Love in the modern world is complex, messy, and endlessly fascinating.
If you’ve ever experienced a relationship that changed you — for better or worse — and can tell that story with honesty and heart, Modern Love might be the perfect home for it.
This beloved column from The New York Times has been sharing real stories about relationships since 2004, touching millions of readers in print and online.
And if your essay is accepted?
You could earn $400 for sharing your experience.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through what Modern Love is all about, what they’re looking for, and how you can submit your own story.
Let’s get started.
What is Modern Love?
Modern Love began as a groundbreaking weekly column in The New York Times, publishing deeply personal essays about contemporary relationships.
It quickly became one of the most-read features of the paper, celebrated for its emotional honesty and wide-ranging exploration of love in all its forms.
Over the years, Modern Love has expanded beyond the page:
- Podcast – Essays read aloud, often by celebrities, adding new depth to the stories.
- Book – Collections of memorable essays from the column.
- TV show – Dramatizations of selected stories, bringing them to life on screen.
- Tiny Love Stories – Short, powerful vignettes of just a few sentences.
Despite its growth, the heart of Modern Love remains the same: to share real, human stories about finding love, losing it, and navigating all the complexities in between.
What kind of content do they accept?
Modern Love is all about truth and vulnerability.
They want real stories that reveal something about how we connect with one another in today’s world.
They welcome essays about:
- Falling in love, heartbreak, and reconciliation
- Adoption and family relationships
- Non-traditional arrangements like polyamory
- The role of technology in modern dating
- How race, culture, and identity shape our relationships
- The bonds of deep friendship
Your piece should ideally center on a specific dilemma or turning point you’ve faced.
While it’s not required, essays that touch on current social or cultural themes often resonate strongly with editors.
What are their writing guidelines?
Here’s what to keep in mind:
- Length: 1,500–1,700 words
- Format: Attach your essay as a Word-compatible document and paste the text into the body of your email
- Truth only: No pseudonyms, composite characters, or invented scenes
- Originality: Your essay must be previously unpublished, including on personal blogs or social media
- Editing: Accepted pieces will be edited in consultation with you before publication
- Submission periods: They only accept essays from September–December and March–June. Submissions sent outside these windows will be deleted unread.
Who can write for them?
Anyone with a real story to tell can submit to Modern Love.
They especially encourage:
- Black and Indigenous writers, and other writers of color
- Writers outside the United States
- Members of the L.G.B.T.Q. communities
Love is universal, but Modern Love is intentional about showcasing voices that reflect the diversity of human relationships.
How much do they pay?
Reports from past contributors indicate that Modern Love pays $400 per published essay
While the monetary reward is modest, the exposure and prestige of being featured in The New York Times can be invaluable for any writer.
Note:
You do not get paid just for submitting.
You get paid if your piece is accepted and published.
Why should I write for them?
Being published in Modern Love means joining a legacy of writers whose work has touched millions of readers worldwide.
Your story could appear alongside some of the most memorable relationship essays of the past two decades.
It might even be adapted for the podcast or the TV series, reaching audiences in entirely new ways.
It’s not just about prestige, though.
Writing for Modern Love offers a unique opportunity to share your truth with a vast, engaged audience that values honesty and vulnerability.
You’ll have the chance to explore deeply personal themes in a respected space where authentic voices are celebrated.
And you’ll be contributing to a body of work that examines love from every angle — helping shape how people think, feel, and talk about relationships in today’s world.
How do I get started?
Before you submit, take the time to read through recent Modern Love essays and listen to their podcast.
This will help you understand the tone, structure, and emotional depth they’re looking for.
When you’re ready:
- Write your essay (1,500–1,700 words)
- Attach it as a Word-compatible document and paste it into the email body
- Email it to
modernlove@nytimes.com - Include the subject or possible title in your email subject line
Response times are usually three to four months.
If you don’t hear back, it’s okay to submit again in a future reading period.
Before you submit:
Paid writing opportunities like these are limited — and they exist because editors are still willing to accept unsolicited submissions from writers around the world. To help keep these opportunities open, don’t submit AI-generated content or low-effort work clearly intended as spam. It wastes the editors’ time and takes away chances from real writers who care about the craft. Respect the opportunity. Respect the process. And respect the people reading your work.
Ready to submit your story?
Head over to their website to get started.
Final thoughts
Modern Love isn’t just a column —
it’s a cultural touchstone for exploring what it means to connect, care, and commit in today’s world.
It has become a place where thousands of intimate, often life-changing stories have found a home, sparking conversations, inspiring empathy, and helping readers see themselves in others’ experiences.
If you have a true story that captures the joy, pain, and complexity of love — whether it’s a fleeting romance, a lifelong partnership, an unconventional bond, or a personal revelation — this could be your chance to share it with readers around the globe.
The opportunity isn’t just about publication; it’s about adding your voice to an ongoing, global dialogue about what love looks like in all its forms.
And if it’s accepted, you’ll not only earn $400 but also join the ranks of storytellers who have shaped how we understand and talk about love in the 21st century — leaving a piece of your story in a space that continues to resonate with millions.
Start a blog & earn a fulltime income
Freelance writing is a good way to monetize your writing skills — but blogging is even better.
With your own blog, you can write what you want, build a loyal readership, and earn from your writing in more ways than per-article gigs.
My beginner-friendly guide shows you exactly how to start your blog from scratch, step by step, and grow it into a fulltime income — on your terms, from home or wherever life takes you.
START A BLOG ➤Looking for more sites that pay you to write?
Here’s a curated list of sites that pay writers.
You’ll find magazines, websites, and platforms in all kinds of niches, from poetry, fiction, and greeting cards to travel, lifestyle, parenting, and more.
Each site includes everything you need to know — from the type of content they’re looking for, to how much they pay, to how to submit your work — so you can confidently land your next paid writing gig.
SEE THE FULL LIST ➤
