Publication: Insider
Topic(s): Travel writing, lifestyle essays, personal essays, living abroad, moving stories, intergenerational relationships, unconventional lifestyles
Rate: ~$0.40+ per word (varies by assignment)
Deadline: Rolling / ongoing
Name of Editor: Lydia Wang, Lifestyle & Entertainment Editor
How to Pitch: Fill this Webform.

Insider is commissioning personal essays and travel/lifestyle stories for 2026 and is actively looking for strong freelance writers with lived experience and sharp narrative instincts.

Lydia Wang, Lifestyle and Entertainment Editor at Insider, is inviting pitches that explore how people live, move, and build meaning in their everyday lives, particularly when those experiences challenge expectations.

This is a solid opportunity for writers seeking high-paying international writing jobs, especially those experienced in first-person storytelling, reported personal essays, and lifestyle journalism.

What They’re Looking For:

Insider is especially interested in pitches around:

• Lessons learned from intergenerational friendships, communities, or living arrangements
• Moving within the US or from the US and experiencing unexpected lifestyle improvements or changes
• Unique or unconventional living situations that genuinely work (e.g., shared housing, alternative family structures, nontraditional communities)

Even if these angles do not currently fit your story, writers are encouraged to bookmark the pitch form, as Insider updates call-outs and sample story ideas monthly.

Strong pitches should be:

• Personal but broadly relatable
• Clearly structured with a strong narrative arc
• Grounded in real experience, not generic lifestyle advice

This call is open to freelance writers worldwide, including African and Kenyan writers with relevant perspectives tied to migration, community, or lifestyle change.