Biljana Tadic’s October 1, 2026, WritersWeekly roundup titled “8 Paying History Markets for Writers” lists nine outlets, not eight. The markets range from science history and political economy to regional and naval history, and their reported payments use different measures: per word, per article, per review, or per estimated published page. Some formats are not currently open, so treat the roundup as a discovery list and check each outlet’s current guidelines before pitching.
Which magazines pay writers for history articles?
The roundup names these nine markets: Distillations, Phenomenal World, NEXUS Magazine, Western Pennsylvania History, LIBER, Atlas Obscura, Wonderful West Virginia, Contingent, and Naval History. Rates below are attributed to Tadic’s roundup unless noted as confirmed by an accessible official page. A listed rate does not mean an outlet is accepting that format now.
Distillations
Distillations, published by the Science History Institute, seeks historically grounded stories about science’s effects on past and present, including little-told histories and historical angles on current topics. The roundup reports $1.25 per word for features and $750 flat for argued essays, columns, and profiles. The Institute’s pitch page confirms a standard feature rate of $1.25 per word and says payment is typically made within two weeks of publication. A pitch should explain the story, its relevance to readers, the approach and sources, proposed length and draft schedule, and the writer’s background and samples. Read Distillations’ pitch guidelines.
Phenomenal World
Phenomenal World focuses on political economy and welcomes pitches and proposals from new and established scholars, researchers, and writers working in history, economics, finance, policy, politics, and related areas. The roundup reports pieces of 1,000–2,000 words, $500 for long-form pieces, and $250 for interviews; its current About page does not state rates, so those figures are roundup-reported rather than independently confirmed. The publication publishes in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. See Phenomenal World’s About page.
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NEXUS Magazine
NEXUS prefers articles of 4,000–5,000 words. Its submission page says it normally pays AUD$250 per published article, discusses payment and publication details if a submission is accepted, and does not retain ownership of the article. Response times can range from two days to two months. Writers should check prior issues and avoid advertorials. Check NEXUS Magazine’s submission guidelines.
Western Pennsylvania History
This market looks for analysis of historical events with a strong Western Pennsylvania connection. The roundup describes a 3,000–4,000-word article with 8–10 high-resolution images. The Senator John Heinz History Center’s guidelines say authors are typically paid $250 upon publication; book reviews are unpaid. The History Center holds copyright and reprint rights. Its guidelines, updated January 24, 2023, warn that the next two issues may already be filled, potentially making publication a year away. Check the guidelines for current capacity and terms before submitting. Read the submission guidelines.
LIBER
LIBER is a feminist publication that includes feminist history. Tadic’s roundup reports $100 per book review, $50 per poem, and $100–$300 for features. The current submission window, fit, and rates are not confirmed by the available linked guideline information; verify them directly before pitching.
Atlas Obscura
Atlas Obscura’s history coverage includes original, carefully researched stories about places. The roundup says most commissioned articles run 800–1,500 words and pay around $0.50 per word, with the amount depending on length, reporting, and format. Those terms and the pitch process are roundup-reported; verify the current guidelines before proposing a story.
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Wonderful West Virginia
Wonderful West Virginia accepts experienced freelance writers covering state history, wildlife and nature, cultural heritage, special places and attractions, and interesting people. Its official guidelines confirm a length of approximately 1,500 words and payment of $150 upon publication. The magazine prefers a proposal with a query, résumé, cover letter, and three to five published clips. Accepted stories may be scheduled a year or more in advance. Read Wonderful West Virginia’s writer guidelines.
Contingent
Contingent is a nonprofit history magazine. Its current pitch page prioritizes applicants with completed postgraduate work in history or a related field who work outside the tenure-track professoriate. The live page lists only mailbag columns and postcards as open. It gives base rates for several formats, but rates for closed formats are not evidence that they are accepting pitches.
| Format | Current status on the page checked | Displayed base pay |
|---|---|---|
| Mailbag column, roughly 400–500 words | Open | $150 |
| Postcard | Open | $50 |
| Review | Closed | $300 |
| Short | Closed | $300 |
| Mini-essay | Closed | $150 |
| Field trip | Closed | $300 |
| Interview | Closed | $50 |
| Feature | Closed | $300 |
Check the live list before sending anything, because its open formats can change. View Contingent’s current pitch page.
Naval History
Naval History, published by the U.S. Naval Institute, requires fewer than 3,000 words for an article. It pays $60–$150 per estimated published page of 1,000 words, with payment upon publication. Reviews and pictorials are commissioned, and unsolicited reviews are discouraged. The roundup also reports $75 for commissioned reviews, $250–$500 for pictorials, and $25 for anecdotes. Submit manuscripts as Word documents through the online portal. Read the U.S. Naval Institute’s author guidelines.
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How should you compare the pay?
A per-word figure is not directly comparable to a flat article fee or a per-page rate. Actual earnings also depend on the accepted format, finished length, whether the piece is commissioned, publication timing, and rights. The table keeps the reported payment basis visible; it does not convert unlike rates into a misleading ranking.
| Market | Reported or confirmed payment basis | Length or format detail |
|---|---|---|
| Distillations | $1.25 per word for features confirmed by official page; roundup reports $750 flat for argued essays, columns, and profiles | Feature length not stated |
| Phenomenal World | Roundup reports $500 for long-form pieces and $250 for interviews | Roundup reports 1,000–2,000 words |
| NEXUS Magazine | AUD$250 per published article, confirmed by submission page | Preferred length 4,000–5,000 words |
| Western Pennsylvania History | Typically $250 upon publication, per official guidelines | Roundup describes 3,000–4,000 words and 8–10 high-resolution images |
| LIBER | Roundup reports $100 per book review, $50 per poem, and $100–$300 for features | Lengths not stated |
| Atlas Obscura | Roundup reports usually around $0.50 per word, depending on length, reporting, and format | Most commissioned articles reportedly 800–1,500 words |
| Wonderful West Virginia | $150 upon publication, confirmed by official guidelines | Approximately 1,500 words |
| Contingent | Displayed base rates vary by format; see availability table above | Mailbag columns roughly 400–500 words; other lengths not stated here |
| Naval History | $60–$150 per estimated published page of 1,000 words; roundup reports separate fees for some commissioned formats | Article must be under 3,000 words |
What to check before pitching
Choose an outlet by the story it wants, not simply because it covers history. A generic history proposal is less useful than one that demonstrates the fit: science and its social effects for Distillations, political economy for Phenomenal World, a clear regional connection for Western Pennsylvania History, or West Virginia subjects for Wonderful West Virginia. For Naval History, stay within its word limit and use its submission portal.
Quick Recap
- Confirm that the format is open. Contingent’s current page shows how a market can close formats while leaving other submissions available.
- Read the latest submission instructions. Check the requested pitch materials, submission channel, and whether the outlet wants a proposal or a completed manuscript.
- Clarify rights and schedule. NEXUS says it does not retain ownership; Western Pennsylvania History says the History Center holds copyright and reprint rights. Western Pennsylvania History and Wonderful West Virginia both flag potentially long waits before publication.
- Verify unconfirmed terms. The LIBER and Atlas Obscura rates and procedures above come from the roundup, not currently verified official terms.
- Budget around payment timing. Where payment is specified, note whether it is upon publication rather than acceptance; publication delays can therefore affect when a writer is paid.
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