Have you ever wondered where new freelance writers get their first jobs?
You know… without much experience, writing samples, or a massive portfolio.
If you are a freelance writer just starting out and have had challenges trying to:
- gain traction
- build your portfolio
- Grow your network
- find shooting magazines
- Spread your name and…
- I’m just trying to get into your new career…
You’re not alone. It’s easy to get discouraged. But it does not have to be like that.
Freelance writers (even if you’re new) can get paid to write, if you know where to look.
shooting magazines
Ready to land your first assignment or break into a new niche? These 20 paying marketplaces like working with new freelance writers:
#1 – Illustrated Horse
This monthly published magazine is about horses. Covers all aspects of horse ownership: horse breeds, riding and training, lifestyle, and horse care.
ADVICE: Always looking for fresh talent. Willing to work with new/unpublished writers. Freelancers can start writing for this pub with featured articles on:
- Western and English training methods
- Veterinary and general care
- How to do it
- equestrian sports articles
The readers are adults and women, between 18 and 40 years old. This age group is intended to “reflect responsible horse care.”
Contact: Editor | Email: Elizabeth Moyer or Elizabeth Moyer
Rate: $200 to $475 for assigned items. Pays the expenses of writers on mission
#2 – Horse Painting Journal
A monthly magazine for people who raise, breed and show Paint Horses.
ADVICE: “Articles must show a definitive understanding of the horse business.
You should know what a Paint Horse is, as defined by the American Paint Horse Association standards.
Contact: Editor | Email: Jessica Hein
Rate: $100 to $500 for 1,000 – 2,000 words. Pays the expenses of writers on assignment.
#3 – New Mobility
A bimonthly magazine for people living with a spinal cord injury or disorder.
ADVICE: Helpful but optional if the writers are people with disabilities or people who are comfortable working with people with disabilities, such as:
- Parents
- caregivers
- Husbands,
- Professionals
Readers look for articles with tips on:
- How to live well with mobility problems
- access to jobs
- Travel
- Recreation
- Education
They also want to read about how others deal with similar situations, resources, tips, and ideas about how others function throughout daily life.
Contact: Executive writer | Email: Josie Byzek and editor | Ian Rüder
Rate: contact publisher. Pays the expenses of writers on assignment.
#4 – Boulevard Magazine
A diverse literary magazine published three times a year featuring poetry, fiction, and essays by up-and-coming writers.
Contact: Editor | Jessica Rogen or editors@boulevardmagazine.org
Rate: Nonfiction: $50 per 1,000 to 5,000 words, plus expenses for assigned writers. | Fiction: $50 up to 5,000 words.
#5 – Contrary
A literary magazine, it publishes fiction, poetry, and nonfiction quarterly.
Contact: Editor | Jeff Mahon, fiction editor | Frances Badgett, Shaindel Beers | poetry editor
Rate: Nonfiction: Contact the editor | Fiction: $20 – $60 up to 750 words | Poetry: $20 per line, $60 per featured work, maximum of three poems per submission.
#6 – Free Fall Magazine
Published three times a year, poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, essay writing, interviews, and reviews are covered.
ADVICE: Welcome and encourage a mix of new, emerging, and experienced writers.
Contact: Chief editor | ryan stromquist
Rate: Prose: $10 – $100, Poems: $25 per piece
#7 – GRIST: A Literary Arts Magazine
An annual literary magazine publishing world-class craft fiction, poetry, prose, interviews and essays.
ADVICE: It publishes high-quality pieces of literature from established and emerging writers. All styles and aesthetic approaches are accepted.
Contact: Editor | matte craft
Rate: Prose: 1 cent per word up to $50 | Poems: $10
#8 – Indiana Review
Published three times a year, this literary magazine publishes fiction, nonfiction, poetry, reviews, and the occasional interview and essay.
ADVICE: “Always looking for more nonfiction.â€
Contact: Editor-in-Chief | bernard wade
Rate: $5 per page
#9 – The Iowa Review
This biannual literary publication showcases the talented authors and writers of fiction, poetry, art, and essays.
ADVICE: There are no set guidelines regarding content, but please read the post before submitting.
Contact: Editor | lynne nugent
Rate: Non-fiction: 8 cents per word ($100 minimum) and pays writers’ expenses on assignment. Poetry: $1.50 per line ($40 minimum)
#10 – The Malahat Review
Quarterly literary magazine covering poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, essays, history, memoirs, personal experiences, travel, and Canadian book reviews.
ADVICE: Willing to work with new unpublished writers.
Contact: Editor | Iain Higgins or malahaeditor@uvic.ca
Rate: $65 per Canadian magazine page
Quarterly publishes nonfiction, fiction, and poetry.
ADVICE: Look for “up and coming established and new writers.”
Contact: Chief editor | emily wojcik
Rate: $50 per piece
#12 – Central America Review
The semi-annual magazine publishes “highest quality contemporary fiction, poetry, and translations of poetry and fiction; must include the original and proof of permission to translate.” Also, search for “more creative nonfiction.”
ADVICE: “Searching for translations of contemporary authors from all languages into English.†Publishes new and established authors.
Contact: Editor-in-Chief | abigail cloud
Rate: $10 per piece
#13 – Queen’s Quarterly Magazine
A quarterly literary magazine, which “features articles on science, politics, humanities, arts and letters.” The pub also does “extensive book reviews and some poetry and fiction”.
ADVICE: Specifically “interested in the poetry of Canadian writers†. He publishes five new writers per year.
Contact: Editor | James Carson, literary editor | joan harcourt
Rate: Nonfiction and Fiction: “Payment to new writers to be determined upon acceptance” of submission, up to 2,000 words. | Poetry: $50 – maximum of 6 poems per submission.
#14 – Room Literary Magazine
A Vancouver-based Canadian feminist literary magazine “showcasing fiction, poetry, artwork, reviews, interviews and profiles.”
Contact: Editor | kevin larimer
Rate: $50 – $120
#15 – The Southern Review
A quarterly magazine publishing contemporary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry in the US and internationally.
ADVICE: The pub is in need of nonfiction essays, general interest, memoirs, personal experiences, and travel pieces.
Contact: Co-editor and editor of poetry | Jessica Faust, Co-Editor and Prose Editor | sacha idell
Rate: “$50 for the first few pages and $25 for each subsequent printed page.”
#16 – Reach
The magazine publishes quarterly articles on “livestock, agriculture and the problems that affect agriculture”. It is “dedicated to the problems that threaten the West, its people, lifestyles, lands and wildlife.”
Contact: Writer/Editor | C. J. Hadley
Rate: $50 – $500 for new writers; pay more for regular writers
#17 – Rural Heritage Magazine
Bimonthly magazine publishes articles on “training and care of draft animals†.
ADVICE: He wants more pieces on “plans and instructions for building various implements and horse-drawn vehicles.”
Contact: Editor | joe mischka
Rate: Nonfiction: Pays .05 cents per word and pays assigned writers’ expenses, Poetry: $5 – $25
#18 – Asimov’s Science Fiction
This science fiction magazine publishes fiction and fantasy stories for adults and young people 10 times a year. It also publishes “the best sci-fi shorts available.”
ADVICE: In general, the pub is looking for “character-oriented stories, rather than science.”
Contact: Editor | sheila williams
Rate: Pays 0.08 cents – 0.10 cents per word for stories up to 7,500 words; .08 cents – 8.5 cents per word for longer stories.
#19 – Shotgun Sports Magazine
This monthly covers “all shotgun sports and shotgun hunting, sport clays, trapping, skeet shooting, hunting, gunsmithing, cartridges, reloading, brain training for shotgun sports” and anything else related to the sport.
ADVICE: review the Editorial Calendar to get a clue about upcoming events, which can provide ideas for writing articles and when.
When submitting nonfiction, please submit the full manuscript with photos by mail with a SASE, or by email, between 1,500 and 3,000 words in length.
Contact: Editor-in-Chief | Johnny Cantu
Rate: $50-$150. Pays the expenses of writers on assignment.
#20 – Black Belt Magazine
Monthly martial arts magazine for experienced and non-professionals.
ADVICE: “Needs for exposure, instruction, interviews, new products, personal experience, technique, travel, information. He never uses personality profiles.â€
Send consultation with scheme of 1,200 minimum.
Contact: Executive writer | Robert W. Young
Rate: $150 – $300 for featured articles with good photos.
Choose a magazine that works with new freelance writers
Want to land your first assignment or break into a new niche?
Choose a magazine from this list.
Most of these are marketplaces that help you get a firm, build your portfolio, and earn some money so you can move up and earn more.
Before you launch any magazine, make sure you:
- Review previous editions to capture the writing style, tone and find out the type of audience that reads the magazine.
- Study the magazine’s website. and look for an editorial calendar and/or media kit. These are great resources for gathering ideas for upcoming topics to be written about in future issues.
- Study shipping guidelines and follow them to the letter. Several of the publications have specific guidelines for fiction, nonfiction, poetry, photography, and art. In fact, many of the pubs have editors for each genre.
- Ask. If the submission guidelines are not clear, please contact the publisher of the pub. It’s better to start off on the right foot and ask questions than waste time on a pitch that gets rejected.
What starter magazines for new freelance writers do you recommend? Tell us in the comments.
Arnita Williams is a freelance business writer and consultant based in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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