18 Publications Commissioning Early‑Career Writers

A practical list of starter‑friendly outlets where newer writers can get paid and published.

Hey there, writers!

Today we’re sharing 18 publications that accept pitches from, and pay, new and early-career freelance writers.

One question we hear all the time is: “How do I get my first byline without any prior experience?”

You can pitch any outlet at any time of course, but a straightforward way to start is by looking for outlets structured to work with newer writers, not just seasoned journalists. Thankfully, there are more of these than you might think.

Every one of the 18 publications on this list:

• Is open to freelance pitches on an ongoing basis

• Is known to work with writers who have few (or no) bylines

• Will pay you for the work you do

You’ll find a mix of topics, from personal essays and parenting to travel, tech, science, and mental health.

Many of these outlets accept first‑person stories alongside more straightforward reported pieces, which makes them especially accessible if you’re still building interviewing chops or reporting confidence. One of them is even where I landed my very first byline!

If you have insights into specific pay rates, or if you’ve been offered different terms than those listed here, please let me know by replying to this email or by messaging me on Substack.

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18 Publications Commissioning Early‑Career Writers

Business Insider publishes a steady stream of freelance essays, as-told-to stories, trend pieces, and personal narratives across lifestyle, careers, travel, and personal finance. Editors actively encourage first-time contributors. Rates start at $230–$260 for pieces around 600–700 words. Full pitch guide here.

HuffPost (Personal) is the first-person essays vertical of one of the world’s most-read news sites, covering everything from relationships and health to identity, money, and career, the only rule is that you have a genuinely human story to tell. They pay a minimum of $150 per story, and often more, with most pieces running 1,000–2,000 words. Read the full guide here.

The Personals is the short-form offshoot of Narratively’s celebrated human-interest storytelling platform, specifically designed for first-person pieces that are tighter and more narrowly focused than a full feature. They explicitly say that being a published writer is not required. They pay $300 per piece. Submit via Submittable here and read their pitching details here.

Refinery29 Money Diaries is the massively popular personal finance series where writers can document their spending over seven days alongside full financial disclosure, salary, savings, debt, daily costs. There are no clips required and no experience required. They pay $150 per published diary. The submission form is live and rolling here.