There’s a helpful essay in Slate today about how hot the personal essay market is online, and why. (Short answer: Essays are cheaper than a bunch of in-depth reporting. But your personal story better be pretty damn harrowing.) If you’re not super-familiar with what websites are into and trends in media, this will help orient you.

But I also loved this advice, shared on Twitter by writer and editor Ashley C. Ford (@iSmashFizzle):

Twitter

In all cases, this should be everyone’s new motto: “It’s not your job to be scared to pitch.” I know it’s mine now.