We are currently accepting pitches for 2026.
While our website is always-on and evergreen, we print three themed issues per year. We have not yet announced our upcoming theme. For the time being, we welcome pitches of all kinds. We especially love culture-focused opinion essays, timely pieces on events or current happenings, personal essays that tie back to a universal or larger thesis, fiction, and profiles. We champion the individual voice, so send what makes your heart sing.
Important Information:
- Pitches are currently accepted on a rolling basis.
- Please bear in mind that we are a small team, so we are not able to respond to every pitch.
- If your piece is timely, please include the word TIMELY in the subject line.
General How-To:
- For personal essays, photo essays, and non-fiction articles, please send your pitches to pitch@bylinebyline.com.
- For Fiction, please submit to fiction@bylinebyline.com.
- Complete published pieces are usually 500-1500 words, and longer for fiction and specific in-depth commissions.
- We pay all of our writers. Rates depend on length and topic.
What To Pitch:
- Byline is a magazine and digital publication that champions individual voice. Some say we are The Paris Review for people with 8+ hours of screentime. We highlight personal experiences rooted in culturally relevant topics, op-eds that expand upon societal trends, and overall, thought pieces that work hard to analyze and explain the world around us.
- We love first-person essays that hit between 800-1000 words and explain an unexamined or universal theory. It's great for the essay to be rooted in an experience, but ultimately, we want it to connect to a big picture idea.
- We are open minded. If you are wondering if we will cover your piece—whether it's a book review, short story, or weather report—just ask us!
- Just as Byline's mission is to champion the individual voice, we want your pitch to feel like you. Be yourself!
Pitch Tips:
- We receive a lot of pitches, so the more clear and concise your pitch is, the better!
- Please include your pitch subject in the subject line.
- If your piece is already written and you want to share it with us, please link it in a shared Google Doc that you have given us access to. We will only publish it with your permission and once we have agreed on a rate!
- If your pitch relates to a current event, please note in the subject line that your pitch is TIMELY. We want to move quickly enough to publish it within the moment!
- If you have an idea of the art or images that should accompany your piece, please let us know.