Submitting your work to a literary magazine can be a daunting prospect. It’s natural to feel attached to a piece of work you’ve poured your heart into, and once your baby is out in the world, it goes from being a personal project to something open to public critique.

But the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, and submitting your work to a literary magazine could be the beginning of an illustrious writing career! That’s why we’ll be discussing why there’s no need to feel nervous — everyone has to start somewhere, and the world of literary magazines is a great place to hone your craft and gain confidence in your writing.

 

On that note, here are three encouraging things to remember as you embark on your lit mag adventure.

 

1. There’s a lit mag for every niche

Whether you’re a speculative fiction buff, an experimental poetry enthusiast, or a YA aficionado, there are plenty of niche literary magazines out there eagerly awaiting your unique contribution. It may take some work to find, but once you’ve narrowed down your options, you’ll likely feel more confident about the fit and your chances than you would with a bigger publication.

 

To improve your odds of success, you should browse through previous issues of magazines, identify what has worked in the past, and familiarize yourself with their submission guidelines. There are thousands of lit mags out there, each with their own style and audience, so you’re sure to find one where your work will feel at home.

 

Remember, many great writers started small! Submitting to a niche magazine will not only increase your chances of being accepted, it will also introduce you to a community of like-minded literature lovers. The writing process can be a lonely one, so joining a group that shares your passion is a great way to build a sense of camaraderie — and also to gain an understanding of what fans of the genre are expecting. Literary magazines often host events, readings, and contests that can help you improve your writing ability and expand your professional network.

 

2. Feedback is your best friend

Criticism can be difficult to hear at first, and you may not necessarily agree with every critique you receive, but honest feedback on your writing is an invaluable tool to help you improve.

 

Even if you don’t get accepted, some literary magazines may still offer feedback for the work you submit. The editors of a lit mag will usually have written extensively in the magazine’s subgenre or subject matter — so they can give you strong, specific advice coming directly from their experience. (Which may serve as a reminder that they, too, were in your position once!)

 

Also remember that you don’t need to put all your eggs in one basket — there’s no rule stopping you from submitting to multiple magazines simultaneously, so cast a wide net and try to get a lot of feedback. Then you can put any advice you receive into action and write a short story that will blow your previous submission out of the water.

 

Of course, criticism isn’t the only thing you’ll receive from submitting your work to a literary magazine — if your work is decently polished, you’ll also receive plenty of praise. It’s important to know where you can improve, but understanding your strengths is just as essential because it gives you a foundation for your next submission. Plus, it’s always nice to get a confidence boost!

 

[Want to know where your book is falling short? Get a free book coaching sample.]

 

3. One accepted submission goes a long way

Your first submission may not be accepted for publication. In fact, your first ten submissions may not be accepted — but don’t let that discourage you.

 

Just about every successful writer has experienced rejection at some point; even the original Harry Potter was rejected twelve times before it was finally published. While the sting of rejection can be demoralizing, the rush of euphoria you’ll feel following your first successful submission will outweigh it tenfold. It will have been an arduous journey to get to this point, so allow yourself to bask in your own success for a little bit — you’ve earned it!

 

Once your celebrations are complete, reflect on what made this particular submission unique compared to your previous attempts, and keep that in mind as you’re writing your next piece of work. Beyond personal satisfaction, getting your work accepted into a literary magazine is obviously great for your writing career. Not only will you have a better sense of your strengths, but you’ll also gain a prestigious writing credit to add to your resume — which will make you more attractive to editors, agents, and publishers.

 

With that, hopefully you’ve gained some newfound confidence and are ready to submit your work to a literary magazine of your choice. Remember, there’s no such thing as failure; there’s only feedback and the fortitude to try again.

 

So take that leap of faith! Submit your work, find out what succeeds and what doesn’t, and keep writing. Your stories deserve to be told, and there’s an audience out there eager to read them — it’s up to you to find them.

 

 

Rose Atkinson-Carter writes about writing and publishing at Reedsy — a website that connects authors with publishing professionals and gives advice on a wide range of topics, from perfecting one’s craft to how to market a book.