Great Sites For Publishing Your Personal Essays [PART 1]

This is the first in a series of several posts I will be doing about where to publish your personal essays.

I get a lot of questions from readers asking how to find good homes for personal essays. I love reading personal stories, and occasionally try my hand at writing one myself, though they don’t come easy for me.

If you are someone who loves to write personal essays and is looking for new places to publish them, or if you are someone who has a story to tell and is wondering where you might publish it if you can get it out of your head, take a look at some of these wonderful sites that publish all sorts of personal essays and see if one might be right for you.

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LONGFORM NONFICTION

The Big Roundtable – “The Big Roundtable publishes narrative nonfiction by writers with true stories they’re dying to tell.” If you’ve written something that exceeds the word count for your usual haunts, or if you have an essay you’d like to add to, consider this site that looks for longform nonfiction (5,000-30,000 words). They use donations to pay writers, with every published writer guaranteed a minimum of $100. SUBMI

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try My Rehab: Coming Of Age In Purgatory by Kevin Heldman

RAW & HONEST (WOMEN)

Blunt Moms – “Honest. Direct. Surprisingly Hilarious.” If you have something raw and honest, consider this site as a possible home for it. Their editors will treat it with the utmost care and will honor requests to stay anonymous if you prefer. You’ll also work with top-notch editors if you are interested in learning from the editing process. SUBMIT

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try The Anger Always Stays by Sara of Happy & Humble

INSPIRATION FOR MOMS

Bonbon Break – “BonBon Break, an online magazine for modern moms, cuts through the internet chaos to bring you advice and inspiration.” While this site also presents recipes, DIY and other lifestyle topics, they publish strong personal essays as well. SUBMIT

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try Dear Other Woman…Thank You by Kristin Shaw

MOTHERHOOD WITH A LITERARY QUALITY

Brain, Child Magazine – “Brain, Child: The Magazine for Thinking Mothers, founded in 1999, is an award-winning literary magazine dedicated to motherhood.” This publication offers paid opportunities to write for print and online publications. Their blog, Brain, Mother also accepts submissions and pays regular contributors only. Brain, Child is continuously cited by writers in this genre as an aspirational place to be published. SUBMIT

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try Good Enough by Katherine Dykstra

STORIES ABOUT CHANGE

The Change Blog – “Practical actions and inspiration to change your life.” If you struggle to match word counts, rest easy knowing that this site doesn’t care if it is 500 or 5,000 words as long as it shares your personal experience with change. SUBMIT

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try Never Lose Your Hunger by Amy Oestreicher

IMPERFECT MOTHERHOOD

Coffee + Crumbs – “Coffee + Crumbs is a collection of stories about motherhood, love, truth, and the good kind of heartache. At the very core of this space, we want all moms to feel less alone.” Beautiful writing and a minimalist design with gorgeous photos set the stage for this soothing website. SUBMIT

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try A Letter To My Pre-Mom Self by Ashlee Gadd

DIVORCE TOPICS

DivorcedMoms – “Whether you are thinking about separating, newly divorced or have already navigated the divorce process, whether you are in your 20s with an infant or in your 50s with grown children, you have experience and a unique point of view. Your stories will help other moms who are going through the same process.” SUBMIT

Looking for an example of a personal essay on this site? Try I Got Sucked In And Held On When I Should Have Let Go by Rachael, Guest Author

Stay tuned for our follow up posts that will include lots more great options for your personal essays!

Great Sites For Publishing Your Personal Essays [Part 1]