write with spoiled NYC
Got a New York story?
Write with spoiled NYC.
Contributor submissions are not open yet. Use this guide to prepare your pitch; we’ll post the submission route here when it opens.
Photo: Diane Picchiottino / Unsplash
There would be no city full of stories without the storytellers. The ones who notice, who share, who observe and dig deeper and find new angles. They share tips and laughs and interesting ideas and new ways of thinking and new experiences to have. We want to give the storytellers a place to share.
Right now our table is small, and we’d like it crowded. Maybe it’s the bar you can’t stop thinking about, a breakup that could only have happened here, or an interview only you could get. Bring it all, we’re game!
What we’re looking for
Something you know first-hand, whether it’s a place, a person, a night, a question, or something that happened to you. Show us what’s there, what makes it different, and why it could only be New York.
Food and drink
The dish you’d cross boroughs for, the bar with no sign, and the people behind the counter.
Culture and nights out
Art, music, shows, and the rooms that could only be in New York. If you stayed out too late for it, we want to hear about it.
Neighborhood guides
Your block, the way the people who live there know it. Let’s hear about the bodega, the regulars, and the place that just opened down the street.
Personal stories
The breakup, the roommate, the first apartment, the month you went sober. What happened to you here, told honestly. Too much information is welcome.
Funny and relatable
Photo essays, GIF stories, and the everyday absurdity of living here, from the walk-up to the subway seat. These are the stories you send to the group chat.
Interviews and profiles
The people who make New York what it is, in their own words. The drag queen between looks, the chef before service, the person behind the presentation.
Reported stories
The serious stuff like what’s changing in the city, who it affects, and why it matters. We take our time with these, because getting it right matters.
How to pitch us
Name the New York angle
Where does it happen, who’s involved, and why should anyone care right now?
Show what you know first-hand
What did you see, taste, hear, or find out? If it needs more reporting, tell us who you’d talk to.
Make it worth sharing
Who’s sending this to a friend, and why? For a place, give us the details: where, when, how much, how to get in, and what kind of night to expect.
When can I pitch?
Submissions are not open yet. We’re setting up the submission route first, and we’ll post it here before we open the doors. In the meantime, read what we publish in guides and stories, or get to know us on the About page.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to be a professional writer?
No. You don’t need a journalism degree or clips from a big national outlet. Show us you know the story and can tell it well.
Can I pitch something other than an article?
Yes. Photo essays and GIF stories are welcome, and so are written pieces.
Can I write about something personal?
Yes. The breakup, the roommate, the first apartment: if it happened to you here, it counts. You can use a pen name, or publish anonymously.
Do you pay writers?
Submissions are unpaid for now. We’ll publish the process and terms here when intake opens. There is no current offer of paid work. A creator cohort is a separate program; its availability and terms will be announced separately.
How will I hear back?
We’ll publish response expectations when submissions open.
Can I use AI to write my pitch?
Please don’t. We want your New York. There are more than enough interesting ideas out in the world, and you have more than enough interesting things to say. You’ve had incredible experiences, and we want to hear them.
