, and strategies for resistance.” Rate: $400 for 500 words (w/ option to publish anonymously). Pitch here.

Sustainability: Lynn Freehill-Maye, managing editor at Hudson Valley Viewfinder, is looking for pitches on reported stories on “sustainability, agriculture, science, wildlife, outdoor recreation, green transportation, and more” related to the Hudson Valley. Rate: $500 - $700 for 500 - 700 words. E-mail pitches to [email protected].

from previous issues

food

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]. 

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].

Food: 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.

Food: Gastro Obscura is 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: 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/others 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.

travel

Moving abroad: Conz Preti, deputy editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches for stories comparing the US vs other countries (i.e. did you move to another country and parenting was easier?). Send pitches to [email protected]

Travel: Stephanie Pitera Statile, Lifestyle/Entertainment editor at Business Insider, 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. Plus, stories on travel to many US states or countries. 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].

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: Atlas Obscura is 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.

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.

Outdoors: Ryan Wichelns, founding editor at Trails Magazine, is looking for pitches from through-hikers or members of the Appalachian Trail Community about Hurricane Helene, its impact on the trail/trail community, or its recovery. Pitch: [email protected].

home + garden

Mortgages: Jessica Orwig, senior editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches of personal essays about home mortgages. “Are you aiming to pay, or have paid, your mortgage off early? If yes, why, and has it been beneficial? Or do you refuse to pay off your mortgage early and are using those extra funds for other endeavors?” Rate:$250. Pitch: [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 “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.

Groceries: Mara Weinraub, Senior Editor at The Kitchn, is looking for pitches from new writers who have “ingenious advice and strong opinions about the groceries we buy and the retailers and we buy them from.” She is looking for personal essays, reported features, expert-approved tips, noteworthy trends, cultural phenomena, and more. Rate: $150/300 word story. Pitch: mara.@[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.

Parenting: Conz Preti, deputy editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches on feel-good stories, parenting teens, having kids later in life/not having grandchildren, comparing US vs other countries (i.e. did you move to another country and parenting was easier?). Send pitches to [email protected].

lifestyle + culture

Personal Stories: Jessica Reed, head of narrative at The Guardian US, is always looking for pitches about “normal people. Normal people who go on, endure, preserve, resist.” Think: “Walmart workers, broke teachers, gentrifiers meeting the gentrified, struggling surgeons, hard-working farmers, taxi drivers on the brink, unhoused people who choose to go to jail, etc.” Pitch: [email protected].

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].

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].

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].

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.

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].

gender/identity/sexuality

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.

More to Her Story is open to pitches for news and feature stories centering on women’s and girls’ rights globally. Submit pitches here.

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.

Reminder: Vet each opportunity before submitting.
Inclusion does not equal endorsement.

 

remote writing + editing jobs

Since we’re all already on LinkedIn, I will do my best to find remote writing and editing jobs not on LinkedIn and/or set to Easy Apply. These job listings were active when this newsletter was scheduled to be published (Feb 15) 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.

NBC Sports is looking for a freelance fantasy content creator who will be responsible for providing original digital content on news and events for multiple sports, including but not limited to NBA and WNBA. You should be comfortable using fantasy terminology in copy and familiar with fantasy sports writing. Rate: $175-$200/day.

Dotdash Meredith seeks a full-time Evergreen Editor to assign, edit, update, and create non-recipe and recipe content for Allrecipes. Ideal candidates have a Bachelor’s degree and 3-5 years of digital editing and writing experience, preferably in a food category. Pay: $55k - $65k/year + benefits.

Blavity is looking to fill two remote, part-time contract roles. The first is SEO Content Strategist ($30/hr, 20 - 25 hrs a week), who will conduct thorough keyword research to help identify relevant and high-traffic keywords for assignments, perform daily Google Trends searches, and work closely with the Associate SEO Director. The other is a Content Editor ($25/hr, 25 - 29 hrs a week) to edit and publish 8 - 10 articles and 5 - 10 web stories daily and write 2 - 3 articles weekly.

from previous issues

Dotdash Meredith seeks a full-time Content Update Editor for Travel + Leisure. You will be part of the Quality Team working on the existing library of T+L content to help improve reader experience, drive additional traffic, and ensure the accuracy of already published content. Ideal candidates have three years of writing or editing travel content for a digital or print publisher. Note: Applications must include three travel articles they have written and published in the past year. Rate: $28-30.

Raw Story also wants to add a Night and Weekend Newsriter to their ranks to cover breaking news in national politics, criminal justice, social justice, extremism, and more. Ideal candidates can find new stories or different angles on events/mainstream issues, have a deep interest in the breaking news cycle, and have the ability to work independently on nights and weekends.

Visionpoint Marketing is hiring a full-time SEO Content Writer to join their growing Digital Experience & Analytics Team. You will be responsible for creating and publishing engaging content, leading discovery sessions (focus groups, stakeholder interviews, etc.), and other responsibilities. Ideal candidates have 3 - 5 years of experience in strategic marketing content, specifically related to inbound marketing.

Gannett/USA Today is seeking a full-time Developmental Editor/Content Creator to produce audience-focused financial content that will develop revenue. You will work closely with the Content Monetization Team to identify content opportunities to grow revenue and the USAT audience. Ideal candidates have a degree in journalism and at least four years of professional experience. Rate: $68k - $93k.

Gannett/USA Today is also seeking a full-time Developmental Editor/Content Creator to produce audience-focused home services content. You will work closely with the Content Monetization Team to identify content opportunities to grow revenue and the USAT audience. Ideal candidates have a degree in journalism and at least four years of professional experience. Rate: $68k - $93k.

Seahawk is looking for a full-time Content Writer to join their team. You will be responsible for creating blog posts, social media posts, and other digital materials. Ideal candidates have over four years of experience in content creation, good knowledge of SEO tools, and experience using Google Docs, Google Analytics, WordPress, and social media tracking software.

Everyday Health wants to add a full-time Editorial Assistant to their team. You will be responsible for helping to manage the editorial content pipeline, assigning new articles, and helping to recruit new freelancers. Ideal candidates have CMS, SEO, and digital editorial experience, especially in health, fitness, or wellness. Pay: $50k - $65k.

Angi wants to add a full-time Staff Writer to its team to produce high-impact content that promotes the Angi and HomeAdvisor brands. Ideal candidates have 3 - 5 years of experience creating search-driven content, working in a CMS like Contentful, and a degree in Marketing, Communications, Journalism, or a related field. Pay: $60k - $70k plus benefits.

Dotdash Meredith is hiring multiple remote roles for PEOPLE Magazine: a full-time Digital Morning News Editor ($35 - $38/hr) and a full-time Digital News Writer-Editor (Crime) ($35/hr).

Dotdash Meredith is also looking for a full-time News Updates Editor for Better Homes and Garden and a full-time contract Business & Finance News Writer for Investopedia.

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. 

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

podcasts

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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