[1 day left] Submissions/pitches wanted (unusual jobs) | $500 to $1,000 per piece
Added 2025-07-31 02:15:35 +0000 UTCCOMPANY/PUBLICATION: NARRATIVELY
Deadline: 31 July 2025
“Secret Lives” is one of Narratively’s most popular sections, and is defined by stories that bring readers into a slice of life they normally wouldn’t have access to. This time around — for the month of July only — we’re looking specifically for Secret Lives stories about unusual jobs. This includes both reported profiles and first-person essays; pitches and submissions.
Do you happen to have access to someone who spent years working as a professional mourner (just what it sounds like), and is willing to let you profile them? Did you recently meet a pet therapist who might be ready to share their story? Do you run a professional bridesmaid business with your four sisters? Did you spend a summer as an underwater pizza delivery person? These are the types of stories we’re looking for. We don’t want jobs we’ve heard of or read stories about — the weirder, the better.
Like all Secret Lives stories, these should be narrative-driven, not topic-based. This means they go beyond “this is what it’s like to have this job” and take the reader through a story about the job. There needs to be a narrative arc with a clear beginning, middle and end, told through active, engaging, vivid scenes. There has to be something at stake, something universal and human that’s being unraveled and examined.
Word Count: We’re looking for midlength profiles or essays (stories between 1,500 and 2,500 words), or, if the story arc has enough twists and turns to warrant it, longform pieces (2,500 to 4,000 words).
Deadline: We will be considering pitches and full submissions on a rolling basis through July 31, 2025.
Rate: $500 for midlength profiles or essays; $1,000 for longform pieces
Some favorites:
We’re looking forward to reading what you’ve got! Send us your best.
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CONTACT INFORMATION:
Submissions: Via Submittable
Website: https://www.narratively.com/
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