15.2 Submitting to Literary Magazines and Journals

Submission Process

Submitting to literary magazines and journals is how you move your writing from the classroom into the wider world. It's also one of the most practical ways to build a writing portfolio with real publication credits. The process has a learning curve, but once you understand how it works, you can approach it with confidence.

Preparing Your Submission

Before you send anything out, you need to match your work to the right publication and make sure it meets their requirements.

1. Read the submission guidelines carefully. Every magazine has specific rules about formatting, word count, genre, and how to submit (online portal, email, etc.). Ignoring these is the fastest way to get rejected without your work even being read.
2. Choose pieces that fit the magazine's style. Spend time reading a few issues or online samples of the publication. If they tend to publish spare, minimalist fiction and your piece is maximalist and experimental, it's probably not the right match.
3. Polish your work thoroughly. Proofread multiple times. Read it aloud to catch awkward phrasing. A submission with typos or sloppy formatting signals to editors that you didn't take the process seriously.
4. Target magazines that publish work like yours. If a journal recently featured a story with a similar voice or subject matter, that's a good sign your work could resonate with their editors.

Crafting a Cover Letter

Most submissions require a brief cover letter. Think of it as a professional introduction, not a sales pitch.

• Address the letter to the correct editor by name when possible. "Dear Fiction Editor" works if no name is listed.
• State what you're submitting (title, genre, word count) in the first sentence or two.
• Include a short bio (2-3 sentences) with any previous publications or relevant experience. If you haven't been published yet, that's completely normal. Just keep the bio brief and skip the apologies.
• Mention something specific about the magazine that shows you've actually read it. A sentence like "I admire the range of voices in your recent issue" goes further than generic flattery.
• Keep the whole letter under half a page. Editors read hundreds of these.

Managing Submissions

Once you start submitting regularly, organization matters.

• Simultaneous submissions means sending the same piece to multiple magazines at once. Many publications allow this, but some don't. Always check their guidelines. If a magazine does allow simultaneous submissions, they'll usually ask you to note that in your cover letter.
• Track everything. Use a simple spreadsheet with columns for the piece title, magazine name, date submitted, and response status. Tools like Submittable (which many journals use as their submission portal) also help you stay organized.
• Withdraw promptly if accepted elsewhere. If a piece gets accepted at one magazine, immediately notify every other magazine where it's still under review. Failing to do this damages your reputation with editors.
• Be patient. Response times range from a few weeks to six months or more. Resist the urge to follow up before the magazine's stated response window has passed.

Acceptance and Rejection

Understanding Acceptance Rates

Acceptance rates at literary magazines are low. Many well-regarded journals accept somewhere between 1% and 5% of submissions. That number reflects the sheer volume of work editors receive, not a judgment on any individual writer's talent.

A practical strategy is to submit to a mix of publications: some highly selective journals you admire, and some smaller or newer magazines where your odds are better. Building a few credits at smaller publications gives you momentum and confidence.

Dealing with Rejection

Rejection is a normal, unavoidable part of submitting. Published writers with long careers still get rejected regularly.

A rejection usually means your piece wasn't the right fit for that issue or that editor's taste. It doesn't mean the writing is bad. Pay attention to the type of rejection you receive:

• Form rejections are standard and impersonal. They tell you very little beyond "no thanks." Don't read into them.
• Tiered or personalized rejections include a comment from the editor, like "This didn't quite work for us, but we'd love to see more of your work." That's a genuinely encouraging sign. It means your piece stood out from the pile, and you should absolutely submit to that magazine again.

The most useful habit is to send a rejected piece back out to a new magazine quickly. Revise if the rejection sparked an idea for improvement, but don't let the piece sit in a drawer out of discouragement.

Celebrating Acceptances

When you do get an acceptance, take it seriously. Even a small online journal publishing your poem or story is a real accomplishment. Share the news with your writing community and add it to your bio. Each credit builds on the last and strengthens future submissions.

Publication Details

Understanding Publication Rights

When a magazine accepts your work, they'll ask for certain publication rights. These determine who can publish the piece, where, and for how long. Here are the most common types:

• First North American Serial Rights (FNASR): The magazine gets to publish the piece first in North America. After publication, the rights revert to you, and you can republish it elsewhere. This is the most common arrangement and generally the most writer-friendly.
• One-time rights: The magazine can publish the piece once, but they aren't necessarily the first to do so. This is useful for reprints.
• Exclusive rights: The magazine holds sole rights to publish the piece for a set period. Read the terms carefully here, especially how long exclusivity lasts.

Always read the contract or agreement before signing. If something is unclear, ask the editor. For an intro course, the main thing to remember is that you generally want to retain the right to republish your work after its initial appearance.

Navigating the Literary Journal Landscape

Literary journals exist on a spectrum. At one end are nationally recognized publications like The Paris Review or Ploughshares, which are extremely competitive. At the other end are newer online journals, university-affiliated magazines, and genre-specific publications that may be more accessible to emerging writers.

Starting with smaller or mid-tier journals is a smart approach. You'll build publication credits, get comfortable with the submission process, and develop relationships with editors. Resources like Poets & Writers, The Submission Grinder, and Duotrope can help you discover journals that match your work. As your portfolio grows, you can aim for more competitive venues.

Choosing Between Online and Print Journals

Both formats are legitimate, and most writers submit to a mix of each.

Consider also how long your work will remain accessible. Print issues can go out of circulation, while online publications may stay available indefinitely, or they may disappear if the journal's website goes down. There's no single right answer. Submitting to both formats gives you the broadest reach.