This is a directory of paying freelance writer's markets. You can browse the writer's markets by category below or search if you're looking for something specific. All markets included in this directory are paying markets. Payment details are included in summaries where possible.
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Audubon
The National Audubon Society accepts freelance contributions for Audubon magazine and its website. They accept shorter pieces up to 1200 words for both print and online publication in addition to some longer investigations, profiles, features, and essays from 1500-4000 words. They prefer these to run around 3000 words. Online and other shorter pieces pay $.50 / word. Longer essays pay $1.00 / word. Features, print and online, typically pay $1.50 / word. A feature package (equivalent to a six-page print story) starts at $2500 per project.
Canadian Geographic
Canadian Geographic publishes six times a year, with the Canadian Geographic Travel section being published twice per year. There can be a long lead time of more than a year for longer stories. Queries can be emailed.
Coastal Review Online
Coastal Review Online is published by the North Carolina Coastal Federation. They accept freelance submissions for their "Our Coast" section, news and features, science stories, and special reports.
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 $.50 per word for print stories up to 4000 words, with 2800 words being most common. Online reports pay $400 and are a good way for new writers to break into the market.
Mother Earth News
Mother Earth news accepts queries for both features and departments. Departments include Home, Health, Food, and Garden. They pay a 25% kill fee if an accepted article will not be used. The County Lore department accepts short how-to submissions of 100-300 words and pays $25-100 per published item. They only pay for print submissions at this time.
Old Farmer's Almanac
Old Farmer's Almanac accepts freelance submissions for features on topics such as gardening, home remedies, pets, and weather. Rates vary based on the submission, and the publication prefers to buy all rights.
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.
The Green Parent
The Green Parent is a UK-based bi-monthly digital magazine covering topics such as pregnancy & conscious birth, breastfeeding, family life & simple living, alternative education, natural health & beauty, green travel, gardening, sustainable fashion, and more. Articles run 1500-2000 words, and they also accept shorter opinion pieces of 600 words. Pay is £75 per 1000 words.
More About the Writers' Markets
All freelance writers' markets listed here include a link to writer's guidelines offered on the publication's website. All Freelance Writing does not currently accept writers' markets without this information published. This is to protect the freelance writers using the directory, ensuring that they're accessing the latest publicly advertised rates and writer's guidelines released by the hiring publications.
If you run or are associated with a paying writers' market, and you'd like it to be considered for the directory, please use the market submission form.