Instinct, the bimonthly magazine for gay and bi-sexual men, is always on the hunt for quality content from freelance writers.

Editor-in-chief Jeff Katz told Mediabistro that he appreciates writing that has a casual but personal voice. “Our tone is approachable and fun. We want to say the things you’d hope your best friend would tell you, so we’re also a little bit sassy, sometimes a little provocative,” he added, “but we’re honest.”

Katz is also looking for stories that pertain to issues facing the LGBT community. “As gay rights change and people are getting married and adopting children, we want to continue to reflect those stories. In the upcoming issue, we’re doing a piece on finances to discuss how marriage laws play into power of attorney,” he said. “I don’t think that’s a story that would’ve been done 10 years ago, but it’s a nice change.”

The best part? 30 percent of all pitches are accepted. For more, read How to Pitch Instinct [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

With almost half of its content provided by freelancers, Cure is accepting all pitches related to the research and treatment of cancer. The magazine is published quarterly and distributed freely to cancer patients and healthcare professionals.

So, what makes a successful pitch for Cure? Editors say they look for  ideas based on emerging research, commentary on current practices, or personal experience. Featured freelancers have also written about topics that are relevant to readers throughout the country, such as coping with the treatment process or advice on finding the appropriate doctor.

For more, read How to Pitch: Cure [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Inc., a monthly publication targeting the entrepreneurial community, is currently accepting pitches for all sections. ”We are a magazine about people who are incredibly passionate and have the will to start a business from scratch,” managing editor Alexandra Brez told Mediabistro.

And, before you fire off a pitch with a generic business angle, keep in mind that the pub goes to great lengths to set itself apart from competitors such as Fast Company or Forbes. ”We are different because of our sophistication, as well as our connection to and interest in our community of entrepreneurs,” Brez said. “We are a very likable brand. People are proud to be featured by us.”

Get more details on pitching guidelines, plus contact info for all editors in  How to Pitch: Inc. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Nothing says more about your ability as a journalist than the content of your clips. The  published articles you submit to perspective employers can make or break your chances, and simply deciding which material to include can be a daunting challenge in itself. Fortunately, there are certain techniques that will help your writing portfolio stand out from the crowd.

Christy Karras, a veteran freelancer who has written for Time, Forbes Asia, and The New York Times told Mediabistro that she tends to choose stories she believes show off her writing and editing skills.

“That could be a deeply analytic magazine feature on the finances of a major city-state that shows my ability to digest complex information and write about it in an engaging way, it could be a news story on a crackdown in the Gulf that shows an editor how well sourced I am in an environment that might not be very friendly to journalists, or it could be a feature profile that I think displays some narrative chops,” she said. “It just depends on the message I’d like to get to the individual editor.”

For more, read 6 Tips for Submitting Freelance Writing Clips [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun

The full version of this article is  exclusively available to Mediabistro AvantGuild subscribers. If you’re not a member yet, register now for as little as $55 a year for access to hundreds of articles like this one, discounts on Mediabistro seminars and workshops, and all sorts of other bonuses.

Tyler Brûlé, founder of Monocle, first got the idea for his global pub from observing consumers at airports. “It was frequently Wallpaper* and The Economist. I decided to merge elements of the two but refine the package,” the journo/entrepreneur/publisher told Mediabistro.

Although the pub’s staffers are likely to be seen reading The Financial Times and The International Herald Tribune, editor Andrew Tuck says Monocle has its own definition of what’s newsworthy. “We think that a lot of news organizations, especially [those committed to] daily or weekly news, tend to run around in a herd,” he said.

Monocle also strives to take care of its writers. “If a writer goes on a story for us, they will have a water-tight itinerary, they will travel with a reasonable airline, and they have my mobile number and know that if they want to give me a ring at midnight if anything has gone wrong, that’s what I’m here for,” said Tuck.

The 110-year-old Redbook is getting more than just a redesign. “I think it’s better to call it a complete re-imagination of the brand or a total brand reset,” said editor-in-chief Jill Herzig. “There are redesigns and there are redesigns, and this one not only changed how the magazine looks, but how it’s focused.”

With the change in focus comes new opportunity for freelancers. The women’s glossy is beefing up its fashion and beauty coverage, so editors are on the lookout for new writers who can cover those topics. The sections that cover personal finance, health and entertaining are also ripe for pitching, and the whole book is sprinkled with intimate personal essays.

Get more info at How To Pitch: Redbook. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

 The first, second and third installments of our popular series, Personal Essay Markets highlighted 45 pitchable pubs for first-person stories. Today, we bring you online outlets for the final piece.

E-zines that highlight everything from food and culture to environmental news are taking pitches, so check out the requirements for some inspiration. Who knows? Maybe you can make some extra cash by turning an I-can’t-believe-that-happened-t0-me experience into an essay.

For more, read Personal Essay Markets, Part IV. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

After launching in 2000 through a partnership with Hearst, O, The Oprah Winfrey Magazine has amassed a dozen ASME nods and won numerous accolades. Although it has some heavy newsstand competition, O‘s health editor Jihan Thompson said the pub differentiates itself in its service to readers: “[O] really has this positive, uplifting tone that I find is really the mission of the magazine.”

About half of the pub’s content is freelance written and, lucky for you enterprising scribes, the pub is now accepting pitches for many of its sections. Get details on what to pitch, plus contact info for editors in How To Pitch: O, The Oprah Magazine. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

This week brings the third part of our popular series, Personal Essay Markets. The first and second installments highlighted 30 pitchable personal essay markets, and the latest installment brings you 15 more.

Some of the featured outlets offer up to $2 a word for your first-person piece, so whether your reflecting on running for Runner’s World or on the art of writing for The Writer, our guide can help you find the right pub for your musings.

Read more at Personal Essay Markets, Part III. [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

With 60 percent of the content written by freelancers, Parent & Child is one of the rare pubs that accepts feature pitches from new writers. Bonus: it also pays up to $2 per word.

Nick Friedman, editor-in-chief, explained that his staff is looking for writers who can channel their personal experience  and speak to parents on a personal level. “We want to hear some bold ideas, and we want to know about human interest stories that all parents can relate to and that help provide solutions for families.”

Friedman also stressed that he wants the publication to have material that tackles issues and contemporary subjects through a fresh perspective. “We are not some stuffy, goody-goody parenting title,” he said.

For more, read How to Pitch: Parent & Child [Mediabistro AvantGuild subscription required]

– Nicholas Braun