Stop Writing for Pennies: 5 Sites That Pay $200 for writing
By

Let’s be honest.

We’re writers, but we spend most of our time scrolling through job boards that feel like a slap in the face. “Urgent writer needed: 5 cents a word.” “Seeking expert: 2,000 words for $50.”

It’s soul-crushing.

It can make you feel like your voice, your experience, and your craft just aren’t worth anything. You feel like a machine, churning out content just to pay a bill.

I’m here to tell you to stop looking.

Stop looking for those “gigs.” Start looking for “publications.” There is a world outside the content mills. A world of real editors who are desperate for high-quality, original ideas. They don’t want another “10 Best Tips” article that an AI could write.

They want your brain. Your story. Your expertise.

And yes, they pay for it. Really well.

This isn’t a dream. This is a guide to finding legitimate publications that value real writers. But they don’t just buy “articles”; they buy specific types of value. Here are five sites that pay writers $200 or more, broken down by the kind of value they are looking for.

 

1. The Value: Your Expert Opinion

 

 

The Publication: A List Apart

 

  • What It Is: This is the Harvard Business Review for the people who build websites. It’s the definitive resource for web designers, developers, and digital strategists.
  • What They Want: This is not a place for “5 Tips for Better CSS.” They want deep, thoughtful, and opinionated articles about the future of the web. They want your expert take on design ethics, a new coding technique you’ve mastered, or a deep-dive on accessibility. They want you to teach their expert audience something new and profound.
  • The Proof: A designer I know finally got an article published here. He said, “The $200 was nice, but the editing process was brutal and made me a 10x better writer. My entire career’s trajectory changed after that byline.” They want your brain, not just your fingers.

 

2. The Value: Your “In-the-Trenches” Data

 

 

The Publication: Copyhackers

 

  • What It Is: This is a top-tier, no-fluff resource for marketers, copywriters, and founders. It’s all about the business of writing that sells.
  • What They Want: Forget “fluffy” inspiration. They want data. They want deep, tactical, “we tried this, and this is what happened” case studies. Did you increase conversions by changing one word? Did you A/B test a landing page and get a shocking result? That’s what they’ll pay for.
  • The Proof: I’ve seen freelancers in their community talk about landing a $300-$1000 check for a single, in-depth article. This isn’t a quick gig; it’s a deep-dive project. They are buying your hard-won results and building your authority for life.

 

3. The Value: Your Human Experience

 

 

The Publication: Longreads

 

  • What It Is: Just like the name says. This is the home of deep, immersive storytelling. It’s for readers, not just scrollers.
  • What They Want: Your heart. This is the place for that personal essay you’ve been terrified to write. They buy long-form journalism, features, and essays (2,000-5,000+ words) that explore a single topic with nuance, emotion, and deep reflection.
  • The Proof: A writer I follow on social media pitched them a personal essay. She said, “I got $500, but more importantly, an editor who cared. They helped me tell my story the way it deserved to be told.” They are buying your vulnerability and your unique perspective.

 

4. The Value: Your Unique Cultural Lens

 

 

The Publication: Eater (Vox Media)

 

  • What It Is: This is not just a recipe site. Eater is a prestigious publication about food as a lens for culture, politics, and identity.
  • What They Want: They want the story behind the food. A pitch about your grandmother’s secret recipe will be rejected. A pitch about how that recipe tells the story of your family’s immigration, or the economic struggles of your small town? That’s an Eater story. They buy reported features, thoughtful essays, and unique perspectives.
  • The Proof: Eater is known for paying professional rates. You can expect $300-$500+ for a feature. I read a testimonial from a first-time writer who successfully pitched a story about her small town’s food scene. It launched her career. They are buying your cultural insight.

 

5. The Value: Your Niche “How-To” Blueprint

 

 

The Publication: Great Escape Publishing

 

  • What It Is: This one is a little different. They don’t just want travel stories; they want stories on how to get paid for travel.
  • What They Want: They serve an audience of aspiring travel writers, photographers, and tour operators. They want practical, “how-to” articles about the business of travel. How did you land a free hotel stay? How do you sell your travel photos? What’s your 5-step process for pitching tourism boards?
  • The Proof: Their guidelines are clear: they pay $50-$200 for articles. A writer on a freelance board mentioned, “I sold them a 700-word piece on how I use Instagram to land travel gigs. They paid $150, and it was the easiest money I’ve made writing.” They are buying your trade secrets.

 

Your New Playbook: How to Stop Being an “Applicant” and Start Being a “Partner”

 

Here’s the hard truth: These places won’t accept a finished draft you just send in. That’s what amateurs do.

Professionals send a pitch.

A pitch is a short, powerful sales letter for an idea. It respects the editor’s time and proves you’ve done your homework. If you want to get paid $200+, you need to master this.

 

Step 1: Become a Student, Not a Spammer

 

Before you write a single word, read at least five articles from the publication. Don’t just skim. Analyze them.

  • What is their tone? (Academic? Witty? Heartfelt?)
  • What is their structure? (Do they use subheadings? Do they like data?)
  • Who is their audience? (What problems does this audience have?)

 

Step 2: Find Your “Unique Angle”

 

Now that you know what they like, find a gap. Find a story that only you can tell.

  • Wrong Idea: “5 Tips for Better Marketing” (Generic)
  • Right Idea: “How I Used One A/B Test to Triple Conversions” (Specific, data-driven, for Copyhackers)
  • Wrong Idea: “A Story About My Grandmother” (Vague)
  • Right Idea: “How My Grandmother’s Cooking Saved Our Family’s Identity” (Specific, cultural, for Eater)

 

Step 3: Write the 1-Paragraph “Irresistible” Pitch

 

Your pitch email should be short enough to read in 60 seconds.

Subject: Pitch: [Your Catchy, Professional Title]

Body:

Hi [Editor’s Name],

I’m a [Your Credential, e.g., “a 10-year marketing strategist”] pitching a 1,500-word article titled “[Your Title].”

This article will give your readers [a specific, valuable takeaway, e.g., “a data-backed case study on X”]. It’s a perfect fit for your [Section, e.g., “Conversion”] column because [it aligns with your audience’s goals].

I am the right person to write this because [Your “Why Me,” e.g., “I personally ran this experiment and have the data to prove it”].

Thank you for your time and consideration.

This is more work. It’s harder. It’s scarier. But it’s the only way to stop being a “content machine” and start being a paid writer.

Your voice has value. Stop giving it away for pennies.