Advice for Submitting to a Literary Journal
Six Tips to Remember When Submitting Work to Editors
Jul 16, 2009
Many novice writers who submit work to journals seem unaware of general submission etiquette, and are sometimes rejected as a result. Here are some tips to remember when submitting fiction, poetry, or non-fiction to literary journals.
Know the Journals Well
While all submissions need to be well-written to be accepted, journals often accept or reject work based on "fit" — i.e. how well the work jives with their vision for the journal. Thus, before submitting, aspiring writers should spend time reading the journals.
It is a good idea to purchase an archived copy of a journal of interest, or browse through the selections in a local university library. Many print journals offer online excerpts at their websites, and online journals, obviously, are easily available for perusal. Poet's Market and Writer's Market are also excellent resources to use in the search for journals (featuring websites, selectivity, and contact information).
While reading, writers should consider words they might use to describe their own work and words they might use to describe the work typically featured in a particular journal (e.g. avant-garde, traditional, surreal). Does the journal publish a variety of styles and techniques? Would one's work fit well among the work featured in the journal, or would it feel out of place?
Include a Cover Letter
A typed cover letter should accompany all submissions, unless guidelines state otherwise. A cover letter is business communication and should follow a professional template. Cover letters should include an address and all relevant contact information, especially a telephone number and email address. Writers should always take time to thank the editors for considering their work.
If applicable, the letter may also include a brief list of writing-related accomplishments, such as publication in other journals. However, the quality of the writing matters most; the biography matters much less, if at all.
Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the cover letter should be brief and modest. Writers should not use the cover letter as a space to analyze their work, explain their work, laud their work, or harp on accomplishments. A writer should not, for example, use the cover letter to discuss the symbolism in his or her story. Editors want the writing to speak for itself; good work should need no lavish introductions.
Avoid Gimmicks
In a funny scene from Arrested Development, aspiring actor Tobias fills his application to the casting office with glitter and sends it off; we see the parcel explode all over the unsuspecting casting director, who immediately exclaims, Never hire Tobias Fünke! This is an exaggerated representation of what fate will befall a submission if the writer uses gimmicks in an attempt to "stand out." If the work is good, it will not need fancy packaging. If the work is poorly-written (or a poor fit for the journal), fancy packaging will do nothing to help it get published. In short, writers should:
- Never use "special" fonts (stick with a standard font, such as Times New Roman).
- Use black ink (any other color is distracting).
- Never send small tokens or gifts with the submission.
- Print submissions on white paper.
Proofread
Writers should proofread their work thoroughly before submitting. It might help to obtain a beginner's style guide, such as Elements of Style, read it cover-to-cover, and consult it when unsure about a grammatical point (such as when to use a semi-colon versus a colon, or to identify a comma splice).
Moreover, while a word processor's spell-check function is a useful tool, it is not flawless; writers should consult the dictionary to make sure they have spelled problematic words correctly, as well as read through the work several times to ensure they have used troublesome homonyms like "their," "there," and "they're" correctly. It is also advisable to show work to a trusted friend for a second opinion.
While a few typos likely won't take a submission out of the running, severe grammatical errors and other technical issues distract readers and cause more work for editors. Numerous errors will certainly result in rejection, regardless of the merits of the narrative or idea, but even a few errors can sway editors towards rejection if they are already on the fence about a submission.
Respect the Guidelines
It is crucial to follow the directions in the submission guidelines exactly.
Most non-electronic journals will ask for a SASE (Self Addressed Stamped Envelope). The SASE guarantees a response. If the writer forgets to include a SASE, he or she may never hear from the journal again; many journals receive thousands of submissions each year and most do not track down forgetful writers to alert them of their submission status.
Many journals also have reading periods and will return a submission unread if it is not received during their scheduled window (typically September through May, but it varies).
Journals will also note suggested lengths for submissions in the guidelines; it is important to heed them. If a journal or anthology asks for 3-5 poems, for example, the poet should send no more than five poems. Editors are busy and most literary journals are at least partially staffed by volunteers; they have suggested lengths for a reason.
Send Work Out Regularly
To maximize chances of acceptance, aspiring writers should submit to both online and print journals on a regular basis, and "simultaneously submit" work whenever possible. It helps to establish a schedule (e.g. a goal of one submission per week) and keep track of where one has submitted work in case one needs to inquire about it later. Keeping a log of submissions can prevent problems and confusion down the road, especially in the case of "simultaneous submissions," when the writer is expected to alert editors if work previously submitted to them has been accepted elsewhere. Remember: even the strongest writing gets rejected, but if one continually submits quality pieces to a variety of journals, the work is bound to catch the eye of editors.
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