25 Publications that Pay for Feature Articles

Here’s our latest research — a list of publications that pay for features and that work with freelance writers.

We’ve researched payment rates, pitch guidelines, and more, to help you connect with the right editor.

If you want to browse even more opportunities, be sure to check out our database of over 1,500 publishers that pay writers. It’s easily searchable, and includes thousands of listings just like the ones below.

If you’re new to freelancing, I also very much encourage you to take our course on pitching. You can get the details here.

1. The Nautical Research Journal is the quarterly journal of the Nautical Research Guild. The journal contains “feature articles on ship model building, merchant and naval shipbuilding, naval architecture, maritime trade, nautical history, and maritime arts.” They publish about 24 in-depth features each year. Feature articles are expected to be 4,000 words and tips 1,500 words or less. According to their guidelines, they pay $250 per modelling article ($500 for a multi-part article), and $50 per ship note article. To learn more, refer to their editorial guidelines.

2. Just Labs is a bimonthly magazine and a website aimed toward owners of a family Lab. The website content addresses the following topics: breeding/genetics; puppy issues; Labs as service dogs; caring, feeding, and health; history; fun activities; photo essays; and training. According to their guidelines, payment is $200-$450 for features (1200-1500 words). To learn more, refer to their writers’ guidelines.

3. Popular Woodworking Magazine is a woodworking magazine that provides resources, techniques, how-to articles, artist features, and much more. They publish 6 times annually. They accept article pitches from people of all backgrounds. According to their guidelines, they mostly pay $1,000 to $3,000 per feature (about 2,500 words, 20 photos, and 1 or 2 illustrations). To learn more, refer to their submission guidelines.

4. Planetizen is “a fiercely independent platform that creates, curates, and amplifies stories and resources to inform planning and people passionate about planning.” They accept newsfeed stories, features, blogs, and Planetizen Courses. According to their guidelines, they pay professional writers $500 for a feature or career-related article. They pay Planetizen Courses instructors $1,250 for a 1-hour course. For more information, refer to this page.

5. GRAMMYs / Recording Academy is a society of music professionals. They’re seeking pitches about “diverse artists, genres, and musical communities with national relevance.” They’re mainly seeking “larger culture features and lists highlighting the intersection of music with broader issues such as politics, history, health and technology.” They’re also looking for artist interviews, artist “discoveries”, and evergreen features/lists. According to their pitch guide, rates are $250 to $500 per piece. To read their pitch guide, click here.

6. The Earth Island Journal is a quarterly magazine that discusses the environment and how it relates to present-day issues, including climate change, environmental justice, and wildlife and land conservation. They are particularly interested in stories that explore the intersections between the environment and other social and human rights issues. According to their guidelines, pay is $0.50/word for print features up to 4,000 words, though 2,800 words is most common, and $400 for stories published online. To learn more, refer to their submission guidelines.

7. The Open Notebook is a “non-profit organization that provides tools and resources to help science, environmental, and health journalists at all experience levels sharpen their skills.” They welcome pitches for brief guides, story-behind-the-story interviews, and reported features. According to their guidelines, they pay $1,800 for interviews (1,500 to 2,000 words), and $2,400 for reported features (1,500 to 2,000 words). To learn more, refer to their submission guidelines.

8. American Gardener publishes pieces that appeal to experienced amateur gardeners, and topics range from garden design to environmentally appropriate gardening. The magazine is mostly written by freelancers, and they accept article pitches for feature articles and department sections. Word length for feature articles is 1,500 to 2,500 words, and column stories run 900-1,000 words. According to their guidelines, they pay $300 to $700 for features and $150 to $200 for column stories. To learn more, refer to their submission guidelines.