5 Websites That Pay Writers at Least $100
By: Ashley Broadwater
Tags: Work, Writing, Business, Writing Tips, Freelance Writing

5 Websites That Pay Writers at Least $100

Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Pexels

If you’re a freelance writer, you probably know the challenge of knowing many publications but having little time to look into them all. And with HuffPost’s recent layoffs, I imagine more writers are looking into freelance opportunities right now. For all writers who are struggling in some way, I’d like to help. As someone who knows the difficulties of figuring out the right publication, brainstorming ideas, and receiving an acceptance instead of a rejection (which is rare), I enjoy compiling resources. Through these guides, I hope to help writers pitch new publications easily and with all the information first. Since rate information is especially hard to find — and also especially important to know — I included all the rate data I’ve found. For five online publications that usually pay writers at least $100 an article (but often much more), keep reading.

1. Apartment Therapy

What they look for

Apartment Therapy looks for articles that will help readers have happier, more beautiful homes. They want readers to be able to create spaces that reflect who they are. As far as topics you can write about to help readers in those ways, the site’s verticals are as follows: home projects, lifestyle, news and culture, organize and clean, real estate, style, and tours.

Guidelines and next steps

Apartment Therapy’s pitching guidelines provide editors’ emails, how to pitch them, and more information about what they’re looking to read. After looking at the guidelines and the work Apartment Therapy publishes, and making sure your idea fits but hasn’t been written about yet, email the editor under the appropriate vertical. If the editor accepts your pitch, you’ll hear back in a week or two.

Rate

The guidelines don’t include rates, but according to Who Pays Writers, Apartment Therapy pays around $0.12 a word. According to my colleague, the rate for a news brief with no reporting is $50, but most articles range from $100 to $250.

2. GloWell

What they look for

GloWell wants pieces that can help readers live more healthy and sustainable lives. The publication’s categories include mind-body, beauty, food, movement, healthy/sustainable lifestyle, and metaphysical/spiritual growth. You can write tips, expert advice, and stories on natural health, spiritual and personal growth, natural therapies, fitness, the environment, whole food cooking, natural beauty, travel, children, and real-life stories.

Guidelines and next steps

GloWell’s guidelines provide additional information on pitches they’re looking for, who the audience is, and a form for submitting your ideas. If you’d like to write for GloWell, see the form on the contribution page. There, you can enter your contact information, examples of your work, your passions and expertise, why you want to write for GloWell, and some topics you’d like to cover.

Rate

According to one of my colleagues, GloWell pays $150 per article.

Update: You may have to share your rates and negotiate to get paid!

3. i-D

What they look for

i-D’s verticals, or topics, include news, fashion, photography, culture, music, magazine, beauty, straight-ups, up and rising, Rihannazine, and i-D Asia.

Guidelines and next steps

For how to format your pitch, figure out an idea, and more, see the “How to Pitch to i-D” page. After making sure your idea is a good fit for i-D, you can email their general pitch email, pitches@i-d.co. To email an editor directly, here’s one contact from Twitter:

Róisín Lanigan, news editor: roisin.lanigan@i-d.co

And assuming the other editors use the same email format, here are some other editors’ names and roles:

Douglas Greenwood, contributing editor

Ryan White, features editor

Osman Ahmed, fashion features editor

Rate

While the pitching guide doesn’t list a rate, my colleague said i-D pays $250 an article, and Who Pays Writers says payments range from $0.19 a word to $0.33 a word.

4. Mental Floss

What they look for

Mental Floss’s verticals are animals, archeology, art, COVID, DIY, entertainment, food, health, history, language, the Olympics, science, sports, technology, and travel. You can pitch them lists or features, but not personal essays, timely news stories, science articles based on a single study, fiction, memoirs, poetry, current political pieces, or articles based solely on PR pitches.

Guidelines and next steps

For Mental Floss’s pitching tips, what the editors look for, editorial contacts, and rates, see the pitching guidelines page. After reading the guidelines and the publication’s work thoroughly, pitch the appropriate editor from the guidelines.

Rate

According to Mental Floss, lists start at $150, and features start at $125 or $200 depending on the amount of work.

5. YR Media

What they look for

YR Media is a network showing young journalists’ and artists’ work. The verticals listed are news, arts and culture, identity, tech, opinion, and health.

Guidelines and next steps

For pitching tips, see the pitching advice listed on the website. After reading YR Media’s pitching information, email your pitch to an editor. Here’s an editorial contact from Twitter:

Denise: denise@yrmedia.org

Rate

According to this tweet, rates start at $150.

Final notes

Freelance writing can be a difficult and rewarding career. Half the battle is creating a successful pitch and all the work that goes into that, which I hope I made easier for you. And remember: before pitching, make sure you read the publication’s guidelines and previous articles closely. Additionally, know you deserve solid payment in return for your work. I wish you the best in your writing endeavors! For more writing resources and tips, check out my resource set and newsletter.