August lit mag brag!
Come on out and brag your lit mag
Welcome to our weekend conversation!
Whelp, dear ones, we have once again tumbled head-first, not to mention stumbled, fumbled, surfed, paraded, waded and thin-ice skated our way into the end of yet another month. Huzzah!
If you’re a long-time reader of this newsletter, then you know what this weekend’s conversation is all about. If you’re brand new, welcome.
The last newsletter of each month is dedicated to all of you—your hard work, your dedication, your commitment and your unrelenting pursuit to put your passions into print. Did you publish work this past month? If so, we want to hear all about it.
This month, I have a little brag of my own. I wrote an essay that was published in BULL Magazine. It’s my first-ever personal essay publication. Before I tell you more about it, I want to tip my hat to all of you memoir and personal essay writers. It’s one thing to say “rejections aren’t personal” and to tell others not to take such business to heart. It’s another thing to actually send out personal material from your life and know that material is being scrutinized by strangers somewhere, or worse, not even read at all, with the odds being that the piece will most likely be passed on. Ouch!
I sent the place to a few venues. One venue (Modern Love) declined with a swift, curt, “Nope, not for us.” Two lit mag editors declined with personal notes that were extremely courteous and kind. Still! Not easy to submit personal essays! Not easy at all.
The piece languished in Submittable for several months before I worked up the nerve to submit it to more places. As I did, I remembered that one of you had mentioned BULL Magazine in one of our recent Lit Mag Brags. Thank you, wonderful readers!
I had met the Editor at AWP way back when the magazine first launched, about a zillion years ago (2009). But it wasn’t quite on my radar until I saw the name pop up again. I visited their site and found I love the layout. It’s well-organized, simple, friendly on the eyes, easy to navigate and classy. I also like their theme: “We are dedicated to examining the evolution of modern masculinity from the voices that most often get drowned out amongst the shouting and posturing—voices that often struggle in silence.”
I received an acceptance within 24 hours of submitting. The Editor (a different one than who I met) sent the nicest, most enthusiastic message I could have ever hoped for. Even better, when I shared the acceptance letter on X, a few people replied to say something to the effect of, “That sounds like a BULL acceptance.” Clearly, they have a reputation for being big supporters of writers.
So, I’ll turn this all over to you in just a moment. I just wanted to share my own experience. I’m so pleased and honored that this piece found a great home, and I’m so absolutely delighted that I found this home through one of you in this space.
And now, my friends, it is your turn!
Where did your work appear this past month? Share the link(s)!
How did you learn about the magazine?
Did you revise as you submitted or was it done and done?
Did you send to many places before the piece found its happy little home?
Did the editors work with you on revisions?
Are you pleased with the final product?
Don’t be shy now. It’s your time to shine. Come on out and step right up and go on and BRAG YOUR LIT MAG!
I had a great writing month! On August 1st I had my first ever publication, also at BULL. They have a great website and are so supportive in their acceptances.
https://mrbullbull.com/newbull/fiction/canastota/
And a few weeks later my second came out in The Baffler.
https://thebaffler.com/latest/redemption-arc-costaris
Thanks to everyone in this community! This is my favorite post of the month, reading through this and I'm so excited to finally be able to contribute.
Congratulations, Becky! I loved that piece and wouldn’t have known I was your first personal essay published or that it needed to find the right lit mag. BULL is an excellent publication.
I had a month that I probably won’t match for a while. On Monday I had two pieces published - happy coincidence! I also had two different pieces published earlier this month - spoken word and creative criticism.
First, my micro about second guessing appeared in Suddenly and All At Once. They were so enthusiastic and wonderful to work with. This was accepted so fast no place else could weigh in. I wrote this in SmokeLong Fitness.
https://www.suddenlyandwithoutwarning.com/i-know-one-thing-for-certain/
Second, my flash structured by the New Jersey Turnpike appeared in Heavy Feather Review. They were also enthusiastic and quick to respond. I benefited from several revisions thanks to my SmokeLong fitness workshop. I had the hermit crab inspiration from Jo Gatford’s May Write or Die substack check her stack (https://substack.com/@jmgatford)
https://heavyfeatherreview.org/2024/08/27/turnpike/
Earlier this month my book review / creative criticism appeared at The Books that Made Us Substack. The substack is changing direction, so I was lucky to get in. I wrote it specifically for that stack and I just had to pitch it first, but I wrote it before I pitched because I that’s what I know.
https://apocryphaa.substack.com/p/getting-beneath-the-wheel-again
Finally Dipity published my recording of poem I wrote. At the end I discus my inspiration - a poem I read in AGNI 99. lol. I thought I might re-record but the went with the original. As a written poem it was rejected several times. I knew it sounded better out loud - even in the sound of my own voice which I usually can’t stand.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/0pWSZSzVqi9cyMFYkFEpTF