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SIGNED, STAMPED, AND PUBLISHED: HOW TO BEST SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO LITERARY MAGAZINES [excerpted from the Artist Trust Journal, Winter 2002] While most writers, whether openly or furtively, would love to be able to refer friends to the most recent copy of The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly or Harper’s to check out their newest poem, short story or creative essay, the market reality is that such large-circulation trade magazines solicit the lion’s share of their creative content from well-established authors with either recently published titles or upcoming releases in the offing. In other words, if you’re looking to publish for the first time or build your résumé as a published author, sending an unsolicited poem, essay or short story to The New Yorker is not unlike heading to the nearest racetrack or casino to win next month’s rent—a long shot at best. The good news, however, is that established writers publish much of their new work in smaller literary magazines that celebrate a wider variety of fare than larger trade magazines and are far more receptive to new voices. A quick look at a favorite contemporary poetry volume or book of short stories will reveal that often one-half to two-thirds of the work within was first published in a smaller literary magazine or journal. Indeed, the editors of literary magazines act as unofficial arbiters of publishing’s new ideas and writing styles, and literary agents and book editors often take their lead from these publications. So, how do you discern which among the hundreds of literary magazines, quarterlies and journals available might be best suited to your work? There is no way around this: READ! Writers, not unlike artists from other genres, need to know their market. And, the best way to know where to submit your work is to read sample copies of what’s out there. This will prove invaluable in saving you time, money and heartache when it comes to actually submitting your work for publication. Because, if you’re going to open yourself up to rejection, and you will get rejected some of the time, get rejected by the right people. Editors of literary magazines will often go out of their way to encourage further submissions if they think a particular piece is almost there but needs revision, or if they would like to see work for future consideration. But, they will merely skim over work that is clearly not in line with their editorial taste, tossing it into the dreaded “slush pile” where may get read by an intern before being mailed back or recycled with all the junk mail. So, don’t send work blindly!   While it’s a good idea to find two or three literary magazines to subscribe to annually (subscriptions are usually quite affordable, 2-4 issues yearly from $14-$25), you can also browse a healthy but by no means exhaustive selection at your local bookstore. However, if a quality newsstand or University library isn’t close at hand, you can peruse sample writings from hundreds of different literary journals and magazines online (see below for resources). While staying apprised of work written by your contemporaries obviously remains separate from the act of composition, it is essential if you’re interested in successfully publishing your work. Once you’ve determined your shortlist of possible publications, make sure you read each magazine’s submissions guidelines. Every reputable literary magazine will have this information readily available near their masthead in print editions and/or on their website. Submission guidelines are not entirely the same for all literary magazines, but a few simple rules apply to all: 1) All submissions must be accompanied by a self-addressed, stamped envelope if they are to receive a response either way; 2) Submissions should be accompanied by a short cover letter (limit to one short paragraph describing your acquaintance with the magazine) and author bio (limit to two or three formal, third person sentences detailing other publications, awards, and/or current projects); 3) Poetry editors generally like to look at between two and three poems for consideration while prose submissions rarely exceed 20 pages and are usually 5-10 pages in length; 4) While some literary magazines have open, ongoing submission policies, most journals and quarterlies have a reading period of 3-5 months during the year, often taking the summers off (submissions will be returned unread if sent outside this period); 5) Most publications have a “multiple” or “simultaneous” submission policy that requires that your submission be under consideration by only one publication at a time. To keep track of all this information, it’s a good practice to compile a list of submission guidelines for quick and easy reference. When you find a literary publication you admire or find intriguing, take the time to add their guidelines to your file. An even more organized and ambitious writer can then compile a yearly calendar that lists possible publications and their respective guidelines and reading periods. This way, submission becomes a monthly habit and can assist writers in overcoming the anxiety often associated with sending out work. And remember, everyone from Samuel Beckett to Elizabeth Bishop to Jonathan Franzen have been rejected more than once. Make the process of submitting your work an organized routine so you can get back to your reading and writing. Resources Poets & Writers at www.pw.org Both offer excellent online information regarding contemporary literary magazines and list hundreds of literary magazines and their websites. Threepenny Review at www.threepennyreview.com All include interesting web content from their print editions and represent only a handful of the high-quality contemporary literary magazines out there. |