no. 36

Authors are sharing proof of life + BookCon's back (alright)

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

The portfolio that's automatically up to date with your work.

  • Authory saves you hours with a portfolio that's always up to date.

  • Get backups of all your articles.

  • Be ready to impress potential clients and employers, anytime.

tips for freelance writers + novelists

craft

So, you booked a developmental edit. Now what? Developmental edits focus on the big picture: plot structure and pacing, character development, world-building consistency, themes, narrative cohesiveness, point of view, tone, and voice. We’re working to refine the foundation of your story so you can move on to the line-by-line, word-by-word nitty-gritty. Before you send your book to your editor, do a quick read-through — does every scene move the story forward? Are your characters’ motivations clear? — so you can tell your editor where you’re struggling. Also, easy reading formatting helps (double-spaced, 12 pt Times New Roman, page numbers). (Writers in the Storm)

“I pulled my cloak around me” is not worldbuilding. In SFF especially, readers need more details to build the world you’ve created in their minds. Too often, writers rely on vague details, focusing more on what characters look like than the world they inhabit. (Craft by Vera Kurian)

Women’s fiction is changing. In the 1990s, Women’s Fiction wasn’t even a genre. Then, for the longest time, stories focused on women grappling with gender and expectations. For Erin Niumata, Senior Vice President at Folio Literary Management, the genre is evolving, shifting to focusing on women’s experiences both in fiction and nonfiction. (Write Your Next Chapter)

marketing

Gentle reminder to schedule rest when promoting new work. Maris Kreizman shares practical advice she’s learned after talking to hundreds of authors about their own publication experience. Besides needing to rest, remember to actively support fellow writers (just reading/sharing their work is enough!) and keep realistic expectations about highs and lows. (LitHub)

If you’re selling your work at an in-person event, there are key things you will need to help you stand out + make sales. Besides some basic tools like a cash drawer (with petty cash to make change), the ability to take credit/debit cards, and a backup battery source, remember to pay special attention to the way you + your table are costumed. Also, don’t forget to pack water and snacks. Author Lynette M. Burrows shares what she’s learned by trial and error. (Writers in the Storm)

🚨 Want to become famous(er), grab more customers, and 100X your reach?

Stop burning budget on ads and hoping for clicks. Podcast listeners lean in, hang on every word, and buy from guests who deliver real value. But appearing on dozens of incredible podcasts overnight as a guest has been impossible to all but the most famous.

PodPitch.com is the NEW software that books you as a guest (over and over!) on the exact kind of podcasts you want to appear on – automatically.

Drop your LinkedIn URL into PodPitch.
🤖 Scans 4 Million Podcasts: PodPitch.com's engine crawls every active show to surface your perfect podcast matches in seconds.
🔄 Listens to them For You: PodPitch literally listens to podcasts for you to think about how to best get the host's attention for your targets.
📈 Writes Emails, Sends, And Follows Up Until Booked: PodPitch.com writes hyper-personalized pitches, sends them from your email address, and will keep following up until you're booked.

👉 Want to go on 7+ podcasts every month? Book a demo now and we'll show you what podcasts YOU can guest on ASAP:

all things book publishing

news + interesting reads

BookCon is back, baby. For the first time since 2019, the Comic-Con-style book event will be returning to the Javits Center in New York City in 2026. ReedPop says this will be a “wholly reimagined event,” featuring workshops, panels, book signings, book clubs and swaps, crafting zones, and more. (USA Today)

More writers are filming themselves to protest + prove they’re not using AI. Red Queen author Victoria Aveyard recently posted a video of her line-editing her (printed) 1,000-page manuscript with a pen. “Using GenAI doesn’t make you a writer, it makes you a thief,” is the video’s caption and the central message Aveyard and many other authors are sending to “writers” (and publishers) using AI to pump out titles as fast as possible. (Wired)

We’re in the middle of the year, and publishers are assessing where they stand. Kathleen Schmidt breaks down the publishing cycle and what influences whether the Big Five acquire more books in the back half of the year. (Publishing Confidential)

Is Emily Henry stuck in a box of her fans’ making? Rena Rani reacts to Emily Henry’s latest release, Book Lovers, and the direct throughline that brought the author from the success of Beach Read to what feels like an attempt to recapture the success of the first book’s magic by relying on all-too-familiar tactics. (Smart Romance)

for querying writers

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

Haley Warrington, junior literary agent at Booker Albert Literary Agency, is now including horror in her MSWL. Specifically, she is looking for NA or adult paranormal horror and NA or adult folk horror, especially non-Western. Please no SA or DV. Haley accepts queries through Query Tracker.

Julie Gourinchas, literary agent at Bell Lomax Moreton Agency, is “burning” for literary dark academia horror. Please submit queries through Query Tracker.

Lee Melillo has been promoted to associate agent at Dunham Literary and is actively building her list. She is looking for YA, NA, and adult fiction written by and for traditionally underrepresented communities, including BIPOC, neurodiverse, queer, disabled, immigrants, etc. Specifically, she is looking for contemporary stories about complex issues, private schools, and RomComs. She’s also looking for bubblegum thrillers, socially conscious horror, and YA dystopias inspired by present-day issues. Please see her MSWL for submission guidelines.

Kaylyn Maldridge, literary assistant at Metamorphosis Literary Agency, is looking for books about “toxic codependent friends (like Jennifer’s Body).” You can submit queries to Kaylyn through QueryTracker.

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

Local Community: New_ Public is always looking for pitches of newsletter-length pieces on “community stewardship, local online groups, decentralized/alternative social media, civic health and clubs, and where journalism and social media intersect.” They are not interested in tech reviews, personal essays, investigative reporting, or marketing. Rate: “typically” $500. Send pitches to [email protected] with “Writing for the newsletter” in the subject line, and up to three links to relevant samples of your writing.

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.

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: 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: 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.

Hospitality: Pre Shift, a newsletter from Eater and Punch by and for the hospitality industry, is looking for pitches of “first-person essays or narrative reporting from within the hospitality industry (chefs, bartenders, servers, bouncers, etc.). They are “especially interested in hearing from writers of color and writers outside of NYC.” Rate: $0.50 per word. E-mail pitches to [email protected]. Use “Pre Shift Pitch” in the subject line. 

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].

travel

Appalachia: 100 Days in Appalachia is always looking for pitches of reported, personal, and visual stories from 13 - 25-year-olds in Appalachia for its Generation Zeitgeist column. “We believe young journalists, creators, and young people in general should be paid for their work and have sustainable platforms to house what they create.” Rates begin at $50 - $100 for opinions and more for reporting and multimedia works. Submit pitches through this pitch form.

First-person food and travel: Lydia Wang, a new Lifestyle/Entertainment editor at Business Insider, is looking for first-person essays about “travel, food, cooking, and moving with strong takeaways/service angles.” Rates start at $230 for around 600 words. Submit pitches through this form.

Canada: Rosie Long Decter, editor-in-chief at Maisonneuve Magazine, is seeking pitches for narrative-driven stories relevant to Canada for its Fall 2025 issue. “The stories can be locally specific but need to be connected to broader ideas that are interesting to a general audience. We typically work with Canadian writers but are not opposed to others, as long as the stories are in some way relevant to a Canadian readership." Rate: $0.15 CAD/word. E-mail pitches to [email protected].

Beach Travel: Charity De Souza shared that Beach.com is now open to ideas as it prepares to relaunch. They’re looking for authentic, well-researched travel content that helps travelers plan their next beach trip. Rates: $250 for 1,500 words, $300 for 1,500 + personal photos. Submit through this form.

Food + Travel: Daria Smith is building the May content calendar for Late Checkout and is looking for pitches. Rate: $200 for 100 words with five E-comm agreed beforehand. Pitching guideline is found here.

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.

Travel: Stephanie Pitera Statile, editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches of essays on ferry trips, flight and cruise upgrades, retirement travel, and moving to/from the US. Rates start at $200 for 600 words. Pitch using this form.

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: 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

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: [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.

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.

science, environment, health, wellness

Environmental Injustice: Scalawag is always looking for pitches on “environmental (in)justice, green transition, and American reindustrialization’s path through The South” for its new series, “Dirty Energy, Dirty South.” They are looking for long and short-form essays, photo essays, op-eds, reported pieces, and poetry. Specifically, they want submissions “that will offer our audience continued analysis of disaster capitalism in the South, with a special emphasis on ‘dirty energy’ and how it manifests as environmental racism and state abandonment.” Rate: $.40 per word (2,500 limit) for writing and $300 for poems. Send pitches to [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].

Midlife Women’s Health: Emily Cegielski Gianakos, Health Editor at Flow Space, is always looking for pitches of reported features and first-person columns on “midlife women’s health (women aged 35 - 65).” Note that “health and wellness is the overarching topic, but “we also cover verticals that may not seem like traditional health coverage (fashion, beauty, career, self, family, relationships, entertainment, culture, etc), assuming there's some relevance to midwife women's health that's made clear in the pitch/piece.” Rate: $200 - $800. E-mail pitches to [email protected].

Men’s Health: Alyssa Bereznak, GQ’s new Wellness & Grooming director, is always looking for pitches on “the latest men’s health/grooming trends, psychedelics, strength training, dating, diet, and AI health.” Rates: “vary based on experience and scope.” E-mail pitches to [email protected].

Science and health: Shannon Palus, features writer at Slate, is always looking for pitches of health and science features “that will shift/challenge how readers see the world and how it works.” Rates: $1,500 for reported features of 2,500 words. E-mail pitches to [email protected].

lifestyle + culture

Animal Welfare: Current Affairs is always looking for pitches of articles on “issues related to animal welfare” aimed at “any literate person with a high school education.” Rate: $250 for online, $350 for print. $75 per poem. Submit pitches through this form.

Art Exhibitions: Christa Terry, arts editor at Observer, is looking for art coverage tied to major museum exhibitions for August through December, either in the US or globally. Pitches submitted should be for stories relevant 2 - 3 months from now. Rate: $250. E-mail pitches to [email protected].

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].

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].

Etiquette and Advice: Paige DiFiore, Deputy Editor of Lifestyle and Entertainment at Business Insider, is looking for first-person pitches of thank you note “hot takes” (people who do not write cards, people who don’t like them); wedding guest “hot takes” (loving weekday weddings, refusing to go without a plus one, etc); advice from a parent/grandparent/older relative you followed or plan to follow (retirement tips, tips for making relationships last, etc). Rate: $230/600 words. Pitch: this form.

Feminism and Culture: Nora-Biette Timmons, contributing editor at Jezebel, is looking for pitches of stories on politics, feminism, culture, fashion, and identity “that may be considered too controversial, too brash, too out-of-the-box, or too risque for traditional women’s magazines or mainstream media outlets.” Rates are listed as “competitive” but have been reported by writers to be as low as $50 for 800 words. E-mail pitches [email protected].

Internet + Pop Culture: Manisha Krishnan, senior editor at WIRED, is open to tips and original, surprising, and wacky pitches tied to internet culture, pop culture, tech, online dating, gaming, and more. E-mail [email protected].

Journalism: International Journalists' Network (IJNet) is always looking for pitches of articles on “tips and tricks that can help journalists globally.” This includes current media trends in your country, a journalism tool or resource they haven’t covered yet, or stories about innovators. Pitches and written pieces can be in English, Spanish, Portuguese, or Russian. Rate: $200 per article. Submit pitches through this Submittable form

Lifestyle (Travel, Moving, Wedding Guets): Mykenna Manience, freelance associate editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches of first-person essays on relationships with older relatives, moving or traveling post-divorce, travel mistakes and lessons learned from living abroad, moving for love, unique living situations, and hot takes from wedding guests. Rate: $230/600 words. Submit pitches through this form.

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].

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.

Movies: 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].

News (Feel-Good, Crime, Health): Jenna Amatulli, deputy head of news at The Guardian US, is always looking for pitches of trending news, health stories, crime tales, feel-good news, and more “with a strong news peg.” Rate: $.50 per word “for what’s commissioned.” E-mail pitches to [email protected].

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 Stories: Jennifer Beck, editor at Business Insider, is always looking for pitches of personal essays on parenting, relationships, and personal stories. Currently, she’s especially interested in au pair experiences, parent behavior at kids’ sports, and hot takes on kid birthday parties. Rate: $200 for 500 - 600 words. Send pitches to [email protected].

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].

sports, fitness, gaming

Running: Ashley Mateo, founder of RUNHER, is looking for pitches of “deeply reported stories about women’s running that invite readers to immerse themselves in the sport and its community.” Please, no prescriptive service stories or gear roundups. Investigative features will be prioritized over first-person essays. Rate: $0.50 - $2/word for 1,000 - 1,500 words. Deadline: May 17. Submit through this pitch form.

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].

Sports Business: Meredith Turits, the editorial director at Front Office Sports, is always looking for pitches of “features and featurettes on topics at the intersection of sports, business, and culture.” These can be evergreen or timely but “must include a strong business angle.” Rate: historically $.50/word. E-mail pitches to [email protected] with “Pitch” in the subject.

gender/identity/sexuality

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.

LGBTQ+ 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.

Queerness and Christianity: Tyler Huckabee, managing editor at Sojourners, is always looking for pitches of “good, thoughtful pitches on queerness and Christianity.” They accept reported pieces, analyses, and commentary that address social justice issues or appeal to a well-informed faith audience. Rate: $150 - $300 on opinion + reviews, $300 - $500 for reported articles. E-mail pitches to [email protected].

literary magazines

Many literary magazines pay to publish your creative work, whether it’s short stories, essays, poems, or other mediums. ChillSubs has an amazing (and free!) database you can use to find the right opportunities.

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

Write or Die Magazine is now accepting submissions for its first-ever Fiction Contest. Entries should be no more than 4000 words and should be unpublished at the time of submission. The Grand Prize winner receives $1000, with $400 for Second Place and $200 for Third. There is an $18 entry fee. Submit through Submittable by July 1.

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.

remote writing + editing jobs

These job listings were active when this newsletter was scheduled to be published (April 26), but they may have expired since then. If you appreciate these weekly roundups, feel free to buy me a coffee.

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

A+E Global Media seeks remote, full-time Website Editors to join their team to work on AETV.com and History.com. You will be responsible for line editing, building stories in the CMS, working with writers to develop ideas, and building newsletters, social media posts, and other special content. Ideal candidates have at least five years of experience and a strong portfolio of relevant work. Rate: $38 - $44.83, with an annual incentive target of 5%.

Dotdash Meredith is looking to fill a number of temporary, remote positions for 6 months (with potential to extend). They are looking for a Content Updates Editor to join their PEOPLE team, 15 - 20 hours a week ($28 - $30/hr); a Content Updates Editor to join their Serious Eats team, 15 - 20 hours a week ($25 - $27/hr); and a Part-Time News Writer to work 25 hours/week ($25/hr). Ideal candidates have at least 3 years of writing experience, plus familiarity with SEO best practices, CMS experience, and proficiency in project management tools.

from previous editions

This subscriber-only section includes all remote job openings shared in previous editions of this literary life. Upgrade now for access.

Ambrook is hiring a part-time remote Field Storyteller to capture and share the work of farmers, ranchers, and small business owners across America and “contextualize Ambrook’s impact.” You’ll document stories through video and photography and travel to visit customer operations in person. The rate is $35 - $55/hr.

Beach.com’s sister site, Yacht.com, is seeking freelance travel writers to help create yacht travel and coastal lifestyle content. You will be responsible for contributing 2–3 articles per month (around 1,500 words), including destination guides and listicles tailored to yacht travelers. Priority destinations include the Caribbean (St. Lucia, the BVIs, Grenada, etc) and the Mediterranean (Greece, Italy, Croatia, Mallorca, Ibiza, etc). To apply, fill out this form.

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.

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.

Cella is looking for a part-time remote Freelance Proofreader for 10 hours a week in August, growing to around 20 hours a week in September and October to help with the busiest season. You will be responsible for proofreading and editing various employee-facing documents for grammar, spelling, punctuation, clarity, and consistency. Ideal candidates have experience with employee benefits, insurance, or highly regulated industries. Rate: $28 - $30/hr.

Dotdash Meredith is adding more freelance Beauty Collective Testers to their roster. As a tester, you’ll test products at home or in DDM labs, answering questions and providing insights and photos about how the products work and feel. Real-world tester rates begin at $200, with $50 for each additional product within the category. Lab testers earn $125 for a half-day or $250 for a full day.

Dotdash Meredith is looking for a full-time contract Business & Finance News Writer for Investopedia.

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.

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. 

Gannett is adding a remote, part-time Editorial Assistant for The Center of Community Journalism’s Opinion Group. You will be responsible for curating and processing letters to the editor for various sites across the group and acting as a liaison to editors. Ideal candidates have 1 year of administrative experience. Rate: $12.55 - $29.30, depending on location.

Observer Media is hiring a Freelance Reporter—Business of Media to cover major social media and streaming companies. Ideal candidates are early-to-mid-career business journalists (2+ years) familiar with writing breaking news and the ability to attend and cover industry events. Rate: $250 - $400 per article (600 - 800 words). E-mail resumes to [email protected] with three to five writing samples or a link to a personal website/portfolio.

Olivier Charles is adding more US-based freelance writers to contribute to their blog, #repeat. Ideally, writers are over 30 and interested in high-quality, sustainable fashion. Rate: $50/post.

POP is hiring a full-time, remote Senior Writer who will be responsible for crafting clear, compelling, and engaging content that drives business impact. Additionally, you will craft narratives and strengthen brand identity, develop messaging frameworks and guidelines to ensure cohesive brand communication and provide creative direction and feedback. Ideal candidates have 5+ years of experience in digital content creation, copywriting, or content strategy at a digital agency. Compensation: $90k - $105k.

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.

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.

Sourcebooks is hiring a full-time remote Associate Editor - Adult Nonfiction to help substantively develop narrative and prescriptive adult nonfiction, copyediting, and database management and serve as an instrumental part of the acquisitions and developmental team. Ideal candidates have 3+ years of editorial experience, can juggle and coordinate, are self-starters, and play well with others. Salary: $50k - $65k.

Static Media is hiring remote contract Lifestyle Writers to join one of their many teams, including House Digest and Tasting Table. Responsibilities include pitching relevant and timely news stories, claiming news and evergreen articles, and writing content on a quick turnaround. Ideal candidates have a minimum of three years of editorial experience. Rate: $21/hr.

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.

The Travel 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.

Vox Media seeks an ambitious Weekend Editor to “reimagine coverage” at The Verge weekends. You will be responsible for pitching and producing series that make the website a must-visit destination on Saturday and Sunday. Ideal candidates have newsroom experience as a writer and editor, a great sense of organization, a fountain of ideas for story formats, and a deep familiarity with The Verge’s coverage areas, particularly consumer tech. Rate: $74,000 - $85,000/year, plus benefits.

recommendations

books

This week, I got hooked on Snake Oil by Kelsey Rae Dimberg. It's a boardroom thriller set inside Radical, a Goop-meets-Theranos wellness company based in the Bay Area. The company's CEO, Rhoda, believes in empowering her Radi-girls and total wellness for the mind and body—or does she? As she prepares to launch a fundraising round to grow the company even more, an anonymous social media account begins divulging confidential company gossip, drawing more scrutiny to the company and its founder.

An added bonus: Dimberg builds up San Francisco as much as she clarifies the inside of Radical, making this an easy book to escape into.

this literary life is reader-supporter. when you buy through links in my newsletter, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org.

podcasts

As always, here are the podcasts I listen — and re-listen — to.

limited series

on books + writing

culture, news, politics, history

self-help, health, + hangs

tv + movie recaps

true crime

Reply

or to participate.