McSweeney’s Internet Tendency

What this publication wants

This is BRYME's summary of the publication's focus — not a copy of their website. Type of writing: Other. Official guideline: McSweeney’s Internet Tendency guidelines.

Topics, themes and styles they look for

• A finished humour piece pasted in the email, titled, with your name and email under the title.
• General: websubmissions@mcsweeneys.net. Lists: lists@mcsweeneys.net. Open letters: openletters@mcsweeneys.net. Timely news riffs: timelysubmissions@mcsweeneys.net, subject TIMELY.
• One piece at a time. After they reply you may send another immediately.

Subjects they avoid

• Pitches. Attachments. Google Docs. Previously published work including blogs.
• Any AI assistance. Authors must attest AI played no part.
• Poetry, book reviews, short stories, personal essays, news-article format.
• New Food Reviews if you expect pay — those are unpaid.
• Pieces about McSweeney’s, or sequels to other people’s McSweeney’s pieces.

Key requirements

• Finished draft in the email body
• Name under the title
• One submission at a time
• No AI

Who can submit

No country list on the official guidelines.

Rights

You retain rights after publication. They keep it in the internet archive and may reshare the link.

AI policy

Prohibited

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 — they are not the publication's official rules.

How to pitch

Where a pitch is required, this is the general pattern BRYME recommends — always adapt it to the publication's guideline.

1. Research the publication and read several recent pieces.
2. Choose a specific idea that fits their beat and audience.
3. Write a concise subject line naming your idea.
4. Introduce yourself in one or two lines (who you are, where you publish).
5. Explain the proposed piece in a short paragraph — angle, structure, length.
6. Say why it fits this publication.
7. Include 2–3 relevant clips or links.
8. Close professionally and thank them for their time.
9. Send through the official channel only.

Accepting submissions now, with no stated closing date.

Track this pitch

How to submit

Email a finished draft pasted in the body — no attachments

Apply through the official channel below. BRYME only records submission destinations it has verified.

• Official guideline: opens the publication guideline (new tab)
• Submission: Email a finished draft pasted in the body — no attachments
• Submission email: websubmissions@mcsweeneys.net

What the guideline asks you to prepare

• Read https://www.mcsweeneys.net/pages/guidelines-for-web-submissions.
• Paste the piece into an email. No attachment.
• If you hear nothing, resend rather than sending a ‘did you get this?’ note.

What happens after submission

Expected response: Average 7.39 days (their figure)

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.