By Tracy Egbele
Breaking into the international market as a freelance writer from Nigeria was something I knew I could do because I had read articles and essays written by Nigerian freelance writers. Although I was starting, I believed that as long as I pitched the ideas I had to editors, I’d have many bylines in my name.
For over a year, I pitched stories to various publications and was faced with either rejections or total silence, and this made me wonder what I was doing wrong.
In the months before I landed my first international publication, I spent a lot of time thinking about improving my pitches. I read newsletters, studied editors’ guidelines, generated story ideas, and sent out more pitches to publications and one of them was accepted. I successfully pitched an essay and recipe to Vittles, a UK-based food publication.
I came across their call for pitches on a freelance opportunity newsletter. I read through their guidelines, what they were about and the kind of stories they wanted. Going through their guidelines I was drawn to their interest in stories about how people cook, eat, and navigate everyday life, including moments of scarcity. I immediately remembered a tomato shortage years earlier when my mother substituted pawpaw for tomatoes. It was an experience that fit what they wanted, and the more I thought about it, the more I realised it captured exactly the kind of everyday food experience Vittles was interested in.
This became the foundation of my pitch.
PITCH:
“Hi, Jonathan, Sharanya, and Rebecca,
I came across your call for pitches for Vittles Cooking new cooking section, and I believe this idea would be a great fit.
In Nigeria, tomato scarcity between May and September is an annual issue. However, in recent years, the situation has worsened due to insecurity in the northern regions where most of the country’s tomatoes are grown, as well as erratic weather patterns and poor infrastructure. Tomatoes are a staple in Nigerian diets, used in everything from stews and soups to sauces. But what happens when this essential ingredient becomes unaffordable or unavailable?
During these periods of tomato shortage, Nigerian families and cooks online have had to get creative, using vegetables like cucumbers, cabbage, onions, various leafy vegetables and fresh pepper as substitutes.
In my family, the solution came in the form of my mom’s ingenious pawpaw and carrot stew. “Whatever is in the stomach is what quells hunger,” she always says, and this motto rings true every time she tries something new or when an essential ingredient isn’t available. With pawpaw, carrots, onions, fresh pepper, and a bit of tomato paste, she created a unique stew that has since become a cherished staple in our home.
This piece would explore how Nigerian families, like mine, have had to adapt and be resourceful in the face of food shortages and scarcity. It will also delve into broader themes of food sustainability, human adaptability, and the ways the changing landscape of food availability shapes home cooking. I’ll include the recipe for my mom’s pawpaw-carrot stew, along with high-quality images to complement the story.
As a Nigerian who’s experienced these challenges firsthand, I believe I’m well-positioned to tell this story in a way that would resonate deeply, shedding light on how people navigate food scarcity with creativity and resilience.
I’ve also attached links to samples of my work below.”
ACCEPTANCE
I got an acceptance email two months later from one of Vittles editors. She requested if the recipe could be substituted for an international audience, which I confirmed, and then we talked about photos for the process of cooking and finishing process as a guide for their recipe tester and also agreed on a 600-800 word essay. Her email also confirmed their usual rate of 500 GBP for essay+recipe.
Looking back, I think the pitch succeeded for two reasons. First, it closely matched what Vittles was looking for. Second, the idea was rooted in a specific lived experience rather than a broad topic. Instead of pitching a general piece about food inflation or scarcity, I pitched a personal story that illustrated those issues through a single memorable moment.
WRITING AND EDITING PROCESS
After the pitch was accepted, I began working on the essay and recipe. While the idea itself came from a personal memory, turning that memory into a publishable piece that audiences from various parts of the world would read required a different level of reflection and detail I never imagined. The editing process also gave me a clearer understanding of how editors help shape a story. Rather than simply rejecting ideas, the editor helped me identify what was most compelling about my piece and asked questions about certain things I wrote, which made it easier to simplify for readers.
This was my first experience working closely with an international editor, and at one point, I felt scared and worried that the editor would reject not just my draft but also cancel our agreement. I felt my story wasn’t special enough for an International audience, but working with her helped me realise that editing is a collaborative effort not a judgment on my abilities. I submitted my first draft four weeks after the acceptance email, and my essay and recipe were published in May. From the acceptance email to publication date took two months.
PAYMENT
One concern many Nigerian freelancers have when working with international publications is payment, and I was bothered about that too. Stories about delayed transfers, unsupported payment platforms, and difficulties receiving foreign currency are common and can be discouraging. In my case, however, the process was surprisingly straightforward. Before my essay was published, I submitted my invoice and explained that I could not receive payment through some of the platforms commonly used by international publications. Vittles paid via Wise. The payment was sent directly to my Nigerian bank account and I received it in naira. What stood out most was the speed: less than two hours after submitting my invoice, the money had arrived. For a first international commission, my experience was reassuring.
But this might not be the same for everyone. What I’ve come to realise is that having multiple means of receiving payment is important. Some of the popular payment platforms that I know work for international payments are Raenest, and Grey. I also have domiciliary accounts with Nigerian banks which I also use in receiving payments. It is also important to discuss with editors before publication what payment method is suitable for you especially as a Nigerian freelancer. Most editors and publications today, now pay via Wise which is very convenient for a Nigerian freelancer.
WHAT CHANGED
Writing for Vittles changed the way I thought about pitching stories. I used to spend a lot of time looking for ideas that felt big enough to interest international editors. I often assumed that strong pitches had to be built around complex topics, big words or entirely new perspectives. The success of my pitch changed my assumption.
An ordinary experience, combined with an understanding of what the publication was looking for, led to my first international byline. Since then, I have become more attentive to the stories in everyday life around me and more deliberate about matching ideas to publications. The experience also gave me confidence. I now prefer pitching and writing from a place of understanding and experience because it is, in my opinion, the most effective way to prove why you’re the best person to tell the story you’re pitching. This has worked well for me because I’ve been published in other international publications.
Three Lessons I Took Away From The Experience
1. Editorial calls contain valuable clues
Before this, I often approached pitching by starting with an idea and then searching for a publication that might be interested in it. Vittles taught me the reverse. Their guidelines clearly signalled an interest in stories about cooking through scarcity and everyday food experiences. Paying close attention to what the publication was looking for helped me identify a story that was a natural fit. Since then, I have spent more time studying editorial calls and guidelines before developing a pitch.
2. Ordinary experiences can become compelling stories
It was simply a family memory of using pawpaw to cook stew that earned my first byline. I’ve learned that stories do not always come from extraordinary events. Often, the most compelling stories are hidden in everyday experiences that reflect larger themes and realities. The challenge is learning to recognise them.
3. Simplicity is more effective than complexity
Many of my earlier pitches were built around broad topics and complicated ideas because I assumed that was what editors wanted. The Vittles pitch was different. It was a simple story about my family’s response to tomato scarcity. I didn’t explain every aspect of foVittles’ation or food insecurity, I focused on a specific lived experience that illustrated those issues. The experience taught me that clarity and specificity are often more powerful than complexity.
Writing for Vittles showed me that the experiences I grew up with in Nigeria could resonate with readers elsewhere and that I did not need to search far from my own life to find stories that are worth pitching.
Leave a Reply