hey there.
Happy September!
Just a heads up that there won’t be a newsletter next week. But when I’m back on the 28th, I’ll be sure to include two weeks ' worth of opportunities.
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
Food isn’t just a prop. Writing a food scene isn’t just about providing something for characters to do. What a character cooks, chooses to order off a menu, or craves is a valuable tool, revealing something about them: back story, a transformation, what’s on their mind. (Jane Friendman Blog)
What does literary mean, anyway? Many think of literary fiction as a genre instead of being part of a spectrum that helps categorize the way we approach genre. Your SFF novel, for instance, falls on the spectrum between commercial and literary. Just because there are genre elements doesn’t mean it can’t be upmarket or literary. (Devon Halliday)
Chasing trends isn’t the key to success — just to creative exhaustion. While writing to meet market trends can seem like the only way to sell books, trends often shift within weeks. (Writer in the Storm)
marketing
Debut authors always make the same mistakes. Reaching out to local news can seem like a waste of time and, like a newlywed phase, there feels like there’s an expiration date on doing book promo. According to Shanetta McDonalnd, these — along with relying too much on a publisher — can kneecap a debut marketing plan. (Jane Friedman Blog)

The best HR advice comes from those in the trenches. That’s what this is: real-world HR insights delivered in a newsletter from Hebba Youssef, a Chief People Officer who’s been there. Practical, real strategies with a dash of humor. Because HR shouldn’t be thankless—and you shouldn’t be alone in it.

all things book publishing
news + interesting reads
Authors take on Apple next on their quest for AI copyright infringement justice. A copyright infringement lawsuit was filed Friday in a Northern California court, alleging the tech company trained its LLMs on “the Books3 dataset of pirated books” in addition to scraping the internet, potentially using other “shadow libraries.” (Publisher’s Weekly)
TikTok has rediscovered I Who Have Never Known Men. The thirty-year-old book, translated from French, is the latest obscure work to start trending on TikTok. Carmen Maria Machado explores her own long relationship with the book and why it makes perfect sense that it’s going viral right now. (The New Yorker)
for querying writers
Reminder:
I have openings + quick turnarounds on query letter edits.
Tommy Dean, literary agent at Rosecliff Literary, is looking to add more “voice-y, fast-paced commercial thrillers and suspense stories” to his list. Remember: fast-paced =/= a word count under 75k. Please submit queries through QueryTracker.
Natascha Morris, senior literary agent at The Tobias Literary Agency, is looking for more YA fantasies with cold wars and spies. Please submit queries through QueryTracker.
Clara Chuiton, literary associate at Olswanger Literary, reopened to queries this week. She is still looking for queer romance, upmarket SFF, and anything “genre-blend-y set on a spaceship.” Please submit queries through QueryTracker.
Jevon Bolden, literary agent at and CEO of Embolden Media Group, will be open to queries from Sept 15 - Oct 15 and is specifically looking for nonfiction on Christian living, spiritual formation, thought leadership & subject matter experts, mainstream inspiration, and select Bible resources. Please follow these 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 reviews + essays: Sean Guynes, associate editor of SF at The Los Angeles Review of Books, is looking for pitches of reviews and essays “that fit LARB’s audience.” Generally, LARB is “looking for criticism that is considered, deeply informed, and above all, specific. Maybe you want to write about the stylization of dialogue in one novel or a trend in the use of violence across many; perhaps you want to position a book in a country, decade, or lineage; or maybe you’re interested in the moral implications of a single scene. Rate: $100 honorarium for digital, $150 for print publications. Submit pitches through this form.
Crime: Rachel Courtland, Commissioning Editor at MIT Technology Review, is looking for pitches of “narrative features, compelling investigations, essential profiles, and super-sharp essays” on “Crime.” She is “especially interested in hearing from writers with backgrounds that are traditionally under-represented in technology and science journalism, and from the United States.” Rate: $1 - $2/word. To pitch: [email protected]. Deadline: Sept 26.
Cultural + Literary Criticism: Kaila Philo, Outreach and Development Coordinator at Full Stop, is always accepting submissions of feature-length essays on cultural and literary criticism, “with an emphasis on debuts, works in translation, and books published by small presses. Our writers and editors give rigorous attention to works without substantial financial backing or cultural recognition, or that may not be covered elsewhere.” Rate: $150. To submit: [email protected].
Literary Journalism: Derange is always looking for pitches of literary journalism. “Ideally, your story will pair boots-on-the-ground reporting with narrative flair.” Rate: $100 for 2,000 - 3,000 words. To pitch: [email protected] and [email protected] with “PITCH” as the subject line.
Unique living situations: Conz Preti, Deputy Health & Parenting Editor at Business Insider, is looking for pitches of personal essays about “Unconventional living (do you live with your bff and their kids? Did your parents move in with you after retirement? Did your college kid decide they didn’t want to dorm); grandparents (being extra helpful or not extra helpful — must be verigiable); military families; and moving loves or regrets.” Rates: $200 - $300. Must have photos, documentation, and/or verification documents. E-mail 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
DC, Boston, + New Orleans Dining Scene: Jonathan Smith, senior editor at The Infatuation, is commissioning freelance writers in DC, New Orleans, and Boston, “who are deeply knowledgeable about their city's dining scene — from the longtime classics to the buzzy newcomers, and everything in-between. Generally, we're looking for freelancers who want to author both guides and reviews, are allergic to food writing cliches, and have an intuitive ability to recognize use-cases for different restaurants, sometimes for absurdly specific situations.” Rates: $750 for guides and $150 for individual reviews, “with final rates determined based on the length of a guide, amount of additional research required, and experience.” E-mail pitches to [email protected] with “PITCH:” and the proposed headline.
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
Alaska: Jennifer Sahn, editor in chief at High Country News, is always looking for pitches of longform features, profiles, and investigative pieces "about Alaska by Alaska Native and Alaska-based journalists.” She is especially interested in stories with a “strong focus on Indigenous communities and perspectives, and successful pitches will come from those with deep connections with the people/places in the proposed story.” Rate: $1 per word for reported content and $0.50 per word for essays and reviews. E-mail pitches to [email protected].
Appalachia: 100 Days in Appalachia is always looking for pitches of reported, personal, and visual stories from 13 - to 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.
Travel: Fodor’s has opened to pitches for spring 2025. Please pitch topics that are not already covered on their site. Remember, they do not accept 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 wants 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].
Seasonal Travel + Food: Stephanie Pitera Statile, Business Insider's Lifestyle/Entertainment editor, is looking for first-person essays on “recent or upcoming travels, train rides, flight upgrades, and favorite recipes" for the fall and winter months. Rate: usually $200 to $230 for 600 words. Please submit pitches through the pitch form.
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
Bereavement and Grief Support: TalkDeath is always looking for pitches of articles, fiction, and creative non-fiction on “bereavement, grief support, the funeral industry, death positivity, and anything related to death. They are especially interested in hearing from writers who can “speak to death practices and traditions from equity deserving groups, the Global South, and Indigenous writers.” Rate” $.20 for 800 - 1,000 words. Email pitches to [email protected].
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: Sarah Yahr Tucker, editor at Medscape, is always looking for pitches of reported features and video content specifically aimed at healthcare professionals. They’re especially interested in topics that “explore the human side of life in medicine,” including mental health issues, side gigs, relationships and parenting, health and fitness, personal finance, etc. Rate: $1/word for max. 1,500 words, up to $1,500 for video interviews. Please e-mail 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 a 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.
Black Working Class: Grassroots Thinking is always working for pitches of “stories that matter to the Black working class.” They want stories that “explain the news, politics, and culture through reportage, analysis, commentary, interviews, and essays with an anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist lens," especially from Black writers. Rate: $200 to $300 per 1,000 words. To pitch: [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].
Brookline, MA living: Sam Mintz, founding editor at Brookline News, is always looking for pitches of “unique, interesting, creative, unusual” reported stories related to Brookline, MA. Coverage areas include business, art, sports, development, education, police, crime, health, housing, transportation, and more. Rates start at $250 and can scale up according to the project's scope. Email pitches to [email protected].
Culture: Sophie Murguia, deputy managing editor at Mother Jones, is always looking for pitches for the print magazine's culture section, Mixed Media. “These are ~2,000-word essays that combine reporting, cultural criticism, historical research, and/or personal narrative. These are reported essays that make a clear argument using multiple sources.” She is especially interested in “pitches that will have a strong time peg for our first few issues of 2026.” Rate: $1.75 per word of the assigned word count for print. To 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].
Design: Delaney Rebernik, Executive Editor at Design Observer, is looking for pitches on the horror of design/the design of horror. This can be in the form of art-eds, op-eds, criticism, reported articles, or multimedia work. Deadline: September 22, with stories commissioned on a rolling basis through October. Please follow submission guidelines.
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].
Gen Z: Natasha Roy, editor at Rewire News Group, is looking for pitches from young writers for the Campus Dispatch series on “how Gen Z is uniquely impacted by confusing and ever-changing policies on reproductive, voting, and LGBTQ+ rights.” She wants “reported stories, personal essays, and timely explainers on reproductive rights, sexual health, LGBTQ+ issues, science news, and more.” Rate: $400-$500 for reported stories/explainers and $350 for op-eds. Please submit pitches through their pitch form.
Great Lakes news: Lisa John Rogers, news editor at Great Lakes Now, is always looking for pitches of “longer, in-depth, well-researched pieces on issues affecting the region, shorter features on a person or event in a specific location, and articles about how current policies or dynamics are impacting Great Lakes residents and businesses. Rate: $.50 per word. Email pitches to [email protected].
Korean Media: MENT Magazine is looking for pitches of “critical and creative work that engages with Korean media forms through a variety of cultural, social, and political perspectives” for Issue 003. Rate: $100 per piece. To pitch: [email protected]. Deadline: September 30.
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.
Historians: Contingent Magazine is open to pitches from historians for their Mailbag column (400–500 words) or Postcards (research or conference). Pay is $150/column and $50/postcard. Please submit pitches using their submission form.
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.
Journalism Style + Accessibility: Stacy Kess, editor-in-chief at Equal Access Public Media, is always looking for pitches of journalism style and accessibility commentary and analysis for the new Style and Accessibility Guide site. Specifically, they’re looking for pitches on “trends in journalism through the lens of accessibility or style (esp. using the Style Guide); trends in social media through the lens of accessibility or style; a specific issue or topic in journalism; a specific topic from the style guide. Rate: $50 per piece (until the project is better funded). Pitch: [email protected].
Lifestyle (Travel, Moving, Wedding Guests): 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.
Lifestyle: Conz Preti, senior editor at Business Insider, is always looking for pitches on "parenting, health, relationships, retirement, and more." Rates: typically $220 for 700 words. E-mail pitches to [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].
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].
Political Commentary: Jeremy Schulman, Senior News Editor at Mother Jones, is looking for good essay pitches that make sense of the political discourse surrounding Caitlin Clark, Sydney Sweeney, and Taylor Swift. Rates start at $1.75/word for print and $0.75/word for online. E-mail pitches to [email protected].
Rare Books: Allison C Meier, editor at Fine Books & Collections, is always looking for pitches of “timely tales about rare books and ephemera.” No further info was given, but the recent issue includes “tales of literary Portugal, people who love endpapers, poisonous books, Route 66 maps, and more.” The rates range from $200 to $600, depending on length/reporting needs.” E-mail pitches to [email protected].
Secrets: Open Secret Magazine is looking for unpublished 1,000 - 2,500-word essays that explore transformative, powerful human experiences, especially those often kept secret or hidden. These should show how you’ve changed or learned something new. Pay: $50. Deadline: Sept 30. Please follow their submission guidelines.
sports, fitness, games + gaming
Crosswords: The New York Times is always accepting submissions of “intelligent, literate, entertaining and well-crafted crosswords that appeal to the broad range of Times solvers.” They are looking for “lively fill, with words, phrases, and names that solvers know or can infer from the crossings; original, on-target clues, pitched at the puzzle’s intended difficulty level, including a variety of cultural reference points; and more." Rates: $500 for Monday to Saturday 15x15 puzzles, and $1,500 for Sunday 21x21 puzzles. Submit puzzles through Submittable.
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].

paid fiction + creative nonfiction opportunities
Many literary magazines pay to publish your creative work, whether it’s short stories, essays, poems, or other mediums. ChillSubs offers an amazing (and free!) database to help you find the right opportunities.
Reminder: Vet each opportunity before submitting.
Inclusion does not equal endorsement.
Bereavment + Grief Support: TalkDeath is always looking for pitches of articles, fiction, and creative non-fiction on “bereavement, grief support, the funeral industry, death positivity, and anything related to death. They are especially interested in hearing from writers who can “speak to death practices and traditions from equity deserving groups, the Global South, and Indigenous writers.” Rate” $.20 for 800 - 1,000 words. Send pitches to [email protected].
Emerging Writers: 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.
Horror: Interstellar Flight Magazine is looking for “reprospectives, anything in our focus on underrepresented voices, and just anything weird and spooky” in the form of accessible but substantive essays, cultural criticism, and personal reflections. Rate: $30 for 800 - 1,500 words. Please submit through this form.
Longform Nonfiction: Seyward Darby, editor in chief at Atavist Magazine, is looking for pitches of "longform nonfiction stories. “Atavist stories can be historical or current; they can be about crime or science, adventure or romance; they can be rooted in investigative reporting or in first-person experiences. What unites them is their narrative approach.” Rate: $6,000 per story, “plus royalties based on traffic.” E-mail pitches to [email protected] and/or [email protected].

remote writing + editing jobs
These job listings were active when this newsletter was scheduled for publication, 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.
BuzzFeed Shopping is hiring a remote, full-time Shopping & Products Editor to help increase product discoverability through roundups, SEO guides, deals content, and more. Ideal candidates have two years of writing experience, plus experience writing and editing affiliate shopping stories. Rate: $80k - $85k.
ProPublica is hiring a full-time, remote News Applications Developer to “pitch, design, and develop interactive stories and databases that hold the powerful accountable and have real-world impact.” Ideal candidates have at least three years of experience designing and developing interactive graphics or databases, plus some journalism experience. Rate: $105k - $140k.
from previous editions
This subscriber-only section includes all remote job openings shared in previous editions of this literary life. Upgrade now for access.
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.
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.
Edutopia is looking for a full-time, remote Assistant Editor to write stories, scripts, research summaries, social media posts, and feature articles for the pre-K to 12 education beat. Ideal candidates have 1 - 2 years of journalism writing experience + a degree in journalism or a related field. Rate: $55k - $75k depending on experience and location. Deadline: Sept 15.
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.
Girls Who Eat is hiring a freelance Brand Copywriter with previous experience in better-for-you or non-toxic brands to work 30 - 40 hours a month during CST business hours. You will be responsible for creating a variety of content, including newsletters, roundups, ingredient deep dives, gift guides, and branded campaigns. Ideal candidates have a deep understanding of ingredients across food, beauty, and household industries. Rate: $30/hr. To apply, fill out this form.
HousingWire is hiring a full-time, remote News Reporter to cover the U.S. homebuilding industry, including new construction trends, policy shifts, builder strategies, supply chain issues, and the broader economic forces shaping the sector. Ideal candidates have at least two years of experience, strong sourcing, interviewing, and news judgment skills, a competitive desire to break news, and a willingness to travel to attend industry events and meet sources in person. Rate: $60k - $75k, based on experience, plus benefits.
Launch Potato is hiring an Editorial Assistant to join their FinanceBuzz team to help publish new content, update published content, and help with fact-checking and copyediting. Ideal candidates have at least one year of experience in a fast-paced environment.
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.
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.
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 travel writers, with exceptional research skills, in-depth knowledge about travel trends, and strong writing skills.

recommendations
books
Autumn is officially a week away, and I’m leaning heavily into dark academia, haunted houses, horror, and mysteries.
Even though The Lost House by Melissa Larsen takes place in an Icelandic winter, this was still a great pre-autumn read — especially if you’re a fan of the Netflix adaptation of The Haunting of Hill House. Following her grandfather’s death, Agnes returns to her family’s homestead in Iceland to investigate whether he killed his wife and child, or whether he was covering for someone else.
Lauren Ling Brown’s Society of Lies is a quintessential dark academia novel, with fresh twists that keep the reader hooked. Maya’s done her best to move on from the events of her time at Princeton. But when her sister, Naomi, dies days before her own Princeton graduation, Maya begins to wonder if Naomi followed in her footsteps in more than one way.
on writing + the writer’s life
One of the best ways I learn is to research and read. Before, during, and after my MFA, I’ve read books on book writing, marketing, magazine writing, travel writing, and more. Here are the books that I still re-read after all of these years.
Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott
On Writing by Stephen King
The Chronology of Water by Dr Lidia Yuknavitch
The Emotional Craft of Fiction by Donald Maas
The Writer’s Portable Mentor by Priscilla Long
Writing Deep Scenes by Martha Alderson + Jordan Rosenfeld
Writing Down the Bones by Natalie Goldberg
this literary life is reader-supported. 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 + scary stories
