At Letterjoy, we build offline literary experiences for readers around the world.

Tell the Story of American History Via Snail Mail

About Letterjoy

Millions of letters sit on the shelves of archives and research libraries throughout the United States, gathering dust. Since 2017, Letterjoy has been on a mission is to shine a light on these primary-source gems, and make letters, memorandums, and telegrams from throughout American history more accessible to the general public.

Every week, thousands of readers throughout the world go to their mailbox, open the cream-colored Letterjoy envelope inside, and learn about a moment in history through a replica of a real letter from that moment.

Alongside each letter, we include "the postscript," our signature 500-800-word article telling the story of that letter and the people who wrote and received it.

Letterjoy is seeking talented writers to write postscripts for upcoming letters. This is a contract position, offered on a per-project basis, with competitive pay.

What You'll Do

• Research: Research assigned historical letters and the figures and events at the center of them
• Write: Write an entertaining & educational postscript article, in line with our style guide and editorial guidelines, meeting deadlines
• Edit: Work closely with our editor through up to two rounds of revisions per piece.
• Pitch: Occasionally pitch letters you would like to write about

Benefits

• Competitive pay: We believe in the power of writers and pay accordingly. Rates negotiable depending upon experience
• Potential for ongoing work: We're always curating new letters and seeking talented writers to tell each letter's story
• Unique Opportunity to dive deep into American history: Our assignments are a history buff's dream
• Fully remote: Contractors can work from anywhere

Pay is per-assignment. Hourly rate range is estimated to be $50-75/hr based on expected workload.

Requirements

• Published bylines in major magazines, newspapers, or equivalent outlets
• Demonstrated experience writing about American history for a general audience
• Deep working knowledge of American history
• A genuine love for the subject and the patience to do real research
• The ability to write clean, propulsive prose under tight constraints of length and time
• Comfort working independently and responding promptly to editorial notes
• Reliable internet access and the ability to deliver clean copy on schedule

Preferred Qualifications

• Degree in journalism, history, or related field from a top school
• Familiarity with primary-source archives (Library of Congress, NARA, presidential libraries, and similar)
• A specific period, region, or theme of American history that you know deeply