Why Literary Journals Matter

Literary journals are where most serious fiction, poetry, and essays first appear in public. Before a poem becomes a collection, before a story becomes part of a debut book, it is usually published in a journal: a print magazine, an online publication, a quarterly with a few hundred subscribers and an editorial board that cares fiercely about the work it publishes. Getting published in journals builds a writing career, puts your work in front of editors and agents, and — more fundamentally — makes you part of a literary community.

Yet the process of submitting to journals is poorly understood by many writers starting out. The mechanics are not complicated, but the customs and expectations of the literary world can feel opaque from the outside. This guide aims to make them clear.

Step 1: Read Before You Submit

This is the single most important piece of advice in this guide: read the journals you want to submit to before you send them your work. Every journal has a distinct aesthetic, a characteristic range of subjects and styles, and an implicit sense of what it values. Sending work to a journal without reading it is like applying for a job without looking at the company's website — you may technically meet the requirements, but you are unlikely to be a good fit.

Most literary journals publish archives of past issues online, often for free. Spend time with them. Ask yourself whether your work fits — not whether it is as good as what they publish, but whether it is in conversation with it.

Step 2: Understand the Submission Guidelines

Every journal publishes submission guidelines. Read them carefully. They will tell you:

  • What genres they accept (poetry, fiction, essays, or all three)
  • Word count or page limits
  • Formatting requirements (usually standard manuscript format: 12pt Times New Roman or similar, double-spaced, page numbers)
  • Whether they accept simultaneous submissions (sending the same piece to multiple journals at once) — most do, but some don't
  • Whether they charge a submission fee, and how much
  • Response times (these can range from two weeks to over a year)
  • How to submit — most journals now use online submission managers like Submittable or Duotrope

Failing to follow guidelines is one of the most common reasons for rejection. Editors notice, and it signals that you have not done the basic work of reading the journal.

Step 3: Prepare Your Submission

Format your work according to the guidelines. Write a brief cover letter — typically three to five sentences — that includes your name, the title(s) and genre of the work you are submitting, any relevant publication credits, and a sentence of thanks. Do not summarise your work or argue for its merits. Keep the letter professional and brief; editors read the work, not the cover letter, when making decisions.

Step 4: Build a Submissions Tracker

Once you are submitting regularly, you will quickly lose track of where you have sent what. Keep a simple spreadsheet recording: the piece title, the journal name, the date submitted, and the response. This prevents you from accidentally submitting a piece that is already under consideration at another journal (when you have agreed not to do so) and helps you analyse patterns in your rejections over time.

Understanding Rejection

Rejection is the dominant experience of submitting to literary journals. Most journals accept a small percentage of submissions. This is not primarily a judgment on the quality of your work — it is a function of volume and fit. A piece that is wrong for one journal may be exactly right for another. The writers who get published are not those who receive the fewest rejections; they are those who submit persistently enough that acceptances eventually accumulate.

Pay attention to personalised rejections. When an editor takes the time to write a brief note — "we liked this but it didn't quite fit our current issue" or "please send again" — that is meaningful information. It signals that your work is in the right range and worth continuing to submit.

A Few Journals to Start With

If you are unsure where to begin, the following journals are well-regarded, accept work from emerging writers, and represent a range of aesthetics: The Sun Magazine, Kenyon Review Online, Ploughshares, The Missouri Review, Tin House Online, Hobart, Split Lip Magazine, and DIAGRAM. Each has a distinct sensibility — read them first, then decide which feel like the right home for your work.

Start Submitting

The gap between writing and submitting is where many writers stall. The work feels not quite ready, the process feels daunting, the possibility of rejection feels discouraging. None of these feelings will be resolved by waiting. Submit the work. See what happens. Adjust and submit again.