You’ve spent the hours, you’ve revised, you’ve asked opinions, you’ve battled that endless writer’s block and come out on top. Congratulations, dear writer, it’s time to find where to publish. It may seem like there is an infinite abyss of confusing options, and there is, but this guide will help you decide where to send your brand new, beautiful work.
Assuming you’re completely new to this, your first step should be Submittable. Submittable is a platform with calls for journals, contests, blogs, and more! If you’ve written or created something, there is someone on Submittable looking for it. Simply create an account and head to the “Discover” page to find the home for your new piece!
When setting up to submit anywhere, there are a few things to keep in mind:
Fees
Contests and some journals tend to have submission fees, ranging from $3-5 for a journal and upwards of $100 for some contests. For journals, these fees usually exist because, as The Reading Room notes, “literary journals in particular often operate at a loss, and their staff are mostly unpaid volunteers.” To keep doors open and journals releasing, they often choose to include a small submission fee.
Contests have higher submission fees with a higher reward: if you win, you get paid! In general, though, your submission fee should not be more than 1% of the prize money.
These literary journal fees come from small, independent presses. Notably, neither traditional publishing houses nor literary agents should be charging you to submit. They do not need your money to keep the doors open, and literary agents should make money when you do, not before.
As far as shady fees go, check out the WriterBeware blog. They have the scoop on all things schemes, scams, and pitfalls, as well as helpful advice and commentary. They are sponsored by the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Association, and are widely regarded as a highly credible resource.
Simultaneous Submissions
You’ve probably seen the term “simultaneous submissions” in various postings around Submittable. This term simply means that you’ve sent the same piece for consideration at multiple publications. Most places do allow this, but some presses do not accept simultaneous submissions, which just means that you should wait to hear back from them before sending that same piece somewhere else.
When doing simultaneous submissions,
- Keep track of where you’re submitting, what, and when. A spreadsheet or list will help you manage your submissions.
- Notify editors when work is accepted elsewhere. Just because it was submitted simultaneously doesn’t mean it can be published simultaneously. Make sure you reach out places once your work is accepted so that the editors know to not review your piece.
Where to Submit
With the amount of options, journals, presses, and magazines, it can be hard to decide where to send your specific piece. Poets & Writers has a useful database of Literary Magazines, all with helpful descriptions and genres.
Deciding where to submit depends on the “vibe” of your piece and the place you’re sending it to. If a magazine or journal prefers dark themes, maybe an upbeat sonnet about summer isn’t the right piece. There is going to be the right match for your piece, and finding it is going to give you the best chance at success.
What to Submit
So, you vetted your source, you verified the simultaneous submission rule, and you decided on a magazine! Great! Now, we need to write your cover letter, and likely a small bio. In her book, The Business of Being a Writer, Jane Friedman discusses different types of bios and how best to express yourself. She mentions the capsule bio and says this:
“In this short bio, it’s important to offer an explicit statement of your writing goals, and include external validators—where you’ve been published, where you’ve worked, awards you’ve won, anything that lends social proof. […] As best you can, retain a point of view or voice, and offer one or two human touches, details with the potential to create that ‘something in common.’”
Next up is your cover letter, and here are a few short tips for that:
- Include the name of the editor if you can find it in the greeting.
- Comment on specific works that made you want to consider this publication.
- List the name(s) of the piece(s) you’re submitting.
Keeping your cover letter short and sweet, while still showing that you’ve done your research, is key for a successful opener to your piece.
After completing these steps, you are all set to submit! It may take time to get accepted somewhere, but it is 100% worth it. If you are looking for somewhere to submit right now, this journal, The Broken Plate, is accepting submissions until October 31st, with no submission fees! If you’re a Ball State student, your submission deadline has been extended to November 10th.