Thank you for considering Longreads for your work! Please read these guidelines on submitting and pitching to us.

Nominate a story as an editor’s pick

To recommend an already published story at another publication for our editors’ picks section, the quickest way to reach us is on Bluesky or X (DM us or share the story in a post/tweet and tag us). You may also email a link to hello@longreads.com.

Pitch us an original story for publication

Longreads accepts pitches for original nonfiction work from writers and journalists around the world. We do not accept fiction for publication.

The hallmark of a Longreads story is its ability to sustain a reader’s curiosity for the duration. Most of our published features run between 2,000 and 6,000 words, but that range is a guideline, not a rule. We want to know what you think a Longreads story can do, and how you plan to do it.

Read on for pitching and submission guidelines.

Please email essay submissions, story pitches, reading list ideas, and other queries to our main editorial inbox at hello@longreads.com.

Essays

We accept pitches for researched and critical essays, or combinations thereof. Rates start at $500, with the fee depending on the reporting required, as well as the total word count. Here are details we look for in pitches for essays:

  • The gist. What’s the story? How do you plan to deliver it? Tell us about the shape your essay will take, the concerns that power it, the evidence that you’ll use to make your case, and the conclusion your readers will take from their experience.
  • The context. What makes this the ideal moment for your essay? What makes Longreads the ideal forum?
  • The length. A distinguishing feature of any Longreads story. Does your essay need 5,000 words rather than 2,000? Why? In your pitch, briefly explain how length is necessary to your essay’s success and your readers’ enjoyment.

We also publish personal essays, but are not able to commission them based on a pitch. We’ll gladly consider your full, polished draft. We look for smart, unexpected angles and compelling voices across a wide range of topics. Our rate for personal essays is $500. Please attach a completed draft (PDF, Google Docs, or Word doc) to your submission, though you can also include the draft in the body of the email. Essays are fact-checked as necessary. Here are a few examples of award-winning essays:

Reading Lists

We also seek curated reading lists that explore a particular topic. A reading list typically includes an essay-style introduction, followed by a collection of links to longform stories related to the theme that are freely available to read on the web. Note: while reading lists will occasionally highlight a book as a side note for further reading, we don’t accept reading lists that feature books exclusively. Timely topics, but also offbeat and unique angles, are especially welcome, as is a diverse mix of featured publications and writers. We pay $350 per reading list. Not sure what to pitch? Browse our reading lists to see what we’ve published, or read a few that we love:

Reported features

We accept pitches for reported features of various lengths and formats: profiles, dispatches, narrative reportage, oral histories, and more. A pitch should show your deep consideration, including any preliminary research and reporting, for the story you hope to tell. Rates start at 50 cents per word, with the fee depending on the amount of reporting and research required. Here are the details we look for in pitches for reported features:

  • The shape of the story. We’re looking for “aboutness,” yes, but also your vision for structure and style. What story do you plan to tell, and what form will it take? What scenes or characters will it include? How will it surprise readers, or change the way they think about the world?
  • A reporting plan. How will you gather the evidence you need to make your story a success? Briefly provide a thoughtful, achievable plan for your reporting, including details on sourcing.
  • A sense of you. We want to learn about you and the experience you bring to the story. Share some details about yourself, along with some clips of previously published work.
  • An understanding of why Longreads is the home for your story. While we encourage simultaneous submissions, we hope for stories that take maximum advantage of Longreads’ broad purview and emphasis on storytelling. Tell us what makes your story a great fit for our publication and our readership.

Here are a few examples of award-winning reported features:

Ready to pitch? Read on for instructions and additional advice on the process.

Process

  • Send all pitches, submissions, reading list ideas, and other queries to our main editorial inbox at hello@longreads.com. Please include the pitch type (“Personal Essay,” “Reading List,” “Reported Feature,” etc.) and the proposed topic in your subject line.
  • We are a small team and receive many submissions and pitches each day, so regretfully are unable to confirm receipt of submissions. 
  • We generally only respond if we are interested in publishing your piece, so we strongly recommend submitting simultaneously to other publications. 
  • We pay Net-60, though payment is often processed sooner.
  • We will not accept any submission or pitch written or edited using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
  • Different editors have different tastes, so it may be helpful to consider which editor would be most receptive to your pitch. Some notes about each our preferences can be found below.
  • Expect to be edited with care and thoughtfulness. We want to help you tell the most compelling story you can and we approach that with a spirit of collaboration. It may take a few rounds of revisions to shape a piece into something we’re both proud of.

What we look for

Before emailing us at hello@longreads.com, please browse these collections of our favorite stories below to get a sense of what each of us likes to work on.

Brendan Fitzgerald

Brendan is interested in narrative features and essays, particularly those that involve reporting. The subject could be almost anything, so long as you can use scene and character to build intrigue, suspense, and wonder. He prefers intimate stories to those told by distant spectators. Here’s what he’s reading these days; send him your polished drafts and your pitches for reported work.

Carolyn Wells

Carolyn is interested in both reported and personal essays. She loves stories that look at different subcultures and unique characters or commentary on current cultural trends. Quirky or humorous always piques her interest. She is particularly drawn to adventure stories or pieces that explore the natural world. Please submit full drafts for personal essays and detailed pitches for reported stories.

Cheri Lucas Rowlands

Cheri reads stories about anything, and especially enjoys pieces about the internet and technology that remind us of our shared humanity, portraits of offbeat communities, unexpected takes on identity and place, deep dives into your obsessions, and reported essays that have strong personal narratives at their core. Put forward your very best: Submit polished first drafts for personal essays and detailed, targeted pitches for reported stories that show a specific angle into your subject.

Krista Stevens

Krista appreciates deeply human essays, reported pieces, and reading lists on science, outdoor adventure, pop culture, food, music, and more. She looks for essays with unexpected angles and a strong emotional arc. Please submit polished essay drafts. For reported essays, please frame your story clearly, elucidate why you’re the best person to tell the story, and include links to previously published work.

Peter Rubin

Peter assigns and edits all types of stories—reading lists, essays, and reported work—but he’s always looking for smart, timeless culture writing (pop, digital, and otherwise) and reported subculture pieces. Essays should be submitted in draft form, and pitches for reported and critical work should be 2-3 paragraphs, along with examples of previous writing.