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Publish Your Personal Essay: 22 Magazines and Websites

by Farrah Daniel | Sep 11, 2023

Writing is a solitary act, but the importance of sharing your work can’t be overlooked. A personal essay can endear you to an audience, bring attention to an issue or simply provide comfort to a reader who’s “been there.”

Journalists might find it difficult to steer away from research rituals to talk about themselves, but think of it this way:

“Writing nonfiction is not about telling your story. It’s about telling interesting and worthy stories about the human condition using examples from your life.” Ashley C. Ford, an essayist who emphasized the importance of creating a clear connection between your personal experience and universal topics

When writing personal essays, imagine you’re writing through yourself, instead of about yourself—worry less about writing something that seems thrilling or heart-wrenching, and more about your truth and human experience. Believe it or not, someone out there needs your story more than you know. “It’s worth it to write what’s real,” says Ford. 

Plus, there’s a bonus: You can get paid to publish your personal essay

Table of contents, where to submit your personal essays.

Once you’ve read other personal narrative examples and penned your essay, which publications should you contact? Where should you try to sell that personal essay?

“You might be tempted to focus only on magazines, but there are some great websites that run essays.” Amy Paturel, who has taught an online personal essay writing course for a decade. To help her students get published, she compiled a list of 130+ editors who accept (and pay for!) personal stories

We’ve all heard of The New York Times’ personal essay column— submit to Modern Love is probably already on your to-do list—but there are many other publications that publish personal essays.

To help you find the right fit, we’ve compiled a list of 22 publications that will consider your personal narrative essay, as well as tips on how to pitch the editor, who to contact and, whenever possible, how much the outlet pays.

Here are 22 places to submit your personal essay.

1. Boston Globe

The Boston Globe Magazine Connections section seeks 650-word first-person essays on relationships of any kind. It pays, though how much is unclear. Submit to [email protected] with “query” in the subject line.

You  can also submit to Boston Globe Ideas , which accepts pitches and submissions for first-person essays ranging from 650 to 1,000 words. All pitches and submissions should be sent to [email protected] .

Must-read personal essay: “ Voyages of Imagination ” by Peter Schmidt, or “ The Gift of Anger and Brokenheartedness ” by Greg M. Epstein

2. Extra Crispy

Send your pitches about breakfast, brunch, or the culture of mornings to [email protected] or the editor of the section you’re pitching. Average pay hovers at about 46 cents per word .

Must-read personal essay: Gina Vaynshteyn’s “ When Dumplings Are Resistance ”

3. Dame Magazine

“For women who know better. Smart, fast-paced news and opinions on what matters most in our lives — That’s DAME .” 

If you’re up for the challenge, send your pitch to [email protected] . Aimed at women in their 30s, the publication covers politics, race, civil rights, disability, class, gender, sex, reproductive rights, LGBTQ issues and much more. Rates are based on type of features, but they typically pay $200 for essays.

Must-read personal essay: “ I Wanted Joan Didion’s Heart to Be Messy” by Lauren Sandler

4. The Christian Science Monitor

Have an upbeat personal essay between 400 and 800 words on everyday life, like travel, parenting, home, family, gardening, neighborhood, or community?

Submit to The Christian Science Monitor’s Home Forum . Send your completed essays to [email protected] . They accept essays on a wide variety of subjects (and encourage timely, newsy topics), but steer clear of topics like death, aging and disease.

Must-read personal essay: “ Two Crises, Two Gardens ” by Perdita Buchan

Want to write for this Jewish parenting site? To submit , email [email protected] with “submission” somewhere in the subject line. Include a brief bio, contact information, and your complete original blog post—you can either attach it as a Word document or paste it into the body of the email. Suggested word count: 500-800. Per a well-loved private Facebook group for freelance writers, pay is about $50.

Must-read personal essay: Faith Gabby-Kalson’s “ I’m a Black and Jewish Woman. My Identity Matters. ”

6. The Sun Magazine

Publications in The Sun Magazine have won Pushcart Prizes and been selected for Best American Essays—so if your story gets chosen, you’ll be in good company. And since the editors “tend to favor personal writing,” that I-driven nonfiction essay might just be the perfect fit. (Fiction and poetry are also accepted.)

Pay ranges from $300 all the way up to $2,000 for accepted personal stories and fiction prose. The easiest way to send your story is online through Submittable, but check the guidelines first before submitting.

Must-read personal essay:   “The Ramshackle Garden Of Affection” by Ross Gay and Noah Davis  (Editor’s note: The Sun puts its stories behind a paywall, which is why they can afford to pay their writers so well!)

7. New Statesman

This U.K. magazine has a helpful contributor’s guide that explains, among many other things, what they’re looking for: Great writing and original reporting that explains and analyses the world today. Unsolicited submissions, while rarely accepted, are paid; if an editor likes your pitch, you’ll hear back in 24 hours. Email [email protected]  to get started.

Must-read personal essay: “ Personal Story: How to Lose Your Head ” by Emily Bottle

8. The New York Times

The popular Modern Love feature accepts submissions of 1,500 to 1,700 words  at [email protected] . Include a Word attachment, but also paste the text into your message. Consult the Times’ page on pitching first (and note that submissions during July and August aren’t considered!), and “like” Modern Love on Facebook for even more insight. Payment is $300, The New York Times writes on its Facebook page .

This column is famous for helping writers get book or even film contracts. One example is Amy Krouse Rosenthal, whose essay, “ You May Want to Marry My Husband ” ran in 2017 and prompted a lucrative film rights bidding war ultimately won by Universal Pictures.

Want to up your chances of getting your submission selected? Check out these Modern Love Column submission tips .

Must-read personal essay: “ Relationships Move Fast on a Slow Cargo Ship ” by Dev Aujla

9. Creative Nonfiction Magazine

One unique aspect to Creative Nonfiction Magazine is their high acceptance rate of unsolicited pitches. It’s a great stop for blossoming writers, as well as those with more experience.

To submit online , a $3 reading fee is charged to non-subscribers (and the magazine no longer accepts paper submissions). The fee ensures you will be paid if your work is accepted, which typically adds up to a $125 flat rate plus $10 per printed page. Plus, they often run essay contests with prizes ranging from $1,000-$10,000 per winning entry, and reading fees help offset that expense. Read over their submission calls before pitching since each issue sticks to a theme and may have different guidelines. 

Must-read personal essay: “ The Dark Month ” by Christopher Collins

“Slate,” according to its own submission guidelines , “is known for making smart, witty, persuasive statements.” So if you’ve got something to say, email your pitch (not a vague, one- or two-sentence pitch either) to the appropriate section editor, which are all listed for you on the submission guidelines page.

Send personal essays to [email protected] . Average reported pay is about 24 cents per word .

Must-read personal essay: Andrea Silenzi’s “ My Decade in Online Dating ”

Each print issue has a specific cultural theme and welcomes both fiction and nonfiction—and even poetry! Stories and essays of 5,000 words max earn up to $400. Review periods are limited, so check their submission guidelines to make sure your work will be read with the next issue in mind. The easiest way to send in your work is through Submittable .

Must-read personal essay: “ Fire Island ,” by Christopher Locke

12. Motherwell

Motherwell is a publication that aims to tell all sides of the parenting story. They seek evocative parenting-related personal essay submissions of up to 1,200 words, and all contributors are paid.

Submit a full piece online via Submittable ; for time-sensitive pieces, send an email to [email protected] with the word “timely” in all caps in the subject line..

Must-read personal essay: “ The Irrational Hope of An Infertile Woman ” by Amy Gallo Ryan

13. The Bold Italic

This publication focuses on California’s Bay Area, and it’s deeply interested in the people who keep San Francisco going. Strong POV and a compelling personal writing style are key. Typical pay is $50 per article , though higher rates can be negotiated for “complex” pieces.

Send your personal essays that will make these editors weep, cry, laugh or want to eat a burrito to [email protected] with the subject line  “Pitch: [Name], [Article Title].”

Must-read personal essay: “ How I Came to Respect Chinese Food—and My Heritage ” by Eric He

Submit essays about health, mental health, relationships, and identity to the appropriate editor at this lifestyle site geared toward women. 

For lifestyle pitches, email [email protected] ; for fashion and beauty pitches, email fa [email protected] ; for entertainment pitches, email [email protected] . And note that the editors only want pitches, not full drafts. Pay averages about 12 cents per word . 

Must-read personal essay: “ How My Chronic Eczema Tore Down & Built Up My Self-Esteem ” by Tori Zhou

15. The Rumpus

Focuses on essays that “intersect culture.” Submit finished essays online in the category that fits best, but wait at least  three months before following up.

Payment is lean , but possible: Eligible contributors can opt in to receive an even share of the $300 budget the publication sets aside monthly.

Note the regular reading periods for essays: September 1 through October 31, January 1 through February 28, and June 1 through July 31. Timely essays can be sent to [email protected] ; all other essays should be sent through Submittable during open reading periods.

Must-read personal essay: “ Dancing Separate, Together ” by Russel Janzen

16. The Penny Hoarder

This personal-finance website welcomes submissions that discuss ways to make or save money. Read the guidelines before emailing your submission to learn what kind of stories they typically look for—human interest stories, success stories and unique job ideas, or your stories of eating, traveling and doing life on a budget. Articles should be between 700-900 words, and an editor will discuss payment with you if your pitch is accepted. 

Must-read personal essay: “ How This Woman Bought Her Dream Home While Making Less Than $60K ” by Jen Smith

17. Vox’s First Person

The First Person section of Vox.com publishes personal essays “with unique perspectives on complicated issues.” Submit pitches or completed drafts to [email protected] .

They are open to a variety of topics, but claim past success with pieces on parenting, relationships, money, identity, mental health, and job/workplace issues—“but we’re always looking for new topics to cover, so if you have a pitch that doesn’t fall into any of these categories, don’t let that stop you from sending it along.” Pay varies.

Must-read personal essay: “ Black Kids Are Watching This Moment. What Will It Teach Them? ” by Kelly Glass

18. Narratively

Narratively accepts pitches and complete pieces that tell “original and untold human stories.” In your story, there should be a “clear narrative arc that shows you developing a new or different perspective by the end of the piece.” Submit online in the category that most closely fits your essay, which should be between 1,500 and 4,000 words. Pay averages 9 cents per word .

Must-read personal essay: “ My Father, the QAnon Conspiracy Theorist ” by Reed Ryley Grable

19. Mask Magazine

Mask Magazine is an “experimental publication in the age of late capitalist world-weariness and discontent.” The story you pitch and submit should be expressive and about an experience, adventure, or tribulation that you learned from, and you don’t have to worry about restricting your creativity to a word count. For pitching, they only accept full submissions—feel free to send a pitch, but you won’t get the greenlight until editors see an early or complete first draft. Pay is between $50 and $200.

Must-read personal essay : “ Fevered Reading ” by Ryan Richardson

20. The Smart Set 

A journal of arts and culture, The Smart Set accepts submissions and pitches on a rolling basis. Pitch your personal essay of 1500 and 3500 words to [email protected] — don’t forget to format your submission as a Word document with Times New Roman 12-point font, double-spaced. The last reported rate for The Smart Set was 20 cents per word . 

Must-read personal essay : “ White Chapel ” by Eric Bryan

21. PULP Magazine

Before you pitch this magazine , ask yourself: How does this relate to sex or one’s personal/societal perception of sexuality and/or reproductive rights? A “multimedia sex, sexuality, and reproductive rights publication celebrating this human coil hurtling through time and space,” PULP only accepts fully written pieces via Submittable , and they pay $250 for original content. Heads up: Because they’re a small pub that wants to pay their writers, there’s a $3 reading fee to submit your work. If you can’t swing the cost, let them know ( [email protected] and k [email protected] ) and they’ll work something out with you.   

Must-read personal essay : “ Not a “Real” Survivor: The Price Of Opinions In The Anti-Trafficking Movement ” by Laura LeMoon

22. The Virginia Quarterly Review 

The VQR strives to publish the best writing we can find, whether it be from accomplished and award-winning authors or emerging writers. They’re looking for essay submissions that “look out on the world, rather than within the self,” between 3,500–9,000 words. The pay for prose is generally 25 cents per word, depending on length, and they only accept submissions via Submittable . Note that they read unsolicited fiction, poetry, and nonfiction submissions from July 1 to 31. 

Must-read personal essay : Hananah Zaheer’s “ After the Old City ”

A final word of advice on where to publish personal essays

Find yourself sending pitch after pitch only to never get published? Make sure you’re not making one of these mistakes with your essay .

“Submit to the places you love that publish work like yours,” essayist Ford advises, but don’t get caught up in the size of the publication. And “ recognize that at small publications you’re way more likely to find someone with the time to really help you edit a piece. ”

The original version of this story was written by Lisa Rowan . We updated the post so it’s more useful for our readers.

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Essaying the pop culture that matters since 1999

Submission Guidelines

With the mission to educate as well as entertain, our scope is broadly cast on the best of pop culture and we are the world’s largest site bridging academic and popular writing.

PopMatters  welcomes reviews (600-plus words), essays (min. 1,200 words), interviews (min. 1,200 words), and list features on a broad range of topics in popular culture, past and present.

PopMatters  publishes for posterity. Our roots are in academia, and our mission is to educate as well as entertain. Our articles are indexed and saved in perpetuity in library databases via ProQuest. Our writers are mindful of our place on the cultural/historical continuum – that’s the matters in PopMatters , that’s what differentiates this online magazine, est. 1999, from other “pop culture websites”. Smart readers rely on  PopMatters  for articles that meet their intellectual caliber.

PopMatters  welcomes articles on a wide range of subjects in culture throughout the globe, past, and present, and for those who dare, the speculative future.  PopMatters’  writers, like  PopMatters’  readers, are educated, informed, pop-culture savvy, located throughout the world — and they know their history – and they bring this level of engagement to the articles they present to our readers. Writers interested in bringing their intelligence, creativity, and passion to this fine magazine are welcome and appreciated.

If you are interested in submitting an article, and/or you’d like to join PopMatters’ staff, please submit your article/application to PopMatters’ Submittable interface.  Please indicate in your entry title: Article (title) or Staff Application.

Note: Your article will be considered for publication. Thus, previously-published work should only be linked to for reference – not for consideration. An original, unpublished article for potential publication is required in this application process.

Read more about  PopMatters ‘  mission here .

Note: PopMatters is by and for the people and we are wholly independent. We don’t hide your work behind paywalls. We don’t restrict access to that so-called “elite” few. Our mission is to educate readers and document our period on the cultural timeline. We publish for posterity. We are highly respected because of our ideals and fine writers and editorial staff. However, such ideals are not monetarily rewarded in today’s publishing climate. For this reason, we can offer you an excellent publishing platform for your quality work and our social media efforts – but for now, we are unable to pay you for your articles. Even the editors are currently volunteering their time. We are presently a 100% volunteer organization with all advertising revenue supporting our basic expenses. Writers retain ownership of their copyright on articles, so they can use them for books and other projects. Their essays are indexed in ProQuest, as PopMatters is educational in our mission.

Guidelines for Submitting Articles to PopMatters

PopMatters welcomes reviews (around 800 words), essays (min. 1,200 words), interviews (min. 1,200 words) and short blog entries (under 800 words) on a wide range of topics in popular culture, past and present.  

(Note: This Submittable page is for writers only. Artists and publicists, please DO NOT post here. See PopMatters About page, found here . Thank you.)

PopMatters publishes for posterity. Our roots are in academia, and our mission is to educate as well as entertain, with an awareness of our place on the cultural/historical continuum – that's the matters in PopMatters , that's what differentiates this online magazine, est. 1999, from other "pop culture websites". Readers rely on PopMatters for articles that meet their intellectual caliber.

PopMatters welcomes articles on a wide range of subjects in culture throughout the globe, past and present, and for those who dare, the speculative future. PopMatters' writers, like PopMatters' readers, are educated, informed, pop culture savvy, located throughout the world -- and they know their history – and they bring this level of engagement to the articles they present to our readers. Writers interested in bringing their intelligence, creativity, and passion to this fine magazine are welcome and appreciated. 

Submit only your "final" version of the article -- no drafts. An editor may contact you regarding revisions. By submitting your essay to PopMatters , you agree to work with an editor in the event revisions are needed. You may also pitch a single article or a series of articles here. We'd love to hear your ideas.

Ensure proper attribution to cited sources (magazine-style attribution in parenthesis following the citation -- no footnotes, please). Accepted essays will convey a strong historical understanding of the subject matter, draw from real examples (e.g., how you feel about a film is not of interest -- what you know about it and its predecessors and contemporaries, however, is critical) and be written in an erudite yet entertaining magazine-style manner for our savvy readership.

We highly recommend you run your article through Grammarly before submitting: https://app.grammarly.com . It's free, it's safe, and it's well-tuned to online publishing. It won't help you with your thesis statement - it is but a guide - but it will catch run-on sentences and other frequently encountered errors.

For examples of the diversity of topics and range of approaches we welcome, please look at PopMatters features archives.

Please include a summary, your bio, and links to your published work with your article. Finally, please provide your Twitter address.

Before submitting your essay, please sign the PopMatters Writer's Agreement, found here .

Thank you for your interest in PopMatters.

The Journal of Popular Culture

Submissions, general guidelines.

Essays likely to find publication in The Journal of Popular Culture are well-written and make a significant contribution to the field of popular culture studies. Please review recent journal issues for a sense of our interdisciplinary conversation and our niche.

Articles too narrowly conceived and without an adequate analytical framework tend not to do well in the peer review process. It is wise to be familiar with the work of our editorial board and to avoid submitting essays that may fit better in a disciplinary journal, such as in literature or history. We especially welcome essays that take on new forms and new ideas not previously analyzed or that push forward an older conversation.

Essays should be written in clear US English in the active voice and third person, in a style accessible to the broadest possible audience. Authors should be sensitive to the social implications of language and choose wording free of discriminatory or sexist overtones.  Essays written in the social sciences should be qualitative in approach and adapted for a humanities journal, using a more narrative voice and MLA format (please refer to the 8th Edition of the MLA Handbook of Research Papers ). 

Effective August 7, 2014, please send submissions via our ScholarOne system: Visit http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tjpc .  An author's guide to using the site is available under the HELP tab.  We require a title page with the author’s contact information, a short abstract, and an author’s bio as part of the submission process.  

Essays must be submitted as a Microsoft Word document, fall within the 5000 to 7500 word range, and be double-spaced text in 12 pt Times New Roman font.  The word count maximum includes all endnotes and Works Cited pages. Please note that the 5000 word minimum should be of written article material. Less than 5000 words of written material will be rejected and the author asked to develop the article further.

Please make sure that the essay contains no identifying information that reveals authorship. The TJPC  has a ‘‘blind review’’ process, meaning that a copy of the article will be sent to reviewers without revealing the author’s name.  All contributions to The Journal of Popular Culture  will be forwarded to members of the Editorial Board or other reviewers for comment. When anonymising your manuscript, do not include any parts of your name in the document file name, headers, footers, or elsewhere.

Manuscripts must not be previously published nor should they be submitted for publication elsewhere while being reviewed by The Journal of Popular Culture’s Editorial Board or outside reviewers. Prior to copy editing, authors may post early drafts of their essays in digital repositories, such as academia.edu. However, after publication, authors must wait for 24 months to place their JPC-edited articles in digital repositories or on websites. 

For documentation,  The Journal of Popular Culture  follows the Modern Language Association style.  Consult the most current editions of the MLA Handbook for Writers of Research Papers and The MLA Style Manual.   This style calls for a Works Cited list, with parenthetical author/page references in the text. Please keep use of explanatory endnotes to a minimum. 

For punctuation, capitalization, hyphenation, and other matters of style,  The Journal of Popular Culture  follows the  MLA Handbook  and the MLA Style Manual, supplemented as necessary by The Chicago Manual of Style .

It is essential for authors to check, correct, and bring manuscripts up to date before final submission. Authors should verify facts, names of people, places, and dates, and double-check all direct quotations and entries in the Works Cited list.

We are happy to receive your artwork in digital format. Please save line artwork (vector graphics) as Encapsulated PostScript (EPS) and bitmap files (halftones or photographic images) as Tagged Image Format (TIFF), with a resolution of at least 300 dpi at final size. Do not send native file formats. More detailed information on the submission of electronic artwork can be found here.

Authors of manuscripts accepted for publication must subscribe to The Journal of Popular Culture for at least one year at the time of acceptance. Subscription includes membership in the Popular Culture Association.

Before final submission, the author will be responsible for obtaining letters of permission for illustrations and for quotations that go beyond ‘‘fair use,’’ as defined by current copyright law.

Please note that unless specifically requested, Wiley Periodicals, Inc. will dispose of all hardcopy or electronic material two months after publication. If you require the return of any material submitted, please inform the editorial office or production editor as soon as possible if you have not yet done so.

Book Reviews

Book review inquiries should be sent to the Book Review Editor: Yuya Kiuchi, Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, 8603 Wheatdale Dr., Lansing, MI 48917. Email: [email protected].  

In general, we are looking for reviews between 500 and 1,000 words that adhere to MLA style and present a balanced, although mostly positive, view of the work. (We ask that criticism be constructive in nature, or that if the book is so bad, you simply decline to review it). The review should note the scope and purpose of the work, as well as its usefulness to scholars, although other information may certainly be included.

When formatting the citation of your review, please include how many pages the book is and how much it costs.  Here is an example:

Delete: The Virtue of Forgetting in the Digital Age . Viktor Mayer-Schönberger.  Princeton UP, 2009. 256 pp. $22.00 cloth.

Please upload your completed review to  http://mc.manuscriptcentral.com/tjpc . You will need to create a user account, login, and then click on Author Center to upload your file.

If your paper is accepted, the author identified as the formal corresponding author for the paper will receive an email prompting them to login into Author Services; where via the Wiley Author Licensing Service (WALS) they will be able to complete the license agreement on behalf of all authors on the paper.

For authors signing the copyright transfer agreement

If the OnlineOpen option is not selected the corresponding author will be presented with the copyright transfer agreement (CTA) to sign. The terms and conditions of the CTA can be previewed in the samples associated with the Copyright FAQs below:

CTA Terms and Conditions http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/faqs_copyright.asp

For authors choosing OnlineOpen

If the OnlineOpen option is selected the corresponding author will have a choice of the following Creative Commons License Open Access Agreements (OAA):

Creative Commons Attribution License OAA

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Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial -NoDerivs License OAA

To preview the terms and conditions of these open access agreements please visit the Copyright FAQs hosted on Wiley Author Services http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/faqs_copyright.aspand visit http://www.wileyopenaccess.com/details/content/12f25db4c87/Copyright--License.html.

If you select the OnlineOpen option and your research is funded by The Wellcome Trust and members of the Research Councils UK (RCUK) you will be given the opportunity to publish your article under a CC-BY license supporting you in complying with Wellcome Trust and Research Councils UK requirements. For more information on this policy and the Journal’s compliant self-archiving policy please visit: http://www.wiley.com/go/funderstatement.

OnlineOpen is available to authors of primary research articles who wish to make their article available to non-subscribers on publication, or whose funding agency requires grantees to archive the final version of their article. With OnlineOpen, the author, the author's funding agency, or the author's institution pays a fee to ensure that the article is made available to non-subscribers upon publication via Wiley Online Library, as well as deposited in the funding agency's preferred archive.

For the full list of terms and conditions, seehttp://wileyonlinelibrary.com/onlineopen#OnlineOpen_Terms

Any authors wishing to send their paper OnlineOpen will be required to complete the payment form available from our website at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/onlineOpenOrder

Prior to acceptance, there is no requirement to inform an Editorial Office that you intend to publish your paper OnlineOpen if you do not wish to. All OnlineOpen articles are treated in the same way as any other article. They go through the journal's standard peer-review process and will be accepted or rejected based on their own merit.

Author Services

Author Services enables authors to track their article – once it has been accepted – through the production process to publication online and in print. Authors can check the status of their articles online and choose to receive automated e-mails at key stages of production. The author will receive an e-mail with a unique link that enables them to register and have their article automatically added to the system. Please ensure that a complete e-mail address is provided when submitting the manuscript. Visit http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/ for more details on online production tracking and for a wealth of resources including FAQs and tips on article preparation, submission, and more.

Free access to the final PDF offprint or your article will be available via author services only. Please, therefore, sign up for author services if you would like to access your article PDF offprint and enjoy the many other benefits the service offers.  Visit http://authorservices.wiley.com/bauthor/to sign up for Author Services.

Be Heard: Where to Submit Essays Related to Current Events

June 5, 2020.

Hello, friends! As lovers and publishers of creative nonfiction we’re aware that, right now, it’s so important to express ourselves through words. As writers, putting pen to paper is how we move forward, either to help ourselves or others understand things more clearly or to speak the truth and influence change. While some might be journaling privately, others may be urgently submitting their stories to lit mags, websites, dailies, and more.

Hippocampus publishes our regular issues bi-monthly; as of today, that means our next issue is our July/August 2020 issue.

But… much of the work being created now needs to be heard NOW.

As we aren’t the right outlet for a timely piece, we wanted to point our readers/submitters to places where their submissions will get more immediate attention, whether literary magazines or outlets that publish personal essays more frequently, even daily, or to special calls for submissions, either for special issues or forthcoming anthologies.

Curated Lists of Opps from Our Friends Around the Web

Other publications and outlets have spent time creating lists and curating opps, so we’d like to link directly to their work:

• Submittable created a COVID-19 Creative Calls for Submission , which seems to be updated to add new content as they find it; multigenre.
• The New York Times article, “12 Ideas for Writing Through the Pandemic” includes some submission info
• We’ll continue to add to this list as we find resources or receive suggestions

Literary Magazines & Other Publications: Specific Calls

• COVID Lit – various genres/forms (rolling submissions)
• “For this issue, we want to examine the truths and the lies that we’re uncovering amid this global pandemic. With this call, we seek to elevate the already and the always, the ordinary and the overlooked.” — from the submission guidelines
• The Syndrome Magazine – Black Voices Matter – submissions from women/non-binary writers – deadline June 30
• Uncomfortable Revolution – seeking timely articles/stories on the intersection of pop culture, disability, race, and ethnicity. (rolling submissions)
• The HerStories Project – GenX women and impact of COVID-19 – June 30 deadline
• essays, poems, and art, “… that amplify the experiences of Black and African American writers in American society.” — from the guidelines
• “Art as resistance is not naïve or futile—it is bold and courageous. It embraces that which makes us human—our love, our anger, and our passion.” — from the guidelines
• Allegory Ridge – open to personal essays with the theme “Grow” (complete or pitch) – deadline June 12
• Vessel – op-eds (complete or pitch) – (rolling submissions)
• “…Queer Loving while also elevating Black and queer voices and creating a space of love, courage, and solidarity…” – from the guidelines
• PlanPhilly/WHYY – op-eds (Philadelphia-related) for the Eyes on the Street Section – (rolling submissions)
• Policy Network (based in Europe) – op-eds/articles for new series, Aftershock: Society and Politics After the Pandemic
• Longreads – current themes include Life in the Time of Covid and Amplify: Stories of Racism in America
• Entropy – new series, Food and COVID-19 (rolling submissions for now)
• T MI Project – COVID-related submisions (rolling submissions for now)

National Publications & Other Outlets: General Rolling Submissions

These publications traditionally accept personal essays, op-eds, and story pitches. (We linked to submissions pages where we could find them; others only list contact information.)

• How to submit an op-ed
• Inspired Life
• Boston Globe (essays, op-eds)
• General submissions
• Guardian Opinion
• Vox First Person
• Business Insider (op-eds and personal essays)
• HuffPost Personal
• Well + Good
• New York/The Cut
• Toward Freedom
• Various Outlets , the Op-Ed Project offers a database of papers and pubs that accept opinion submissions
• Medium publications , various – explore the many editorial publications at Medium that are open for submissions

Miscellaneous

Our suggestions are geared toward personal essays/literary CNF because that’s our main audience, but because we’re sharing this post on social media, we know a broader audience might see this. So we also wanted to include ideas for other ways to publish work/share your voice:

• An op-ed to your local or regional newspaper
• An op-ed to a local, independent online news publication
• A letter or story pitch to your alumni magazine or college publications (if they are publishing online during the summer)

If you’re working on something super-timely, we hope that this list of resources is helpful in finding your words a home. Hippocampus Magazine is always open to simultaneous submissions, so you may also submit work to us and withdraw it if it’s accepted elsewhere.

Special Note About Our July/August 2020 Issue

Right now, Hippocampus Magazine is selecting and finalizing pieces for the July/August issue. Typically, we have a 3-4 month lead time to review submissions, since we read pieces in the order that we receive them. However, given the gravity of the moment and the urgency and necessity of writing that reflects the world as it truly is, we plan to keep a close eye on more recent submissions as well.

(If you know of another opportunity not listed here, you can share it with us in the comments; we’ll try to update this post to add new suggestions, elevating them from the comments.)

P.S. Additional Opportunities (related, but longer-term deadlines)

While not timely in the sense of being published within the next few weeks, the following are related calls for submissions for magazines, special projects, and anthologies; we discovered them in our search and thought we should still share them here:

• 805 Lit + Art – special 19th Amendment/Black Women Issue (August 2020) – deadline June 7
• Flash Nonfiction COVID-19 : 73 Short, True Stories from the Front Lines of the Pandemic (publishes fall 2020) – deadline June 30
• CATALYST ( from Prevention at the Intersections, debut issue, Sept. 2020) – Mind, Body & Gender theme – deadline July 31
• Being Home: An Essay Anthology – Madville Publishing – deadline August 1
• About Place Journal – Works of Resistance, Resilience (for fall issue) – deadline August 1
• We’ll continue to add to this list as we spot opps or receive suggestions

IMAGE CREDIT: Flickr Creative Commins/ Pierre Metivier

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Contributor updates.

Contributor Updates: Fall 2023

Contributor & Alumni Updates: Spring 2023

Contributor Updates: Spring 2022

Contributor Updates: January 2022

United By Pop’s editors are accepting submissions for 2022.

We are looking for:

• Personal essays related to pop culture (pop music, movies, television, YA books, celebrity, etc.) that are written from a true fan’s perspective — mockery of pop culture of any kind goes against our standards and will not be published
• Under 1,500 words
• Targeted toward millennial and generation Z readers
• Work must not be published elsewhere currently and will not be published elsewhere after it is on United By Pop

Fictitious examples of the kinds of essays we’re interested in publishing include:

• How ‘Simon and the Homo Sapiens Agenda’ helped me come out
• Camila Cabello’s departure from Fifth Harmony inspired me to leave my toxic friends
• I stayed a fan of all five members of One Direction after their hiatus
• ‘Riverdale’ helped me connect with my dad’s love of comic books
• Stop pretending it’s cool not to care about the Kardashians

At this time, United By Pop is unable to provide compensation for publishing personal essays, but essays will include your byline, headshot, and short bio (which can include a link back to your blog/portfolio/social media) if desired.

Please email submissions to [email protected] with the following:

• Subject line: PERSONAL ESSAY SUBMISSION
• Your name as you’d like it to appear in your byline
• A square headshot as you’d like it to appear next to your byline
• 1-2 sentence, third-person bio including any links
• Your entire essay submission (please no pitches)

United By Pop’s editors will reply back to you promptly if they are interested in publishing your personal essay submission. If you’re interested in joining our team and writing for us on a regular basis, please apply here .

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80 Best Magazines & Websites That Publish Personal Essays

Wouldn’t it be great to find a whole list of magazines that publish personal essays, and even pay you for the privilege?

Well, you’re in luck because you’ve just found a list of magazines that accept essay submissions around pop culture, personal finance, personal stories, and many other topics. If you’re passionate about crafting personal essays and your work typically falls within a range of 600 to 10,000 words, consider submitting your essays to the organizations listed below. They generally offer compensation of $50-$250 for each accepted essay. After this guide, you may also want to check my list of the best essays of all time .

Here are the top magazines and publications that publish thought-provoking essays:

1. the new york times – modern love.

“Modern Love” accepts essay submissions via email at [email protected] with the essay subject or potential title as the email subject line. Submissions should be original, true stories between 1,500 and 1,700 words, sent both as an attached Microsoft Word-compatible document and pasted into the body of the email. The team collaborates with writers on editing, and authors are compensated for published work. Submission info .

2. The New York Times – Opinion Essays

To submit an essay to this publication, fill out the provided submission form with the essay and a brief explanation of your professional or personal connection to its argument or idea. The essay should include sources for key assertions (either as hyperlinks or parenthetical citations). Although all submissions are reviewed, the publication may not be able to respond individually due to the high volume of entries. If there’s no response within three business days, authors are free to submit their work elsewhere. Submission info .

3. Dame Magazine

DAME is a women’s magazine that prioritizes accessible and intersectional journalism that dives into context rather than breaking news. Their stories are unexpected, emotional, straightforward, illuminating, and focused on people rather than policy. They aim to reveal new or surprising information, provoke action or empathy, simplify complex issues, introduce fresh ideas, and foreground the people most affected by discussed topics. Submission info .

4. The New Yorker

The New Yorker welcomes letters to the editor sent to [email protected] and includes your postal address and phone number. For fiction submissions, send your work as a PDF to [email protected] or mail it to their New York address. They review all submissions within ninety days and will only contact you if they decide to publish your work. Submission info .

5. The Atlantic

The Atlantic is keen on high-quality nonfiction, fiction, and poetry. Familiarity with their past publications can guide your submission. All manuscripts should be submitted as a Word document or PDF. They only respond if they’re interested in discussing your submission further. Separate submission channels exist for fiction and poetry. Submission info .

6. The Globe and Mail

The Globe and Mail welcomes your original experiences, viewpoints, and unique perspectives for your daily first-person essay. A good essay should have an original voice, an unexpected view, humor, vivid details, and anecdotes that illuminate a wider theme. While a successful essay could be funny, surprising, touching, or enlightening, it should always be personal and truthful, rather than political or fictional. Submission info .

7. The Guardian

To contribute to this publication, you should identify the most relevant section and contact the commissioning editor with a brief outline of your idea. You may be invited to submit your work speculatively, meaning payment will only be provided if your contribution is published. It’s important to note that your contribution should be sent electronically and will be published under standard copyright terms with payment at normal rates unless agreed otherwise before publication. Submission info .

8. Los Angeles Times

The Los Angeles Times is open to opinion articles on any subject, with most published pieces being about 750 words long. Submissions must be exclusive to them and not published elsewhere, including personal blogs or social media. Full drafts of articles are required for consideration and should include the author’s name, the topic, the full text, a short author biography, and contact information. Submission info .

9. The Sun Magazine

The Sun publishes personal essays, short stories, and poems from both established and emerging writers globally, particularly encouraging submissions from underrepresented perspectives. Their contributors’ work often garners recognition in prestigious anthologies and prizes. The Sun seeks personal essays that are deeply reflective, celebrating hard-won victories or exploring big mistakes, aiming to make newsworthy events feel intimate and wrestle with complex questions. Submission info .

Slate invites pitches that are fresh, and original, and propose strong arguments. They appreciate ideas that challenge conventional wisdom and encourage you to clearly articulate the insights your reporting can uncover. A concise pitch is preferred, even if a full draft is already written. You should include a short bio and any relevant published work. They advise waiting a week before pitching to other publications, and if an editor passes, refrain from sending it to another editor at Slate. Submission info .

VICE is primarily interested in mid-length original reports, reported essays, narrative features, and service journalism related to contemporary living and interpersonal relationships. They welcome stories informed by personal experiences and insight but advise writers to consider what makes their story unique, why they’re the right person to tell it, and why it should be on VICE. While all stories don’t need to be tied to current events, a timely element can distinguish a pitch. They also accept quick-turnaround blogs and longer features. Submission info .

12. Vox Culture

Vox Culture seeks to provide readers with context and analysis for understanding current entertainment trends. They are interested in pitches that answer significant questions about major movies, TV shows, music artists, internet culture, fame, and women’s issues in the entertainment business. Notably, they are not interested in personal essays or celebrity interviews. Past successful stories have ranged from exploring Disney’s move away from traditional villains to analyzing historical inaccuracies in popular shows. They accept story pitches ranging between 1,000 and 2,500 words. Submission info .

Aeon, a unique digital magazine since 2012, is known for publishing profound and provocative ideas addressing big questions. Their signature format is the Essay, a deep dive into a topic, usually between 2,500-5,000 words, approached from a unique angle and written with clarity to engage curious and intelligent general readers. Aeon’s contributors are primarily academic experts, but they also welcome those with significant professional or practical expertise in various fields. Submission info .

14. BuzzFeed Reader

This platform welcomes freelance pitches on cultural criticism, focusing on current or timeless topics in various categories like books, technology, sports, etc. Essays should offer a unique perspective on how these subjects reflect our society. The content must be relevant, advance ongoing dialogues, and add value to the existing discourse. Submission info .

15. The Boston Globe

Boston Globe Ideas welcomes a variety of content including op-eds, reported stories, book excerpts, first-person essays, and Q&A features. Submissions should be sent directly, not as pitches. Please include your submission in the body of the email, not as an attachment. Briefly explain why you’re uniquely qualified to write this piece. Ensure your submission hasn’t been published or under review elsewhere. Submissions page .

16. The Bold Italic

This platform is actively seeking submissions in the genre of personal narrative essays. These pieces can encompass a broad range of experiences from the hilariously light-hearted to deeply poignant, encapsulating the vibrant and diverse experiences of living in your community. Submission info .

Before pitching to a Medium Publication, thoroughly understand its unique style by reviewing published content and submission guidelines. This ensures your work aligns with their preferences. With numerous Medium Publications available, persist in your submissions until you find a fitting outlet. Submission info .

18. Refinery29

Refinery29 Australia is committed to empowering women and underrepresented groups, with a particular focus on Australian women and trans and gender-diverse individuals, primarily Gen-Z and millennials. We publish a diverse array of content, from timely personal essays to reports on race, reproductive rights, and pop culture, all with a distinctly local perspective. They aim to shed light on the world around us, and highly value pieces that capture the unique Australian experience, be it in subject matter or authorial voice. Submission info .

ELLE’s annual talent competition is back for, seeking out the next superstar in writing. The winner will have their 500-word piece, inspired by the hashtag #RelationshipGoals and focusing on a significant relationship in their life. Submission info .

20. Cosmopolitan

Cosmopolitan is looking for first-person features that cover all aspects of beauty. This can include writing personal essays or narratives about your struggles with adult acne, your journey to an all-natural beauty routine, or other unique beauty experiences. We are also open to opinion pieces about beauty trends or movements that resonate with you. Submission info .

Bustle encourages freelance pitches across different verticals such as Lifestyle, Books, News and politics, Fashion and beauty, and Entertainment. We value pitches that are brief yet comprehensive, including a sample headline, a 2-3 sentence description of the piece, your plan for photos, sources you have access to, your clips if you haven’t written for us before, and your standard rate. Make sure to understand what we’re looking for and convey your story idea clearly and professionally. Submission info .

22. The Walrus

The Walrus seeks short essays (up to 1,200 words) that are timely, focused, and sourced from Canada and globally. These can be reported narratives, memoirs, or mini-features on specific topics. Each essay should exhibit a distinct argument, a strong writing voice, and present an original and significant viewpoint. Writers new to The Walrus or those without long-form journalism experience are particularly encouraged to contribute to this section. Submission info .

23. Autostraddle

Autostraddle welcomes pitches, works in progress, and completed submissions. Any issues with the submission form should be emailed to Laneia Jones with the subject line “SUBMISSION ERROR”. Questions about the submission process can be directed to Kayla Kumari Upadhyaya with “SUBMISSION PROCESS” in the subject line. Please note that pitches or submissions sent via email will not be accepted. Submission info .

24. Narratively

Narratively focuses on original and untold human stories, welcoming pitches and completed submissions from diverse voices. They use Submittable for managing submissions. To better understand what they’re looking for in new writers, contributors can review their guidelines, and the best pitches they’ve received, and ask questions to their editors about how to pitch. Submission info .

25. Catapult

Catapult offers a regularly updated list of submission and freelancing opportunities. Some current options include Black Fox Literary Magazine, open for fiction submissions; Carina Press, seeking romance manuscripts; Elegant Literature, welcoming submissions for its contest; Inkspell Publishing, looking for romance manuscripts; Interlude Press, seeking original novels featuring diverse casts; and Intrepid Times, accepting stories about romance while traveling. Submission info .

26. Jezebel

At Jezebel, the high volume of daily emails (over 500), including tips and questions from readers, makes it impossible to respond to all of them, even though they are all read and appreciated. Their primary job involves posting 60+ items a day, and due to workload constraints, they may not always be able to reply to your email. Submission info .

27. Bitch Media

Bitch Media seeks pitches offering feminist analysis of culture, covering a wide array of topics including social trends, politics, science, health, life aspects, and popular culture phenomena. They publish critical essays, reported features, interviews, reviews, and analyses. First-person essays should balance personal perspectives with larger themes. Both finished work and query letters are welcome. However, due to the volume of submissions, they cannot guarantee a response or that every pitch will be read. Submission info .

28. Broadview

Broadview magazine prefers pitches from professional writers for unique, audience-focused stories. While unsolicited articles may be accepted, the initial idea pitch is recommended. Responses to each pitch are not guaranteed due to high submission volumes. Submission info .

29. Briarpatch Magazine

Briarpatch Magazine accepts pitches on a variety of political and social issues, valuing stories from diverse voices. They seek well-researched, fact-backed pieces aimed at a non-specialist, progressive audience. They recommend writers to first pitch their ideas, including contact info, estimated word count, recent publications, and a short writing sample. The magazine aims to respond within one to two weeks after the pitch deadline for each issue. Submission info .

30. Maisonneuve

Maisonneuve Magazine welcomes non-fiction writing submissions in various forms (reporting, essays, memoirs, humor, reviews) and visual art (illustration, photography, comics). They do not accept fiction, poetry, or previously published work. They prefer well-developed, well-researched pitches, but also accept polished drafts if the writer is open to edits. To understand what the magazine is looking for, it’s recommended to read some recent issues or check their website. Submission info .

31. Room Magazine

Room Magazine seeks original fiction, poetry, creative non-fiction, and art from individuals of marginalized genders, including women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit, and nonbinary people. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, and submissions can be made through Submittable. Submission info .

32. Hazlitt

Hazlitt is currently not accepting submissions but it might reopen soon. They seek original journalism, investigative features, international reporting, profiles, essays, and humor pieces, but they are not considering unsolicited fiction. Pitches with proposed word counts are preferred, and they have a section called “Hazlitt Firsts” for reviews of experiencing mundane things for the first time as adults. Submission info .

33. This Magazine

This Magazine seeks pitches for their annual Culture Issue with a DIY theme, open to various topics related to DIY spirit. They publish Canadian residents only and prefer queries over already completed essays or manuscripts. They look for unique stories with a social justice angle, and pitches should include reasons for telling the story, relevant sources, and potential takeaways for readers. Submission info .

34. Geist Magazine

Geist magazine seeks submissions with a literary focus, including short non-fiction for the Notes & Dispatches section (around 800-1200 words) with a sense of place, historical narrative, humor, and personal essays on art, music, and culture. They encourage submissions from diverse writers and will pay writers $300-500 for accepted pieces. Submission info .

35. Discover Magazine

Discover magazine seeks pitches from freelance writers for science-related stories that enlighten and excite readers, with a conversational tone and high reader interest. Pitch one idea per email, mentioning the newness of the science and specific studies and researchers to be cited. Include your science-writing credentials and best clips in the pitch and send them to [email protected]. Payment starts at $1/word for print and typically $300/story for web, with rights purchased for both. Submission info .

36. Eater Voices

Eater Voices accepts personal essays from chefs, restaurateurs, writers, and industry insiders about the food world. To pitch, email a brief explanation of the topic and why you are the right person to write about it to [email protected]. Submission info .

37. The Temper

The Temper is an online publication focused on sobriety, addiction, and recovery, challenging drinking culture. They seek diverse and intersectional stories written through the lens of addiction, covering various topics like sex, food, relationships, and more. Submissions are currently closed, but they are especially interested in amplifying voices from marginalized and underrepresented groups. Submission info .

38. Chatelaine

Chatelaine is a prominent Canadian women’s magazine covering health, current events, food, social issues, decor, fashion, and beauty. To pitch, read the magazine first, and submit a one-page query letter explaining the idea’s fit for the magazine, section, and format. They prefer email submissions with at least two previously published writing samples, and response time may take six to eight weeks. Submission info .

39. Conde Nast Traveler

Condé Nast Traveler seeks pitches for reported and personal travel stories with inclusive coverage, including BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and disabled communities. Focus on stories and angles rather than destinations, check for previous coverage, and offer a fresh perspective. If pitching a personality, indicate exclusivity and access. Consider your expertise in telling stories, especially about marginalized communities, and disclose any sponsorships. Keep pitches brief, including a suggested headline, angle, sources, and why it’s timely. Responsible travel stories are prioritized during the pandemic. Submission info .

40. Boston Globe Ideas

Globe Ideas is dedicating an entire issue to young people’s voices and stories. Teens are invited to share their aspirations, concerns, and experiences about mental health, school, social media, and more, up to 700 words or through short notes, videos, or illustrations. This is a chance for teens to set the record straight and tell the world what matters most to them. Submission info .

41. Babbel Magazine

Babel welcomes submissions from all linguists, focusing on accessible and stimulating articles about language. Writers can submit feature articles or propose ideas for regular features, and guidelines for contributions are available for download. For those with ideas but not interested in writing, they can also suggest topics for articles through email. Submission info .

42. HuffPost Personal

HuffPost seeks to amplify voices from underrepresented communities, including BIPOC, LGBTQ, and people with disabilities. They accept freelance pitches on a wide range of topics, providing clear guidelines for submissions. They also encourage visual creatives to submit their work, and all published contributors are paid for their work. Please note that due to the volume of submissions, individual responses may not be possible. Submission info .

43. Adelaide Literary Magazine

Adelaide magazine accepts submissions in various categories, including fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, translations, book reviews, interviews, and art/photography. Fiction and nonfiction submissions have a size limit of 5,000 words, while book reviews have a limit of 2,000 words. They do not accept previously published work or simultaneous submissions. Artists retain all rights to their work, and upon publication, rights revert to the author/artist. Submission info .

44. bioStories

BioStories welcomes nonfiction prose submissions of 500 to 7500 words, with the typical piece being around 2500 words. Submit via email to [email protected], pasting the submission in the email body with the subject line “biostories submission” and your last name. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but immediate notification is required if accepted elsewhere. Multiple submissions are allowed at a one-month interval, and the work must be previously unpublished in print and online. Noncompliant submissions will not receive a response. Submission info .

45. Quarter After Eight

Quarter After Eight welcomes innovative writing submissions in any genre from both new and established writers. To withdraw work, use the “withdraw” option on Submittable for the entire submission or the “note” function to specify which pieces to withdraw; do not email about withdrawals. Submission info .

46. The Rappahannock Review

The Rappahannock Review accepts original and innovative writing in various genres, including fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and audio pieces. They encourage experimentation and creativity, seeking enthralling voices and compelling narratives. Additionally, the magazine showcases a variety of visual artists and welcomes submissions for consideration in each new issue. Submission info .

Allure is seeking writers to contribute pieces that explore beauty, style, self-expression, and liberation. They are looking for writers with relevant credentials and experience in the field, and they offer compensation of $350 for reported stories and $300 for personal essays. Submission info .

48. MLA Style Center

The Modern Language Association is inviting students to submit research papers written in MLA style for consideration in their online collection “Writing with MLA Style.” Essays should be 2,000 to 3,000 words in length and must be written in English. Works-cited-list entries do not count toward the word limit. Submission info .

49. Marie Claire

Marie Claire magazine is dedicated to highlighting the diversity and depth of women’s experiences. They offer award-winning features, essays, and op-eds, as well as coverage of sustainable fashion, celebrity news, fashion trends, and beauty recommendations. Submission info .

SELF magazine is actively seeking new writers, particularly from marginalized communities, to contribute to their health and wellness content. They are interested in pitches that offer helpful insights on topics related to health, fitness, food, beauty, love, and lifestyle. The focus should be on improving personal or public health clearly and straightforwardly. Submission info .

51. Her Story

HerStry is a platform that focuses on the experiences of women-identifying persons, including cisgender women, transgender women, non-binary persons, and more. They accept personal essays that are true stories about the author, with a length between 500 to 3,000 words. They pay $10 for each published personal essay here, but there is a $3 submission fee (with limited free submission periods). Stories are read blind, and explicit or offensive content is not accepted. Submission info .

52. Griffith Review

Griffith Review accepts submissions based on specific themes for each edition. They welcome new and creative ideas, allowing writers to express their voices in essays, creative and narrative nonfiction-fiction, and analytical pieces. Submissions should generally range from 2,000 to 5,000 words, with up to four poems allowed on theme. Submission info .

53. Literary Review of Canada

The Literary Review of Canada welcomes prospective writers, photographers, and illustrators to submit specific review proposals, essay pitches, or general queries. They prefer to receive unsolicited review topics and essay ideas rather than completed work and do not accept simultaneous submissions. Submission info .

54. Harper’s Magazine

For Harper’s Magazine, nonfiction writers should send queries accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope. Ideas for the Readings section can be sent to [email protected], but individual acknowledgment is not guaranteed due to volume. All submissions and queries must be sent by mail to their New York address. Submission info .

55. Virginia Quarterly Review

VQR only considers unpublished work, submitted online via Submittable. One prose piece and four poems are allowed per reading period, but multiple submissions in the same genre will be declined unread. Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but if accepted elsewhere, notify them immediately via Submittable. Submission info .

56. The New England Review

New England Review is open for submissions in all genres during specific periods. They accept fiction, poetry, nonfiction, dramatic writing, and translations. The magazine only considers previously unpublished work, and simultaneous submissions are allowed. They welcome submissions from writers of all backgrounds and encourage diverse perspectives. Submission info .

57. One Story

One Story seeks literary fiction between 3,000 and 8,000 words, any style, and subject. They pay $500 and provide 25 contributor copies for First Serial North American rights. Only unpublished material is accepted, except for stories published in print outside North America. Simultaneous submissions allowed; prompt withdrawals upon acceptance elsewhere. Accepts DOC, DOCX, PDF, and RTF files via Submittable. No comments on individual stories. No revisions of previously rejected work. Translations are accepted with proper attribution. No emailed or paper submissions, except for incarcerated individuals. Submission info .

58. The Threepenny Review

The Threepenny Review accepts submissions for fiction, poetry, travel essays, and Table Talk pieces. They pay $400 per story/article and $200 per poem, granting first serial rights and copyright reversion to the author. Mailed manuscripts require a self-addressed stamped envelope, while online submissions should be in Word format with a single document for prose or poetry. Submission info .

59. Zoetrope: All-Story

Zoetrope: All-Story is currently not accepting general submissions. They will announce when submissions reopen and update the guidelines accordingly. Submission info .

60. American Short Fiction

American Short Fiction accepts regular submissions of short fiction from September to December. The magazine publishes both established and new authors , and submissions must be original and previously unpublished. Manuscripts should be typed, double-spaced, and accompanied by the author’s contact information. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but authors must withdraw their work if accepted elsewhere. Payment is competitive and upon publication, with all rights reverting to the author. American Short Fiction does not accept poetry, plays, nonfiction, or reviews. Submission info .

61. The Southern Review

The Southern Review accepts work during its submission period. They only consider unpublished pieces in English and accept simultaneous submissions. If your work is accepted elsewhere, promptly notify them via email with the subject line “withdrawal.” Do not submit work via email, as it will be discarded. They do not consider submissions from anyone currently or recently affiliated with Louisiana State University within the past four years. It is recommended to familiarize yourself with the journal’s aesthetic by subscribing before submitting your work. Submission info .

62. Boulevard Magazine

Boulevard seeks to publish exceptional fiction, poetry, and non-fiction from both experienced and emerging writers. They accept works of up to 8,000 words for prose and up to five poems of up to 200 lines. They do not consider genres like science fiction, erotica, horror, romance, or children’s stories. Payment for prose ranges from $100 to $300, while payment for poetry ranges from $50 to $250. Natural Bridge Online publication offers a flat rate of $50. Submission info .

63. The Cincinnati Review

The Cincinnati Review accepts submissions for its print journal during specific periods: September, December, and May. miCRo submissions are open almost year-round, except during the Robert and Adele Schiff Awards and backlogs. They welcome submissions from writers at any stage, except current/former University of Cincinnati affiliates. Simultaneous submissions are allowed, and response time is around six months. Payment is $25/page for prose, $30/page for poetry in print, and $25 for miCRo posts/features. Submission info .

64. The Antioch Review

The Antioch Review seeks nonfiction essays that appeal to educated citizens, covering various social science and humanities topics of current importance. They aim for interpretive essays that draw on scholarly materials and revive literary journalism. The best way to understand their preferences is to read previous issues and get a sense of their treatment, lengths, and subjects used in the publication. Submission info .

AGNI’s online Submission Manager is open from September 1st to midnight December 15th, and again from February 15th to midnight May 31st. Manuscripts can also be submitted by mail between September 1st and May 31st. AGNI considers prose in various genres, including personal essays, short stories, prose poems, and more. They do not publish academic essays or genre romance, horror, mystery, or science fiction. Simultaneous submissions are welcome, and sending through the online portal incurs a $3 fee, but regular mail submissions can be made to avoid the fee. Submission info .

66. Barrelhouse

Barrelhouse accepts unsolicited submissions for book reviews through their Submittable online submissions manager. They pay $50 to each contributor and accept simultaneous submissions. There is no maximum length, but most published pieces are shorter than 8,000 words. They only accept Word or rich-text (.rtf) files and prefer poetry to be submitted as a single document. Submissions for their print and online issues are currently closed, but book reviews are open. Response time is approximately six months. Submission info .

67. Tin House Online

Tin House is a good company that offers a two-day submission period three times a year for writers without a current agent and no previous book publication (chapbooks accepted). They accept fiction, literary nonfiction, and poetry, both in English and in translation (with formal permission). Completed drafts are required. They are particularly interested in engaging with writers from historically underrepresented communities. Submission info .

68. One Teen Story

One Teen Story publishes 3 stories annually and welcomes submissions from teen writers aged 13-19. They seek original, unpublished fiction across genres, focusing on the teen experience. Great short stories with compelling teen characters, strong writing, and a well-structured narrative are encouraged for submission to their contest. Submission info .

69. Bennington Review

Bennington Review accepts unsolicited submissions through Submittable during their reading periods in fall, winter, and spring. They seek innovative and impactful fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, film writing, and cross-genre work. Response times vary, but they aim to respond within five to eight months. Accepted contributors will receive payment ranging from $25 per poem to $250 for prose over six typeset pages, along with two copies of the published issue and a copy of the subsequent issue. Submission info .

70. Epoch Literary

Epoch Literary accepts poetry submissions of up to five poems, short fiction or essay submissions as a single piece or a suite of smaller pieces, and visual art and comics for the cover. They do not publish literary criticism or writing for children and young adults. Electronic submissions are open in August and January, with a $3 fee, part of which supports the Cornell Prison Education Program. Submission info .

71. The Gettysburg Review

The Gettysburg Review accepts poetry, fiction, essays, and essay reviews from September 1 to May 31, with a focus on quality writing. Full-color graphics submissions are accepted year-round. It’s recommended to read previous issues before submitting, and sample copies are available for purchase. The journal stays open during the summer for mailed submissions or those using Submittable and purchasing a subscription or the current issue. Submission info .

72. Alaska Quarterly Review

The publication accepts submissions of fiction, poetry, drama, literary nonfiction, and photo essays in traditional and experimental styles. Fiction can be short stories, novellas, or novel excerpts up to 70 pages, and poetry submissions can include up to 6 poems. They aim to respond within 4 to 12 weeks, but authors can inquire about their manuscript status after 4 weeks if needed. Submission info .

73. Colorado Review

Colorado Review only accepts submissions through its Submittable portal and no longer accepts paper submissions. They encourage writers to be familiar with their publication before submitting and provide sample copies and examples of recently published work on their website. They look for engaging stories with original characters, crisp language , and a provocative central problem or issue. Submission info .

74. The Georgia Review

The Georgia Review accepts submissions both online and by post, but not via email. Submissions are free for current subscribers. They do not consider unsolicited manuscripts between May 15 and August 15 and aim to respond within eight months. Previously published work will not be considered, and simultaneous submissions are allowed if noted in the cover letter. They offer different prizes for poetry and prose and accept submissions in fiction, poetry, essays, and book reviews. Submission info .

75. New Letters

New Letters accepts submissions year-round through Submittable, with a small fee waived for current subscribers. They welcome up to six poems, one chapbook, one piece of nonfiction, one short story (graphic or traditional), or one novella per submission. Simultaneous submissions are allowed if notified, and response time is approximately six months. They publish short stories up to 5,000 words, novellas up to 30,000 words, graphic short stories up to ten pages in color or black and white, and chapbooks up to 30 pages. Submission info .

76. Shenandoah

Submissions for comics will reopen soon. The Graybeal-Gowen Prize for Virginia Poets will be open for a limited time. Poetry submissions are considered in November and spring. Prose submissions will open soon. Short stories, creative nonfiction, and flash fiction are welcome. Editor Beth Staples looks for writing that challenges and offers diverse perspectives. Submission info .

77. TriQuarterly

TriQuarterly, the literary journal of Northwestern University, welcomes submissions in poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, video essays, short drama, and hybrid work from both established and emerging writers. They are especially interested in work that engages with global cultural and societal conversations. Submissions are accepted through Submittable, and they charge a small reading fee. Submission windows vary by genre. Submission info .

78. E-International Relations

E-International Relations invites current and former undergraduate and Master’s students to submit their highest-graded essays and dissertations for publication. They seek work that is of academic utility to other students and demonstrates engagement with the subject, using pertinent case studies/examples and engaging with complex literature and ideas. Submissions must meet specific entry criteria, including word count, language standards, and full bibliographic references. Submission info .

79. Longreads

Longreads publishes the best long-form nonfiction storytelling and accepts pitches for original work. They pay competitive rates and prefer pitches via email to [email protected]. Fiction is not accepted, and submissions using generative AI tools will be rejected. You can also nominate published stories by tweeting with the #longreads hashtag. Submission info .

80. Education Week

EdWeek welcomes submissions from various perspectives within the K-12 education community, including teachers, students, administrators, policymakers, and parents. Submissions should be concise, relevant to a national audience, and have a clear point of view backed by factual evidence. We value solution-oriented and practical pieces that offer best practices, policy recommendations, personal reflections and calls to action. Essays longer than 1,000 words or shorter than 600 words will not be considered. Please submit in Word format via email. Submission info .

If you want to get your essays published in a print magazine or an online publication, it’s time to approach the appropriate section editor or send your work via a submissions page. Even in a world where so much content is produced by AI, publications are still interested in receiving great writing written in a conversational tone. Just make sure to follow the guidelines (especially those around word count) and show off your flamboyant writing style in a prestigious online magazine. Next up, you might want to check a list of the top sites that will pay you to write,  or my extensive list of publishing companies .

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Submissions

Electric Literature periodically accepts submissions of short stories, essays, poetry, and comics during designated submission periods through Submittable. General information for these categories are below, and specific information on submission period dates can be found on our Submittable page.

For detailed guidelines and to submit, visit our Submittable page: electricliterature.submittable.com .

We announce open submission periods one to two weeks in advance. The best way to find out about upcoming submissions windows is to subscribe to our eNewsletter , and to follow us on Facebook , Twitter , and Instagram .

Please familiarize yourself with the work we publish before submitting.

Member Submissions  – All Categories, Year Round

Never wait for an open submission period again! Members of Electric Literature who make a monthly contribution of $5 or more a month get access to year-round submissions in any genre, with a guaranteed response time of under three months. Become a member and submit your work today !

Member-exclusive submission links for essays, The Commuter and Recommended Reading can be found in the welcome email you received upon subscribing . If you can’t find the email or did not receive one, please contact Alyssa Songsiridej: [email protected].

Recommended Reading - Fiction

Electric Literature’s weekly fiction magazine, publishing short stories and novel excerpts by today's most dynamic voices every Monday, recommended by your favorite writers.

Accepts previously unpublished fiction of 2,000 to 10,000 words.

Two one-week submissions periods per year, usually in Spring and Fall.

Response time: 6 to 8 months

For candid advice from our editors on how to make your stories stand out, watch our video " How to Get Published in Recommended Reading ."

The Commuter - Flash Prose, Poetry, Graphic Narrative

Electric Literature’s second weekly magazine, publishing strange and diverting poetry, flash prose, and graphic narratives every Wednesday.

Accepts previously unpublished flash prose, poetry, and graphic narrative under 1,500 words.

2-3 one-week submissions periods per year.

Response time: 3-6 months

For candid advice from our editors on how to make your poems, flash, graphic, and experimental narratives stand out, watch our video " How to Get Published in The Commuter ."

Essays - Cultural Criticism

Pitches for essays of cultural criticism may be submitted year-round via email.

For greater accessibility, Electric Literature does not require full drafts for submissions of cultural criticism. Instead, please send a detailed pitch to [email protected] . Pitches should describe the subject matter of the essay and give a sense of the argument you plan to make or the story you plan to tell. Subject matter should be linked to cultural property, such as: books, writing, narrative media (e.g., TV or film), fashion, food, music, or visual art. We welcome thoughtful considerations of new releases, overlooked classics, and childhood favorites. Essays of cultural criticism may braid personal narrative with analysis or critique.

Requests for Electric Literature to cover your book or your client’s book are not considered pitches.

If your pitch is time-sensitive or news-responsive, please indicate it in your subject line. Please wait at least two weeks before sending a follow-up email.

For candid advice from our editors on how to make your pitches stand out, watch our video " How to Pitch Electric Lit [Updated] " and " How to Pitch Electric Lit ."

Essays - General Nonfiction

Submissions of general nonfiction must be full drafts of personal essays submitted via Submittable . While there are no restrictions on form or subject matter, submissions should center narrative and consider what it means to essay; in other words, write to interrogate, investigate, adventure, and introspect. Submissions must be between 2,000 and 6,500 words in length, and previously published work will not be considered. Simultaneous submissions are accepted, but please let us know immediately if a submission is accepted elsewhere.

Writers may submit one essay per submission period, but may have active submissions across other EL categories. (This does not apply to year-round submitting members. For more information on member submissions, please refer to the welcome email you received when you signed up as a member, or email [email protected].)

Upon acceptance, we can offer authors $100 for publishing rights, with 90-day exclusivity. Our response time is two to four months. For more information on what we’re looking for, please watch our salon on EL’s General Nonfiction Program .

Send pitches for interviews to [email protected] with the subject line "Interview Pitch: [Book] By [Author, Pub Date, Publishing House]." The ideal time to pitch is 2–4 months before the book’s publication date. We're looking for literary fiction, nonfiction, poetry, literature in translation; we're not looking for self-published books, YA, personal development, self-help, cookbooks, romance, crime or mass-market mystery, or children's literature. We welcome pitches about books from independent/small presses. We're looking for interview pitches with strong angles that focus on the themes of the book. We're generally not looking for craft-based interviews about the writing/publishing/editorial process, but will make exceptions for certain titles. Please include information about yourself and relevant clips, the book, whether you're in touch with the author or publisher already (it's okay if you're not), and what you'd like to talk to the author about. Pitch should include a general idea of what questions you're planning to ask the authors, what the interview will be about, and what themes of the book you're interested in. Please wait at least a week to follow up.

For candid advice from our writers on how to pitch and interview authors, watch our video " The Secrets of Successful Author Interviews ."

Manuscript Consultations - OPEN at 7 AM PST December 1 until midnight PST December 31, or until the submission cap of 30 is met

Up to 30 writers may enroll to receive a comprehensive manuscript review, with detailed notes, and a video call with an EL editor. Please review the full description of the manuscript consultation, as well as our roster of editors here .

We have 30 available slots,  with 5 slots reserved for EL members at a 5% discount. The remaining 25 slots will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Learn more about becoming an EL member here . 

Enrollment begins at 7 AM PST on December 1, 2023 and closes at midnight PST on December 31, 2023, or when the 30 slots have been filled.

After you purchase the manuscript consultation here , we will send you a private Submittable link to submit your manuscript.

Once you have purchased a manuscript consultation, your slot is secured, and you have until January 31 to submit your manuscript .

To purchase a manuscript consultation as a gift, simply forward the confirmation email that contains the submission link to the gift recipient.  

This opportunity will also serve as an important fundraiser for Electric Lit, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Proceeds will be used to pay staff salaries, writer fees, and help us continue to edit, nurture, and publish over 500 writers annually.

Please send any questions to  [email protected] .

Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize

The Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize is an annual writing competition sponsored by the stage and radio series  Selected Shorts . The winning work will be performed and recorded live at a  Selected Shorts  performance at Symphony Space, and published on Electric Literature. The winning writer will receive $1000 and a free 10-week course with Gotham Writers. The 2023 Stella Kupferberg Memorial Short Story Prize will be judged by Anthony Doerr (Cloud Cuckoo Land, All the Light We Cannot See). Submissions closed for 2023. Read more about the competition  here .

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5 places to submit your personal essays

The best stories often come from real-life experiences. If you enjoy writing personal essays, consider submitting your work to one of the publications on this list. (Fiction writers and poets, there are some gems for you here too.) All the journals on our list are currently open for submissions and none charge fees.

Note: We are a creative writing school and compile these lists for the benefit of our students. Please don’t send us your publishing queries or submissions :). Click on the links to go to the publication’s website and look for their submissions page.

Adelaide Literary Magazine accepts personal essays and narrative nonfiction (up to 5,000 words) written in English and Portuguese. You can also submit short stories (up to 5,000 words) and poetry (up to 5 pieces per submission). They publish online once per month and generally respond within two months.

bioStories focuses exclusively on personal essays (500-7500 words). They publish essays on nearly any topic and are especially interested in work that celebrates the extraordinary within the ordinary. Pieces are published as they are accepted, and the editors generally respond to submissions within two months.

HuffPost Personal wants personal stories from writers of diverse experiences and welcomes essays on nearly any topic so long as they’re told with an authentic voice and point of view. There are no specific word limits, but writers are asked to pitch the editors before submitting their piece for consideration.

Quarter After Eight is an online literary journal published once per year. The editors are seeking work that ‘directly challenges the conventions of language, style, voice, or idea’. In addition to essays and creative nonfiction (no specific word limits), they also accept flash fiction, short stories (up to 7,500 words), and poetry (up to 4 pieces per submission). Submissions are open through 15 April 2021, and the average response time is 2-3 months.

The Rappahannock Review is an online literary magazine that publishes twice per year. In addition to essays and creative nonfiction (up to 8,000 words), they’re also looking for flash fiction, short stories (up to 7,500 words), and poetry (up to 5 poems per submission). They generally respond within one month.

4 responses on "5 places to submit your personal essays"

Just found this- Thanks for the info!

Hi, thank you very much for sharing this useful information. Now, I know where I can submit my personal essays. Writing essays make me occupied with writing and reading everyday.

Thank you! I was looking for places to submit personal essays!

In this essay we will look at Jullian Assange, an Australian journalist most prominently known for the creation of Wikileaks and the controversies that surround it, despite this he still garners support as well as criticism for his role in leaking classified documentation. Born on July 3, 1971. He rose to fame with the creation of WikiLeaks which he used to expose corporate and government misconduct in addition to the creation of the site and the causalities of it (Whittaker, 2018). This has created a massive ethical debate on if he should be punished for the crimes or should have the freedom of the press this will be looked at through the ethical frameworks of deontology and utilitarianism as the moral intricacy that have arisen from his action and his fight for transparency and the challenges that are posed to national security. Before we can start to discuss how these frameworks can be argued we have to understand what it is. According to Tardi 2023, Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that foster happiness or pleasure and oppose actions that cause unhappiness or harm when directed to making a social, economic or political decision. With an understanding of this framework you can see how Assanges commitment to transparency can be seen as positive as he clearly discloses an aim to prevent corruption and human right exploit and how these could have easily covered up by governments or corporations by bringing these issues to the public light his actions can be seen in a good light and allows for a more informed society, in which the argument can be placed for utilitarianism as they argue that when people are more aware of what happens behind closed doors is crucial for a democratic society as it allows voters to make informed decisions and hold the relevant people accountable. His disclosure of these documents also can prevent further potential harm by him shedding light on the corrupt practices and the violation of human rights which cause backlash and the fear of being exposed can influence people to rethink their actions (Sherman, 2023). In contrast, to the positives towards his actions the main argument that is presented is the threat to national security due to the severity of leaking classified information as good as it is to expose wrongdoing concerns about national security come to the forefront as it could compromise current intelligence operations and compromise the safety of the individuals involved and could cause tension within diplomatic relations which causes an confliction of what needs to be done for the greater good. This framework requires a very careful weighing of what needs to be done for the benefit of the people against the potential risks that could arise from Assange’s actions. With advocates argue that the increase of positive social outcomes such as accountability and awareness should be prioritised, in conclusion the perspective of utilitarianism in comparison to Julian Assanges transparency does make the positives known as well as the harm it could cause but the use of this framework causes a dilemma in which there have been many debates over the arrest and it does not allow for the complexities within the balance between security and the need for the greater good. Another framework that contrasts utilitarianism is deontology as it is simply whether an action is inherently right or wrong, despite their consequences. It has a clear emphasis on the ethical principles and duties as factors that are used to determine the motivation of his actions, using this to look at his actions show his commitment to showing the people what they need to see as well as a selfless moral duty to uphold justice and expose what goes on behind the scenes whilst following higher ethical standards. Some advocates of Julian Assange believe that his actions are held between a moral duty to reveal the truth and that he is seen as a martyr who is being imprisoned for exposing corruption and his actions stem from a self-duty to create a system where corporations and governments are held accountable. as was the case with utilitarianism this perspective encounters some issues when the argument of national security is in question and as some critics believe that Assange’s actions in particular the release of classified information violate the duty of avoiding harm and in this view the duty of protecting national security and preventing any harm that can come of it is more severe and challenges the view of his actions being for the greater good.

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