Writers Guidelines
The American Scholar is a quarterly magazine of essays, fiction, poetry, and articles covering public affairs, literature, science, history, and culture. Published since 1932 for the general reader by the Phi Beta Kappa Society, the Scholar considers nonfiction by known and unknown writers, but unsolicited fiction, poetry, and book reviews are not accepted. The magazine accepts fewer than two percent of all unsolicited manuscripts.
Submissions will be carefully reviewed, but responses may take several months. We pay up to $500 for accepted pieces.
We ask that nonfiction submissions be no longer than 6,000 words. We also ask that submissions be made through Submittable, our online submissions manager system. Paper or emailed submissions will no longer be considered. Please click on the links below to submit online. Submittable will allow you to upload your piece, and log in to check on its status at any time. Please send only ONE submission at a time.
Cover letters should provide contact information and state the genre and title of the submission. Feel free to provide any other information you would like the editors to know about your work.
The best way to know what kinds of pieces we are likely to accept is to read the magazine. The magazine's home page can be found here.
The American Scholar Editorial Assistant Description- Autumn 2026
The American Scholar, the quarterly magazine of the Phi Beta Kappa Society, is seeking candidates for the part-time position of editorial assistant, with duties related to our print magazine, our website, and our social media efforts. Since 1932, the Scholar has won or been nominated for numerous National Magazine Awards, and work that we publish has been anthologized in Best American Essays, The Pushcart Prize, and other publications. Candidates need not reside in the Washington, D.C., area—we are a staff that works largely remotely.
Responsibilities:
- Fact-check articles, working closely with supervising editors and authors, that will appear in our Spring and Summer 2027 issue
- Help draft and post content to our social media accounts, and help online staff think creatively about developing new types of narrative-driven content on social media
- Help with photo research
- Proof print and online content
- Potentially work on larger projects related to either print or online
The editorial assistant will have the chance to experience one complete production cycle of the magazine and will have the opportunity to see how an issue comes together from conception to completion.
Hours and Compensation:
The position will be paid a stipend of $15,000 total for 36 weeks of work. Required internship hours are 21 per week (to be decided between intern and supervisor), 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST. The preferred start date is November 2, 2026, but it is flexible.
Application:
Please upload a resume, cover letter, and writing sample.