For many creative writers, getting published in a literary journal is a major milestone. It provides validation, builds your portfolio, and introduces your voice to a broader audience of readers and fellow writers. However, the submission process can feel opaque, confusing, and filled with silent rejections. Knowing how to navigate the submission landscape can greatly increase your chances of acceptance.
Here is a step-by-step guide to submitting your short fiction, poetry, or essays to literary magazines.
1. Research the Right Journals
Never submit blindly. Every journal has its own distinct editorial voice, aesthetic preference, and submission guidelines. Some specialize in experimental poetry, others in traditional realism, and some (like us!) in high-impact flash fiction. Read a few past issues or stories from a journal before submitting to ensure your work aligns with their taste.
2. Read the Guidelines Carefully
This is the most common reason for immediate rejection. Editors receive hundreds of submissions a week. If a journal asks for double-spaced Times New Roman font, a maximum word count of 800, and a blind manuscript (no name on the pages), follow those rules to the letter. Failing to do so signals that you do not respect the editors' time.
"Rejection is not a reflection of your worth as a writer. It is simply a sign that your story was not the right fit for that specific issue."
3. Write a Professional Cover Letter
Your cover letter should be brief and professional. Address the editors by name if possible, state the title and word count of your submission, and provide a short, third-person bio (3-4 sentences highlighting past publications or creative background). Keep it humble and clean.
4. Keep Track of Your Submissions
Use a spreadsheet or tools like Duotrope or Chill Subs to track where you have sent your stories, the submission date, and the response. Many journals allow simultaneous submissions (submitting the same piece to multiple places), but you must immediately withdraw your work if it is accepted elsewhere.
Submitting your writing requires patience and a thick skin. Rejection is a normal part of the writing life. Keep writing, keep refining, and keep submitting. If you want to submit your stories to our journal, please read our submission criteria on our About page. Your stories deserve to be read.