Literary submissions, explained
Getting published in literary journals is less about luck and more about fit plus follow-through. You choose journals that match your voice, send a clean submission package that respects their guidelines, and keep a simple tracking system so you can submit consistently without burning out. If you do those three things well, your odds improve over time, and your rejections become useful data instead of personal verdicts.
- You’ll learn how to build a journal list that actually matches your work.
- You’ll learn what to include (and not include) in a submission package.
- You’ll learn a cover-letter template you can reuse without sounding generic.
- You’ll learn a tracking method that prevents missed deadlines and duplicate sends.
On this page
What counts as “published” in a literary journal?
Direct answer: In most literary spaces, “published” means your work appeared publicly in a journal (print or online) with an editor’s selection, not just posted on your personal blog. Policies vary, so your safest move is to treat each journal’s guidelines as the rulebook for that submission.
Key terms, quickly defined
- Literary journal (lit mag): a curated publication that selects writing through an editorial process.
- Reading period: the window when a journal accepts submissions (often seasonal).
- Simultaneous submission: sending the same piece to multiple journals at once, if allowed.
- Exclusive submission: sending to one journal at a time until you hear back.
- Submission fee: a small charge some journals use to offset platform or administrative costs.
- First serial rights: the right to be the first publication to print your piece (common language in rights statements).
- Bio note: a short third-person line (or two) about you for contributor pages.
- Cover letter: a brief note that identifies your submission and confirms you followed the rules.
- Submittable: a widely used submissions platform that journals use to collect and manage entries.
- Duotrope: a market research database used to find journals and track submission data.
Checklist: sanity-check “prior publication” fast
- Read the journal’s “previously published” policy. If it is unclear, assume strict and choose another market.
- Check if they count public blogs, Medium, newsletters, or social posts as prior publication.
- If you posted an excerpt anywhere, be transparent if the journal asks, and do not volunteer extra detail if they do not.
- Save a copy of the guidelines (PDF or screenshot) for your records before you submit.
Example: a simple rights note you can keep in your tracker
Rights check: - Journal requests: first serial rights (typical) - Simultaneous submissions: allowed / not allowed (confirm) - Previously published: allowed / not allowed (confirm) - Reprints: yes / no (confirm)
Takeaway: “Published” is defined by the journal you are submitting to. Treat the guidelines as your contract.
How do you choose the right journals for your work?
Direct answer: Build a short, honest list based on fit, not prestige. Fit means the journal regularly publishes work that sounds like yours, and their rules match your submission reality (genre, word count, and whether they allow simultaneous submissions).
Checklist: the “fit-first” journal filter
- Genre fit: they publish your form (poetry, flash, short story, hybrid, CNF).
- Style fit: you can point to 2–3 pieces in recent issues that feel adjacent to your voice.
- Logistics fit: your word count, file format, and reading period align.
- Policy fit: they allow (or do not forbid) your preferred submission cadence.
- Energy fit: you would be proud to be there, even if it is not a household name.
Decision guide: build a tiered list (so you keep momentum)
| Tier | How it functions | How many to pick |
|---|---|---|
| Reach | Dream journals where acceptance is tough but fit is real. | 3–5 |
| Match | Strong fit, realistic timeline, consistent publishing of your style. | 8–12 |
| Momentum | Great homes that respond faster or run frequent reading periods. | 5–8 |
Tools that help (use them like a librarian, not a slot machine)
- Poets & Writers is a reliable starting point for reading opportunities and journal discovery.
- Duotrope helps you research markets and build a trackable shortlist.
- Submittable is where many journals collect submissions, and where you will often see their exact requirements.
Takeaway: A “good” journal list is the one you can actually submit to steadily, with genuine fit.
What should be in a submission package?
Direct answer: Your submission package is usually four things: the manuscript (formatted), a short cover letter, a brief bio, and any forms the journal requires. The goal is invisible professionalism: editors should notice your writing, not your formatting mistakes.
Checklist: submission package essentials
- Manuscript: correct file type, title, page numbers if asked, and clean spacing.
- Header info: follow their preference (name, email, address, or anonymous).
- Title discipline: title your file clearly (LastName_Title_Category).
- Bio note: 1–2 lines, third person, current and plain.
- Compliance: double-check word count limits and category rules.
Template: file naming that saves you later
File name: LastName_FirstName_Title_Category Examples: Garcia_Maria_BeachGlass_Poetry.pdf Patel_Arjun_TheSecondDoor_FlashFiction.docx
Internal resources (if you want a guided path)
- Review our submission guidelines before you send work anywhere.
- If you want help with the full submission process, see traditional publishing support.
Takeaway: Editors should never have to guess what you submitted, how long it is, or whether you read the rules.
How do you write a cover letter editors will actually read?
Direct answer: A strong cover letter is short, specific, and obedient. It identifies your submission, confirms key policy points (simultaneous submissions, multiple pieces, content warnings if required), and includes a simple bio. It does not pitch your themes like a book jacket.
Checklist: cover letter basics that prevent auto-rejection
- Address the journal by its correct name and spell it right.
- List your titles and genre, plus word count for prose if requested.
- State simultaneous submission status only if relevant or requested.
- Include a brief bio (or “no bio” is okay if you are emerging).
- Close politely, then stop. No extra paragraphs.
Swipe template: cover letter for poetry or prose
Subject (if email): Submission: [Category] – “[Title]” Dear [Journal Name] Editors, Please consider my [poem/short story/flash/nonfiction], “[Title],” ([word count] words if prose), for publication in [Journal Name]. [If relevant: This is a simultaneous submission. I will notify you immediately if the piece is accepted elsewhere.] [If relevant: Content note: (only if the journal requests it).] Bio: [One sentence. Two max. Third person is common, first person is fine if they do not specify.] Optional credit line: [Recent publication or award, only if real and recent. Otherwise omit.] Thank you for your time and consideration. Sincerely, [Your Name] [City, State or Country (optional)] [Email (optional if already in the system)]
A quick “tone” rule
Write the cover letter like a calm stage manager. You are not selling. You are helping the editors process your work cleanly.
Takeaway: Cover letters work when they reduce friction. Your writing does the persuading.
How do you submit and track without burning out?
Direct answer: You avoid burnout by making submission a light, repeatable practice. Set a small weekly cadence, track only what matters, and separate “writing time” from “submission time” so you do not confuse output with outcome.
Checklist: the low-friction submission system
- Pick a cadence you can keep: for example, 2 submissions per week.
- Create a single tracker (spreadsheet, notes app, or database) and never “hold it in your head.”
- Keep one folder with final PDFs and a second folder with editable originals.
- Use reminders for reading periods, not willpower.
- Batch admin: 30 minutes, once or twice per week.
Example: tracker columns that are enough
Tracker columns: - Piece title - Genre / category - Journal - Date submitted - Method (Submittable / email / form) - Simultaneous allowed? (Y/N) - Fee (if any) - Status (Submitted / In progress / Rejected / Accepted / Withdrawn) - Response date - Notes (personal rejection, invitation to submit again, etc.)
A mindset that keeps you moving
Measure the process, not the dopamine. Your metric is “submissions sent per month,” not “acceptances per week.” Acceptances arrive on a different schedule.
Takeaway: Consistency beats intensity. A small cadence, held for months, changes everything.
Why do journals reject strong work, and what can you fix?
Direct answer: Rejection is often about fit, timing, and volume, not talent. That said, certain fixable issues cause avoidable passes. Treat rejections as feedback on your targeting and your presentation, then keep writing.
Mistakes and fixes (information-gain module)
| Mistake | What editors experience | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Submitting out of genre or style | They cannot place your piece in the issue’s aesthetic. | Read recent issues and build a “style adjacency” shortlist. |
| Ignoring tiny guidelines | It signals you will be hard to work with later. | Do a final 2-minute compliance scan before clicking submit. |
| Overlong cover letters | They have to skim past noise to find essentials. | Use the swipe template, then cut one more line. |
| Submitting one piece forever | Your best work is not a single lottery ticket. | Rotate pieces and submit a small batch each month. |
| Interpreting silence as a verdict | They may be backlogged or understaffed. | Use your tracker. Follow their stated response windows. |
Checklist: how to turn rejections into strategy
- Tag each rejection as form, personal, or invite (if they say “send again”).
- When you get an “invite,” resubmit to that journal within 60–90 days.
- If 10 straight form rejections happen, revise your journal list before revising the work.
- Keep a “next market” ready so you can submit again the same week.
Takeaway: Most rejection is not diagnosis. Use it as routing information, then keep sending.
When should you pay submission fees, and when should you walk away?
Direct answer: A small fee is not automatically unethical, but you should only pay when the journal is transparent about what they publish, how they operate, and what you are submitting to. If a journal feels vague, predatory, or sloppy, your money and your work deserve better.
Checklist: fee decision rubric (information-gain module)
Score each journal 0–2 in each category
- Transparency: clear masthead, contact info, and guidelines.
- Proof of life: recent issues you can read or buy, plus active updates.
- Editorial clarity: they say what they want and what they do not want.
- Submission experience: organized platform, clear categories, clear response expectations.
- Fit: genuine match for your work (not just “they accept poetry”).
Interpretation: 8–10 points is “fee is probably reasonable.” 5–7 is “only if fit is exceptional.” 0–4 is “walk away.”
Example: a polite “withdrawal” message you can reuse
Hello [Journal Name] Editors, I’m writing to withdraw my submission, “[Title],” submitted on [Date]. Thank you for your time and consideration. Best, [Your Name]
Takeaway: Fees can be normal, but vagueness is not. Pay for clarity, fit, and professionalism.
Want a clearer path, with less guesswork?
If you are tired of researching markets, rewriting cover letters, and tracking submissions alone, we can help you build a journal list that fits your work and a submission process you can actually sustain.
FAQ
How many journals should I submit to per month?
A sustainable range for many writers is 6–10 submissions per month, depending on your genre and time. The right number is the one you can repeat without stealing energy from your writing.
Do I need publication credits to get accepted?
No. Many journals welcome emerging writers. What matters most is fit, clean presentation, and a piece that feels finished.
Should I personalize every cover letter?
Personalize only when you genuinely mean it (for example, you read a specific piece in a recent issue). Otherwise, a clean, correct letter beats a forced compliment.
Is Submittable required?
No, but many journals use it. Others accept email or website forms. Follow the journal’s preferred method exactly.
Sources / Further Reading
If you want a guided, human-reviewed submission workflow, start with our submission guidelines and then reach out through our contact page.
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