Texas Monthly is Looking for Writers | Pays $1 Per Word

Publication: Texas Monthly
Topics: Texas culture, arts, entertainment, sports, news, politics, travel, outdoors, food, drink, style, design, features, photography, essays, commentary
Rate (USD): $1/word standard print rate; digital rates vary
Deadline: Rolling submissions
Editor: Varies by section
Submit Via: Email to the appropriate editor listed below

What Texas Monthly Is Looking For

Every story published by Texas Monthly has a strong Texas focus and/or features Texans. The magazine seeks well-reported stories of varying lengths, visual stories, essays, and thoughtful commentary.

The editors value:

  • Strong storytelling
  • Humor
  • Vivid characters
  • Distinctive voices
  • Fresh perspectives
  • Thorough reporting
  • Stories with national relevance and a strong Texas connection

The magazine is particularly interested in stories from outside Austin, where its editorial operation is based.

For freelance writers, the most important point is that Texas Monthly wants specific stories rather than broad topics. A pitch should demonstrate that you have already researched the subject and identified a compelling angle.

For example, “I want to write about travel in Big Bend” is a topic. A stronger pitch would identify a specific development, trend, conflict, character, or story that gives the subject urgency and a reason for readers to care now.

How Much Does Texas Monthly Pay?

The standard print rate is $1 per word.

Digital rates vary depending on the scope of reporting, the writer’s experience, and the turnaround time.

That means a 2,000-word print assignment at the standard rate could pay approximately $2,000, while a 3,000-word piece could pay approximately $3,000.

Digital compensation should be confirmed with the assigning editor because rates vary.

What to Include in Your Pitch

A strong Texas Monthly pitch should explain the story clearly and demonstrate that you have thought through the reporting process.

Include:

  1. A description of the story. Explain the specific idea and why it matters.
  2. Your reporting plan. Tell the editor whom you expect to interview, where you may need to travel, what reporting you anticipate, and any early ideas about the structure.
  3. A brief biography. Explain who you are and why you are qualified to report and write the story.
  4. A possible headline. It does not need to be perfect. The purpose is to communicate your thesis and make the central idea clear. One useful strategy is to experiment with headlines beginning with “How” or “Why.”
  5. An explanation of what makes your story different. If Texas Monthly has previously covered the subject, explain how your proposed story offers a new angle.
  6. Up to five clips. Match your clips to the type of story you are pitching. An essay pitch should include an essay clip, while a long reported feature should be supported by a long-form reporting sample.
  7. Your relationship to Texas. Most contributors are based in Texas or have a strong connection to the state, so explain your connection if you have one. Writers without a personal Texas connection can still pitch if they have a particularly strong Texas-centric idea.

Do Not Write the Story on Spec

Texas Monthly strongly prefers to work with writers from the beginning of the reporting process.

Do not submit a completed draft with your pitch unless specifically requested. The publication says it may accept speculative submissions in rare circumstances, but it prefers to collaborate with writers to develop stories specifically for Texas Monthly.

Who Should You Pitch?

If you are uncertain about the appropriate editor, Texas Monthly says the editorial team can route errant pitches to the right person.

Editors typically respond to pitches they are interested in within approximately one week. If you decide to send your idea elsewhere during that period, the magazine asks that you send a brief follow-up email letting the editor know.

Public relations representatives should send press releases and pitches to publicity@texasmonthly.com, with the relevant section identified in the subject line. The editorial contacts below are intended for writers; organizations are asked not to use those addresses because excessive organizational outreach can make it harder for editors to connect with freelance writers.

Arts & Entertainment

The Arts & Entertainment section covers music, film, television, online culture, books, visual arts, performing arts, and broader Texas culture.

The section accepts reported essays, features, photo essays, entertainment news analysis, cultural criticism, how-to guides, profiles, and other formats.

The key requirement is a strong Texas-focused angle that reveals something informative, intriguing, or surprising about Texas, its artists, or its cultural moment.

Pitches should generally have a timely peg or clearly explain why the story matters now.

Pitch:

Examples of the type of work the section publishes include sharp cultural analysis and arts criticism, as well as cultural criticism of Texas institutions and art.

The editors also welcome unique approaches to profiles and distinctive profile subjects, well-reported features, compelling stories about how cultural events come together, and zany, timely guides.

Long features are rarely assigned to writers who have never worked with the magazine. New contributors should generally begin with a smaller story and establish an editorial relationship.

Sports

Pitch Jack Sullivan at jsullivan@texasmonthly.com with Texas sports stories that have a distinct angle.

The magazine covers everything from grassroots and niche athletics to major college and professional teams.

Potential subjects include:

News & Politics

The News & Politics section looks for writers with strong familiarity with Texas and the people, institutions, and forces driving the state’s news.

Texas politics writing has traditionally emphasized strong voices, incisive humor, reporting, and analysis.

Pitch:

The section seeks:

First-time contributors are encouraged to pitch with several days of lead time when possible, even though the section also publishes quick-turnaround work.

Being Texan

The Being Texan section explores Texas identity, culture, history, traditions, quirky subcultures, and the experiences that help define the state.

Pitch Aaron Parsley at aparsley@texasmonthly.com.

Ideas can include:

Travel & Outdoors

Travel & Outdoors publishes smart, well-researched service journalism designed to help readers explore Texas.

The section covers hotels, vacation rentals, hiking, biking, destinations, outdoor recreation, environmental issues, natural history, and travel trends.

Pitch Emma Balter at ebalter@texasmonthly.com.

The section is interested in:

Style & Design

Pitch Kathy Blackwell at kblackwell@texasmonthly.com.

The section is interested in:

Food & Drink

Pitch Kimya Kavehkar at kkavehkar@texasmonthly.com.

The section seeks ideas about good eats and good drinks.

Strong pitches can include statewide food and drink trends, roundups, ambitious reported projects, and ideas with series potential.

Hyper-local stories should have a compelling narrative that can appeal to a broader audience. Examples include narrative-driven local food stories.

The editors also consider food essays and food remembrances.

Writers should note that taco editor JosĂ© Ralat and barbecue editor Daniel Vaughn handle most of Texas Monthly‘s taco and barbecue coverage.

Features

Texas Monthly has a strong tradition of long-form journalism and looks for writers with distinctive voices and proven records of intensive reporting.

The strongest feature ideas generally have:

  • A compelling narrative arc
  • A larger theme beyond the central story
  • Appeal to both Texas and national readers
  • A clear “why now?”

Pitch J. K. Nickell at jknickell@texasmonthly.com.

Potential feature subjects include:

The magazine generally does not assign long print features to writers without significant feature-writing experience. New contributors are encouraged to start with shorter digital features of 2,500 words or fewer.

Photography

Photographers should pitch Kayla Miracle at kmiracle@texasmonthly.com.

If you are pitching visual work, explain the concept, access, subjects, location, and visual approach clearly.

How to Improve Your Chances of Getting a Texas Monthly Assignment

The biggest mistake is pitching a broad subject instead of a defined story.

Before contacting an editor, research the idea deeply enough to identify the central character, conflict, trend, development, revelation, or question that makes the story distinctive.

Your pitch should answer four basic questions:

What is the story?
Give the editor a specific narrative or reporting idea rather than a general topic.

Why does it matter now?
Identify the news peg, cultural shift, development, anniversary, controversy, trend, or other reason the story deserves attention now.

Why Texas Monthly?
Explain the Texas connection and why the story will matter to both Texans and potentially national readers.

Why you?
Demonstrate your access, expertise, previous reporting, personal connection, or ability to tell the story particularly well.

Study the publication’s existing coverage before pitching. If the subject has already appeared in Texas Monthly, acknowledge that coverage and explain exactly what your story would add.

Finally, choose clips strategically. Do not simply send your five most prestigious bylines. Send the clips that demonstrate you can execute the type of story you are proposing.

Ready to Pitch?

If you have a well-researched Texas story with a distinctive angle, a strong narrative, and a clear reason it matters now, Texas Monthly offers freelance writers an opportunity to pitch a major national magazine.

The standard print rate of $1 per word makes it particularly attractive for experienced freelance writers, while the publication’s broad editorial remit creates opportunities across culture, politics, sports, travel, food, design, features, essays, and more.

Start with the section that best matches your idea, identify the appropriate editor, and send a concise pitch that demonstrates the story rather than merely describing the topic.

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