Topics: Culture, Arts, Beauty, Literature, Film, Gaming, Personal Essays, Criticism
Rate (USD): $400 per article (1,200–1,600 words)
Deadline: Ongoing
Get Paid $400 to Write for Chisel Magazine
Chisel is an independent print magazine and digital publication looking for talented freelance writers to contribute essays, critical reviews, reported features, and stories.
Published twice a year in print, alongside a twice-weekly digital newsletter, Chisel explores three central themes: beauty, obsession, and play.
The publication has completed commissions for its second print issue and is now actively seeking new contributors for its digital edition and upcoming third print issue.
Writers can earn $400 for articles between 1,200 and 1,600 words. Chisel describes this as its standard rate and aims to offer competitive compensation.
What Is Chisel Looking For?
Chisel wants original, thoughtful writing that engages with culture while prioritizing timeless subjects over short-lived trends.
Its areas of interest include:
- Arts and culture: Essays exploring art, creativity, and cultural movements.
- Beauty: Stories examining aesthetics, artistic expression, and the meaning of beauty.
- Literature: Critical writing about books, authors, and the influence of literature.
- Film and cinema: Thoughtful film reviews and cultural criticism.
- Gaming: Personal essays exploring gaming, obsession, and digital culture.
- Personal essays: Original reflections on life, work, identity, and personal experiences.
- Reported features: Well-researched stories examining interesting cultural subjects.
Chisel values distinctive perspectives, strong storytelling, and writing that gives readers something meaningful to think about.
Examples of Previously Published Work
To understand the publication’s editorial style, writers should explore these examples from Volume 001:
- Earn Something To Say: Anu Atluru’s manifesto exploring work, life, and art.
- Immortal Emeritus: Mikhail Klimentov’s personal essay examining the 3,500 hours he spent playing Valorant.
- The Empty Beauty of Bi Gan’s Resurrection: Terry Nguyễn’s examination of cinema and the dreamlike qualities of film.
- Unreasonable Books: Alexander Sorondo’s reflections on great books and the sacrifices made by their authors.
Reading these pieces can help you understand the quality, depth, and originality Chisel expects from contributors.
How to Pitch Chisel Magazine
Chisel accepts pitches by email. Your submission should include:
- Your article idea: Explain your proposed story in no more than one paragraph.
- About yourself: Include one or two sentences introducing yourself and your writing background.
- Writing samples: Provide links to previously published work. Self-published articles are also accepted.
Do not submit completed articles. Chisel only considers pitches and does not accept unsolicited finished manuscripts.
Important Submission Guidelines
Before pitching, take note of these editorial requirements:
- Standard article length is 1,200–1,600 words.
- Longer articles may be considered when the subject justifies the additional length.
- Fiction and poetry are published occasionally, but these are almost exclusively commissioned from writers already known to the editors.
- AI-generated submissions are not accepted.
- Chisel uses Pangram to check submissions for AI-generated content.
- Pitches written using AI will not receive a response.
Pitching tip: Avoid generic ideas about popular cultural trends. Develop a distinctive angle around beauty, obsession, or play. Your pitch should communicate why the story matters and why you are the right person to write it.
How Much Does Chisel Pay Writers?
Chisel’s standard freelance writing rate is $400 per article for assignments between 1,200 and 1,600 words.
The publication aims to pay competitive rates, making this a worthwhile opportunity for writers with experience in cultural criticism, essays, reported features, and arts journalism.