{"id":13070,"date":"2026-05-15T06:36:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T13:36:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/?p=13070"},"modified":"2026-05-15T07:33:18","modified_gmt":"2026-05-15T14:33:18","slug":"26-themed-calls-for-essays-articles-and-reporting-for-april-2026-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/uncategorized\/26-themed-calls-for-essays-articles-and-reporting-for-april-2026-3\/","title":{"rendered":"25 Themed Calls for Articles, Journalism, & Essays for May 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By S. Kalekar<\/strong>

<\/strong><\/em>These are calls for articles \/ journalism and creative non-fiction on various themes from 25 venues; a few of them are open for more than one call. Some of the call themes are: science and global heath; out of office; best cat ever\u2026:; pc hardware; Father\u2019s Day; longterm care \/ dementia care; artists of conscience \/ every bombed village is my hometown; the erosion of rights; and refuse. A few of these outlets also accept other genres, like fiction and poetry. <\/p>\n\n\n\n


Works in Progress: Science and Global Heath, and more<\/strong>
An editor for Works in Progress has said that they are commissioning pieces on science and global health. They have several specific topics they want pitches on, including, but not limited to,
– How to make an anti-addiction drug<\/strong>;
– The long wait for RNAi crops<\/strong>;
– The brain\u2019s locked door<\/strong>;
– The invention of super glue<\/strong>;
– How the World Bank prevented a famine<\/strong>; and more. They have details on each theme. See the editor\u2019s pitch call here<\/a>. Apart from science and global health, they have other topics listed in their pitch guide as well, including, Did Prohibition work?<\/strong>; and The spread of tipping<\/strong>. And, \u201cHere is another list of articles we would like to publish\u2026 The list below (see guidelines) is a sample of topics. We also want to broaden the types of pieces we publish. The historical case study has become our staple, and we\u2019ll keep running them. But some of our best early work took other forms, like Stephan Guyenet\u2019s 2021 feature<\/a> on semaglutide, or Keller Scholl\u2019s diary<\/a> of a Zika vaccine trial. We\u2019d like to do more pieces like those: more narrative journalism, more diaries, and more reporting. If you have an alternative format in mind, please pitch it.\u201d Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Griffith Review: Out of Office<\/strong>
Griffith Review is an Australian literary magazine and they want fiction and nonfiction submissions for issue 94; the theme is Out of Office. \u201cMost of us will spend a dispiriting 90,000 hours of our lives at work. That\u2019s a third of the average lifespan; no wonder so many of us want to stick it to the man. Love it or hate it, how we spend our working hours \u2013 whether for ourselves, for our families or for a faceless corporation \u2013 can have a profound influence on our self-worth, our social circles, and our sense of purpose and identity. But where did work come from? What rights should our employers have to circumscribe our speech? What\u2019s the role of unions in the twenty-first century? Why don\u2019t we have a universal basic income? How do we separate our jobs from our selves? And whatever happened to the four-hour work week?
This edition of Griffith Review <\/em>clocks in for another day at the coalface.\u201d
They mostly accept work from writers in Australia, and some work from overseas writers. Do not send poetry. They pay AUD0.75\/word for prose up to 4,000 words. The submission deadline is 17 May 2026 (11:59 pm AEST). Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>


The Truth We Carry: An Anthology of Survivor Voices<\/strong>
\u201cThe anthology is focused on publishing creative work from survivors of domestic abuse and sex trafficking. While survivorship and\/or lived experience with abuse or exploitation is a prerequisite to being published with The Truth We Carry<\/em>, and we do expect submissions to deal with some aspect of being a survivor, your submission does not <\/em>have to be autobiographical, and it can <\/em>be fiction. The consistent element we look for an \u201caha!\u201d moment about the survivor experience.\u201d  And, \u201cPlease note<\/strong>: We aim for ~75% of published work to be from Maine survivors<\/strong>.\u201d They will accept submissions till 30th<\/sup> June 2026, or until they meet their submission cap, whichever is earlier. They pay $100 and prefer work that\u2019s up to 3,000 words. Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Reactor Magazine: SF, fantasy, pop culture
<\/strong>Reactor Magazine has issued a pitch call. \u201cAre you passionate about SF, fantasy, and pop culture? Our Managing Editor is looking for original essay pitches: author appreciations, scholarly analysis of all aspects of pop culture, critical and personal essays, think pieces, literary analysis and deep dives into film, television, and fiction
Reactor is open to opinion pieces, celebrations and analyses of favorite characters or tropes, formative reading experiences, and critical or nostalgic essays about the books, films, & TV shows that shaped your life.\u201d See the pitch call\/thread here<\/a> and their pitch guide for non-fiction is here<\/a>. Do not send fiction or poetry.

Gay & Lesbian Review<\/strong>
They accept articles and pitches on all LGBT-related topics. They are especially looking for work on these themes:
— Inside a Frame: Coded messages in\u2008art through the ages
— Sex in Public: From bathhouses to \u201ccottaging\u201d
— Going South:\u2008LGBT\u2008lives below the Mason-Dixon Line
<\/strong>They also welcome suggestions. They accept feature pitches\/features (2,000 to 4,000 words), as well as work for various sections\/columns and reviews. Some sections are unpaid. They pay $250 for feature articles, and $100 for full-length book or movie reviews and art memos. Details here<\/a>.

Business Insider: Travel mistakes with service-oriented takeaways, and more<\/strong>
An editor for Business Insider<\/a> has issued a call for pitches. \u201cI’m looking to commission some new stories for BI! See below for some topics I’m looking for right now.
– Travel mistakes with service-oriented takeaways 
– Unique ways you\u2019re making or saving money 
– First-person experientials about ferry\/train rides, flight upgrades, and cruises 
– Testing out multiple cities to live in before settling down<\/strong>
Rates start at $240 for 600 words\u201d. Pitching is via a form for this call. See the pitch call here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Chicken Soup for the Soul
<\/strong>They want non-fiction prose and non-fiction poetry. They have detailed guidelines as well as several suggested topics for each theme. Two of their upcoming themes are:
— Best Cat Ever\u2026: <\/strong>(\u201cWe are looking for first-person true stories of up to 1200 words. We want your funny stories, your heartwarming stories, and your mindboggling stories about your cat.\u201d). Deadline: 1 June 2026 (extended)
— Miracles, messages from heaven & angels <\/strong>(\u201cWe are now accepting stories for another book about unexplained happenings and occurrences. Stories about miracles, angels, messages from heaven, premonitions, amazing coincidences and other unexplainable but good events! \u2026 We are looking for powerful, astounding, stories that will make people say “wow” or give them chills. This book is for everyone, whether religious or non-religious.\u201d). Deadline: 1 June 2026 (extended)
They have more themes listed, with a June-end deadline: Count your blessings<\/strong>; Random acts of kindness<\/strong>; and Stories about using positive thinking<\/strong>. They have other themes listed too, with later deadlines. Chicken Soup for the Soul pays $250 for works up to 1,200 words. Details here<\/a> and here<\/a> (also see other tabs on this page, including FAQ).

Rock Paper Shotgun: PC Hardware, and more<\/strong>
Rock Paper Shotgun is a UK-based outlet about PC gaming. It \u201caims to cover everything from the latest breaking stories about the biggest releases to esoterica from the format\u2019s most obscure peninsulas. Our philosophy is that AAA and indie are just as likely to produce fascinating games worthy of our time and coverage, and give all extremes equal prominence.\u201d You can read about them here<\/a>. Their hardware editor has issued a pitch call: \u201cAny freelance writers who’ve got\/are getting hold of a Steam Controller, I might have some paid work for ya.
And I’m still always looking for interesting hardware feature pitches!\u201d And according to their general pitch guide, they\u2019re looking for these types of articles currently: In-depth and expert coverage on big games<\/strong>; Interview-led features<\/strong>; and Hardware features<\/strong>. They pay \u00a3125 to \u00a3250, according to their pitch guide. See the editor\u2019s pitch call \/ thread here<\/a> and their pitch guide is here<\/a>.

Greater Good: Father\u2019s Day, Juneteenth, and more 
<\/strong>Greater Good\u2019s mission is \u201cto translate the science of well-being into actionable insights, stories and tools for a more meaningful life and a more connected, compassionate world.\u201d They are looking for pitches \u201dtied to upcoming holidays: Father\u2019s Day, Juneteenth, July 4, and more<\/strong>. We’re looking for research-grounded reported articles or personal essays tied to a pro-social value such as love, community, connection, gratitude, or resilience. In particular, I’d love an essay from a father who doesn\u2019t live with his children. Pay starts at 25 cents \/ word or $300 for a personal essay. Preference given to pitches that reference specific, recent research studies or papers.\u201d See the editor\u2019s pitch call here<\/a>, their general pitch guide here<\/a>. Pitching is via a form<\/a>.

Electric Lit: Personal Narrative<\/strong>, and more<\/strong>
Submissions will soon open forElectric Lit for Personal Narrative<\/strong>. Their guidelines say, \u201cPersonal Narrative submissions must be full drafts of creative nonfiction essays submitted via Submittable<\/a>. While there are no restrictions on form or subject matter, submissions should center narrative and consider what it means to essay; in other words, write to interrogate, investigate, adventure, and introspect\u201d. You can see past examples of personal narrative essays here<\/a>. (They also accept pitches for cultural criticism essays, interviews, or reading lists on an ongoing basis; see the relevant sections on their guidelines page<\/a>).
They\u2019ll open submissions for The Commuter<\/strong> as well, in which they publish short prose, poetry, and graphic narrative; see published examples here<\/a>.
Both sections (personal narrative and The Commuter) will open on 18th<\/sup> May, and will close on 24th<\/sup> May, or when they reach a submission cap, whichever is earlier. Length guidelines are 2,000-6,500 words for personal narrative essays, and up to 1,500 words for prose or 4-6 poems for The Commuter submissions (see guidelines). They pay $100 for personal narratives and The Commuter. Details here<\/a>.

Business Insider: Longterm care \/ dementia care, and more<\/strong>
An editor at Business Insider<\/a> has issued a pitch call: \u201cMany families, like mine, are dealing with balancing childcare and elder care. Both daycares and assisted living facilities are incredibly expensive. The balancing act is fragile, exhausting, and often heartbreaking. Read more on Business Insider<\/strong><\/a>, and if you have ideas related to long-term care or dementia care, email me pitches\u201d. See the pitch call here<\/a>.

Proximity: An AGNI<\/em> Portfolio of Writing and Art by Women of Color
<\/strong>AGNI, a literary magazine,charges for online submissions (via Subfolio) of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and hybrid forms, but postal submissions are free. And online submissions of conversation\/interviews, reviews, art, and submissions for Proximity: An AGNI<\/em> Portfolio of Writing and Art by Women of Color: \u201cThis portfolio gathers women writers and artists of color from around the world who are committed to using their voices, through written or visual art, to excavate and interrogate our connections within the systems of power that affect us all, both globally and at home.
Proximity might be defined as geographic, political, linguistic, historical, embodied, environmental, generational, intimate.What do we risk and what do we yearn for when we engage with oppression and injustice through our art?How do we support\u2014and challenge\u2014each other toward liberation?
The editors seek fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and visual art that is fearless and unapologetic and inspires us to center a radical new canon. We welcome works in translation, with a preference for translators who also identify as women of color.\u201d They pay $30\/page for prose, $50\/page for poetry, up to $300, and the deadline is 31 May 2026; details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.

Deceleration: Artists of Conscience \/ Every bombed village is my hometown<\/strong>
Their website<\/a> says, \u201cDeceleration<\/em> is a nonprofit online journal producing original news and analysis responding to our shared ecological, political, and cultural crises.
We write at the intersection of environment and justice\u2014journalistically, academically, and creatively\u2014with emphasis on our home communities and bioregion (the watersheds of San Antonio, South Texas, and the Gulf South, broadly).\u201d \u201cOnce a quarter we also solicit creative responses (poetry, prose, visual art, sound) to specific themes or topics. See our most recent ones here<\/a> and here<\/a> for examples of what we\u2019re looking for. Our upcoming Spring 2026 review responds to genocide, ecocide, & crimes against humanity recently inflicted by US bombs & military spending<\/strong>.\u201d
\u201cIn 1968, James Baldwin famously said of the Vietnam War: every bombed village is my hometown. As we watch US bombs fall on the peoples of Iran, Lebanon, Gaza, Venezuela, and the Caribbean, we invite your best poems, prose, photos, sound, and visual art, revisiting Baldwin’s words in our time.\u201d Pay ranges from $25 for creative pieces up to $0.50\/word for long-form investigative journalistic work. The submission deadline for this theme is 17th<\/sup> May 2026. Details here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Thema: Waiting in Line<\/strong>
They accept essays, short stories, poetry, and art, and publish three themed issues a year. Their upcoming theme is \u2018Waiting in Line\u2019. They have other themes too, with other deadlines. They also accept reprints. Only writers outside of the US can submit by email, US-based writers have to post their submissions. They pay $10-25 and the submission deadline is 1 July 2026 (see guidelines). Details here<\/a>.

Channel Magazine<\/strong>
This Ireland-based magazine publishes fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. \u201cWe love work that speaks directly of a writer\u2019s bond with and fear for our planet, and work that takes a local landscape, or a local flower, as its subject; equally, though, we love work that draws on an aspect of nature as setting, image or metaphor. We believe that all writing relies to some extent on historical engagement with nature, in that all human language has been shaped by our embeddedness in our shared environments.\u201d They accept submissions in English and Irish. They pay \u20ac35 per printed page, up to \u20ac250 per piece and with a minimum fee of \u20ac60 for single-page works; and \u20ac35 per 400 words, up to a maximum of \u20ac250 per piece and with a minimum fee of \u20ac60 for work. The deadline is 31 May 2026 for fiction and poetry, and they accept non-fiction on an ongoing basis. Details here<\/a>.

Business Insider: Aviation<\/strong>
An editor is looking for aviation-related pitches for Business Insider<\/a>. \u201cI\u2019m looking to commission some strong airline\/aviation stories
I\u2019m especially interested in pitches about the customer experience, including airline reviews, points, lounges, premium cabins, and broader consumer trends. For those with a well-reported idea or interesting angle, feel free to send me a pitch. See the pitch call here<\/a>.

Qwerty Magazine: Post and Beam (The Architecture Issue)<\/strong>
\u201cWe’ve lain the cornerstone. Now we build the house. In this special issue commemorating our 30th anniversary, we want your stories, poems, and otherwise artistic interpretations on the theme of dark architecture and pseudoarchaeology. The connection is closer than you think: chances are the chill summer enclosure on your back deck was built with the same basic principle as Stonehenge: post and beam construction. We’re not looking for any old office building\u2014no perfect beachfront property. We want your weird little crawlspaces. We want your five-and-a-half-minute hallways and backrooms. We want your unknowable ancient monuments that might be instruments for giants. Send us your doors found ajar, dwelling and liminality, flash fiction found on street signs and graffiti, and literal concrete poetry. \u2026 Let this issue be a testament to the weird: an architecture you don’t so much digest as suck it down.\u201d Send up to 5,000 words or prose, or up to 6 poems. They pay $15, and the submission deadline is 31st<\/sup> May 2026. Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.

Planetside
<\/strong>Planetside is the nonfiction magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and publish work on topics that might be of interest to creators of science fiction and fantasy (SFF) throughout the globe. They\u2019re currently looking for pitches (not submissions) on four themes:
–<\/strong> Perspectives in Translation
–<\/strong> Writing by Other Means
– Writing from Science
–<\/strong> Writing from History<\/strong>.
They pay $0.10\/word for works of 800-1,000 words. Do not send fiction or poetry. A detailed description of the themes, as well as their general guidelines, are here<\/a> and pitching is via a form<\/a>.

Tolka: Issue 12
<\/strong>Tolka has opened non-fiction submissions for their 12th<\/sup> issue. They accept work from Irish and international authors. \u201cWe publish all forms of non-fiction: personal essay, memoir, reportage, travel writing, auto-fiction, and the writing that falls in between. Our guideline word count for work is 1,000\u20133,000 words.\u201d Submission is via a form. They pay \u20ac600, and the deadline is 31 May 2026. Details here<\/a> (click on Submit to Tolka) and here<\/a>.

Type Investigations<\/strong>
They accept investigative journalism pitches from reporters in the United States. They also accept pitches from outside the US, but your pitch must have a clear and direct US tie-in. They are specially interested in pitches on these topics:
– The erosion of rights
– Political influence and corporate malfeasance
– Climate change and environmental justice
<\/strong>\u201cOnce a story is commissioned, we work with reporters throughout the editorial process, from refining the investigative target to guiding the reporting to helping to secure placement with a partner outlet. We then jointly oversee each project with the publishing partner, editing drafts and vetting findings.\u201d Features are typicallybetween 3,000 and 5,000 words, though they do publish shorter and longer articles. Typical budgets range from $3,000 to $6,000including travel and other reporting expenses, as well as the reporting fee. And, \u201cWhen stories are published, we expect partner outlets to pay reporters their normal article fee as well.\u201d See their guidelines here<\/a>.

The Stinging Fly: Winter 2025-27
<\/strong>This Irish journal is open now for creative non-fiction, fiction, and poetry for their Winter 2026-27 issue. They also accept translations. See their submission FAQ<\/a> page. Send one prose piece or up to three poems. They pay \u20ac50 per magazine page, with a minimum\/maximum payment of \u20ac375\/\u20ac1,250 for fiction and non-fiction:; for shorter essays\/flash fiction (1 \u2013 2 pages), they pay \u20ac175; and for poetry they pay \u20ac50 per magazine page, but with a minimum payment of \u20ac80 per poem. The submission deadline is 20th<\/sup> May 2026 (5 pm Irish time). Details here<\/a> and here<\/a>.

The Atavist Magazine: True stories<\/strong>
The Atavist welcomes pitches from all over the world. They publish \u201cone incredible true story every month. We specialize in longform narratives, the kind you want to read to the very last word.\u201d You can read more about them here<\/a>. \u00a0
A pitch call from the magazine says, \u201cWe haven’t done a wide call for pitches in a while. So here we are, calling!
Submissions info at this link: magazine.atavist.com\/submissions<\/a>
A flavor of our stories here: magazine.atavist.com\/archive<\/a>\u201d They have detailed guidelines, including, \u201cAtavist\u00a0stories can be historical or current; they can be about crime or science, adventure or romance; they can be rooted in investigative reporting or in first-person experiences. What unites them is their narrative approach\u2014our stories are plot- and character-driven, cinematic, the kind of yarns you don\u2019t want to stop reading because you can\u2019t wait to see what happens next.\u201d And, \u201cWe\u2019re looking for stories that need to be longer than a typical magazine feature, anywhere from 8,000 to 30,000 words. Payment rates vary by project. We offer a story fee plus, if applicable, a budget for expenses. Our baseline story fee is $6,000.\u201d They also published Revived stories, a format in which they work with writers to publish previously published articles that can no longer be found online, and pay \u00a0$2,500\u00a0for those. See the pitch call here<\/a> and their detailed pitch guide is here<\/a>.

Motherwell
<\/strong>They publish work on parenting-related themes. They\u2019re accepting submissions on two themes (see \u2018Current call for submissions\u2019):
\u201cWhat keeps us up at night as parents?\u00a0<\/strong>Topics might include: raising kids in a digital world as well as a comparative culture; parenting from a place of calm rather than self-doubt and anxiety; keeping our kids safe; adjusting expectations as our children experience life\u2019s hardships and challenges.
What it means to navigate our identities and life changes as kids get older. <\/strong>Topics might include: how divorce or the shifting of relationships affects us; reclaiming purpose\/redefining ourselves as women; balancing the role of caring for older kids and older parents; adapting to dynamics as our families regenerate, evolve and grow. \u00a0
All formats welcome; suggested word count up to 1,200. Completed essays only and please include word count.\u201d They also accept personal essays on parenting. Please note, they do not pay for certain formats. Details here<\/a>.

NPQ: #WeTheCivic \u2013 America250
<\/strong>Nonprofit Quarterly has issued a pitch call; \u201cNPQ is calling on writers, historians, artists, and nonprofit workers to contribute to #WeTheCivic<\/strong><\/a>: America 250\u2014a collective editorial series dedicated to interrupting “official” whitewashed 250-year “official narratives” and uplift the people who actually built American democracy: multiracial nonprofit workers, organizations, and movements. Your piece could recover a forgotten nonprofit organizer, movement moment, policy fight, or a community institution that never made the official history. Essays. Reported pieces. Personal Testimony. Art.\u201d According to their general pitch guide, NPQ pays $300-500 for articles. See the detailed pitch call here<\/a> and their general pitch guide is here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usawa Literary Review: Refuse<\/strong>
This India-based literary journal wants submissions on the \u2018Refuse\u2019 theme for the Summer 2026 issue. \u201cSUBMISSIONS ARE STILL OPEN FOR REFUSE. Send us the work that was called \u201ctoo angry,\u201d \u201ctoo political,\u201d \u201ctoo much,\u201d or \u201ctoo difficult.\u201d Sometimes that\u2019s where the real writing begins.\u201d They pay INR1,000\/$12, and the submission deadline is 31st<\/sup> May 2026. Submission is via a form. See the social media post here<\/a> and the detailed guidelines on this theme are here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n\n\n\n

Bio:<\/strong>\u00a0S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached\u00a0here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By S. Kalekar These are calls for articles \/ journalism and creative non-fiction on various themes from 25 venues; a few of them are open for more than one call. Some of the call themes are: science and global heath; out of office; best cat ever\u2026:; pc hardware; Father\u2019s Day; longterm care \/ dementia care;…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13070"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13071,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13070\/revisions\/13071"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.freedomwithwriting.com\/freedom\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}