RWJ’s Next Chapter: Paying Writers and Elevating Voices
From the desk of editor-in-chief Melissa Tripp:
Guest Writers and the Future of RWJ
Remote Writing Jobs began as a directory built to make the search for trustworthy, legitimate writing work less painful. Over time, the mission has grown into something bigger. Writers aren’t just looking for jobs. They’re looking for community, visibility, and a place where their voices are valued.
That’s why I’m opening RWJ to guest writers from around the world. This next chapter is about publishing work with depth and intention, making space for perspectives that deserve to be heard, and paying writers fairly for their craft. My hope is to build a home where reflection, analysis, curiosity, and experience are treated as real labor and compensated accordingly.
What This Expansion Represents
Connecting writers to paid opportunities has always been the heart of RWJ. This evolution pushes the mission forward. Writers don’t only need listings. They need room to speak honestly about what it takes to work in this field.
Publishing original work through RWJ brings that purpose full circle. Each piece becomes part of a broader conversation about the writing life. The shifts in the industry. The pressures and hopes shaping creative work. The realities behind the scenes. I want these stories to feel lived in, specific, and useful to readers who share the same path.
The Stories I Want to Publish
RWJ will publish pieces that explore writing with care and clarity. I’m most excited to receive work in these categories:
Personal Writing: Reflections on your own experience as a writer and what you’ve learned along the way.
Cultural Commentary: Thoughtful observations about writing culture, creative communities, and the trends shaping the field.
Industry Insight: Reporting, analysis, or deep dives that help writers understand how the writing business works.
Process & Craft: Essays on how you approach the page, your creative habits, and what shapes your voice.
I value pieces with a clear point of view. Something that teaches, reveals, questions, or reframes. Nuance matters. Original thought matters. Fresh language matters. Bring your best thinking and your lived experience.
Access, Payment and Sustainability
The writers featured here ask something real of themselves, and their work deserves a platform that reflects that commitment and preserves the integrity of each story. Placing these pieces behind a paywall allows me to sustain this publication and compensate contributing writers a respectable rate of $0.50/word, with plans to increase that rate as the publication grows and eventually build longer-term, meaningful collaborations. It’s a mutual effort, and I’m grateful for everyone who helps make it possible.
If you believe in the work I’m doing to build a fairer writing economy and would like to support this one-woman outlet, consider subscribing to RWJ for $15/month or $45/year.
To help launch this next chapter, I’ve also created a GoFundMe campaign to fund the first ten commissioned stories.
How to Submit Your Pitch
Pitch: Keep it focused and centered on one strong idea. Include a working title, a short premise, and the angle you plan to take. Email pitches to rwjsubstack@gmail.com with a specific subject line that signals what your piece is about.
Word Count: Most accepted pieces fall between 500 and 1,200 words. Substance comes first.
Timeline: Pitches are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Replies typically take 2-3 weeks. Accepted pitches include a confirmed word range and payment amount.
Ownership and Creative Control
Writers maintain full ownership of their work. Pieces must be original and unpublished elsewhere before appearing here, but once they run, you’re free to share or republish them wherever you choose.
Every piece includes your byline and a link to your tip jar so readers can support you directly. RWJ’s role is to give your work visibility, pay you fairly, and honor your voice. Creative control stays with you.
Balancing Stories and Job Listings
My priority is to connect writers to vetted, well-paying opportunities. I want this publication to complement that mission without pulling focus from it. Each month, I plan to commission 1–3 carefully selected pieces that provide valuable, engaging content while keeping the directory at the center. My goal is for these stories to enhance the platform by offering insight and perspective, supporting writers without overshadowing the work they come here for.
A Final Note
RWJ exists because writers deserve better. Better opportunities, better treatment, and better pay. This expansion is a step toward that vision. Thank you for being part of it, whether you’re pitching your first idea or simply reading along.
When you write for RWJ, I want the experience to feel respectful, transparent, and human. I want you to feel seen. Your voice matters here.