Contingency plans

Now celebrating its fifth anniversary, Contingent Magazine is a US non-profit online magazine about history and the process of doing history. It is written for a general, not an academic audience, as the editorial team led by Erin Bartram, Bill Black and Marc Reyes believe that everyone can understand and find meaning in stories about the past.

Before pitching you are advised to familiarise yourself with the magazine by reading a few articles and the About Us page at: https://contingentmagazine.org/about/ Also it is essential to read the pitching guide: https://contingentmagazine.org/ how-to-pitch-us/ Recent stories have included a look back at the internet of 30 years ago, and an exploration of how researchers explained fringe theories to a prime-time audience of millions. Contingent is currently open to pitches for:

• Reviews: of books, films, or anything related to history. 1,000-1,500 words, payment $250.

• Short features: 800-1,500 words. $250.

• Mini-essays: 200-500 words. $100.

• Field Trips: Length and format can vary, and may include interviews. These pieces should demystify the work historians do.

• Mailbag: 400-500 word columns that answer a specific question about some aspect of history. $100.

Contingent pays $500 minimum for full-length features up to 3,000 words, but is not currently accepting pitches. Follow on Bluesky Social https://bsky.app/profile/contingent-mag.bsky. social or subscribe to the newsletter https://contingentmagazine. org/newsletter/ to find out when this changes.

Follow the guidelines at https://contingentmagazine.org/ pitch-us/ then use the form on that page to make your pitch. If you don’t hear back within a week, feel free to send a follow-up email. Simultaneous pitches are okay, but notify right away if accepted elsewhere.

Postal address: Contingent Magazine, PO Box 587, Bowling Green, KY, 42102, USA.