We want to hear the stories you have to tell
Contribute to FAMIGLIA
We are looking for talented writers and artists who would like to contribute to FAMIGLIA on a freelance basis. We are on the look out for articles and art that span the breadth of our faith. Keep reading for more information on what we are looking for, our requirements, and how to submit a pitch!
Continue reading and, when you are ready to pitch, follow the pitching instructions below!
Find below sections for articles, photography/art, and puzzle making
Articles - Pitching Guidelines
Please submit pitches only - no full articles will be reviewed. We don't accept unsolicited pitches for stories which have already been written - though we will (rarely) reprint articles from partner sources that have wide appeal.
What makes a good FAMIGLIA story
FAMIGLIA is a publication for the whole church. This means we are looking for articles with broad appeal across the whole scope of our faith!
This doesn't mean that every article needs to appeal to everyone - but every article we publish has a broad audience, should be engaging, and has a great story to tell.
The story needs to capture attention and leave readers with a sense of closure.
It is very helpful if you read FAMIGLIA first, which will give you an idea of the stories we usually publish.
What articles/topics are we looking for?
We are looking for great content about anything related to our Catholic faith! Our audience is wide so the scope of stories we publish is wide!
FAMIGLIA sections include: Features, Columns, Travel, Home, Cooking, All the Saints, Men, Women, Kids
How far in advance do I need to pitch?
We plan our editorial calendar in advance. Because of this, please plan to pitch with as much time as possible (the more time the better) for time sensitive topics to be published in a certain month.
Evergreen content which can be published anytime can be pitched at anytime.
How much do we pay freelancers?
We pay per published story and this fee will be negotiated and agreed upon before starting work as part of our normal assignment agreement. A typical assignment will likely include a price per word as a starting point, and additional fees for articles we anticipate needing intense research or additional components. Increased pay is also available for highly-skilled, widely recognized, or repeat writers
What should I include in my pitch?
- Include details of your story/proposed article including why this article is important, and why FAMIGLIA is the right publication to publish it
- If this is your first time writing for FAMIGLIA, please include a short bio about yourself and clips of previously published works (if applicable).
- Please include the FAMIGLIA section you believe your pitch best fits
Can I pitch news?
We are not currently accepting most news pitches - including breaking news. The nature of FAMIGLIA and our lengthy publishing schedule means that most of our news are assigned to staff writers and any holes are filled with wire stories.
Can I pitch to other outlets?
Due to the resources needed to review pitches, we do not accept pitches which are simultaneously being considered by other publications. Every pitch you submit should be unique to FAMIGLIA (or at least have been declined by other publications). We aim to review pitches weekly and notify you of a decision asap. Of course, if we opt not to pick up your pitch, please do feel free to pitch elsewhere.
When do you pay authors?
We pay freelances for the agreed upon rate within 30 days of both the publication of the Article(s) and receipt of an invoice. If you've never invoiced for freelance publications before, no worries! We will be able to help advise you of how to invoice FAMIGLIA - we've got you covered!
Can I write fiction/mysteries?
YES! Please! We are on the lookout for good Catholic fiction that can be serialized - in particular, we are looking for mysteries. If you are a well-established fiction writer who has a great idea for a Catholic mystery that lends itself well to being serialized, please reach out!
We typically buy first serial rights and, as such, we only work with original stories and established authors. We will not publish existing stories except by invite only.
What should my pitch contain?
If you are not familiar with pitching articles, there are resources that can help! Check out the links below to help you construct your pitch (external websites are provided for reference only and FAMIGLIA does not vouch for their contents):
Ready to pitch a story?
Pitch an article!Artists & Photographers
We are always on the lookout for talented Catholic illustrators, photographers, and other artists that we can call upon for contributions to FAMIGLIA! Learn more below about submitting your portfolio!
What makes a good FAMIGLIA artist
FAMIGLIA is a publication for the whole church. This means we are looking for contributions that have a broad appeal. This doesn't mean that every art piece needs to appeal to everyone - but everything we publish does need to give glory to God. It is very helpful if you read FAMIGLIA first, which will give you an idea of the artwork we typically publish, but please feel free to submit anything you'd like us to take a look at!
What should I include in my submission?
Submit a portfolio of your best work to help us get a sense of your style! In particular, be sure to highlight pieces that you are particularly proud of. Be sure to include your publication experience (if any), whether you take commissions or not (and if so, your typical turnaround time), and any pricing you typically ask for.
How much do we pay freelancers?
We pay per piece and this fee will be negotiated and agreed upon before any work starts as part of our normal assignment agreement.
On commissioned pieces, we typically purchase first-rights with 3-months exclusivity from time of publication.
For existing artwork, we typically purchase a non-exclusive license to publish the piece in a FAMIGLIA edition.
Ready to submit your portfolio?
Submit your portfolioPuzzle Makers
We are always on the lookout for talented Catholic puzzle makers who are interested in creating puzzles for either print in the puzzle section of FAMIGLIA or for our online daily puzzle section.
Puzzles you can create for FAMIGLIA
We are always on the lookout for the following puzzles for FAMIGLIA:
- NOT SO ORDINARY TIME MONTHLY CROSSWORD: a 15x15 American style crossword
- SEEKING CATHOLIC WORDSEARCH: 19x19 Word search
- NOT SO ORDINARY TIME DAILY CROSSWORD: Daily online, 5x5, 6x6, or 7x7 American style crossword. These puzzles are themed based on a particular day from the Catholic calendar.
If you have an idea for another puzzle format, contact us to discuss!
All puzzles must have never been published anywhere.
Themes & Word Requirements for FAMIGLIA
All FAMIGLIA puzzles should only contain clean, family friends words.
- Word searches should have been run through a profanity and "blacklist" filter which identifies any accidental words.
For crosswords:
- Crosswords should limit "crossword-ese" as much as possible
- Monthly crosswords should contain 4-6 themed words and these words must be placed symmetrically
- Daily crosswords should be themed on a particular day from the Catholic calendar.
- Monthly crossword should have typical American crossword symmetry and limit the amount of black boxes when possible. For Daily puzzles, keep as much symmetry as possible.
- All answers must be at least 3 letters long.
- Puzzle must have all-over interlock and must not contain any un-checked words
What should I include in my submission?
Submit your puzzles as a PDF document which can be achieved in most crossword programs. Your submission should be at least two pages:
The first page should include:
- the puzzle with all answers filled in
- your name, email, and mailing address
The second page (and any subsequent pages if needed) should include:
- The wordlist for word searches
- Double spaced clues on the left, and the corresponding answer on the right for crosswords
How much do we pay freelancer puzzle makers?
We pay per puzzle we choose to publish and this fee will be negotiated and agreed upon before any work is bought. Print Crosswords pay the most, while pay for the other puzzle types vary based on length and difficulty.
On puzzles, we purchase all rights including first rights.
Can I pitch to other outlets?
Due to the resources needed to review pitches, we do not accept pitches which are simultaneously being considered by other publications. Every pitch you submit should be unique to FAMIGLIA (or at least have been declined by other publications). We aim to review pitches for puzzles as soon as possible and notify you of a decision asap. Of course, if we opt not to pick up your pitch, please do feel free to pitch elsewhere.
Do you have any resources for constructing a Crossword & an overview of the "rules"?
There are many resources available, both online and in print! The New York Times, a leader in American style crosswords, has published some very helpful resources that we find particularly helpful.