Submitting to Literary Magazines
Our Ultimate Guide to Help You Successfully Submit Your Work to Literary Magazines
As a writer (or aspiring writer), being published can be a validating accomplishment. Putting your work out there for acceptance or (more likely) rejection, can be intimidating for anyone. But when an editor likes your work enough to publish it ... well, that can feel incredible. Not only will publishing in a literary magazine look great on your resume or teaching application, it validates your work in a way that's truly valuable for artists.
Even if you're an aspiring novelist, it may make sense to start small with a short story, a piece of narrative nonfiction, or a small group of poems. There are plenty of respected literary magazines that will publish short stories and poetry of all kinds.
Submitting pieces of writing to literary magazines is an important way for fledgling writers to get experience and build their resume. It can be an interesting way to test out what grabs an audience, what becomes popular, and what falls flat.
That being said, even good pieces of writing are often rejected from numerous literary magazines for reasons unrelated to the quality of your work.
The reality is that there are few spaces available for submissions and some of those are already spoken for by commissioned pieces of work or will be taken by pieces submitted by a manager or agent of an established author.
Some simple tips can help you increase your chances of hearing from an editor, and in this guide to submitting to literary magazines, we'll try to provide actionable tips to help you avoid common mistakes and improve your chances for catching an editor's eye.
Even if you're an aspiring novelist, it may make sense to start small with a short story, a piece of narrative nonfiction, or a small group of poems. There are plenty of respected literary magazines that will publish short stories and poetry of all kinds.
Submitting pieces of writing to literary magazines is an important way for fledgling writers to get experience and build their resume. It can be an interesting way to test out what grabs an audience, what becomes popular, and what falls flat.
That being said, even good pieces of writing are often rejected from numerous literary magazines for reasons unrelated to the quality of your work.
The reality is that there are few spaces available for submissions and some of those are already spoken for by commissioned pieces of work or will be taken by pieces submitted by a manager or agent of an established author.
Some simple tips can help you increase your chances of hearing from an editor, and in this guide to submitting to literary magazines, we'll try to provide actionable tips to help you avoid common mistakes and improve your chances for catching an editor's eye.
Where to Submit Your Writing
To find literary magazines and journals to submit articles to, there are a number of sources that you can look to, including our own list of literary magazines for new and emerging writers. Other resources we recommend are:
While doing your research, ensure that you actually read some of the magazines. Even the most glorious piece of work can be rejected if it doesn’t match the tone or genre of the overall publication. You don't need to order a dozen issues (although you could). Most of these literary magazines will have some of their work published online.
By reading a few of their editions, you can adequately get a sense for the tone, the type of content that is published often, and thus what the editors like to see. Not only that, but supporting literary magazines by reading them means that they get the money to be able to do the important work of publishing. It comes full circle - lit mags can’t exist without adequate readership, so if you have the means, I encourage you to order a few issues and/or subscribe.
Before you flood the market by submitting your short story or poems to numerous publications all at the same time, know that it is better to submit pieces that are somewhat targeted to the magazine or journal where you are submitting. This is known as “carpet bombing” and while it can be common, it is not a good use of your time and energy.
By submitting your piece to a few publications at a time and waiting, you open a window for possible feedback, which you could then implement before submitting to the next few publications. For this reason, it is important to prioritize submitting work to the publications you most want to be published in.
A good practice to use is to pick all of the magazines that you’d like to submit to - around 20 magazines - and spit them into groups of 5. Submit an article to one of the groups at a time starting with the group of the 5 most desirable magazines you’d like to be published in. Once you’ve received rejections from all of those, then move on to the next 5, and so forth.
It's also ideal if you have more than one polished piece available. You may hear from an editor who says that the short story you submit isn't quite right, but they enjoyed your work and would like to see something else. If you have another short story ready, you can send it directly to that editor right away, which is much more effective than waiting 5 months while you write and revise your next story.
- Clifford Garstang is an author who publishes annual rankings of literary magazines on his blog
- New Pages is a website dedicated to resources for writers, including information and guides about literary magazines
- Duotrope has resources for writers, poets, and artists in order to help them connect to people who will publish their work, which includes a comprehensive list of lit mags including information about genre, pay rate, andmore; one drawback is that it does cost money to access
- Search for literary magazines and journals online and in print that pertain to your genre
While doing your research, ensure that you actually read some of the magazines. Even the most glorious piece of work can be rejected if it doesn’t match the tone or genre of the overall publication. You don't need to order a dozen issues (although you could). Most of these literary magazines will have some of their work published online.
By reading a few of their editions, you can adequately get a sense for the tone, the type of content that is published often, and thus what the editors like to see. Not only that, but supporting literary magazines by reading them means that they get the money to be able to do the important work of publishing. It comes full circle - lit mags can’t exist without adequate readership, so if you have the means, I encourage you to order a few issues and/or subscribe.
Before you flood the market by submitting your short story or poems to numerous publications all at the same time, know that it is better to submit pieces that are somewhat targeted to the magazine or journal where you are submitting. This is known as “carpet bombing” and while it can be common, it is not a good use of your time and energy.
By submitting your piece to a few publications at a time and waiting, you open a window for possible feedback, which you could then implement before submitting to the next few publications. For this reason, it is important to prioritize submitting work to the publications you most want to be published in.
A good practice to use is to pick all of the magazines that you’d like to submit to - around 20 magazines - and spit them into groups of 5. Submit an article to one of the groups at a time starting with the group of the 5 most desirable magazines you’d like to be published in. Once you’ve received rejections from all of those, then move on to the next 5, and so forth.
It's also ideal if you have more than one polished piece available. You may hear from an editor who says that the short story you submit isn't quite right, but they enjoyed your work and would like to see something else. If you have another short story ready, you can send it directly to that editor right away, which is much more effective than waiting 5 months while you write and revise your next story.
Compensation: Will You Get Paid to Publish in Literary Magazines?
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Unless you are an experienced writer pitching to a major publication that has lots of funds, don’t necessarily expect to be paid a lot, if at all.
If you are just starting out, don’t fall prey to the adage of some writers to "never work for free." In some cases, getting a few pieces published without being compensated can give you some excellent experience and exposure. That experience and exposure can give your future submissions a little more weight as a previously published author. Conversely, some lit mags require a small fee in the ballpark of $3 when you submit your work. Often this fee is referred to as a “readers fee” and is necessary for most publications to stay afloat. The reality is that submission fees are viewed as a controversial thing, since it can add up to a lot of money for writers who often need to submit numerous times to a variety of publications. The way we recommend looking at it is an investment in a publication you believe in enough to submit to. Try to find a few publications that require a fee, and a few that don't so you don't break the bank on your first round of submissions. |
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“What a lot of people don’t realize is that submission fees have helped keep many journals alive in an age of dwindling bookstore sales, reduced ad revenue, and perennially reluctant subscribers,” said Christina Thompson, editor of Harvard Review. “It’s a cost to the writer, to be sure, but it’s a small and broadly shared cost which goes a long way toward supporting the entire ecosystem.” -M.R. Branwen, The Millions
Consider also that many lit mag editors are not paid and thus work a day job in order to make a living. The readers assessing your work of literature are also usually volunteers or interns. That should give you some idea of how a lit mag compensates financially. However, lit mags have also historically been a launching point for many authors debuting their work to the world. Many go on to write for larger publications with larger budgets, or even to publish books.
“There is no such thing as a profitable literary journal. To the best of our knowledge, all surviving literary journals are supported by universities and/or by individuals who love short fiction and are willing to put their own time and money into them.” -Glimmer Train
Surviving the Slush Pile
It is important to realize that, unless you have been commissioned to write a piece, your submission is going to be read first by someone with very little time. Very likely, this person is a volunteer, intern, or an undergrad, maybe a graduate student depending on the publication. Their job is to take thousands of submissions and filter out the cream of the crop for the editors to review. If they are not hooked in the first couple of lines then they are probably going to move on to the next piece in “the slush pile”. For the publications that have the resources, there are sometimes even two readers and both must approve a piece before it is passed on to the editors.
The slush pile has become a colloquial term for the collective backlog of submissions. When you submit a piece for publishing this is where it initially ends up. If it passes the first round of reading by a “reader”, then it will get passed up to an editor. Editors rarely read from the slush pile unless it is a small publication or if there is a “reading party” to try to get through a massive clog in the system.
It is important for you to know that any good magazine only publishes about 1% of the submissions from “the slush pile”. That means that persistence is the key to success. While you shouldn’t bombard any one publication with your work, if you keep trying you have a better chance of improving and eventually having something accepted for publication.
You truly get one shot with each piece you submit, so it is crucial that you submit your best work. It can be hard as a writer to know when a work is complete - you might be inspired to make changes at any point in the process - but there is no going back once you submit your piece. You cannot send an updated version and you should not send a revised version to the same publication after they reject it with feedback.
The slush pile has become a colloquial term for the collective backlog of submissions. When you submit a piece for publishing this is where it initially ends up. If it passes the first round of reading by a “reader”, then it will get passed up to an editor. Editors rarely read from the slush pile unless it is a small publication or if there is a “reading party” to try to get through a massive clog in the system.
It is important for you to know that any good magazine only publishes about 1% of the submissions from “the slush pile”. That means that persistence is the key to success. While you shouldn’t bombard any one publication with your work, if you keep trying you have a better chance of improving and eventually having something accepted for publication.
You truly get one shot with each piece you submit, so it is crucial that you submit your best work. It can be hard as a writer to know when a work is complete - you might be inspired to make changes at any point in the process - but there is no going back once you submit your piece. You cannot send an updated version and you should not send a revised version to the same publication after they reject it with feedback.
As it happened, I realized that not everyone will be in the market for the same things. The editor of Harvest Press asked to see the entire manuscript. My novel eventually made it to a senior editor before rejection. -Adela Crandell Durkee
To have any chance of getting past the slush pile stage, it is important that you submit a final work that looks professional, has been proofread, and is properly formatted according to the publication’s guidelines. If there are no guidelines, then the standard is typically: 12 point Times New Roman, double spacing, page numbers, and ensuring that your contact information is in the header or the footer.
How Important Is Your Cover Letter, Really?
This is another aspect of the submission process that many writers stress over or get wrong altogether. However, it is far less important than you think; most editors admit that they hardly even look at the cover letter unless a submission has already caught their eye. Keeping it short and simple is key!
Do not include any synopsis, explanation, or teaser about the work you are submitting and don’t pitch yourself as an author. The submission should speak for itself without you prefacing it in your cover letter. Most readers and editors roll their eyes when they are given a pitch in the cover letter.
Do include any education or work credentials as well as a few of the top publications that you have been featured in before. A good bio might help you break through the slush pile phase, but doesn’t necessarily mean you are more likely to be published.
If there were pieces from previous editions of the magazine that you loved or if you have previously submitted work before (regardless of whether it was accepted or rejected), then those can also be good things to mention briefly if you wish. If you met any staff members at the publication, perhaps at an event or through networking, then the cover letter is a good place to mention that as well.
While a cover letter is less important than you might think, do not skip it if the literary editor provides an opportunity to submit one. It is a prime spot to share a little more about who you are and what your experience is. Even if it isn’t reviewed until after your piece of work is read.
Most importantly, ensure that you address it to the appropriate editor at the magazine and thank them for their consideration or time. You can almost always find contact information, or at least a name, for the appropriate editor at each literary magazine you submit to. Be careful not to use the wrong name in your submission if you copy and paste your template!
Do not include any synopsis, explanation, or teaser about the work you are submitting and don’t pitch yourself as an author. The submission should speak for itself without you prefacing it in your cover letter. Most readers and editors roll their eyes when they are given a pitch in the cover letter.
Do include any education or work credentials as well as a few of the top publications that you have been featured in before. A good bio might help you break through the slush pile phase, but doesn’t necessarily mean you are more likely to be published.
If there were pieces from previous editions of the magazine that you loved or if you have previously submitted work before (regardless of whether it was accepted or rejected), then those can also be good things to mention briefly if you wish. If you met any staff members at the publication, perhaps at an event or through networking, then the cover letter is a good place to mention that as well.
While a cover letter is less important than you might think, do not skip it if the literary editor provides an opportunity to submit one. It is a prime spot to share a little more about who you are and what your experience is. Even if it isn’t reviewed until after your piece of work is read.
Most importantly, ensure that you address it to the appropriate editor at the magazine and thank them for their consideration or time. You can almost always find contact information, or at least a name, for the appropriate editor at each literary magazine you submit to. Be careful not to use the wrong name in your submission if you copy and paste your template!
Learn Patience (because you won't have any other choice)
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This goes for both the process before submission as well as after you've sent in your work and are in that long and excruciating waiting period.
First, take your time before mailing your work or clicking the submit button. Proofread numerous times, make sure you are happy with what you are submitting, and really take the time you need to ensure you get everything right. There’s nothing worse than submitting your manuscript and realizing that you attached the wrong version of your work or that you used the wrong editor’s name in your email. After submitting a piece of work, it can take a long time to hear back. Thankfully, most online systems allow you to stay updated on the status of your submission. The online submission is also confirmed instantly, so you know that your piece didn’t get lost in the mail. It can take three to six months and sometimes even up to a year to get a response. When you do get a response, keep in mind that it is important to respond graciously. Sometimes feedback might accompany a rejection, but if it doesn’t it is not in good taste to demand it. In either case, by being gracious in your response you keep the door open with this magazine for future submissions. Even if your piece is accepted, it will likely be edited and altered and this is where grace may be required on your part if you want to maintain a good relationship with the publication. |
Rejection (it's going to happen ... a lot)
Of course editors are looking for pieces to publish, however they are also weeding out a lot of hay to find that needle. Thus, many editors are harsh critics and tend to look for reasons to reject your piece.
"Back in the 1930s, magazines like the Yale Review or VQR saw maybe 500 submissions in a year; today, we receive more like 15,000. This is due partly to a shift in our culture from a society that believed in hierarchy to one that believes in a level playing field. This is good—to a point. The reality is that not everyone can be a doctor, not everyone can be a professional athlete, and not everyone can be a writer. You may be a precious snowflake, but if you can’t express your individuality in sterling prose, I don’t want to read about it." -Ted Genoways
Rejections are sent in three formats:
The latter is quite rare and speaks volumes about the quality of the work you’ve submitted - it was clearly well liked but likely just wasn’t the right fit for that issue (or whatever feedback the editor provides).
- a standard rejection letter,
- the standard letter with mention of the strong points of your work, or
- a personalized letter from the editor.
The latter is quite rare and speaks volumes about the quality of the work you’ve submitted - it was clearly well liked but likely just wasn’t the right fit for that issue (or whatever feedback the editor provides).
"The main goal of publishing a literary magazine, Mr. Villalon said, is to be “an oasis of culture,” and that has not changed even with the advent of the Internet." -NY Times
Even good pieces of writing can be rejected - perhaps they have received a lot of similar pieces this cycle, your piece doesn’t quite match the tone that they are looking for, or conversely it is too much of the same when they need to have a little more variation. Don’t be discouraged off the hop if your work is rejected. Take any feedback received and use it for your next submission.
If a magazine rejects a specific piece of your work, it is not good practice to make revisions and resubmit the same piece. The initial submission should have been the “final” edition of your work. The only exception to this is if an editor requests it. It is okay, however, to submit the piece with revisions for the first time to other publications. Otherwise, take your time and submit a new piece of your best work when it is complete.
If a magazine rejects a specific piece of your work, it is not good practice to make revisions and resubmit the same piece. The initial submission should have been the “final” edition of your work. The only exception to this is if an editor requests it. It is okay, however, to submit the piece with revisions for the first time to other publications. Otherwise, take your time and submit a new piece of your best work when it is complete.
There's No Perfect Formula for Submitting to Literary Magazines
"Of the 75 contacts we made, many queries met no response. Only four publishers requested the full manuscript. One agent conversed via email, offering suggestions and support but no representation." -Nancy Jorgensen
Every author could tell you stories about the exorbitant number of times they were rejected before having a piece of work accepted from a publication.
Even well known and popular writers get rejected after “making it.”
Rejection stings, without a doubt, but it is important not to take it personally in your pursuit to be published. Continue submitting, implementing the feedback you receive, do your research (and support lit mags) by reading issues to stay tuned in to the tone they are seeking.
Perhaps most importantly, use the waiting period after you submit your work to keep writing!
When rejection comes (and it will), you can be buoyed by the fact that you've finished something even better while waiting to hear back on your last story or set of poems. And remember - you got into this business to write, not to submit your work. Focus your energy on the most important thing (the work), and the process of submitting to literary magazines will (mostly) take care of itself.
Even well known and popular writers get rejected after “making it.”
Rejection stings, without a doubt, but it is important not to take it personally in your pursuit to be published. Continue submitting, implementing the feedback you receive, do your research (and support lit mags) by reading issues to stay tuned in to the tone they are seeking.
Perhaps most importantly, use the waiting period after you submit your work to keep writing!
When rejection comes (and it will), you can be buoyed by the fact that you've finished something even better while waiting to hear back on your last story or set of poems. And remember - you got into this business to write, not to submit your work. Focus your energy on the most important thing (the work), and the process of submitting to literary magazines will (mostly) take care of itself.