Personal essay, Critical essay, Reported feature, Reading list
Longreads
Longreads pays $500 for an accepted personal essay and commissions reported essays and reading lists. Personal essays are full drafts, not pitches.
๐ข Currently accepting Verified 2026-09
Quick facts
- Payment
- $500 (personal/critical essays); reading lists $350
- Word count
- 2,000โ6,000 words
- Submission
- Email (full draft for personal essays)
- International writers
- Yes
- Status
- ๐ข Currently accepting
- Last verified
- 2026-09
What this publication wants
This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus โ not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Personal essay, Critical essay, Reported feature, Reading list. Official guideline: Longreads guidelines.
Who can submit
Worldwide โ no stated geographic restriction.
AI policy
Strict
How to write for them
Official requirement: always follow the publication's own guideline exactly.
BRYME's practical advice: write for the publication's audience, use a clear structure, keep paragraphs short, lead with a specific angle, and confirm the word count before submitting. These are practical suggestions โ they are not the publication's official rules.
How to pitch
Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends โ always adapt it to the publication's guideline.
- Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
- Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
- Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
- Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
- Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph โ angle, structure, length.
- Say why it fits this publication.
- Include 2โ3 relevant clips or links.
- Close professionally and thank them for their time.
- Send through the official channel only.
Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.
How to submit
Email (full draft for personal essays)
Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.
- Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
- Submission: Email (full draft for personal essays)
- Submission email: hello@longreads.com
What happens after submission
Expected response: Not publicly stated
If the publication does not state a response time, BRYME records that it is unknown. A follow-up is generally reasonable after a couple of weeks; if there is still no response, treat that as a likely non-acceptance rather than a rejection. Acceptance is normally communicated by the publication. If they accept, they will tell you exactly how to submit the final piece and, for most, how and when payment is made.
Check, question or correct this record
BRYME publishes its working, not just its conclusions. Last human check: 2026-09.