How To Get Published in a Literary Magazine

Breaking Into the World of Print

Jun 28, 2009

Novice writers are very optimistic though lack the knowledge necessary to actually break into print. When the rejections roll in, many are discouraged, but there is hope.

There are many steps involved in the publication process. Simply writing wonderful prose and poetry isn’t enough to get work noticed. Publishers are often inundated with potential publications and as such, they adhere to strict guidelines.

Talent is only one half of the battle. The willingness to revise work, the drive to succeed despite numerous rejections and the determination to push through the disappointment are all essential aspects in the publishing world. Though, publication is a realistic goal as long as the writer-in-question has the work ethic to stick out the bad times.

Researching is essential in the pre-publication stage. The writer has to consider and research many aspects of the process before sending out their work. Among these questions, writers must consider: Who is their intended audience? What sorts of publications are looking for that type of work? Is the publication online or print or both? Will the writer’s work fit in with what the journal/magazine is already publishing? What are the publication guidelines? Is there a reading fee? Will there be payment for accepted work?

While these questions may seem over-whelming, they are decidedly essential to breaking into print. So, before jumping in blindly, consider these questions carefully.

Step Two: Finding the Proper Venue for Publication

Publication comes in many forms. For the novice writer, considering the big publishers is probably not the best way to go. Instead, look to the smaller forms of publication (i.e. Journals, Magazines, etc) as they are a good springboard for the budding writer.

There are hundreds of literary journals and magazines out there, selecting the proper venue will be a hearty feat. There are many good sources for locating potential publications. This is a great list of publications that accept electronic submissions.

When selecting potential publications, make sure to read their current issue and maybe some back issues to ensure compatibility. Even if the submission is the greatest thing ever written, it will fall dead on the ears of those who do not publish the type of work being submitted. The chance of success is much higher when the writer and publisher have similar interests and styles.

Step Three: Is the Publication Worth the Time and Effort of Submitting?

There are many serious questions to consider when decided whether or not to submit to a publication. Yes, the content may be wonderful, but is it worth the time and effort of submitting. For novice writers, steering clear of publications that require reading or submission fees is probably a good way to go. Once a bit more experience has been gained, submitting to these types of publications should be at the discretion of the writers. For starters, though, stick to the free submissions.

Another things to consider is whether or not the publication pays its writers. There are, however, many forms of payment, the best being money and exposure, though being paid in contributors copies isn’t too bad either. If the magazine is well known and pays nothing, it may be worth the effort to gain the exposure, but that is also at the discretion of the writer.

Finally, there is the online vs. print dilemma. Many online magazines have a great base of readers, but the downside is that there is often no hard record of the publications where as some of the print based magazines may not have such a wide berth of readers, but will always provide hard evidence of the publication. This is also up to the writer.

Step Four: Adhering to the Submission Guidelines

Each publisher will lie out a strict set of guidelines that are meant to be followed. Disregarding the guidelines can result in rejection of the writing – even before it has been read. So, be sure to read and follow all of the guidelines for the best chance at publication.

Quite possibly, the most important thing about the entire submission process is learning from mistakes and not giving up. Rejections letters aren’t the end of the line. The more personal ones can actually be helpful in revising and eventually publishing work. So, consider them and move forward. Submit again and submit often.

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