5 Personal Essay Markets for 2016

Writer Abroad’s favorite kind of writing is the personal essay. When done right, a personal essay takes courage, honesty, and delivers the kind of power than only a real life story taken to the universal level can.

There were many markets Writer Abroad wrote personal essays for last year, and some of them were new to her. She’d like to share the places, both new and old, that she wrote essays for last year in hopes that they may help you find a new home for your work this year.

To help you decide where to send your work if pay and reach is important to you, Writer Abroad has also created this not-so-scientific pay and reach scale:

Pay scale: $ 400 and under, $$ 800 and under, $$$ 1200 and under

Reach: * Medium ** High *** Highest

(Reach was calculated based on the overall response from Writer Abroad’s articles and by how well the placed piece helped sell copies of her book. Obviously, this may vary based on the topic of your piece.)

New York Times Motherlode

The family section of the New York Times. From the personal to the political.

Essays should not be over 1,000 words. 

Don’t spell Motherlode wrong!

Expect response within 2 weeks. If you don’t hear, follow up.

Need topics on teenagers. Needs more diverse writers.

Good submission: Unique views, strong voice, universal message.

Pitch kj.dellantonia@nytimes.com

More great info about what the editor is looking for at Beyond Your Blog.

My example: In Switzerland, Parents Observe. In the U.S., Hovering Is Required.

$, ***

New York Times On Work

A personal essay column about the working life.

About 1,500 words.

Appears online and in the Sunday Business section. 

Pitch onwork@nytimes.com

My example: An Alpine Antidote to Working Weekends

$$$, ***

Washington Post On Parenting

A daily blog about parenting.

About 500-800 words.

Pitch amy.joyce@washpost.com

My example: My daughter’s sick day means my sick day

$, *

Vox First Person

Personal stories that explain the news. 

These were their favorites from 2015.

About 1,500 words.

Pitch firstperson@vox.com

My example: How living in Switzerland ruined me for America

$$, ***

Brain, Child

An entire publication devoted to personal essays about motherhood. 

Read their Submission Guidelines for more about the pitching process and kinds of pieces they are looking for.

My example: Why I’m Proud to be the Mom of the Mean Girl

$, *

Other good markets you cracked last year? Lave a comment with a link to your published piece and tell us more about it.