Your guide to submitting to literary journals: a master post

Submitting into literary journals is a hard one - specifically because it's a world where certain writers don't bother to dip their toes into it. They don't bother - or even know - that it exists. What this post is going to try and do is assist you, budding writer, in understanding what literary journals are and how to submit to them, including my tips for writing for them. As I have owned a journal, I know a thing or two about managing one and how the submitting process works.

Okay, so what actually are literary journals?

Literary journals (or lit journals) are a collection of various people's work either on a specific theme or generalised (normally this is with seasonal issues). These journals are curated by the editors, either on a team or by one or two people - normally being judged on a few things:

1. how well it fits with the values of the journal

2. how well it fits with the issue

Really there is no way for you to understand how it fits with the issue. Unless you know every single person who decides to submit - chances are you don't. this, therefore, means that there is a need to ensure that the first one is always true. The values of the journals come in two aspects: what the journal stands for (values) and what the journal's theme actually is. For example, The Writer's Den journal focuses on empowering writers through poetry, prose in seasonal issues and then ensures that the themed issues reflect the causes, themes in the real world. The identity of the journal can be seen through the issues that it produces. Whilst you don't have to match the identity of the journal completely, your work has to fit within the "vibe" of the journal. Look at a website for more details on this, as looking around at the various colours, fonts, and issue descriptors is the best policy to get a feel for the journal.

Okay, so how do I start submitting to journals?

The best policy is to write for the journal itself. write a specific piece and give yourself enough time to edit and rework t. trust me. you won't get it right the first time. The best policy is to make a shortlist of five to ten different journals for you to write for. Then, you should be sure to write for the journals, specifically - working within the parameters set. For example, if a journal says a specific number of pieces, then adhere to this. Not following the rules is the fastest and easiest way to get a rejection. Why should someone bother with your work if you're not going to make it within the rules they provide and expect you to follow? Another thing is to ensure that your piece adheres and works within the themes. I tend to ensure that I'm writing about a situation, or using a metaphor of the specific thing that the journals want the issue to be about. The issue with this approach, though, is to ensure that you're working within your own parameters and what you can do. There's no going to be any merit in writing a piece that is purely for the editors. You can't write for editors, write for yourself, and go to the theme. For example, in the "The waves and the Sun" I got published in Honeyfire Literary magazine, I ensured that I used the metaphor of the containing ideas of the waves and the sun within the setting of a church )found as a traditionally "heterosexual" setting, as some churches refuse to marry same-gender couples (i.e: two people who are men marrying)). The theme for the issue was sapphic creators and showcasing sapphic relationships (women loving other women or non-binary people loving women) in a new light. This is because historically Sapphic relationships were viewed as lesser. Being a Queer, and Sapphic creator myself, I ensured that I made very clear the similarities between Sapphic and heterosexual relationships - as they should be standing on the same ground. Regardless, I'm getting off track. Okay, so what's the first step?

Identifying literary journals to actually submit to is a wise first step. After all, how are you going to submit to a journal if you aren't going to target a specific journal. Make sure that the journals are open for submissions. My advice as a new writer is that you don't go for the paid ones. This is simply because if it turns out with a rejection, you've wasted your money in trying. Build up your skills with smaller journals, consistently get published in smaller journals and then target bigger ones. think of it like a brick wall, you cant build the top if you don't have the bottom bricks or any foundations. My best advice is to now brainstorm ideas for your piece. Look on platforms like Twitter (many journals are there. I'm on there - you can give me a follow @EricaJKingdom). This will ultimately ensure that you've got an idea for the places you're going to try to win the metaphorical lottery in. I will say whilst in the brainstorming phase, that ensuring that writing true to yourself is the best option. Craft a poem from your experiences but make it highly fictionalised for example. Maybe you could write these in your chosen genre, most journals will have either themed issues *where the journal's direction and submission wants a theme, for example love and loathing) or the journal is not themed but seasonal (they produce one every 4 or so months in line with the seasons changing).

The second step is simple: using your wordsmith skills

So, now you've identified your journals and drafted your ideas for them. Now your job is to actually write the pieces that you want to submit. Make sure that you don't spend hours tearing over the word choices at the moment. For the first draft of this, it doesn't really matter how bad it is. Getting it right the first time isn't the way to go. Getting it down is the best thing. You can edit something that has words on it. If it doesn't have any words, you can't edit it, so you're at a loss. Now, just make sure to, after the first draft rips the words apart. Taste the words on your anyone split them apart if need be, rewrite sections, delete words, change them, remove them. Play around with them - after all, you are the puppeteer of the show. You need to make sure that your work is the best quality it can be to limit your chances of rejection. The third step has anxiety: submitting

To do this well, refer to the rules for the journals, each one will have its own, called submission guidelines. Be very careful to not submit to false journals (or preditor journals) - ones without a masthead are ones to avoid.

Be very careful to not get you're hopes too high. Whilst it might have been the best thing you've written, and that s amazing, there can be so many reasons why am editor rejects your piece:

1. They just didn't like it. Don't worry, it happens, you can't please everyone with your writing, so there's no point crying about this. Pick yourself up and try again - and please cry if it helps.

2. It didn't quite fit. As Rachel said on my podcast once - a journal is decided based upon the first few pieces. this doesn't mean your work is inherently bad, but instead that your editor didn't feel as though it was a good fit.

3. Its important to note that this doesn't mean your talents for writing. Pick yourself back up and then try again. In my experiences, you get significantly more rejections than you do acceptances. The best advice is keep writing and ask for feedback (if journals give it).

Extra tip: Keeping track

As you'll be submitting so much to so many different places, you need to make sure that you keep track of them all. To do this, create a document called submissions tracker with the name of the piece, date you submitted and where - so you can follow up. Some journals don't respond in a specific time frame, at which point you can follow up and just send a email nudging them, but only do this after the specified window 9for example five weeks) is up.

Want to read more about writing or increase your skills to get that journal of your dreams to send you a "We accept" email? Read on for more and check some of the recommended posts at the bottom!