Become a Guest Writer

Tell your stories that are as personal as they are universal

Fieldnotes from a Watcher is a storytelling journal that publishes creative nonfiction essays on a monthly basis. It explores nuanced and complex themes that are as personal as they are universal, often shared by many but voiced by few: belonging, intergenerational stories, cross-cultural experiences, grief and loss, parenthood, and the creative process.

We welcome nonfiction writers and storytellers to submit their work, and currently publish a limited number of guest pieces each year (typically one per quarter). Each guest piece generally ranges from 1,000 to 1,500 words and is rooted in lived experience. Grey areas are the sweet spot, and humor is celebrated too. We are drawn to first-person narratives and those lived moments that are beautiful, layered, absurd, or tender. Your work doesn't need to make an argument, teach a lesson, explain in every other sentence, or even end on a clear resolution. Let the story itself take the main stage, and linger on.

The best way to assess whether your work is a fit for the journal is to read the published essays.

We prioritize previously unpublished work but accept compelling reprints. Currently, we offer $35 USD honorarium for previously unpublished work and $15 USD for reprints.

If you are a fellow watcher with a story you are eager to tell, pitch it here. If your pitch feels like a potential fit for the journal, we will invite a full draft, and discuss feedback, timeline, and final publication decision. If invited to submit a first draft, please send a full draft that you have already cleaned up grammar, spelling, and punctuation.

By submitting a pitch, you agree to the guest writer terms outlined in our Terms of Use.