MC-Guide
Content Writing
Website 134: writersweekly.com
How Can You Earn Money Writing For “writersweekly.com” Website
This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to writersweekly.com
You will learn what writersweekly.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.
Guide: How to Write & Get Paid for Short Pieces on WritersWeekly (Step-by-Step)
A practical, beginner-friendly guide that shows you how to find short article ideas, format them for Editors, and submit via WritersWeekly’s contact form. Use the checklists, pitch templates, and sample article outlines below to turn an idea into a $60 accepted piece.
This guide includes direct links to WritersWeekly pages (guidelines, contact form, sample posts), plus proven resources on pitching and freelancing so you can act immediately.
Section 1 · Know the publication
What WritersWeekly publishes (and why it matters)
WritersWeekly’s guidelines explain what editors want: short, practical pieces for writers and authors — list posts, market roundups, marketing tips, small how-tos, and assignment alerts. They regularly publish “THIS WEEK’S ARTICLE” features and paying market roundups. (See the sample list article: Writing List Articles.)
The site commonly pays **$60 on acceptance** for a typical ~600-word article (often list items or short how-tos), but always confirm with the editor for the exact terms on every assignment. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}
- List articles: “8 Markets That Pay for X” or “6 websites that publish Y”. (About 600 words.)
- How-to micro articles: short practical steps for writers (promotions, query letters, marketing tips).
- Market roundups: short lists of paying markets for a genre or topic.
- Short opinion or advice pieces: industry observations, writing habits, submission tips.
The audience is active writers, self-publishers, freelance authors, and anyone looking for paying markets, marketing tips, and practical publishing advice. Your article should be direct, useful, and easy to scan.
| Article type | Length (typical) | Why it works |
|---|---|---|
| List / Markets | ~600 words | Actionable, linkable, evergreen; easy for editors to slot into weekly newsletters. |
| How-to micro | 500–800 words | Concise steps help writers solve a single, common problem quickly. |
| Short feature / opinion | 600–900 words | Useful takeaways, personal insight, useful links to tools or markets. |
Section 2 · Choose a WritersWeekly-friendly idea
Which ideas are fast to write and likely to be accepted
Start with small problems real writers face. WritersWeekly favors clear, TO-THE-POINT pieces that save readers time. Use this short checklist when brainstorming:
Will this help someone today?
Good prompts are: “Where can I submit a short horror story?” or “How to write a logline in three steps.” If your idea doesn’t lead to immediate action or links, rethink it.
Be narrow and concrete
Instead of “How to market a book”, write “3 quick social-media promos for a debut novelist” — a compact, usable list is easier to accept.
Keep it short and linkable
WritersWeekly builds weekly content around short features — editors love pieces they can link in newsletters. Aim for 500–700 words for lists and short how-tos.
Can you show examples or links?
Even short articles should include 2–4 helpful links — markets you recommend, tools, or template examples. Editors prefer posts that point readers to immediate resources.
Section 3 · Prep: publish samples & assemble links
Build a short sample pack editors can review quickly
You don’t need a 10,000-word portfolio. For WritersWeekly, 2–4 short published examples are enough — blog posts, Medium pieces, or other short features. Include clear links in every pitch.
- One sample list or market roundup (400–700 words).
- One short how-to (500–900 words) with at least two external links.
- An “about” paragraph (1–2 lines) describing what you write and any credentials.
- Working contact details and a short bio (30–50 words).
| Sample | Best place | Why |
|---|---|---|
| List/markets | Own blog / Medium | Shows you can research and structure a short, linkable post. |
| How-to | Medium / Vocal / Blog | Demonstrates concise, instructive writing and helpful links. |
| Opinion / experience | Personal blog / Substack | Shows voice and credibility. |
Section 4 · Pitch & Submission SOP
Exact step-by-step workflow to pitch WritersWeekly
Use this SOP for every pitch. It’s short, repeatable, and designed for Editors who read a lot of email and need ready-to-publish content.
Read the WritersWeekly guidelines
Open WritersWeekly Writer’s Guidelines. Note payment terms, typical length, and how they want to be contacted. The site often requests that you use the contact form for submissions.
Craft a single-sentence pitch
Make one sentence that answers: Who is the reader? What will they get? Example: “A 600-word list of eight paying flash fiction markets, with links and short submission tips for each.” Keep it focused.
Outline the article (bullet points)
Editors like a short bulleted outline: headline, 6–10 bullets (for list items), and 1–2 example links you’ll include. This shows you’ve done the work and saves editor time.
Send via the Contact / Submit form
Use WritersWeekly’s contact page to pitch or follow the specific instructions in the guidelines. Paste your pitch, outline, and sample links directly into the form or email as instructed.
If accepted, submit the full article quickly
When an editor says “Please send the piece”, deliver within the agreed timeline. Include short author bio and contact for payment (PayPal email if requested). For WritersWeekly, the usual payment note is that they pay on acceptance. Confirm payment currency and method before accepting a rewrite assignment.
Section 5 · Money & rights
What to expect on payment and rights
Public reporting and WritersWeekly’s own notes indicate a common payment of roughly $60 on acceptance for a short article. Always confirm the fee and rights in your acceptance email — some pieces pay differently or accept reprints for a lower fee. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
- Fee: $60 (typical for short lists/how-tos).
- Rights: Usually first publication rights; ask if they want exclusivity or reprint permission later.
- Payment method: Often PayPal or direct transfer — confirm currency and timing.
- Editing: Editors often copyedit — expect small edits and quick turnaround asks.
- Use the byline to attract clients and freelance gigs.
- Turn a short piece into a longer blog post or newsletter for paid subscribers.
- Collect several accepted pieces as portfolio proof when pitching higher-paying outlets.
| Piece type | Typical pay | Advice |
|---|---|---|
| Short list / market | $60 | Good entry piece — quick to research and write. |
| How-to micro | $60–$100 | If it includes original templates or tools, negotiate if you think it’s more work. |
Section 6 · Ethics & AI
Honesty, accuracy, and safe use of AI tools
WritersWeekly is a trusted resource for writers; your piece must be honest and link to actual markets or tools. If you use AI to brainstorm, rewrite aggressively and verify every fact and link yourself.
- Don’t submit AI-generated copy without testing and human revision.
- Don’t list markets that are closed, pay nothing, or are scams — check each market’s page.
- Don’t fabricate results, interview quotes, or credentials.
- Use AI to create an outline or produce headline ideas — then edit fully.
- Use AI for grammar checks, but run manual readability and fact checks.
- Use AI to format lists or to produce a first draft, but verify every link and claim before submission.
Section 7 · Final pre-pitch checklist
Micro-SOP: items to complete before you hit Send
Use this checklist every time. It keeps the pitch short and professional.
Section 8 · Sample pitches & article blueprints
Copy-and-paste pitches you can adapt right now
List / Markets pitch (fast accept)
Subject: Pitch — “8 Paying Flash Fiction Markets (with quick submission tips)”
Body (paste):
Hello WritersWeekly team,
Short pitch: I’d like to write a 600-word list titled "8 Paying Flash Fiction Markets (2026)" — each item will include a one-line submission tip and a link to the market’s guidelines. I’ve researched current openings and will vet each market for active submissions.
Outline:
• Intro (2–3 lines) — who benefits and why.
• Market 1 — name + link + 1-line tip.
• Market 2 — ...
• Market 8 — ...
• Short wrap: next steps & where readers can submit.
Sample of my work: [link to sample list on Medium or blog]
Bio: [30–40 words about you]
Thank you for considering — I can have this ready within 5–7 days on acceptance.
Best,
[Your name] — [email] — [location] — [short site link]
How-to micro article pitch
Subject: Pitch — “3 Quick Social Posts to Promote a Debut Novel”
Hello WritersWeekly,
Short pitch: 600-word how-to: "3 Quick Social Posts to Promote a Debut Novel" — three plug-and-play post templates with an example caption and suggested image types.
Outline:
• Intro: how busy authors can use three short posts.
• Post template 1: Hook + CTA + image suggestion.
• Post template 2: Quote + microstory + link.
• Post template 3: Reader prompt + giveaway idea.
• Short wrap and call to action.
Sample link: [your sample]
Bio: [30–40 words]
Delivery: 3–5 days upon acceptance.
Thanks,
[Your name]
Article structure for a ‘market list’ (approx. 600 words)
- Headline: 9–11 words, promise value.
- Intro (50–70 words): Define who it helps, what to expect.
- 8 list items (35–45 words each): Market name + 1 practical tip + link to guidelines.
- Wrap (40–60 words): Quick next steps, suggested pitch note or where to learn more.
Section 9 · FAQ & Resources
Common beginner questions and curated links
- WritersWeekly — Writer’s Guidelines. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}
- Example: Writing List Articles (sample article). :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}
- Duotrope — market database (search paying markets and confirm current guidelines).
- Poets & Writers — resources on markets & submission tips.
- Reedsy Learning — short lessons on freelance writing & marketing.
- The Write Life — guides for freelance writers and pitching advice.
- Writer Magazine — industry tips and market lists.
- FreelanceWriting.com — job boards and paying markets.