Believe it or not, one of my valuable resources to finding publications is Lit Mag News brag page. Yes, every month writers come here to brag about where they published. First of all, it makes me feel good to be surrounded by like minded people. But they also provide links to their poems and stories. If I like the lay out of the publication, the quality of the work, then I make a note to send something there. I have a summation strategy where I keep a color coated spread sheet with 200 print publications and about 120 online pubs. I give priority to print and first tier mags and then move to second tier and last online.
To be a writer you must engage in these four activities. First and foremost daydreaming and first drafting. Second I call it editing and workshopping. This is extremely important. You get better by workshopping other people's stories. When you give advice, you also learn to spot the same mistakes in your own material. Third is of course submit, submit, submit. But fourth is what I call teach and promote. Every chance you get, talk about craft, about writing, how to solve particular problems. That means be active in blogs, in places like Substack. Get involved in discussions about subjects like psychic distance, POV. Some writers may say don't get distracted, yet I find it relevant and inspiring because it helps me make my own work better.
Currently I use three groups. One is live (through zoom), the other two are online. The usual mechanics is you crit, they crit. I believe you learn a lot more by critiquing other writer's work than anything else.
Yes, I agree, Luis. As you read someone's manuscript, and the characters don't engage you or the pace drags, it tells you something about why we are engaged . . . or bored.
On the other hand, there is the "workshopped poem" . . . you know what I mean, The kind of poem that makes regular people hate poetry.
I'm with you, Luis. Over time, I've realized that the most reliable way to find places to submit is to read other people's work. Great stories tend to gravitate to great mags, and vice versa! I used to shoot blind - with Submittable and Duotrope - I'm a lot more accurate now, with the results that go with it. Yes, reading is also part of the work.
I definitely use the LitMag brag page to find new publications. I suspect that not all publications are equally open to publishing work from writers without inside connections. (For example, the New Yorker mostly publishes agented submissions.) I’m want to find the ones that will publish outsiders.
Hi there, if you're interested in UK & Irish poetry magazines, for the last 6 or 7 years I've been compiling a spreadsheet of magazines with details of their subs windows, what to send them, URLs etc. It's very detailed. There are some online US mags too. I update it quarterly and send it out for free, you just have to join my emailing list.
One of my methods is to, first, be a reader of litmags, and when I find a publication that is using stuff I like they become a target for my submissions. It seems simple but the key is to be a reader. I think sometimes there's writers who forget that step.
I read the bios of writers whose work I like, to see where they’ve been published. I also check the lists of works selected for the “Best of…” anthologies, which identify the source of each work’s original publication. I found Emerge Literary Journal on a couple of those lists, and they’ve recently published a story of mine. I found Club Plum, which has also recently published me, through this newsletter!
I’ve just read your pummarola piece in ELJ, LindaAnn, and loved how you describe the work as a sort of folk dance with pot lid accompaniment! I didn’t quite understand your note about a secondary market for reprints from ELJ, though…
Thanks, LindaAnn! I took a look at SugarSugarSalt (although my ELJ piece is fiction.) Their sub page says that submissions are permanently closed. I guess they weren’t around very long. That’s too bad for CNF writers.
Oh, my! They promoted their November 2024 very nicely -- and my pummarola piece was in that one. Donna, I'm so sorry to hear it. What a loss. This lit mag was run by experienced editors, too.
As a writer who submits to lit mags every day, guess what? Journals you tried to get published in / or did earn an acceptance from will do this: THEY will email you about "early windows."
* * * * * more tips * * * * *
Another way to monitor lit-mags is to read bios written by contributors. If their work is similar to yours, note where else this writer has been published.
Another tip is to go on social media and search for "subs open." This will alert you to which journals are now taking subs, what's the current theme, etc. If this zine also links to current pieces they've accepted, check out the vibe by clicking on the links.
Another method is joining a writer's organization; the association will often have a market list.
* * Off-topic * *
Years ago I wrote a stage play; it was produced on the West Coast.
I revised it as a radio drama. Columbia Univ. (NYC) loved it and aired it on their station.
Then I revised my material a 3rd time - - as a short story.
Did you notice that one of the journals you listed in the "30 Literary Magazines" article said this "on its home page (this is copied and pasted directly from their site):
"We are currently open to fiction and poetry from absolutely anyone. Find our Moksha here. Unless you're an AI, <b>a conservative, or J.K. Rowling. Then you can fuck off. </b>" The magazine is The Cosmic Background https://www.thecosmicbackground.com/submit-here
Thanks for this column! With setting my goals for 2025, I have had the questions of where and how pass through my mind. These suggestions give me some answers.
For anyone working in genre, Submission Grinder is a great resource! You can search by open markets and filter by qualifications, like being SFWA recognized, Hugo or Nebula award winning or nominated, or Pushcart winning.
As always, excellent info shared in an easy to read friendly way :). And thanks for the mention! I am trying to keep my most popular lists updated and have started posting calls occasionally again :).
Maybe it's just my bad luck with Duosuma, Doug, but I've gotten more rejections with zines I have found there. Submission Grinder beats Duosuma hands down -- on my little planet anyway.
Doug, another point: when writers create a (free) account on Submission Grinder, and when you log in each submission, whenever you get an acceptance, S.G. congratulates you on the main page.
S.G. also allows you to add your own notes to each market, to "ignore" a certain market.
Believe it or not, one of my valuable resources to finding publications is Lit Mag News brag page. Yes, every month writers come here to brag about where they published. First of all, it makes me feel good to be surrounded by like minded people. But they also provide links to their poems and stories. If I like the lay out of the publication, the quality of the work, then I make a note to send something there. I have a summation strategy where I keep a color coated spread sheet with 200 print publications and about 120 online pubs. I give priority to print and first tier mags and then move to second tier and last online.
To be a writer you must engage in these four activities. First and foremost daydreaming and first drafting. Second I call it editing and workshopping. This is extremely important. You get better by workshopping other people's stories. When you give advice, you also learn to spot the same mistakes in your own material. Third is of course submit, submit, submit. But fourth is what I call teach and promote. Every chance you get, talk about craft, about writing, how to solve particular problems. That means be active in blogs, in places like Substack. Get involved in discussions about subjects like psychic distance, POV. Some writers may say don't get distracted, yet I find it relevant and inspiring because it helps me make my own work better.
There is a free workshopping site I was part of for years: CRITTERS. No fees. But if you want a ms critiqued, then you must offer critiques.
It is easier to see other people's mistakes rather than your own. (smile)
Currently I use three groups. One is live (through zoom), the other two are online. The usual mechanics is you crit, they crit. I believe you learn a lot more by critiquing other writer's work than anything else.
Yes, I agree, Luis. As you read someone's manuscript, and the characters don't engage you or the pace drags, it tells you something about why we are engaged . . . or bored.
On the other hand, there is the "workshopped poem" . . . you know what I mean, The kind of poem that makes regular people hate poetry.
I'm with you, Luis. Over time, I've realized that the most reliable way to find places to submit is to read other people's work. Great stories tend to gravitate to great mags, and vice versa! I used to shoot blind - with Submittable and Duotrope - I'm a lot more accurate now, with the results that go with it. Yes, reading is also part of the work.
Reading good work is such a joy, too.
I definitely use the LitMag brag page to find new publications. I suspect that not all publications are equally open to publishing work from writers without inside connections. (For example, the New Yorker mostly publishes agented submissions.) I’m want to find the ones that will publish outsiders.
Hi there, if you're interested in UK & Irish poetry magazines, for the last 6 or 7 years I've been compiling a spreadsheet of magazines with details of their subs windows, what to send them, URLs etc. It's very detailed. There are some online US mags too. I update it quarterly and send it out for free, you just have to join my emailing list.
I appreciate the attention to my newsletter, Purbasha, and I look forward to receiving a "Success Story" from you!
Happy Holidays, Erika, and thanks for all the hard work you do -- and your generosity to the writing community.
Happy holidays!
One of my methods is to, first, be a reader of litmags, and when I find a publication that is using stuff I like they become a target for my submissions. It seems simple but the key is to be a reader. I think sometimes there's writers who forget that step.
Thank you for your suggestion. It's a new door.
I read the bios of writers whose work I like, to see where they’ve been published. I also check the lists of works selected for the “Best of…” anthologies, which identify the source of each work’s original publication. I found Emerge Literary Journal on a couple of those lists, and they’ve recently published a story of mine. I found Club Plum, which has also recently published me, through this newsletter!
Donna, I had work published in Emerge Literary Journal as well. What a fine editor!
Did you know there is a secondary market for work from ELJ (i.e., a zine that will only consider rpts)?
I’ve just read your pummarola piece in ELJ, LindaAnn, and loved how you describe the work as a sort of folk dance with pot lid accompaniment! I didn’t quite understand your note about a secondary market for reprints from ELJ, though…
Well, I am glad you asked that question, Donna. :-D
SugarSugarSalt Magazine will ONLY accept CNF reprints.
When you submit to this lit-mag, you must include the link to its first publication.
Here's my pummarola piece again - - in its secondary market - - along with a discussion of my process.
Check them out and consider sending your E.L.J. piece there, Donna.
* * * LINK: https://sugarsugarsalt.org/category/lindaann-loschiavo/
And thank you for reading my piece, Donna, and your very kind comments!!
Thanks, LindaAnn! I took a look at SugarSugarSalt (although my ELJ piece is fiction.) Their sub page says that submissions are permanently closed. I guess they weren’t around very long. That’s too bad for CNF writers.
Oh, my! They promoted their November 2024 very nicely -- and my pummarola piece was in that one. Donna, I'm so sorry to hear it. What a loss. This lit mag was run by experienced editors, too.
As a writer who submits to lit mags every day, guess what? Journals you tried to get published in / or did earn an acceptance from will do this: THEY will email you about "early windows."
* * * * * more tips * * * * *
Another way to monitor lit-mags is to read bios written by contributors. If their work is similar to yours, note where else this writer has been published.
Another tip is to go on social media and search for "subs open." This will alert you to which journals are now taking subs, what's the current theme, etc. If this zine also links to current pieces they've accepted, check out the vibe by clicking on the links.
Another method is joining a writer's organization; the association will often have a market list.
* * Off-topic * *
Years ago I wrote a stage play; it was produced on the West Coast.
I revised it as a radio drama. Columbia Univ. (NYC) loved it and aired it on their station.
Then I revised my material a 3rd time - - as a short story.
It was published today:
LINK:
https://theyardcrimeblog.com/2024/12/18/a-worthie-woman-all-hir-live-crime-fiction/
Did you notice that one of the journals you listed in the "30 Literary Magazines" article said this "on its home page (this is copied and pasted directly from their site):
"We are currently open to fiction and poetry from absolutely anyone. Find our Moksha here. Unless you're an AI, <b>a conservative, or J.K. Rowling. Then you can fuck off. </b>" The magazine is The Cosmic Background https://www.thecosmicbackground.com/submit-here
They are "telling it like it is." :-)
Thank you for this very helpful information! 2025 I would like to get published! I've used Duotrope, its pretty good.
Pleasure is mine.
Thanks for this column! With setting my goals for 2025, I have had the questions of where and how pass through my mind. These suggestions give me some answers.
Thank you.
Duotrope still reigns supreme.
Thanks for these sources Purbasha! Your journey is relatable and inspiring!
Thank you for the heartful reply. It means much!
For anyone working in genre, Submission Grinder is a great resource! You can search by open markets and filter by qualifications, like being SFWA recognized, Hugo or Nebula award winning or nominated, or Pushcart winning.
Thank you for making me aware of this.
LOVE LOVE LOVE the Submission Grinder. Thanks for bringing it up, Nikki.
If you make sure to log in your subs, when you do get accepted, S.G. will congratulate you on the main page, too.
Who else does that? No one!
A helpful feature of X is the ability to sort tweets with Lists. I’m now planning to add one titled Subs. Thanks!
As always, excellent info shared in an easy to read friendly way :). And thanks for the mention! I am trying to keep my most popular lists updated and have started posting calls occasionally again :).
Thank you Trish for your comment. You are truly a kind human.
Don't forget Duosoma. https://duotrope.com/duosuma/submit/opportunities.aspx
Maybe it's just my bad luck with Duosuma, Doug, but I've gotten more rejections with zines I have found there. Submission Grinder beats Duosuma hands down -- on my little planet anyway.
Season's Greetings!
Hard to know how to score that comparison generally but both provide submission opportunities for litmags who can't afford Submittable's fees.
Doug, another point: when writers create a (free) account on Submission Grinder, and when you log in each submission, whenever you get an acceptance, S.G. congratulates you on the main page.
S.G. also allows you to add your own notes to each market, to "ignore" a certain market.
So many features . . . all free. :-)
And yet, I don’t think I’ve ever had a submission come via Submission Grinder and if I have no-one’s ever reported the outcome. ;-)
The crystal ball for 2025 says it will arrive soon. . . . if your zine is listed on the Submission Grinder. :-D