It took me too long to realize that often when they were ignored, it wasn’t because of low quality, but because the publication simply wasn’t seeking freelance submissions at the time.
site:http://www.ucen.ucsb.edu/sites/www.ucen.ucsb.edu/files/webform/resumes/Tenet-online-2020.pdf
What would’ve saved me a ton of time would have been a list of publications that actually want freelance pitches. So, to help you avoid the mistakes I made, I’ve compiled a list of six publications that are actively seeking freelance pitches and that pay at least reasonably well.
O.School
What they publish: This publication focuses on topics related to sexuality, sexual health, and relationships. They aim to provide sex-related information in an accessible format and to create an inclusive and safe online space that’s free from shaming or judgment. Their sex and health advice is applicable to diverse identities — including trans, non-binary, pansexual, asexual folks, as well as the broader LGBTQ+ community.
They’re currently seeking pitches from freelancers regarding recent scientific studies that address sexual wellness, sex education, and relationships. They also welcome advice articles and personal essays. Some examples of recent articles include “How the Menstrual Cycle Affects Libido” and “4 Types of Intimacy to Get Close to a Partner.”
Pitching process: Email pitches to gina@o.school. Include a brief description of the proposed article, a potential headline for the article, and a few links to examples of your previous writing. They accept a decent portion of pitches — around 40% — so don’t lose hope if you don’t get in the first time.
Pay rate: O.school pays between $75 and $125 per article.
Greatist
What they publish: Greatist seeks pitches related to health, fitness, wellness, lifestyle, and food. Their mission is to set themselves apart from other health publications by avoiding any form of body-shaming. They also strive to avoid publishing unrealistic weight loss tips. Given that they’ve garnered over 10 million monthly unique visitors, they’ve clearly been successful in appealing to a large audience.
site:http://www.ucen.ucsb.edu/sites/www.ucen.ucsb.edu/files/webform/resumes/Holidate-online-2020.pdf
Here’s what their website says: “We cover the health and wellness stuff that matters — plus anything else that’s cool, important, or maybe even life-changing. Whether we’re talking about breakfast, breathing, sex, brain health, or how not to get the flu, you can trust that all Greatist content is evidence-based, science-backed, and expert-approved.”
Pitching process: Greatist’s editors advise that pitches should be very brief, consisting of only a few sentences that succinctly convey the angle and hook of your proposed article. Pitches should be directed to pitches@greatist.com.
Pay rate: Pay is around $125 to $250 depending on length of article, research required, and various other factors.
SheKnows
What they publish: This women’s site is primarily, but not exclusively, catered to Millennial and Gen X women. It’s also one of the most popular online destinations in the US for women seeking useful information. It publishes content on a broad range of topics, including news, entertainment, parenting, food, lifestyle, and health. Here are some examples of articles they’ve recently published: “As An Immigrant Mom, I Am Afraid for America’s Future — Even Today,” “The Foods You Should Be Eating to Get a Better Night Sleep,” and “How My Depression Helps My Family Communicate Better.”
SheKnows frequently releases calls for submissions, but you have to be signed up for their newsletter to be alerted.
site:http://www.ucen.ucsb.edu/sites/www.ucen.ucsb.edu/files/webform/resumes/let-him-go-2020.pdf
Pitching process: Pitch emails should generally be directed to the editor of the specific department that your proposed article is relevant to. Here’s a list of the editors and their contact information. They welcome pitches for personal essays if they have a unique angle, or stories that tie current events to personal experiences. The pitch email should contain about one paragraph, with the word “pitch” used in the subject line.
Pay rate: Depends on article length and writer’s degree of experience.
Guardian US
What they publish: The Guardian is a very popular publication (Guardian US alone gets over 25 million monthly unique visitors), so they receive a ton of pitches. However, according to their editors, they still accept a decent proportion of them. The Guardian US seeks freelance pitches related to the following sections: features, opinion, money, business, arts, and sports. Editors at The Guardian US also welcome freelancers to pitch interviews, profiles, human-interest stories, and blog posts.
site:http://www.ucen.ucsb.edu/sites/www.ucen.ucsb.edu/files/webform/resumes/Ammonite-online-2020.pdf
Pitching process: Email your pitch to the editor of the particular section that you’re pitching to. Make sure to include the full pitch in the body of the email. Refrain from adding attachments to Word documents, etc. Use the pitch as an opportunity to demonstrate what the tone of your piece would be like.
Pay rate: Pay per piece ranges between $150 and $300, with blog posts on the lower end and features and interviews earning the most.
Writer’s Digest
What they publish: Since most of this publication’s readers are aspiring authors, they mostly publish content that offers actionable advice related to writing and publishing. They often publish interviews with established or budding authors that provide writing advice and insights into the publishing industry. Their content is relevant to all kinds of writers — freelancers, copy writers, novelists, poets, non-fiction writers, etc.
Pitching process: Writer’s Digest accepts around 50% of the pitches they receive for the website. That means you have a good shot of getting in, especially if you try multiple times. To pitch, send an email with a brief summary of the proposed piece, and include links to some of your previous writing. Complete drafts are also accepted for submission. Send pitches and submissions to wdsubmissions@fwmedia.com.
Pay rate: Articles published on the site will earn you between $50 and $200 depending on the length of the article. For the print magazine, they pay between 30 and 50 cents per word, meaning a 1,000-word article would earn between $300 and $500.
The Verge
What they publish: The Verge covers anything and everything related to technology, from new smartphones to the latest scientific innovations, as well as the many ways technology influences politics and our daily lives. They describe themselves as covering “the intersection of technology, science, art, and culture.” They especially welcome freelance pitches related to climate change, TV and movies, space exploration, health tech, culture, transportation, etc.
Pitching process: Send all pitches to tips@theverge.com. Pitches should consist of one to two paragraphs which outline the details of the story you’re proposing. Make sure that instead of pitching a general topic, you adopt a focused, unique, and original angle. Indicate who (if anyone) you plan to interview for the piece. Lastly, include in your email examples of your previous writing that pertain to the topic you’re pitching.
Pay rate: Varies based on length of article, writing experience, and type of story.
Admittedly, I haven’t yet been accepted into all of these publications. But what’s wonderful about all of them is that they generally respond with feedback, whether it’s an acceptance or a rejection. And, in my experience, they’re also very encouraging about pitching again even if it’s a rejection.
To me, that’s extremely refreshing. Because there’s nothing more frustrating than being met with radio silence after you’ve poured your sweat and tears into crafting a good pitch.
