This was a really interesting interview. Becky, how people read and get to know lit mags would be an interesting discussion topic. Like, do people subscribe, check out some online every week, make a practice of it? I randomly bought a bunch of lit mags a year or two ago and occasionally pick them up and read them, but I'm not able to purchase enough to feel like I really KNOW the mag. I need to be better about reading online. I also wish LA public library had a regular rotating stock of lit mags. Doesn't it seem like that would be a win win for the library and for lit mags? I assume they must have left over stock constantly. Anyway, I'd be so curious to hear how other people find their fave mags!
I make a regular habit of reading samples of fiction before submitting my own. When I lived near many independent bookstores and strong library systems, like San Francisco, that was easier to do in person. Now, online samples are my usual method. I tend to orient my reading periods around submission deadlines or newsletters like Literistic. A strong draft of a new story will also spur me to get out there and search for its home.
Great question. You might be interested in Jenn Scheck-Kahn's Journal of the Month program. (I interviewed Jenn back in January. https://litmagnews.substack.com/p/becoming-a-literary-entrepreneur). A lot of mags also have material published online. I think if you can skim pieces in a magazine and get a feel for what they do and if the aesthetic matches you're own, you'll be ahead of the game. I always tell people you do not need to know every single lit mag out there. Just aim for a cognitive map of, say, 15 or 20, that are realistic for you in terms of competitiveness and that publish work you like.
While no doubt Submitit's algorithm is very helpful and the services provided, according to the testimonials, helpful. Unfortunately the costs involved are out of the reach of low income writers like me, as is so often the case. Becky, it would be really helpful if someone from your wide circle could try it and write an independent review of their experiences.
Thanks for the interview Becky and sharing new tools. I'm incredibly skeptical, not that Submitit would work, but that I'd be proud to have a story published this way.
You: Look, look, I got a new piece published!
Others: Congrats! Why this journal?
You: Shrug.
Others: How did you find this opportunity?
You: Oh, I didn't.
Others: You didn't read before submitting?
You: …
Doesn't it seem like this approach would rob each of us of the opportunity to read what's out there and get inspired for future work? If querying an agent, would you cite novels or books in your query letter that you haven't read?
With all due respect to Erik's expertise and success, it's hard to imagine someone else finding a home for my work that isn't the editor of a publication. But I guess I wouldn't let someone else query agents or submit un-agented manuscripts on my behalf either. I want to revel in that subjectivity and know I'm in the driver's seat of the successes and the failures.
In any case, best of luck to Submitit; I do hope they help more good work get published!
I can understand your reservations, Arthur. It might be tempting to hire someone to do the submitting work for you (if you can afford it), and then ignore the lit mags altogether. I suspect that might already happen with writers whose agents submit to lit mags on their behalf. But, I don't think it has to be mutually exclusive. Someone using this service might also take an active interest in magazines at the same time. I hope they would!
I do hope it spurs a closer look at magazines and journals. My closer look came from finding journals in local bookstores or libraries and diving deeper after rejections. We all need more readers. As kids, we read before we write. As professionals, we should read before submitting.
Is Submitit useful for poetry, or only for writers of fiction? The Review Review was a good 'un, their motto "we read lit mags so you don't have to," but I think it's defunct now. It's exhausting, expensive, and counterproductive to read every journal one might wish to submit to, and besides a kindness to poets that some post online at least some of what they publish, which gives submitters some insight into what the journal is looking for, and thus is an aid to both submitters and editors who want to keep the slush pile pertinent to their publication. Saves time and effort all around.
Bruce, did you know I was the founder of The Review Review? That was never the site's motto, but it's funny you remember it that way! I sold the site to Gonzaga University in 2019. It was meant to be a teaching tool for students there but sadly it doesn't appear they've done very much with it.
Anyway, Erik said that at this time he doesn't take on poets as clients. But he might further down the road.
I get asked about poetry all the time. Clearly, it should be high on my list (it would involve me finding a poet to essentially create a new algorithm (I, it should be clear, and I say this with sadness, am not a poet)). I'd also like to expand into so-called "genre" fiction someday. All in time. So to be clear: today we only handle "literary fiction" and "creative nonfiction."
Best wishes for success to your effort, Erik. Not all God's children have algorithm, alas; I am a poet, but have to say with a teensy bit of sadness that I'm no techie. Cheers,
This was a really interesting interview. Becky, how people read and get to know lit mags would be an interesting discussion topic. Like, do people subscribe, check out some online every week, make a practice of it? I randomly bought a bunch of lit mags a year or two ago and occasionally pick them up and read them, but I'm not able to purchase enough to feel like I really KNOW the mag. I need to be better about reading online. I also wish LA public library had a regular rotating stock of lit mags. Doesn't it seem like that would be a win win for the library and for lit mags? I assume they must have left over stock constantly. Anyway, I'd be so curious to hear how other people find their fave mags!
I make a regular habit of reading samples of fiction before submitting my own. When I lived near many independent bookstores and strong library systems, like San Francisco, that was easier to do in person. Now, online samples are my usual method. I tend to orient my reading periods around submission deadlines or newsletters like Literistic. A strong draft of a new story will also spur me to get out there and search for its home.
Great question. You might be interested in Jenn Scheck-Kahn's Journal of the Month program. (I interviewed Jenn back in January. https://litmagnews.substack.com/p/becoming-a-literary-entrepreneur). A lot of mags also have material published online. I think if you can skim pieces in a magazine and get a feel for what they do and if the aesthetic matches you're own, you'll be ahead of the game. I always tell people you do not need to know every single lit mag out there. Just aim for a cognitive map of, say, 15 or 20, that are realistic for you in terms of competitiveness and that publish work you like.
While no doubt Submitit's algorithm is very helpful and the services provided, according to the testimonials, helpful. Unfortunately the costs involved are out of the reach of low income writers like me, as is so often the case. Becky, it would be really helpful if someone from your wide circle could try it and write an independent review of their experiences.
Thanks for the interview Becky and sharing new tools. I'm incredibly skeptical, not that Submitit would work, but that I'd be proud to have a story published this way.
You: Look, look, I got a new piece published!
Others: Congrats! Why this journal?
You: Shrug.
Others: How did you find this opportunity?
You: Oh, I didn't.
Others: You didn't read before submitting?
You: …
Doesn't it seem like this approach would rob each of us of the opportunity to read what's out there and get inspired for future work? If querying an agent, would you cite novels or books in your query letter that you haven't read?
I personally love reflecting on and sharing the journey for each piece lucky and persistent enough to be published, like this: https://arsenalofwords.com/2022/04/03/acceptance-isnt-always-publication-or-how-evergreen-promises-got-published/
With all due respect to Erik's expertise and success, it's hard to imagine someone else finding a home for my work that isn't the editor of a publication. But I guess I wouldn't let someone else query agents or submit un-agented manuscripts on my behalf either. I want to revel in that subjectivity and know I'm in the driver's seat of the successes and the failures.
In any case, best of luck to Submitit; I do hope they help more good work get published!
I can understand your reservations, Arthur. It might be tempting to hire someone to do the submitting work for you (if you can afford it), and then ignore the lit mags altogether. I suspect that might already happen with writers whose agents submit to lit mags on their behalf. But, I don't think it has to be mutually exclusive. Someone using this service might also take an active interest in magazines at the same time. I hope they would!
I do hope it spurs a closer look at magazines and journals. My closer look came from finding journals in local bookstores or libraries and diving deeper after rejections. We all need more readers. As kids, we read before we write. As professionals, we should read before submitting.
Is Submitit useful for poetry, or only for writers of fiction? The Review Review was a good 'un, their motto "we read lit mags so you don't have to," but I think it's defunct now. It's exhausting, expensive, and counterproductive to read every journal one might wish to submit to, and besides a kindness to poets that some post online at least some of what they publish, which gives submitters some insight into what the journal is looking for, and thus is an aid to both submitters and editors who want to keep the slush pile pertinent to their publication. Saves time and effort all around.
Bruce, did you know I was the founder of The Review Review? That was never the site's motto, but it's funny you remember it that way! I sold the site to Gonzaga University in 2019. It was meant to be a teaching tool for students there but sadly it doesn't appear they've done very much with it.
Anyway, Erik said that at this time he doesn't take on poets as clients. But he might further down the road.
I get asked about poetry all the time. Clearly, it should be high on my list (it would involve me finding a poet to essentially create a new algorithm (I, it should be clear, and I say this with sadness, am not a poet)). I'd also like to expand into so-called "genre" fiction someday. All in time. So to be clear: today we only handle "literary fiction" and "creative nonfiction."
Best wishes for success to your effort, Erik. Not all God's children have algorithm, alas; I am a poet, but have to say with a teensy bit of sadness that I'm no techie. Cheers,
Bruce Parker
Such a great interview, Becky! I learned so much today.
Thanks, J. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and took something informative from it.
Wonderful! Thanks for coming.