Good Stuff for Writers, 12/1

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Hi writer friends,

The sun is out in Portland this week, and I just spent three days eating pie for breakfast AND dessert—so I’m feeling pretty good. How are you?

This holiday was a strange one, but it was also kinda nice to be free of obligations and travel plans. Since I didn’t go anywhere or see anyone, I thought I might spend a day or two cranking out words on a personal project that’s been hovering in the periphery of my to-do list for ages. Instead, I watched A LOT of The Great British Bake-off and finished knitting a scarf I started last year. And you know what? I feel really good about that decision.

Scarf + sunshine

Now we’re on to the last month of 2020 (I do not know how that’s possible), and let’s just be honest with ourselves—it’s probably not gonna be PACKED with productivity. I’m fine with that. (If you’re proving me wrong and churning out pitches and assignments, I bow at your feet!)

Either way, there are always opportunities to land your dream byline or just snag a little more work. So let’s get to some of that.

Education, Inspiration, Etc.

• Pen America is hosting a Zoom panel on “climate change and how writers are charting our apocalyptic future”—for fiction writers, essayists, and journalists. It’s today at 4 pm EST!

• This big list of writing retreats you can attend in 2021 has me dreaming of travel.

• Craft Creative Nonfiction Award is open to submissions through Dec. 31. The inaugural award is open to unpublished work up to 6,000 words and three winners will receive $1,000.

• This very simple pitch template is very helpful.

• And this:

  Amber Sparks @ambernoelle

  Since we are talking about writing advice I will share again the best piece of writing advice I know: write about what you’re utterly obsessed with. It doesn’t matter if it’s salt or whales or hawks or whatever, if you catch others up in your passion, your book will be loved.

What I’m Reading

“A hand yanks a completed page from the machine with a snap, and, picking up a pencil, writes out “THE END”; soft scratch of graphite on paper. The author lights a cigarette with the satisfaction of a man who’s just made love to his typewriter, and as he inhales slowly, we can almost taste the tobacco.” — “Misery” Is a Horrifying Love Letter to the Physical Act of Writing [Electric Literature]

• Travel writers share why they’re not traveling right now. [Medium]

• How to Make Yourself Work When You Just Don’t Want To. [Harvard Business Review]

Editors Who Want Your Pitches

Mark Medley @itsmarkmedley

This is my semi-annual reminder that I'm always looking for pitches/story ideas for the @globeandmail's Saturday Opinion section. I encourage younger journalists, and writers who I haven't worked with, to send me a note. Here's a few pieces from the past 6 months that I loved:

Yessi Bello-Perez @yessibelloperez

📢 Today is my first day as editor of @UNLEASHgroup, a new media platform, where I'll be covering the future of work, HR, and recruitment. My new email address is yessi@UNLEASHgroup.io I'd love to hear from you if you're active in any of these spaces. Thanks!

Harry Cheadle @HCheadle

looking for a few stories to close out the year for the New Republic. Topics can vary but inequality and climate change will be my focus. Email in bio, DMs open, let's talk

TheSwaddle @TheSwaddle

The Swaddle is accepting podcast feature pitches documenting perspectives that have been marginalised or overlooked in mainstream narratives. If you have an idea for a limited series podcast that would work for us, email your pitch and CV to podcasts@theswaddle.com.

Kirsty Major @Kirsty_Maj0r

I'm taking pitches for a series loosely titled 'The year that changed me' - serious or fun. Did you realise how much you could sacrifice for others or how selfish you are? Did you make a big life decision or appreciate the little things more? I'm open to ideas! Dm or email

Søren Hough @SorenHough

Reminder to all of the radical scientists and science-lovers out there: we're accepting pitches over at @sftpmag Online! All are welcome; we're particularly seeking writers w/ diverse lived + professional experiences. Submit your pitch here:

forms.gleGoogle Forms - create and analyze surveys, for free.Create a new survey on your own or with others at the same time. Choose from a variety of survey types and analyze results in Google Forms. Free from Google.

paige @nuclearunicorns

hi! currently looking for entertainment analysis pitches — do you want to highlight the biggest mistake in "gilmore girls"? or break down dumbledore's biggest failures? or explain why exactly draco malfoy is so beloved yet so absent? email me! pdifiore@insider.com #freelance

Laura E. Adkins @Laura_E_Adkins

✡️🥔🎄Now accepting pitches on Hanukkah / your complicated relationship to Christmas Season™ for @JTAnews Opinion ✡️🥔🎄

Life & Thyme @lifeandthyme

Call for pitches: We’re looking for stories that explore topics related to parenting while working in the food industry. Especially looking for pitches about parents with children at home who are working an on-site food or hospitality job during Covid.

buff.lyContribute - Life & ThymeWe extend a friendly invite to those with a creative mind to help us grow and nourish the Life & Thyme community by becoming a contributor.

Sarah Kessler @SarahFKessler

🌟 Freelance writers! Hello! I would love to read your pitches for ambitious, reported tech stories. We at @ozm are especially interested right now in features related to surveillance, digital platforms (including the communities on them), and tech/labor.

hattie gladwell @hatttiegladwell

✨ The Breakdown (@TBreakdownMag is looking for a writer in the lesbian & queer community to become a monthly columnist. The pay is £100 a piece and will also include free products. Please do pitch me at hattie@the-breakdown.co.uk! ✨

Vicki Turk @VickiTurk

Want to pitch a longread before Christmas? Now's the time! I'm always looking for smart narrative nonfiction pitches in tech, science and innovation. PLEASE read the 'features' section in these guidelines first:

wired.co.ukWant to pitch to WIRED? Here’s howWant to write for WIRED? Consider our contributor’s guidelines first

Sammy Nickalls @sammynickalls

I'm still looking for writers who are cancer survivors, patients, supporters of folks with cancer, doctors, oncologists, or anyone else with cancer experience to pitch me to write for OneVillage! $150, but can do more for heavily reported pieces. email in bio! RT pls!

Rivkah Brown @RivkahBrown

Do you have ideas that are left-wing but also Christmassy? I'm commissioning articles for @novaramedia to run over the 5-day period when you're legally obliged to infect your loved ones with a deadly virus. Pitch me at rivkahbrown54@gmail.com!

vanessa 🔪🔪🔪 @vanessapamela

hi are you a queer jewish writer with something interesting to say about hanukkah? v into work that speaks to themes of holding on/out, surviving, hope & faith. pitch me asap, email in bio. jews of color to the front! feel free to share but don’t put on email lists, plz. ✨

Transformations @TransformEssays

Holidays can evoke strong emotions & poignant experiences—even life-altering ones. Or they can be disasters. Do you have a transformative holiday story? We’re accepting submissions of up to 600 words on the topic: “Holidays?” The deadline for submissions is 12/13.

justin michael jerome @JstnMchl

Reporters: I’m accepting pitches for CBS News on the distribution of coronavirus vaccines, including getting the vaccine to vulnerable communities. DM or email me if you’re interested: justin@cbsnews.com

Valeria Kolomiets @ValeriaKolomie4

In more personal news, I have the immense pleasure of being promoted to Indie Editor @EARMILK 😊🖤 Business is still as usual, but please send any pitches to my new email:valeria@EARMILK.com

That’s all for today! If you’re a paid subscriber, I’ll be back in your inbox later this week!

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Stay inspired,

Britany