Kill Your Darlings (KYD) publishes commentary, essays, memoir, reviews, and interviews online. If you’d like to pitch to KYD we strongly recommend that you read our content first to familiarise yourself with our tone and style.
We encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and at all levels of experience to pitch and submit to KYD. We’ve put together a list of helpful tips on pitching, plus a short online course ‘Pitch, Publish, Promote’ to help you put your best pitch forward. (Note: KYD members can enrol in this course for free!)
To pitch or submit your work you must be a KYD Member. Your membership helps us pay competitive fees to our writers, and includes a range of exclusive content and discounts. To subscribe from just $49.95, visit our Shop. (Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander writers are invited to pitch and submit without a KYD Membership.)
Kill Your Darlings pays all contributors. Our minimum standard pay rate is $300 for an article of 1000-1500 words, and $100 for a book review of between 400-500 words.
Please note that Submittable is a separate platform to the KYD website, so you’ll need to create a new account there separate to your KYD login details.
NON-FICTION (Magazine)
Submissions are now closed.
The next pitching window will be:
- 6–26 May 2024
What we’re looking for:
• Intelligent and accessible Essay/Commentary (1000–2000 words) that analyses a cultural, political or societal issue of interest to KYD’s progressive and engaged readership. Longer, investigative feature essays (2000–3000 words) will also be considered.
• Memoir or personal essay (1000–1500 words) that reflects on or tells us something broader about society, identity and/or culture.
• Smart, entertaining Cultural criticism (1000–1500 words) that illuminates or engages with works and trends in art, literature or pop culture.
• Work that doesn’t quite fit within the above categories but you think would be a good fit for us!
We always encourage feel-good or funny pitches (to give us a break from the news)!
FIRST NATIONS EDITORS-IN-RESIDENCE (Magazine)
Submissions are now open!
KYD accepts non-fiction pitches and submissions from Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers wanting to work with Kill Your Darlings‘ First Nations Editors-in-Residence Nadia Johansen and Bianca Valentino throughout the year.
Please note this portal is exclusively open to Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander writers, and KYD Membership is not required.
NEW AUSTRALIAN FICTION (Anthology)
Submissions are now closed.
KYD publishes a yearly short story anthology titled New Australian Fiction. The 2024 edition will be published in September 2024. We strongly recommend all prospective KYD contributors acquaint themselves with the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 editions of New Australian Fiction to attain familiarity with the tone and style of fiction we publish.
We encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and all levels of experience to submit to this collection. Stories must be between 2000-6000 words and must be previously unpublished. All genres will be considered.
Find more information about the anthology here.
Terms for Contributors
Upon invitation, the contributor agrees to deliver a draft by the date agreed upon with KYD editors. Failure to deliver this draft by five business days after this date (and without an extension/alternate date agreed upon in advance) will result in the piece no longer being considered.
Please note that an invitation to submit a draft does not guarantee publication and payment. Upon delivery, if KYD determines at its absolute discretion that the delivered draft does not fit the agreed brief or is otherwise unsuitable for further editorial work, KYD reserves the right to not proceed with publication.
Note: Article titles and subtitles are decided upon by KYD staff, though suggestions are welcome.
For up-to-date information on submission callouts and opportunities throughout the year, sign up to our enews or keep an eye on our social media channels: Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
