As we move toward the fall and fresh beginnings, you may be polishing some of the work you’re excited about with an eye toward submitting it to journals and contests. With this in mind, here’s some sage advising from an experienced editor:
1. Scope out the territory: In a nutshell, do your homework. Review one or more issues of the magazine you’re thinking of pitching. You may be able to borrow copies through your local interlibrary loan system, or find previously published issues on its website. A reading group I once belonged to ordered copies of a well-known journal so we could analyze its contents to get a feel for the types of submissions its editors might be receptive to.
2. Don’t hold back: “Go deep…Readers love to experience what they’re reading, to relate to it on a visceral or emotional level. Gutsy writing is always appreciated.”
3. Edit carefully: “Reading a piece through without noticing an error is a real joy for editors,” Have someone else edit your work before submitting: A piece riddled with typos creates a negative impression, no matter how strong the writing.
4. Read the instructions: Editors have created them for a reason and if you’re submitting to them, follow their lead. If you don’t, the editors can easily assume that your writing might not be any better than your ability to read their guidelines.
5. Retain your rights: When submitting, be sure to offer first time rights or nonexclusive rights only – that way, when you’ve written enough short stories, poems, or essays, you can combine them into an anthology and publish it under your name. Write on!
