#literary submissions

[wrongpublishing]

Increase Your Literary Body Count in 2024

by Mathew Gostelow.

"In my slut era," I whispered, sending the story out on its ninth simultaneous submission.

At the most recent count, I wrote 60-odd things in 2024 and submitted them a total of 202 times in all. 42 of them were published in some form. Along the way, I racked up 90 rejections. All in all, I published somewhere around 44,000 words in 2023.

I was whoring my stories all over, like some sort of village bike made of ink and shamelessness. I spent a year subbing sluttily. I had a blast doing it too. I got a fair few publications under my belt, made new friends, and learned some lessons as well. Here’s just a few of them…  

Change horses midstream

I’ve discovered I work best when I’m juggling multiple projects at once. It sounds counter-intuitive and I guess it might not work for everyone, but I reckon everyone should try it.

The idea is to have several stories on the go at one time. Three feels ideal. I find that I will inevitably run out of steam on a piece – my interest or focus always flags at some point. Switching to something new acts as a vital palate-cleanser. I’m able to return to each project afresh, bringing new energy and perspective thanks to the time I spent away.

Follow the fun 

Don't be afraid to mix it up. Move out of your comfort zone.

If your latest flash isn’t quite working, why not rewrite it as a poem? Or mash it together with another half-finished piece and see what happens. In a longer piece, it’s okay to jump straight to the scene that's exciting you in that moment. Fill in the gaps and the preamble later.

Try things out. Write flash, write microfiction, write a poem. Seen a shiny prompt? Go for it. Plunge into a genre that you'd normally avoid. You might have fun, you might learn something. You might even end up with a story worth submitting.

Lean into your weird

I'm not saying you're weird, but… you’re totally weird. The way you tell stories is uniquely yours. You understand the world through the filter of your own personal experiences. And you express those observations in wonderfully idiosyncratic ways. 

One thing this prolific year taught me is that I love my writing more when I delve into those quirky parts of me. It could be sharing an oddly-specific fear in a horror story, or playing with words in a way that feels pleasing and musical to me.

Putting those unusual parts of yourself out into the world can be scary, but it's also fun. And I've found that readers and editors seem to respond to it as well.

Sim-subbing is addictive - but tread carefully

Simultaneous submissions are great. Is that one mag taking a bit long to decide on whether they want you piece? Send it somewhere else. Feel those sweet endorphins coursing through your veins. Oh yeah. That’s the stuff.

Here’s what I learned from a year of very heavy simultaneous submissions: Send a piece out to as many places as you like – but only if you're equally happy with ever possible outcome. That’s the important bit.

If you have your heart set on a specific home for a story then for gawd’s sakes don't sub it anywhere else until they have decided. Otherwise you risk tying yourself in knots if/when one of the lesser mags accepts it before your dream publisher has decided.

Play fast and loose!

Themed calls are great. They can be inspiring, sparking fresh ideas in our minds. Or help us to see our existing stories in a new light. But here’s what I learned this year: don’t be afraid to come at the theme from an obtuse angle.

Editors must get tired of reading 50 different permutations of the same story. Your off-kilter take could be just the breath of fresh air they're looking for.

And if you have a story already written when a call comes along and it feels like it's close-ish to what they're looking for, then you should throw it in the mix. What have you got to lose?

A true story from this year:

I had a story accepted after misunderstanding what a themed call was all about. I didn’t read the instructions carefully enough and subbed the wrong thing. I realised immediately after pulling the trigger and considered withdrawing my piece. For some reason, though, I didn't. (Slut era!) The editors saw something in my story and accepted the piece.

Moral: Don’t slavishly follow the theme. Go crazy.

Dilute the sting

Rejections can hurt, especially if you have your sights set on a specific magazine or anthology. But you know what helps? Rebound sex. Er… I mean, rebound submissions. Get that same piece back out there. Heck, send it to two places. Go crazy. You get closure by moving on. Also, the more you submit, the more rejection notches you get on your bedpost. And you know what, after a while you’ll find it starts to sting a lot less. 

So there you go. Lessons from a promiscuous wordmonger. Why not try to up your literary body count in 2024? You might like it. Repeat after me: “Slut era”.

Mathew Gostelow (he/him) is the author of two collections; See My Breath Dance Ghostly, a book of speculative short stories (Alien Buddha Press) and Connections, a flash fiction chapbook (Naked Cat Publishing). He has been nominated for the Pushcart Prize, Best of the Net, and Best Microfiction. @MatGost

#essay #submissions #writing #writers #writing advice #literary submissions #lit mags #publishing advice #publishing #horror anthologies

[theminisonproject]

A carpet of souls. by Mark Wright, pg. 8

Check out the minison zine archives to read more poetry like this from issue 1!

#the minison zine #the minison project #poetry #literary submissions #fourteeners

[diet-mountain-dew-nyc]

I love re-reading my old poetry, it's a taste of my youth, and I love over indulging. Here are my 23 year old thoughts from the window seat on the Acela Express, Washington to New York City.

#quote #beautiful words #poetry #spilled thoughts #spilled ink #writing submission #literary quotes #human condition #memory #nostaligiacore #nostalgia #train journey #growing up

[librarycards]

hello! i apologize in advance this is probably something that you get asked a lot. but do you have any recs on literary magazines to submit to? im a trans poet, ive been writing for over a decade but never shared anything and ive been wanting to try to send my stuff to get it published somewhere. obv ive been google searching but theres so many big and small publications and i was wondering if you have ones you like especially and/or tips on how to choose a magazine/journal to submit to. thanks a lot! <3

no worries, thank you for reaching out!! i've been publishing for like 8 years + an editor for almost 4, so i always appreciate the opportunity to help people new to the world find ethical publications that will treat their work with the care it deserves.

first and foremost: there are going to be pubs out there that are awesome and i don't know about. you may be the one to discover them for yourself! one aid in finding the best mag for your work is the wonderful, writer-created chillsubs. it's a fantastic platform that keeps a huge list of mags and presses and their relevant stats, and lets you create an account and bookmark those you're interested in. everyone i know uses them, and it's very worth it given the sheer volume of mags out there.

i also have some recs of my own, ofc. i'm going to list them below. if they pay (which i prioritize) I'll mark them with a $. some are trans/queer focused and some aren't, but all are pubs i've either edited and/or published with and can confirm their ethics + respect for writers.

manywor(l)ds - my mag! i'm co-founder and eic. break genre _ shapeshift with us. ($)

Sinister Wisdom - old, well-regarded lesbian+ lit mag, now open to everyone who is/loves a dyke. I'm guest-editing an issue on Madness with them, now open for submissions!

fifth wheel press - run by a beloved friend and comrade of mine. i've published here. excellent transparency, care, great for first-timers. ($).

kith books - headed by trans literary icon kat blair. a mag/press/community centered around bodymind non-conformity and noncompliance.

Honey Literary - QTPOC-centered, unabashedly pop-culture + social justice oriented. the vibes are simply immaculate.

Whale Road Review - not queer/trans focused, more oriented toward....'grown up' poetry/prose/pedagogy papers. Katie Manning (eic) is a fucking gem.

Graphic Violence Lit - just had my first experience publishing with them, and their care + consideration for the whole writer is amazing. they publish boundary-pushing work.

beestung - one of the brainchildren of Sarah Clark. nb/gq/2s SFF. I just edited a few guest issues w them and have published with them. amazing work. ($)

A Velvet Giant - genrequeer work. the editors are experienced, enthusiastic, and amazing at promoting writers long after publication. it's a family! ($)

Ethel Zine + Press - handmade with love by Sara Lefsyk (as you can see, trans/nonbinary/2s sarahs dominate indie publishing, as well we should :3). Sara is a sensitive and care-full editor and bookmaker whose every publication is a work of art.

Protean - pro- as in proletariat. awesome left mag with a mix of politics and culture and everything in between. they take reprints! ($)

Mudroom - publish your work along with a picture of your mudroom/shoe rack. very responsive editors who will hype you tf up. ($)

The Institutionalized Review - for psych survivors. the editors concreteness of vision and dedication to their community know no bounds.

Just Femme + Dandy - queer and fashion-focused! led by the inimitable Addie Tsai. They pay *handsomely*. ($)

In addition, there are also some "big" mags I have had excellent experiences publishing with and wanted to shout out. These are harder for a beginner to break into, but worth keeping on your radar + have been fantastic to me as a writer.

Electric Lit

Split Lip Magazine

The Offing

Nat. Brut

Santa Fe Writers' Project

Bodega

New Orleans Review

Augur Magazine

I hope this is helpful to you + others! the literary world is ever-changing and this is just a snapshot. Hopefully you find some that you like!

#ask #anonymous #writing #literary magazines #lit mag #call for submissions

[georgiansuggestion]

picture a man so dashing going about the moors in a most romantic fashion

#submission #jonathan strange and mr norrell #literary figures #was this said about childermass? seems like a childermass kind of vibe

[rayshippouuchiha]

Loveless Devotee: Cloud does something unquestionably mountain hick in Genesis’ eyesight. Cloud can also quote large amounts of Loveless while picking apart its meaning like he needs to defend a college thesis. Genesis maintains that Cloud is cultured and the only thing cultured about Sephiroth happened in a lab— for he is a godless heathen. 

#submission #Loveless Devotee AU #FF7 #Genesis is far to superior to judge based on accent or hometown #he judges based on literary tastes just as the Goddess intended

[lostcausemag]

Do you feel like a lost cause? Write poetry, prose, or flash fiction?! Consider submitting to us! Submissions open until April 30th to be considered for the summer issue! No submission fee! Submission link on website listed in bio!

#literary magazine #literature #poetry #prose #prose poetry #flash fiction #magazine #submission call #open submissions

[galactic-cherry]

Attention artists & storytellers!

Astral Cherry Healing Arts is announcing the call for submissions for the second issue of the Queer/Trans Magic Zine! This zine is a growing collection of creative works that explore, honor, and transform lineages of queer magic & resilience.

The theme is Luxuria (Desire/Lust/Luxury/Excess). This issue asks: how do we nourish ourselves with reckless abandon? How do we reclaim and reintegrate our desire from suppression? How do we lavish in pleasure and play? How can we uproot and transform shameful and oppressive relationships to desire, lust, luxury, and excess into something completely new?

It is free to submit to QT Magic. Previously published & erotic works are welcome. Unfortunately, no video/audio submissions at this time. Contributors retain their creative rights and will receive a free digital copy of the zine. The deadline to submit is December 29th, 2023.

To submit, visit the submission form.

#zine #art zine #art magazine #literary magazine #call for entry #call for artists #call for submissions #zinester #zine making

[snootyfoxfashion]

Product Link: I READ… Bookish Enamel Pin Series

Shop link: Felfira Moon Designs - Bookish & Nerdy Enamel Pins & More!

#submission #pin #enamel pin #books #reading #bookworm #book lovers #bookish #literary #pins

[literallycait]

Submissions Schedule

Hi, all! I know I've been absent from social media for quite some time. The last few years have been a struggle, first with the pandemic and then the onset of a difficult medical condition that I'm still learning how to live with. My existing clients are of course always my priority, so unfortunately my query inbox and social presence had to fall by the wayside for a time. But I'm back on a roll, finally almost caught up and ready to reopen to queries on SEPTEMBER 1st!

If you had an unanswered query or manuscript out with me from several years ago, you may see something in your inbox in the next day or two. Given that at this point most authors in my inbox will have moved on to other agents and new projects or significant revisions, I feel it makes the most sense to start with a clean slate, so I'm closing out the vast majority of old submissions with an automatic pass and an invitation to resubmit with the same (or new!) material when I reopen on September 1st.

So if you've been waiting to query, please get your materials ready! Please note: in order to better stay on top of timely responses, I will initially only be open for ONE WEEK. I will then close until I've gotten through all of those initial submissions, and then reopen again. The submission form link will be: https://QueryManager.com/cmcdonald

There will also be a couple changes to the genres that I'm seeking once I reopen: I will no longer be accepting queries for middle grade or for any nonfiction. Apologies to anyone who was sitting on a project in those areas.

And final note, since the site formerly-known-as-Twitter is a collapsing cesspool, this (Tumblr) will now be my main base of operations until further notice. I won't be deleting my Twitter account (yet) and I will still post announcements when I open/close to submissions on there, but I will not be particularly active when it comes to replies or interactions. It's a better bet to send me an Ask or DM on here instead--though with the caveat that I may still not be super quick with responses due to my health issue, which limits my computer time.

Thank you for your continued interest and understanding. I'm looking forward to seeing your work!

#query queue #submissions status #publishing #literary agent

[foreshvdowing]

The Moody Medusa is now accepting submissions!

We accept poetry, creative nonfiction, fiction, photography, and visual art. The theme of the first issue will be

M O N S T E R.

We cannot wait to see what all you talented people come up with! Check out our submission guidelines and send in your work here!

#literary zine #zine #art zine #literary magazine #art magazine #online zine #online magazine #monster #submissions open #call for submissions #writer #writers #writing #photographer #photographers #photographs #art #artists #visual art #poet #poets #poetry #poetic #poem #poems #poems of tumblr #poets of tumblr #calling all writers #calling all artists #submit here

[bfvillage]

Boyfriend Village is open for submissions!

What is Boyfriend Village?

Boyfriend Village is, acclaimed literary journal, Black Warrior Review’s online edition, released once and sometimes twice a year. 

We just opened submissions for our new issue More Than One Boyfriend!

Our submission call for the issue is as follows:

Black Warrior Review is seeking submissions of all genres for our eighth edition of Boyfriend Village: More Than One Boyfriend.

There’s a misconception about writing being a solitary pursuit. Even as a singular author working with a single piece of paper at a desk with only one chair, you have to ask: who provided the ink? How many people were involved in making the desk and the chair? How much history of production, engineering, mathematics, government, and philosophy is behind this single moment? More Than One Boyfriend seeks to correct this misconception by encapsulating the ways in which writing, like everything else, is a communal pursuit.

This might mean work authored by more than one person, yes, but also any work that is informed by more than one practice, more than one medium, more than one language, more than one voice, and more than one piece of art. It means ekphrastic work, erasure, reiteration, and bilingual writing. It means writing in conversation with and incorporating visual art, music, and interactivity; art that moves more than one of the senses. It means intersectional writing from writers with multifaceted backgrounds, whose work speaks to more than one mode of being. Writing that highlights more than one experience, more than one point of view, more than one voice, more than the one perspective we’re used to hearing the story from. Writing about the collaborative spirit; writing that tells the reader that they are more than just one.

More Than One Boyfriend asks for work that is more than itself.

This year’s issue is helmed by our first collaborative team of Online Editors, Darby Power & Jaric Sarmiento! Find out more about this dream team, and their vision for this year’s Boyfriend Village, on Instagram, Twitter, Tumblr, and Mastodon. 

Submissions are open between April 1st, 2024, and May 1st, 2024. While themed, this is open to interpretation. If you think your boyfriend(s) might belong in our village, don’t hesitate—send them along!

#writeblr #artblr #call for submissions #writing #writers on tumblr #artists on tumblr #creative writing #spilled ink #literature #magazine #literary journal #fiction #poetry #creative nonfiction #publishing #amwriting #writerscommunity #writblr #writerscorner

[diet-mountain-dew-nyc]

All of my efforts worked. I think it and can't say it. I lost myself like a language I can only understand, but no longer speak. Beware. Cling to the pain--It's me, from the future. It's better this way.

#love #quote #poetry #spilled thoughts #spilled ink #creative writing #literary quotes #writing #nostalgia #poetry submission

[sweatermuppet]

sappho prize for women poets, held by palette poetry. read more about submission guidelines & apply here

[Text ID: Closes June 19, 2022. This contest only accepts submissions from women poets. ALL women are welcome to submit (cis and trans). The winning poet will be awarded $3000 and publication on Palette Poetry. Second and third place will win $300 & $200 respectively, as well as publication. The top ten finalists will be selected by the editors, and guest judge Jos Charles will then select the winner and two runners-up. /End ID]

#poetry #poetry submissions #open calls #jos charles #palette poetry #wlw poetry #lesbian poetry #trans poetry #women poets #paid opportunity #sappho prize for women poets #trans friendly #lgbt poetry #queer poetry #literary journal #submissions wanted

[letssaygayjournal]

Happy Pride Month everyone! Let's Say Gay is partnering with Bridge Ink to extend and reach queer youth everywhere. We are pleased to announce our partnership, and would like to remind you that the deadline for submissions has been extended to July 1st.

Submit to LET’S SAY GAY! a literary journal for queer-identifying youth ages 13-18. We accept writing, poetry, visual art, and photography. We are accepting of all queer identities and the intersectionality and nuance that may accompany them. And it's free to submit! You don't even have to put your name out in the public. For more information on submission guidelines, go to lsglitjournal.com

#letssaygay #letssaygaylitjournal #lgbtq+ #lgbtqplus #lgbtq #zine submissions #zine promo #lit mag #lit mags #lit journal #literary journal #literary magazine #lgbtq youth #queer youth #queer community #lgbtq community #lgbtq positivity #poetry #art #photography #writing #queer zine #lgbtq representation #lgbtq pride #lgbtqia #lgbtq zine #bridge ink #pride month

[risingphoenixpress]

Submit your Micro Chapbooks Here

#poetry #poets on tumblr #spilled ink #palestine #writing #literature #lit mags #literary magazine #rising phoenix review #zine #zines #call for submissions