Pitches wanted (first-person essays, cultural analysis) (worldwide) | $200+ per article

COMPANY/PUBLICATION: CATAPULT 

Matt Ortile, Executive Editor at Catapult, is looking for pitches:

I have updated the link for my pitch guide: https://docs.google.com/document/d/11Zaka7kiGaug72HdfNqztfXA9XaTUho3--cqmyom0Ao/edit

Yes, I am open to pitches; Yes, we pay (details in the document). We'll also be opening our Submittable soon, for those who, for whatever reason, prefer Submittable.

WHAT SHOULD I PITCH YOU?

Pitch me a first-person essay that weaves a compelling personal narrative with cultural criticism, fact-based research, and/or reporting.

At Catapult, I’m looking for essays driven by cultural analysis. When you pitch, ask yourself: What is my thesis? What question am I trying to answer on the page? What is the point I am trying to make? How does my story exemplify or relate to a broader cultural trend or phenomenon? The answers to those questions can make up the core of your piece, give it a spine, and even become the headline for your essay.

To that end, you can use analysis of wider cultural topics to illuminate your individual story and vice versa; fact-based research to bolster or complicate your ideas; and/or reporting to advance or challenge your own arguments. Pulling from sources beyond your own life can help propel your story and create a compelling narrative arc for the reader. Remember: A sharp and intelligent personal essay engages matters beyond the bubble of one’s own experience.

Also, these days, I’m more inclined to take something that’ll run 2000 words at most. (You’d be surprised what you can accomplish under such constraints!)

DO YOU PAY?

Yes! We pay for all assigned pieces. Our rates start at $200, vary with the length and the degree of research/reporting proposed, and are always negotiable. Also, we work to get our writers’ payments sent within 30 days of receiving an invoice upon publication of the work.

CONTACT INFORMATION (please do not share the email address publicly):

• Submissions: matt.ortile@catapult.co
• Website: https://catapult.co/

TO HELP YOU CRAFT YOUR PITCH:

• Learn more about the publication: Catapult is an innovative publisher that celebrates extraordinary storytelling. It promotes American and international fiction and narrative nonfiction that is insightful, stirring, and surprising by way of unique voices—whether emerging or established—that honor the craft of writing. More information here.
• Read through its selection of recent articles/stories, categorized into: Places, Food, Style, Video Games, Television, Arts and Culture, People
• Review the submission guidelines here.
• 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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