Pitches wanted (health, fitness, history) | ~$1 per word
Added 2025-08-13 08:01:11 +0000 UTCCOMPANY/PUBLICATION: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC
Starlight Williams, Editor at National Geographic Travel, is looking for pitches:
I am always accepting pitches. I specialize in health, credible wellness/fitness trends, and odd and/or this is not the first time in history pieces. Prioritize timely, widely relevant stories over evergreen or super-niche topics.
Question you should ask yourself: Does the idea highlight something weird, unexpected, or counterintuitive? Is there a twist that challenges assumptions or reveals something new?
Does it connect to the reader’s body, identity, behavior, or daily life? Is it the first, oldest, biggest, rarest, or only of its kind? What will the reader learn, feel, or understand differently by the end? Are there stunning images that support the story?
I love vibes. Still can't commission them tho. I need fleshed out story ideas. These science/health pitches need peer reviewed scientific research, reputable data, scholarly insight, etc.
Now if you made it this far...here's how to pitch: 1. Google the topic and see what current stories are out there. How will yours be different. 2. Sample hed/dek: Match our style. Prove you know what your story is about. 3. Nut graph/The 5 W's. 4. Source ideas/research
Be honest with yourself. If your writing skills still need development (no shame/shade) or you have to bend over backward to make your pitch make sense...save us both time and leave me be.
Anyhoo, email starlight.williams@natgeo.com (the only place I will ever consider pitches) with care. My previous tweets about pitches sans travel still apply. TL;DR pitch me cool stuff.
CONFIDENTIAL NOTE: Reports indicate that National Geographic pays $1 per word. It is recommended that you discuss the rate(s) with the editor upon the acceptance of your pitch.
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CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):
Questions/submissions: starlight.williams@natgeo.com
Website: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/
TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:
Learn more about the publication: National Geographic is a global publication that covers topics related to science, nature, geography, history, and culture. It features in-depth articles, photography, and documentaries that explore the natural world and human civilizations. The publication aims to educate and inspire audiences about the planet and its diverse ecosystems, cultures, and challenges. More information here.
Read through a selection of recent history and culture-related articles/stories on its website.
Check out our collection of pitch excerpts on this page and find more sample pitches at The Open Notebook Database and at SuccessfulPitches.com.
Do not forget to end your pitch with (1) a short introduction about yourself; (2) a few lines highlighting your writing experience, relevant credentials and publication credits; and (3) links to your strongest work or portfolio, and online profile.
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