Get paid to write essays! Yes, it’s a real thing! Whether you’re a student, a skilled writer, or just love organizing ideas on paper, plenty of websites pay for essay writing. From academic help platforms to personal essay publishers, this guide highlights the top places to earn money doing what you love. Ready to turn your writing into income? Let’s dive in!
Can You Make Money Writing Personal Essays?
Yes, you absolutely can make money writing essays, especially if you focus on personal ones that connect with a wide audience. While you won’t always earn a fortune, many sites and publications pay writers for well-written, thoughtful pieces. Rates vary, but some pay $100, $300, or even $1,000+ per essay, depending on the topic, platform, and your writing experience.
Freelance writing consistently helps to sharpen your skills and learn what editors want. That’s where The Freelance Writers Den can really help. It’s a supportive, user-friendly community packed with resources, boot camps, and expert feedback to help you become a freelance writer, land amazing jobs, and make money writing.
Many sites below accept writing from native English speakers (and others!) on various topics. Some offer free plagiarism reports, while others provide strong privacy policies and affordable mentorship or submission tools. If you want to learn how to write essays, get noticed, and make money online, start pitching now.
So, whether you’re submitting to websites, magazines, or editorial sections, this guide will help you find the best service to pitch to—no AI-generated content, just real writing that pays.
Get Paid to Write Essays: 20 Sites That Hire Freelance Writers
Nowadays, you can get paid to write anything, including essays and book reviews. That being said, here’s a breakdown of sites that pay writers for personal essays, term papers, research papers, and more:
1. The Alpinist
The Alpinist Magazine celebrates the spirit of world alpinism and adventure climbing, and they’re always looking for personal essays from climbers. If you have a story that shares personal experiences or insights from a long climbing route, this is a great place to submit your work.
The Alpinist values well-written essays that reflect a unique perspective on adventure climbing. Be sure to pitch your idea to the editorial team before submitting your full essay.
2. Brain, Child
Brain, Child is a highly popular, award-winning literary magazine for mothers, and they love publishing personal essays that bring fresh, diverse voices to the table.
Whether you’re writing about the challenges or triumphs of motherhood, your unique perspective matters. Even though they don’t currently have open calls for submissions, when they do, they welcome essays that offer genuine reflections on parenting.
3. The Bold Italic
The Bold Italic is focused on personal essays that tell compelling stories about life in San Francisco. They want essays that explore how the city is changing—whether it’s dealing with gentrification, the gig economy, or the local climate.
If you have a unique view and advice on life in the Bay Area, they want to hear from you. Whether your essay is humorous, serious, or somewhere in between, they appreciate long and short essays that dive deep into personal experiences. Pay typically starts at $50 per article, but they’re open to paying more for well-researched, complex writing assignments.
4. BuzzFeed Reader
BuzzFeed Reader is a great place to get paid for freelance writing, particularly if you’re interested in cultural criticism, features, or personal essays. As a freelance writer, you can pitch pieces on topics ranging from entertainment to politics, sports, and more.
For personal essays, they’re looking for strong writing that builds on your own experiences to offer something valuable to readers—something that not only describes your experience but advances an important cultural conversation.
Articles typically fall between 1500-2500 words, and they pay based on the quality and length of your piece.
5. Christian Science Monitor – Home Forum
The Home Forum from the Christian Science Monitor is a wonderful platform if you want to share your personal experiences in an essay. They’re open to nonfiction explorations that reflect on everyday life, personal discovery, or even moments of humor and reflection.
With a focus on first-person essays, the publication accepts articles that tell a story with a point—something readers can relate to and learn from. Keep submissions between 600 and 1,000 words, and you can earn $400 for accepted essays.
6. Dame Magazine
Dame Magazine welcomes feature stories with emotional and human-centric narratives that explain what’s new or surprising about a particular issue. As a writer, if you have a pitch that is illuminating and can clearly explain why your story matters right now, this is the place to submit it.
DAME is especially interested in stories and articles that highlight real people affected by issues, and they appreciate straightforward, easy-to-understand writing that empowers readers.
For a freelance writer, this is a fantastic opportunity to get paid for research papers or academic essays that dive into cultural, political, and social issues. They offer compensation ranging from $350 to $750, depending on the depth of your reporting.
7. Motherwell Magazine
Motherwell publishes essays exploring all aspects of the parenting experience. Individuals with fresh perspectives on family life, challenges, or cultural dynamics can submit evocative first-person narratives. The publication values various writing styles, whether humorous, lyrical, or research-based, as long as the page conveys something fundamental about the writer.
You can submit essays up to 1,200 words and get compensated for it if selected. Pitch a unique take on parenting or related themes, ensuring the essay stands out by offering valuable insights about the writer’s journey.
8. Narratively
Narratively thrives on untold human stories, capturing immersive, cinematic storytelling that surprises and delights readers. The publication seeks original, offbeat stories that make readers think, “I’ve never heard of this before.”
All stories published receive compensation, with the opportunity for additional creative exposure through TV, film, or podcast projects. Note that they do not accept fiction, poetry, or opinion pieces.
9. New York Times – Modern Love
Modern Love seeks essays about contemporary relationships, love, and personal dilemmas. If you have a deeply emotional, compelling story about love, loss, or connection, this platform is perfect for getting paid for your writing. Essays should be between 1,500 and 1,700 words, deeply personal, and emotionally honest, offering readers a fresh perspective on relationships.
Freelance submissions must be previously unpublished and well-crafted. Keep in mind that Modern Love only accepts submissions during specific months (September through December, March through June).
10. Vox First Person
Vox’s First Person section welcomes essays that highlight unique experiences related to current issues in politics, culture, or society. Pitch your story with a clear angle, explaining why it’s important right now and how it connects to bigger trends or events.
Show why you’re the best person to tell this story and include any research or sources you’ve gathered. A proposed headline and word count help. Payment varies based on the scope of the work. Once your pitch is accepted, you’ll collaborate with editors for a thoughtful, structured process.
11. Longreads
Longreads looks for long-form, deeply researched nonfiction. If you’re writing a personal essay or feature, your pitch should showcase your reporting plan, the story’s structure, and your unique voice.
They pay $500 for essays and start at 50 cents per word for reported features, with the rate depending on how much reporting you do. Be ready to work with editors through revisions to shape your piece for maximum impact.
12. Creative Nonfiction
Creative Nonfiction loves unsolicited submissions and regularly works with emerging professionals. They’re open to all types of creative nonfiction, including memoirs, immersion reportage, and personal essays. Editors gravitate toward narrative-driven pieces but welcome work that pushes boundaries.
They focus on writing that blends style with substance and offers fresh perspectives on the world. Response times can be lengthy due to the careful review process, so if you haven’t heard back, your piece is still being considered.
13. The Establishment
The Establishment publishes a wide variety of content, from essays and research papers to original reporting and satire. They’re looking for well-researched stories on everything from politics to pop culture. They welcome voices often overlooked by mainstream media and encourage humor and wit.
Payments for feature stories, op-eds, and personal essays (800–1,500 words) are $125. Long-form investigative pieces (3,000 words) pay $500.
To pitch, email them with a detailed 2–4 paragraph pitch, and include specific details like thesis, research, and interview subjects. They respond to pitches within two weeks.
14. Boston Globe Ideas
Boston Globe Ideas publishes essays that explore a wide range of topics, from personal experiences to social issues, business, culture, and politics. They are particularly interested in personal narratives that offer fresh perspectives on contemporary challenges or reflect on personal growth.
If you’re a freelance writer who can craft engaging, thought-provoking personal pieces, the Boston Globe Ideas section may be the right platform for your work. They value well-researched, insightful pieces that engage with broader societal themes.
Payment for essays is competitive, typically ranging from $250 to $1,000, depending on the piece’s complexity and length.
15. Slate
Slate welcomes essays that offer witty, engaging reflections on current events, culture, and society. They are particularly interested in essays that provide personal insights into timely topics—whether those are political, social, or pop culture-related. Payment varies depending on the piece, but personal essays typically earn between $300 and $1,000.
16. The Change Agent
The Change Agent focuses on personal essays that deal with social justice, activism, and personal transformations. They’re particularly interested in essays that share individual experiences with social movements, overcoming personal adversity, or engaging with marginalized communities.
If you have a story that highlights personal change or social impact, this platform could be a great place to share it. Payment for personal essays typically ranges from $150 to $500, depending on length and depth.
17. Noema
Noema is seeking personal essays that reflect on contemporary issues—whether they’re related to politics, culture, or personal growth. They value deep, reflective pieces that explore the nuances of human experience, particularly those with unique insights or fresh perspectives.
Submissions should be full drafts or detailed 500-word pitches. Pay details are not explicitly listed, but Noema values quality and originality in writing.
18. The Drift Magazine
The Drift Magazine publishes personal essays that engage with current events, culture, and social issues, especially those offering sharp commentary or reflecting on lived experiences. They’re interested in personal essays that challenge norms and spark conversations, whether about politics, media, or societal changes.
They prefer pitches that are 2-4 paragraphs and do not accept full nonfiction drafts. Payment for personal essays is typically $2,000.
19. WIRED
WIRED is open to personal essays that explore the intersection of technology, science, and culture, especially those that tell engaging, human-centered stories about innovation and the future.
They particularly value in-depth personal essays about the impact of emerging technologies or societal shifts. WIRED is looking for pieces that offer personal insights or stories that illuminate broader issues related to tech, science, or change. Payment for personal essays starts at $2,500.
20. World Nomads
World Nomads is looking for personal essays that capture the unique challenges and rewards of traveling and exploring the world. They’re particularly interested in personal stories that emphasize the human aspect of travel, whether that’s learning through cultural immersion, overcoming challenges on the road, or navigating unexpected adventures.
Payment is AUD $0.70 per word, with typical articles ranging between 800-1,200 words. While they’re not currently accepting pitches, keep a close eye on TravMedia for future opportunities.
Get Paid for Writing Essays Today!
Every publication has unique rules for submitting personal essays. For magazines, read a few issues to see what essays fit, then check Writer’s Market for submission guidelines. Most want a full draft, not just an idea.
For blogs and online outlets, look at published essays and review submission details—usually easy to find online. Many want a full essay, but not all, so double-check.
Personal essays come from your own life, but should connect with the reader. The best ones make people feel something or see their lives differently. Keep this in mind, and you’ll land gigs and get paid for freelance writing.
