It’s come to the part where I give away secrets to getting published. The moment where I unveil tidbits from my end of the submissions process so that you may have a better chance at getting your work published in a literary magazine of your choice. Here it comes, pay very close attention.
There are no secrets. There is only work. There is only preparation. Writing isn’t just difficult, it is painstaking and it is emotional. Every writer is putting themselves on the line when they are submitting a piece for publication. You want to be published and it can be crushing when you receive notice (if any at all) that your piece “wasn’t a good fit,” that it “still needs work” or a flat-out “this is crap.” The reading for this post was “Submitting to Literary Magazines” by Katie Chase in the book Paper Dreams. It’s a pretty general guide of things to consider before, during, and after you’ve submitted your work. Here’s a short outline of it: “Is This Piece Ready? Send your best revised work. Where To Send? Research your magazines. Don’t send blindly. How To Send? Research the submissions process. You don’t want to be rejected on the grounds of being unable to follow directions. What’s All About This About Simultaneous Submissions? Pay close attention as to whether your magazine wants to be the sole publication considering your work. What About Contests? Usually requires a fee to submit, but they are another opportunity for publication. Should I Keep Track Of All This? Yes. Don’t Write To Publish, Write To Write Support The Literary World. Magazines only exist because of their readers.” -Taken from pages 419-423 of Paper Dreams Lastly, expect rejections. They are inevitable, but they are not meant to be locked down as solely negative. They are a show of progress.Whenever you fail, aim to fail better the next time. Push yourself to collect as many rejections as acceptances. Having been on both sides of the veil I can tell you that the field of writing is always in motion. Always aim to hedge your boat closer to shore. You will get there. The Reading For This Post: **Chase, Katie."Submitting to Literary Magazines." Paper Dreams. Madison, NJ: Atticus Books, 2013. 419-423. Print.
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