Official information
Overview
- Publication
- Longreads
- Eligibility
- Official page: pitches and original nonfiction from writers and journalists around the world. No country list.
- Writing
- Personal essay
- Payment
- $500
- Currency
- USD
- Payment conditions
- Official page: the rate for personal essays is $500. This is not the rate for reading lists ($350) or reported features (from 50 cents a word).
- When paid
- Net-60. The official page says payment is often processed sooner.
- Word count
- No hard personal-essay limit stated. Official guideline for most published features: 2,000–6,000 words — a guideline, not a rule.
- Response time
- They generally only reply if interested
- Status
- Open
- Deadline
- Not publicly stated
- How to submit
- Email a finished draft
- AI policy
- AI-generated work prohibited
What they want
- A full, polished personal-essay draft. They will not commission a personal essay from a pitch.
- Smart, unexpected angles and a compelling voice. Wide range of topics.
- Attach PDF, Google Doc or Word, or paste the draft in the email.
- Subject line should include the pitch type (“Personal Essay”) and the topic.
- They do not accept fiction.
What they don't want
- A personal-essay pitch without a finished draft.
- Any submission or pitch written or edited using generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.
- Fiction.
Requirements
- Finished draft
- Email hello@longreads.com
- Subject includes Personal Essay and the topic
Rights
Not publicly stated on the official submissions page.
How to submit
- Email hello@longreads.com with subject line Personal Essay + topic.
- Attach or paste the finished draft.
- They cannot confirm receipt. They generally reply only if interested. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged.
Official source
Longreads — Submissions (official)
Last verified 2026-08-19. Always re-read the official page before you send work.
Information can change. Payment rates, submission requirements, eligibility, deadlines and response times are subject to change. Always check the publication's official guidelines before submitting. BRYME verifies listings as carefully as possible but does not guarantee acceptance or payment.