With the newly re-launched writers' markets directory here at All Freelance Writing, I have the ability to create and share specialized markets with you that will automatically update when markets are added, removed, or changed in the database.
For example, if you're looking for freelance writing assignments in magazines or higher-competition online publications, this is an updated list of markets that pay $1000 (and more) for some types of assignments.
Remember to check back occasionally, as this list of freelance writing markets will automatically update as I add new markets to the broader database.
Central Coast Farm & Ranch
Central Coast Farm & Ranch is a quarterly magazine covering the agricultural community in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties in California. They cover local food, agriculture, edible gardening, agri-tourism, and more. Pay is $.50 - $1.00 per word for features, and $350 for departments.
Clarkesworld Magazine
This magazine is devoted to science fiction, fantasy, and horror. They purchase both fiction and nonfiction writing. Payment for nonfiction is 10 cents per word up to their 2500 word limit. Payment for fiction (1000-22,000 words) is 14 cents per word.
Earth Island Journal
Earth Island Journal covers environmental issues such as wildlife conservation,land conversation,public policy, climate and energy, and more. Contributors are paid $.25 per word for print stories up to 4000 words, with 2800 words being most common. Online reports pay $200 and are a good way for new writers to break into the market.
Gray's Sporting Journal
Gray's Sporting Journal accepts freelance submissions on sporting topics such as shooting / hunting and angling / fishing. They publish seven times per year, with four themed issues covering fly fishing, upland bird hunting, big game hunting, and their "Expeditions and Guides Annual." They're open to a wide range of word counts, but prefer shorter to too long (12,000 is okay if necessary, but 3000 is preferable, and 1500 words preferable even to that). In addition to articles and yarns (750-1500 word campfire tales -- can be factual or fiction), they also accept poetry up to 1000 words. They pay $600-1250 for features, $600 average for yarns, and $100 for poems. Longer "expeditions" travel pieces run 2500-3000 words and pay $850-1000 plus $75 for each picture published.
High Country News
High Country News is a nonprofit news magazine covering the Western U.S. They pay $.50 - 1.00 per word. They accept in-depth news and analyses, features, short-form reported stories, and essays about life in the West.
Model Railroad Hobbyist
Model Railroad Hobbyist publishes articles and videos "on all aspects of model railroading and on prototype (real) railroading as a subject for modeling." Articles typically run around 3000 words with 10 photos and a short video clip (payments being $230 for these). $200-600 per feature is typical, though they've paid over $1000 for longer articles as well (such as through their website where length isn't an issue).
Popular Woodworking
Popular Woodworking Magazine accepts pitches for features that typically run around 2500 words. Pay is generally $1000-3000 per article.
Sierra
Sierra is a bimonthly national magazine from the Sierra Club. They accept freelance submissions for both features and departments on conservation and other environmental issues. Features range from 3000-4500+ words with payments starting at $1.00 / word (and going to $1.50 / word for well-known writers). Only select departments are open to freelance contributions.
Writer's Digest
Writer's Digest is a magazine for writers. They accept a variety of freelance submissions including for the Inkwell upfront section (1600-word lead stories and shorter 1200-word stories), 800-1200 word author profiles, and writing technique articles of 1200-2500 words. Writer's Digest pays $.50 per word on acceptance. They do not pay for unsolicited online-only contributions and guest posts (and when they do in rare cases, they pay $50-100).
If you're looking for more freelance writing opportunities for your pitch list, you can search or browse the full collection of writers' markets.
If you're an owner or editor of a publication paying freelance writers (on an ongoing basis -- not one-off gigs, which you can find here on the freelance writing job board instead), you can submit your market for consideration.
This is a 2018 update of a market list originally published on August 31, 2010.
Haven’t been to your site in a while, but I’m glad I paid a visit today. Even though you posted this months ago, this market list is right on time for me.
Thank you much!
Thank you. I’m keen to find new sites so I can pitch. Hopefully I can submit without much reluctance. Nervous!
There’s no need to be nervous. Just remind yourself that the worst anyone can do is say “no.” And in that case, it doesn’t necessarily say anything about you or your work. You might not have been a great fit for their editorial calendar. No biggie. Or maybe they’ve already committed their freelance budget to other assignments. If they say “no,” you just pitch your idea to someone else — someone who will love the idea as much as you do. 🙂
I would like to be contributing freelance articles to various magazines listed on this website.
Great post! Quite a productive information. It surely will help freelancers like me to explore the freelance marketplace and earn some money.
This could be a great opportunity for me to flex my creative muscles.