Love is a topic that has captured the imagination of writers for centuries, and for good reason. It’s a force that has the power to transform our lives, to bring us joy and happiness, and to break our hearts in ways we never thought possible. But what does love mean in the context of the modern world? How do we navigate the complex landscape of contemporary relationships, with all their joys and challenges?
If you’re a writer who has ever grappled with these questions, then you may be interested in submitting your work to Modern Love, the iconic column in the New York Times. For over a decade, Modern Love has been a platform for writers to share their personal stories with a global audience, exploring the full spectrum of the human experience when it comes to love and relationships.
In this blog post, we’ll explore everything you need to know about writing for Modern Love: what they’re looking for, how to submit your work, and why you should consider sharing your story with the world. Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out, whether you’ve had your heart broken or you’ve found the love of your life, we hope to inspire you to put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard) and submit your own story to this beloved column. So let’s dive in and discover the world of Modern Love together.
What is Modern Love?
Modern Love is a weekly column in The New York Times that showcases personal essays about contemporary relationships. Although it has expanded into other forms, including a podcast, a book, a TV show, and Tiny Love Stories, the column’s central mission remains the same: to publish honest personal essays about finding love, losing love, and trying to keep love alive. The stories can explore a wide range of topics, such as adoption, polyamory, technology, race, and friendship – anything that fits under the heading “Modern Love.”
What is Modern Love looking for?
Modern Love is looking for true stories about contemporary relationships. The stories can explore a wide range of topics, such as finding love, losing love, and trying to keep love alive. They can also explore issues related to adoption, polyamory, technology, race, and friendship, among others. Ideally, the stories should be based on a central dilemma that the writer has faced. The situation can reflect what’s happening in the world today, but this is not essential. The editors are looking for stories that are honest, thought-provoking, and compelling. The stories are typically between 1,500 and 1,700 words and are edited in consultation with the writers.
Who can write for Modern Love?
Modern Love is open to anyone who has a compelling, personal story about contemporary relationships that fits under the broad umbrella of “Modern Love”. The column seeks to publish diverse voices, and welcomes submissions from writers of all backgrounds, ages, and experiences. It especially encourages submissions from Black and Indigenous people and other people of color, as well as writers outside of the United States and those who identify as members of LGBTQ communities.
How much can I earn writing for Modern Love?
Modern Love pays $400 per essay, which is a substantial sum in the world of personal essay writing. Payment is made upon publication of the essay. While the payment is not the primary reason to submit to Modern Love, it is a nice bonus and can help support your writing career.
Why should I write for Modern Love?
First and foremost, Modern Love is a platform for honest and vulnerable personal essays about contemporary relationships. If you have a story to tell about finding love, losing love, or trying to keep love alive, Modern Love provides a space to share that story. Your essay could touch the hearts of readers around the world who are grappling with similar experiences.
Beyond the cathartic experience of sharing your story, writing for Modern Love can also be a career-building opportunity. Having your work published in the New York Times can help raise your profile as a writer, and can lead to other writing opportunities in the future.
In addition to the career benefits, Modern Love also compensates its writers for work that is published. As per the most recent information, the payment is $400 per essay, which can be a significant financial boost for writers looking to make a living from their craft.
Moreover, Modern Love strives to amplify diverse voices and perspectives. The team encourages submissions from Black and Indigenous people and other people of color, as well as writers outside of the United States and those who identify as members of L.G.B.T.Q communities. If you’re a writer with a unique perspective or experience, submitting to Modern Love can be an opportunity to share your story and help broaden the conversation around contemporary relationships.
Finally, writing for Modern Love can be a rewarding and fulfilling experience in and of itself. The team at Modern Love works closely with writers to edit and refine their essays, and the publication process can be an opportunity to hone your craft and connect with other writers.
All in all, writing for Modern Love can offer a range of benefits, from personal catharsis to career development to amplifying diverse voices. If you have a personal story to share, we encourage you to consider submitting your work to Modern Love.
How do I submit my story?
If you have a story that you think would be a good fit for Modern Love, you can submit it by email to modernlove@nytimes.com. In the subject line of your email, include the title of your essay or a brief summary of the content. In the body of your email, include a brief cover letter introducing yourself and your essay, and paste the text of your essay. You should also attach your essay as a Microsoft Word document.
There are a few guidelines to keep in mind when submitting to Modern Love. Firstly, essays should be between 1,500 and 1,700 words in length. Secondly, essays must be entirely true and based on your own experiences. Do not use pseudonyms or composite characters. Finally, essays must be previously unpublished, which means that they cannot have appeared on other news websites, personal blogs, or Medium.
It’s important to note that Modern Love has two submission periods: one from September through December, and another from March through June. During these periods, the Modern Love team reviews and considers submissions for publication.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that the team does not accept submissions in July, August, January or February. If you submit during those months, your submission will be deleted unread. If you miss the submission window, don’t worry! You can always submit your essay during the next submission period.
Once you have submitted your essay, you can expect to hear back within three or four months, although response times may vary due to the high volume of submissions. If your essay is accepted, you will work with an editor to revise and refine your work before publication. And if your essay is published, you will receive $400 and the satisfaction of having your work featured in one of the most prestigious columns in contemporary journalism.
