Publication: Acacia
Topics: Politics, culture, power, Muslim communities, social movements, climate change, surveillance, national security, and cultural criticism
Rate (USD): $150–$700+ per assignment
Deadline: Ongoing
Editor: Acacia Editorial Team
Submit Via: submissions@acaciamag.com
Get Paid to Write for Acacia Magazine
Acacia is accepting pitches from freelance writers, journalists, poets, and cultural critics for original work exploring politics, culture, history, and power. The publication is particularly interested in stories affecting Muslim communities and the political left.
Writers can pitch news articles, reported essays, cultural criticism, interviews, poetry, short fiction, book reviews, and personal essays. This is an opportunity for contributors to earn up to $700 or more for selected assignments.
Topics Acacia Wants
Acacia welcomes thoughtful, original pitches addressing subjects such as:
- Politics and political movements: Investigations, analysis, and reporting on political movements, social change, and the institutions shaping public life.
- Muslim American identity: Stories examining Muslim communities, identity, culture, and contemporary political experiences.
- Class and inequality: Essays exploring class relations, economic power, and social structures.
- Climate change: Reporting and criticism connecting environmental issues with politics, institutions, and power.
- Surveillance and national security: Stories examining state surveillance, security policies, prisons, and their effects on individuals and communities.
- Islamophobia: Original reporting and cultural criticism addressing discrimination, public policy, and anti-Muslim prejudice.
- American institutions: Work exploring the role of American institutions in domestic and international affairs.
- Culture and history: Criticism, interviews, and essays engaging with cultural developments, historical questions, and relevant works released within the past year.
The publication prioritizes original reporting and cultural criticism that connect contemporary issues with broader political and historical contexts.
How Much Does Acacia Pay Freelance Writers?
Acacia offers the following minimum payments, depending on the assignment:
| Assignment type | Minimum payment |
|---|---|
| Interviews | $150 |
| Reviews | $200 |
| Poetry | $300 |
| Personal essays | $300 |
| News articles | $500 |
| Reported essays | $700 |
| Short fiction | $700 |
These are minimum rates, not necessarily maximum payments. Confirm the rate for your proposed assignment with the editors.
Who Can Submit?
Acacia welcomes pitches from writers with relevant expertise, original ideas, and a clear understanding of the publication’s readership.
You do not need to be Muslim or approach your subject from an explicitly Muslim perspective. However, your pitch should demonstrate an understanding of Acacia’s audience and explain why the proposed work fits its editorial interests.
Previously published work is generally not accepted, so prioritize original, unpublished ideas.
How to Pitch Acacia
To improve your chances of receiving an assignment, follow these guidelines:
- Lead with a specific idea. Explain the central argument, reporting angle, or cultural question your proposed piece will explore.
- Explain why it matters now. Connect your idea to a timely political development, cultural debate, recent publication, or historical issue relevant to Acacia’s readers.
- Demonstrate your suitability. Briefly explain your relevant experience, subject knowledge, access to sources, or previous reporting.
- Show editorial fit. Explain how your proposal engages with politics, culture, history, power, or issues affecting Muslim communities and the political left.
- Keep your pitch concise. Focus on the proposed piece, why you are qualified to write it, and why the publication should consider it now.
Avoid sending generic proposals. A focused, original idea with a clear reporting or critical angle is more useful than a broad topic without a defined argument.
How to Submit Your Pitch
Email your pitch to submissions@acaciamag.com. Briefly outline your proposed article, explain your suitability for the assignment, and establish its timeliness.
Before submitting, review Acacia’s official submission guidelines for the latest requirements.