- this literary life
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- no. 24
no. 24
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
Age isn’t just a number. While age affects us all differently, being mindful of how old your characters are can deepen characterization, impact stakes, influence plot, and even heighten suspense and tension. The year someone was born also impacts the frame of reference through which they experience the world, from their favorite music to the movies they’re constantly quoting. (Writer Unboxed)
marketing
Stop wasting your time chasing book reviews. Book marketing has undergone rapid changes over the past decade. Where cookie-cutter campaigns (book reviews, blurbs, tours, signings) used to be at least a little successful, they can now be a complete waste of time and money. Today, authors need to asses what their marketing goals are before investing in book publicity services and understand the viral success is random. Kathleen Schmidt breaks down The State of Book Publishing this week on Publishing Confidential.
Understanding marketing costs is half the battle. Andra Jo DeWerd, publishing veteran and owner of the Future of Agency, broke down the $11,000 marketing campaign she directed for her debut novel. In this week’s It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, she is completely transparent about what she spent to publicize her book, including in-person events, influencer boxes, advertising, and promotion. (We have to wait until next week to learn how this investment paid off)

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all things book publishing
publishing news + notes
“Pre-Paid” agent commissions are the latest publishing scam. If a “contract” from a publishing house stipulates you need to pay your literary agent an advance on their commission, chances are you’re getting scammed. Victoria Strauss details this clever new scheme robbing writers of thousands of dollars on Writer Beware.
The Rumpus is under new management. Beginning May 1, this beloved indie magazine will be helmed by Roxanne Gay, the magazine’s founding essays editor and author of multiple best sellers, including Bad Feminist and Difficult Women. Debbie Millman, designer, writer, and host of the podcast Design Matters, will join Gay to “bring renewed attention to the way visual artists are represented in the magazine.” (LitHub)
Joan Didion’s letters and research are now available. The papers of Joan Didion and her husband, John Gregory Dunne, are now available to researchers at the New York Public Library. The 336 boxes of archival content, including Didion’s birth certificate and diary, were left to the library upon Didion’s death in 2021. (Vulture)
for querying writers
Reminder:
I have openings + a quick turnaround on query letter edits.
Bethany Weaver, founder of and literary agent at Weaver Literary, has updated her MSWL to fill “specific holes” on her list. This includes adult/NA cozy fantasy (w/ romance); YA thriller, mystery, and horror; adult and YA romantasy, fantasy, and epic fantasy; plus more fantasy books that “appeal to a masculine audience w/o relying on frustrating cliches.” Submit queries using Query Tracker.
Many literary agents at Laura Dali Literary Agency updated their MSWL for spring. Taj McCoy wants a “spicy romantic mystery featuring flawed, dimensional characters and satisfying twists that subvert expectations.” Jennifer Udden has a very specific request for a “romance set in a living history museum — romance hijinks, workplace drama, and period accuracy.” Elana Roth Parker wants a “cozy fantasy murder mystery” where the main characters “use magic to solve crimes.” Resident X-Files nerd Katie Gisondi would like “cozy paranormal mystery (romance a plus).” Aiden Siobhan is “on the hunt for an escapist cozy fantasy (or romantasy) in a Ghibli-like setting, especially if it’s LGBTQ+!” Finally, Carrie Pesttitto is looking for "a spicy paranormal/speculative romance” because she is “ready to drool over some sexy shapeshifters, demons, and mythical creatures.” Check here for submission guidelines.

calls for pitches +
paid creative opportunities
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
Book Culture: John Maher, news director at Publishers Weekly, is looking for pitches of industry news, trend pieces, and reported features on “book publishing, comics and graphic novel publishing, manga/manhwa/manhua publishing audiobook publishing, bookselling, libraries, copyright law, generative artificial intelligence, [and] large language models.” He's especially interested in stories that are at the “intersection of technology and the book business; comics, graphic novels, and manga; trends in genre publishing including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and horror.” Rate: $0.50 per word for print; “web rates vary.” Pitch: [email protected].
Travel: Fodor’s has opened to pitches for spring 2025. Please pitch topics not already covered on their site, and remember they are not accepting destination service/SEO content. Ideal pitches are for “serviceable” stories that teach readers something new. Pitches through this form.
Parenting, Moving: Jessica Orwig, senior editor at Business Insider, is looking for a few different pitches right now. From parents, she’s looking for stories about when low-stakes challenges lead to larger revelations (being unable to help your child with homework leading to understanding you can’t always be there for them). She is also looking for personal essays from people with moving regrets. This can be from years ago or recently, with a happy or sad ending. Send your pitch with a clear Business Insider-friendly headline with 3 - 5 sentences explaining the focus of your pieces to [email protected].
Parenting: Conz Preti, editor at Business Insider, is looking for essays related to the new Netflix show, Adolescence. Whether you’re a parent concerned about the manosphere, your child did something awful you couldn't believe, you dated someone like Jamie, etc. E-mail pitches ASAP to [email protected].
Employment: Frank Olito, editor at Business Insider, is looking for essay pitches from recent college graduates (past five years) who did not have jobs lined up after graduation. “How did it feel to go into the real world with no job? What were you worried about most? What did you do to make ends meet? Who did you turn to for help? Did you move back in with your parents?” E-mail pitches to: [email protected].
Security: Rachel Courtland, editor at MIT Technology Review, is looking for pitches about Security for an upcoming print issue. They're looking for longer pieces such as narrative features, compelling investigations, essential profiles, and super-sharp essays. This call is primarily for journalists, but experts with strong ideas are welcome. Rate: $1 - $2/word. Deadline: April 4. Send pitches to: [email protected].
from previous editions
This subscriber-only section includes all remote job openings shared in previous editions of this literary life. Upgrade now for access.
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 with 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: 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
Food/Drink/Travel: Christie Rotondo, senior editor for Vox Creative, is always commissioning writers “for assignments in the food, drink, and travel space.” She told Study Hall that Vox is “constantly creating Eater heatmaps and Thrillist local guides and want to grow our roster of local writers.” Rate: $750 for maps or guides. E-mail bio and 2 -3 clips of relevant work to christie@[email protected] with subject line: Local Writer Pitch From [Your City].
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].
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].
home + garden
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].
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].
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
Older Millennials + Midlife: Marquita Harris, senior editor for Gloria, told Study Hall they are looking for “essays and reported features on topics that are relevant to women who are midlife. Think: pop culture, entertainment, relationships, and beauty. We also love original, compelling, quirky, and relatable ideas” for “women who aren’t yet old but aren’t still young.” Rate: $400 for 800 - 1200 words. Pitch: [email protected] with PITCH in the subject line.
Personal Essays: Narratively is looking for pitches for “The Personals,” a new series of “super unique and interesting first-person stories that focus on one moment, one day, one week, one season.” Specifically, they are looking for “active, exciting first-person stories that resolve around dramatic scenes and moments.” Rate: $300 for 1000 - 15000 words. Submit through Submittable.
Habits and Attitudes: Chicken Soup for the Soul is now accepting true stories about habits and/or attitudes. Whether you’re breaking bad habits, changing your attitude, or even if this story call-out inspired you to make a change, CSFTS wants to hear about it. Deadline for “habits and attitudes” is May 30. Submit here.
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].
Jared Keller, managing editor of Military.com, is looking for pitches of “compelling analyses of war movies new and old” for “Theater of War,” a new column. Analysis can focus on “a certain character, a particular scene, or broader theme.” Rates: start at $400. E-mail pitches to [email protected].
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].
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.
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 and what learning there is from this history lesson. Pitch here.
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.

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.
Roxane Gay is accepting nonfiction essays from emerging writers for her newsletter, The Audacity. Emerging writers have “fewer than three article/essay/short story publications and no published books or book contracts.” Essays should be between 1500 and 3000 words. Rate: $1500. Submit through Submittable.
Narratively and Belletrist have joined forces for the Narratively Belletrist True Romance Writing Prize, which “will award remarkable memoir and reported stories, from love quadrangles, to lost-and-found soulmates, to unthinkable sacrifices and bizarre romantic connections that defy all odds.” Grand prize winners receive $3000 (longform) and $500 (shortform). Entry fees are $10 - $20, but waived for Narratively subscribers. Submit through Submittable.

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remote writing + editing jobs
These job listings were active when this newsletter was scheduled to be published (March 29), but may have expired since.
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 wants to add a full-time Commerce Writer, Home News & Deals, to their Real Simple team. In addition to timely home, fashion, and lifestyle-related shopping content, you will be responsible for reaching out to experts, collaborating closely with writers and editors, and monitoring social media for commerce opportunities, including viral products. Ideal candidates have 2+ years of experience and are comfortable working remotely in a fast-paced environment. Rate: $60k - $70k.
Dotdash Meredith is also looking for a full-time Commerce Staff Writer to cover home shopping content for The Spruce on various topics, including gardening, bedding, vacuums, appliances, and more. Ideal candidates are detail-oriented, deadline-focused, and familiar with commerce and affiliate content. Rate: $60k - $70k.
Dotdash Meredith is seeking a part-time News Editor to join the Martha Stewart team at least 13 hours a week. You will be responsible for pinching and writing news content for MarthaStewart.com, plus researching and making revisions, updates, and rewrites of archival content. Ideal candidates have at least 2 years of experience writing or editing home/lifestyle media for a magazine or news publication, are comfortable working remotely, and can perform internet research, including creating/tracking Google alerts. Rate: $25/hr. US residents only.
Trusted Media Brands is looking for a full-time Contract Editor to report to the senior editor on the Taste of Home team. You will be responsible for editing SEO-driven food content accordingly to weekly publishing goals, mentoring writers, and supporting editorial strategy. Ideal candidates have 5+ years of full-time experience writing and editing food content, have a Bachelor’s degree in English, communications, media, marketing, or a related field, and have solid knowledge of SEO practices.
Morning Brew is looking for a full-time Contract Copy Editor to read and review newsletter items, interviews, and reported stories across their B2B portfolio, including Retail Brew, Tech Brew, HR Brew, and more. Ideal candidates have 2+ years of copy editing and/or fact-checking experience with financially-focused news or media outlets. Rate: $50 - $55/hr.
from previous editions
This subscriber-only section includes all remote job openings shared in previous editions of this literary life. Subscribe now for access.
Salon is looking for a full-time Senior Editor, Ideas to add to their team. Your role will be to help Salon reimagine their opinion coverage while leading the editorial vision for the exchange of ideas “on-site and across [Salon’s] multi-platform channels.” Ideal candidates have 7+ years of journalism experience, proficiency in digital analytics tools like Chartbeat, and an understanding of Salon’s voice and editorial vision. Rate: $81k - $90k, plus benefits + unlimited PTO. Position is covered by Salon’s Writers Guild of America, East, Collective Bargaining agreement.
Bustle Digital Group is hiring a part-time affiliate shopping writer (fashion & women’s lifestyle) for their Commerce and Affiliate Marketing Team. You will be responsible for writing articles, reviews, and round-ups aimed at helping BDG’s audience make “informed purchasing decisions,” with successful articles earning affiliate revenue. Ideal candidates have 3+ years of experience in writing, editing, or creating content in a digital publishing and/or affiliate marketing environment. Rate: $22 - $25/hr.
TheTravel is adding more Freelance Travel Writers to their team. These writers have experience, especially as a travel writer, with exceptional research skills, in-depth knowledge about travel trends, and strong writing skills.
Blavity is looking for 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.
Raw Story also wants to add a Night and Weekend Newswriter 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..
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.
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.
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.
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
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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