The Atavist Magazine Is Accepting Pitches/How To Submit (Pay: $6,000)
The Atavist Magazine is renowned for its narrative-driven, cinematic storytelling.
They publish long-form stories that are plot- and character-driven, covering a wide range of topics from crime and science to adventure and romance. The best way to understand their approach to storytelling is to read some of their most recent stories.
The magazine welcomes pitches from writers worldwide, whether early-career journalists or seasoned professionals. If you are not an experienced writer, please read this article: 10 Creative Writing Tips For Beginners
Submission Guidelines For The Atavist Magazine
- Send your pitches to seyward@atavist.com and/or jonah@atavist.com.
- Pitches are accepted on a rolling basis, and if submissions are paused, a notice will be posted.
- The magazine is looking for stories ranging from 8,000 to 30,000 words.
- The editors aim to respond within two weeks. If you don’t receive a response within that time, you can send a follow-up email or pursue other opportunities.
- The Atavist prefers exclusive pitches but understands the realities of freelancing. If you receive another offer, notify The Atavist if you choose to accept it.
What The Atavist Wants
- They are looking for stories with a strong narrative arc, featuring a clear beginning, middle, and end. Stories should be plot- and character-driven, engaging readers like a cinematic experience.
- Submissions can cover various topics such as crime, science, history, adventure, and romance. Stories can be based on investigative reporting or personal experiences but must be compellingly told.
What They Don’t Want
Content to Avoid: The magazine is not interested in news dispatches, analyses, think pieces, trend pieces, reviews, round-ups, profiles of well-known figures, blog posts, op-eds, or academic papers.
- Pitches created, assisted, or edited using generative AI tools like ChatGPT will not be considered.
Eligibility Criteria
- They welcome early-career journalists, experienced writers, and contributors from diverse backgrounds.
- There is no entry fee.
Author Rights At The Atavist
- Authors retain all rights to their work, except for the rights The Atavist acquires to publish, reproduce, and distribute the story in various formats.
- Payment includes quarterly royalties based on the traffic to paywalled versions of the stories.
Pay Rates
The baseline story fee is $6,000, with additional budgets for expenses if applicable.
Writers receive 25% payment upfront, serving as the equivalent of a kill fee.
Quarterly royalties are also paid based on traffic to paywalled stories.
Other Creative Submissions
The Atavist also accepts documentary video projects, photography, and audio stories that fit their narrative style. Creative professionals such as illustrators and photographers can send submissions or commission inquiries to the art director.
