As a freelance writer in the entertainment pop culture field, I’ve had the pleasure of encountering or writing for many different websites that are aimed at different audiences. From music to lifestyle to gaming, here are ten arts and culture sites you should know.
In 2014, I became an editorial intern for a website aimed at Black women called For Harriet. Founded by Kimberly Foster, the site discusses lifestyle, entertainment, and political topics relevant to Black women while providing a space for Black women to express themselves. As an intern, I wrote editorial pieces and feature articles on entertainment and culture.
While I was an intern at For Harriet, I also became a guest blogger for a budding pop culture and entertainment website called Black Girl Nerds. Founded by Jamie Broadnax, the site provided a space for Black women in pop culture that didn’t exist before, a space that has grown into an enterprise that has covered events like San Diego Comic Con, SXSW, Toronto International Film Festival, and more.
3. Afropunk
In addition to becoming a guest blogger and eventual regular contributor to Black Girl Nerds, I also become a guest writer on Afropunk. Providing coverage of Black independent artists in a variety of music genres and creative arts, the site has become a community for Black independent artists as well as an annual music festival. As a contributor, I wrote pieces on Black artists in rock, blues, hip-hop, and more.
4. She Shreds
In 2016, I was excited to find an entire website dedicated to female guitarists and bassists called She Shreds. Promoting female guitarists classic and new, the site ended up being a great place for me to spotlight rising Black female guitarists. Not only does the site feature long-form pieces, but they also have video profiles and practical material for any woman who wants to learn to play guitar.
Some of my most recent writing is on this site. Providing commentary and coverage of political and cultural happenings through the lens of race, gender, and more, Wear Your Voice magazine encourages marginalized identities to own their voice. The site is notable not only for their thought provoking material, but also an inclusive staff.
6. Book Riot
In 2016, I briefly contributed to a sister site to Book Riot called Panels, which focused on comics. Since then, Panels has become a part of Book Riot, a site that covers books from the perspective of a reader. Discussing a variety of genres in quirky sections like Our Reading Lives and Buy, Borrow, Bypass, Book Riot is a bookworm’s dream.
If you want a site dedicated to reviewing sci-fi and fantasy as well as publishing it, The Book Smugglers might be for you. Although I have not written for this site, I’ve been persuaded to buy a book or two thanks to the in-depth, well written reviews on this site. Not only do they discuss SFF books for any age to enjoy, but they also publish original fictional works through Book Smugglers Publishing.
Although primarily covering comics, WWAC actually covers a wide range of entertainment and pop culture media, such as video games and film. Featuring whip-smart cultural commentary and comprehensive reviews, WWAC is a site to watch out for. More recently, they’ve expanded their comics vertical to focus on specific comics publishers such as Marvel Comics, DC Comics, and Boom Studios!.
9. Fem Hype
The video game industry isn’t always kind to women gamers, but sites like Fem Hype are changing things for the better. As a space for women and femme-identified gamers, the site reports on RPGs, MMORPGs, tabletop games and others from a personal or critical perspective. Whether you’re a PC gamer, Android user, or a console gamer, you’re sure to find something to get your game on.
These days, most arts and culture sites dedicate themselves to promoting and discussing contemporary media. At The Cultural Gutter, you’ve got a discussion of classic and modern media ranging from the horror series Thriller to Catwoman comics. With a brilliant, nostalgic, and reverent look at culture, one feels that the past and the present is being bridged.
Words From a Penn 
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