Submission Guidelines

Scott Monaco is looking for writers and photographers who know the places that most travelers haven’t found yet. The ones beyond the 10% of destinations where the travel industry concentrates its attention. If you’ve lived in, reported from, or traveled deeply through a place that deserves better coverage than it currently gets, this is a platform built for that work. Contributors are paid.

What We Publish

First-person essays, reported features, and photo essays grounded in firsthand experience. The geographic focus is the Global South, underreported regions, and the overlooked edges of everywhere else — Africa, Central and Southeast Asia, Latin America, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands, and, very occasionally, parts of Europe.

We like writing that is honest about what a place is like. Humor is welcome, and so is difficulty. The best submissions carry the kind of detail that only comes from having been there, and they trust the reader to decide for themselves what they think of a place. The work doesn’t have to be about travel itself — culture, art, food, and language all fit here too.

What We Do Not Publish

In case you’re wondering what falls inside that 10% where most travelers go and that already gets the most coverage — think the United States, France, Spain, Italy, Germany, and the United Kingdom, to name a few. Other destinations like Dubai, Bali, or Santorini are not really what we do either. The exception is China, which remains dramatically undercovered relative to what it offers, and most of its travel volume is domestic.

We’re also not the right fit for service-oriented content — ranked lists, itinerary templates, or anything written to perform in search rather than to be read.

Submissions

Scott Monaco accepts completed pieces in three categories: essays of 1,000 to 3,000 words ($200), photo essays of 6 to 15 images with 700 to 1,500 words ($200), and humor of 500 to 1,000 words ($50). Anyone can submit during periodic open calls, which are announced to subscribers and listed on the submission page. Paid subscribers can submit year-round, in every category, at the same rates.

Work that has appeared only on your own blog, newsletter, or social media may be submitted if it has been substantially revised.

If you don’t have a completed piece ready, we’re also building a contributor network for assigned stories and pitches. Join the contributor network and we’ll reach out when something fits your region or travel history.

To be notified when the next open call begins, subscribe below. Subscribing is free. Paid subscribers directly fund contributor payments and the editorial work behind the platform.