Epicure & Culture is always looking for contributions from freelance food, culture and travel writers. Before pitching, please read over our past articles to make sure your idea is in line with our demographics. Also, please pitch a clear idea stating exactly what you want to write about it, the point you want to make or message you want to convey and how you plan to do it. Additionally, include links to published work and your blog/website if you have one, and state if you have access to high-resolution photos.
*Note: We do not accept pitches from companies and PR representatives. If you are a company or PR rep, please visit our Advertising page.
Paid Contributions
Contributors whose pieces are accepted under this category will receive a link back to their website, social media promotion of their piece and $10 payment upon publication.
There is a minimum of 1000 words required, and all pieces should be in-depth and encompassing.
For this reason, detailed pitches are best to avoid confusion later on. Access to high-resolution photos is a plus. Potential paid article topics include but are not limited to the following.
Articles Revolving Around Travel-Relevant Holidays
Please refer to this calendar to see holidays we’re accepting pitches on.
Note: It’s best to pitch your piece at least five weeks before the holiday to ensure it gets written, edited and published in a timely fashion.
In-Depth Look At A Specific Tradition
These pieces can take on a few different formats. What’s important is that they look at the history of a tradition, its cultural importance, any issues about it being lost, and information on how it’s being preserved. If you’ve experienced the tradition yourself feel free to take on a narrative tone. Examples:
- Caribbean Culture: What Is Liming?
- Sciacchetrà Wine: A Sweet Tradition In Cinque Terre, Italy
- Quechua Culture: Preserving The Peruvian Weaving Tradition
Tracing The Dish
These pieces take an in-depth look at an important cultural dish. They should look at the origins/history of the dish, how it’s changed over time, its cultural significance and how it’s made. For the conclusion, please note a few great places to get the dish — and why they’re great — in the destination. Examples:
- A History Of The Crepe, France’s Delectable Staple
- Exploring Middle Eastern Influence On Greek Cuisine Through Ravani
- Green Fig & Salt Fish: Exploring Saint Lucia Through Its National Dish
Best Blog Roundups
These are roundups of 10 highlighting great blogs about a certain topic. Examples:
- Delicious Reading: Top Ten Blogs For Foodies
- Amazing History Blogs To Add To Your Reading List Today
- Visual Adventures: 10 Best Travel Photography Blogs
Questioning Ethics Of Tourism Activities
We’re always looking for articles that question the ethics of a particular tourism activity, such as elephant trekking or visiting tiger temples. Articles should have supporting articles/sources within to backup claims, and should also give readers responsible alternatives to these activities. Examples:
- Wildlife Tourism In Thailand: An Elephant-Sized Controversy
- Ethical Travel: Should You Visit Thailand’s Long Neck Women Villages?
- I Volunteered At An Orphanage, And Now I Campaign Against It
Ethical Projects & Companies
These posts highlight ethical companies and projects and how they’re changing the world / helping communities for the better. Each should end with a “Get Involved” section that highlights how readers can get involved with the highlighted cause. Examples:
- Here’s How To Make Positive Impact Travel Booking Choices
- How One Textile Brand Is Helping Women Exit India’s Sex Trade
- How A Nicaragua Surf Camp Is Empowering Women One Wave At A Time
Changemaker Q&A Or Profile
An introduction talking about an issue followed by an interview / profile with a local changemaker. These can also be interviews / profiles on interesting locals doing something positive in their community, even on a smaller scale.
- The Incredible Story Of Kenya’s Rhino Guardians
- Delicious Ways To Support The Local Economy While Traveling
- Artisans Of Rwanda: Meet Grace, A Basket Weaving Instructor In Kigali
Local Culinary Guides
Guides focused on a particular culinary trend or cuisine in a destination. Vegetarian guides do well as do guides on ethnic enclaves within a destination, such as Middle Eastern Cuisine along Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn. For the latter please discuss the history of the enclave, how it’s changed over time and note some must-try places. Examples:
- Savoring French Polynesia Through Its Five Essential Trees
- Sweet Guatemala: A Look At The Country’s Mayan Chocolate History And Modern Experiences
- Hold The Pork: Vegetarian-Friendly Finds In Portugal’s Land Of Meat And Fish
Recipe Stories
For this section detailed recipes and photographs of the dish are required. There also must be a story to go along with the dish, whether it be a personal narrative of living with a family in Italy and helping your house mother cook it or how the recipe has been handed down for generations since your family came from Germany. If you don’t have a narrative to go along with the recipe and photo, you may also explain in detail the significance of the dish and its ingredients to the culture of origin and occasions it is prepared on. Examples:
- Swedish Brown Bread: How To Savor This Delicious Tradition
- A Farm-To-Bar Michelada Experience In Nicaragua
- Tracing The Heritage Of Grandma’s Hungarian Gulyás
Roundups
Think “Top 10 XYZ,” with popular topics being yoga, beer, wine, chocolate, restaurants, vegetarian, responsible tourism and wellness retreats. Focused travel guides with a “go local” mindset done in a top 10 format are also acceptable. Examples:
- Top 10 Prague Pastries To Try On Your Next Trip
- 10 Clothing Companies That Give Back
- 10 Must-Have Artisanal Experiences In The Azores
- Top 10 Yoga Adventures For Thrill Seekers Around The World
Short Vignettes
These stories should be ~500-700 words, focusing on a single moment, scene or encounter that made a big impact on you or taught you a lesson. It can be as simple as recounting a conversation or noticing something over your morning breakfast. These stories should be insightful in some way.
Syndicated Works
We’re happy to syndicate already published pieces that are in-line with magazine; however, please note these submissions are unpaid. You will receive a headshot, bio with links to your sites/social channels, and a link back to the original article.
First Rights
Writers will be paid upon publication via PayPal. Once published, Epicure & Culture acquires first rights to the story. The Author represents and warrants that he/she is the sole author of the contribution, that the contribution is original, and, to the best of his/her knowledge, the contribution does not contain any libelous material.
Contact
If you would like to pitch an idea to the editor, please use the contact form below and put “submissions” in the subject line. Please include links to published work and your blog if you have one.
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