This list of publishers focuses on a variety of topics. But, all of them are personal. They publish essays about topics such love, dating, parenting, and retirement. Check out the list to find a publisher that might be right for you.

Some of these publishers have upcoming deadlines, others are always accepting submissions. All of them pay at least $100 for personal essays.

1. Puritan Magazine is “committed to publishing the best in new fiction, poetry, interview, essays, and reviews. They are a Canadian literary journal. They pay $100 for essays. Regular submissions are completely free, but there is a $15 fee for submitting to their writing contest. We do not recommend paying the fee. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
2. The Sun Magazine is a beautiful magazine with a literary bent and a very loyal following. They have no ads, and they pay their writers well. Up to $2,500 for non-fiction. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
3. Oregon Humanities is a literary arts publication based in Oregon state. They are currently calling for submissions from Oregon writers on the topic of “moving,” which can be broadly interpreted. They pay up to $800 for personal essays. The current deadline is July 27th. Learn more.
4. LightHouse seeks to publish first person stories and essays by blind and visually impaired writers. They want to hear stories “not merely about blindness, but about what it takes to survive and strive as a human.” Read their submission guidelines.
5. LittleFiction|BigTruths is calling for essays on the topic of our “digital lives.” According to their website “The rules are simple: Be brave and be vulnerable. But also be brief.” They pay $100 to published authors. The deadline to submit is July 15, 2015. Submission Guidelines.
6. A Fine Parent accepts submissions on the topic of parenting. Every month they accept essays on a new topic. They have a short submission period every month. They pay $100. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
7. Chicken Soup for the Soul published inspiration essays on a variety of topics. They have over 500 million books in print. They always have a variety of forthcoming anthologies open to submissions. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
8. Modern Love is a regular column published by the New York Times. They are “interested in receiving deeply personal essays about contemporary relationships, marriage, dating, parenthood…” They pay $300 per essay. The submissions page is old, but is still up to date. To learn more, or to submit, be sure to read their submission guidelines.
9. L.A. Affairs is the Los Angeles Times column about the dating scene in L.A. They publish essays with a strong sense of place — rooted in Southern California. They pay $300 per essay. Read their submission guidelines.
10. Writers Digest accepts submissions for their column “5 Minute Memoir,” a 600 word essay about the writing life. They want essays with “a strong narrative element, relaying an experience and its subsequent wisdoms and takeaways for writers.” They pay up to $300 for this essay. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
11. Cosmopolitan Magazine wants essays about a “a memorable, crazy, hilarious, or touching college experience.” They pay $100 per essay, to be published on their website. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.
12. AARP: The Magazine accepts submission from freelance writers on a variety of topics, including personal essays. They want “thoughtful, timely, new takes on matters of importance to people over 50.” According to our sources, they pay up to $1 a word. To learn more, read their submission guidelines.