Poet’s Guide to Submitting to Literary Journals
What’s stopping you from submitting?
In this three-hour workshop, you’ll bring in some poems and lots of questions, and leave with a submission packet (including a cover letter and bio) and clear next steps for exactly where to send it. This is not the kind of event where you’ll just take notes that then gather dust, but rather an active experience that will remove practical barriers to getting your poems out there! Depending on how ready you feel your work is, if you take an extra 30 minutes after the class you could have your shiny new packet waiting in an editor’s inbox before the end of the day.
This class covers:
- Why you should bother submitting in the first place, and the benefits this traditional publishing path provides versus publishing your work via social media and similar direct channels (from a poet who does both).
- The lay of the land of literary magazines to give you a good idea of what’s out there and what your options are.
- Defining your goals so you’re clear on what you want to get out of the process.
- How to find the best journals for you and your work.
- How the submission process works.
- How to compile a successful manuscript and submission package. You’ll write your bio and cover letter in class and leave with at least a solid draft, if not something ready to send.
- What to expect when (and after) submitting.
- Free resources including an easy-to-follow submission checklist, sample bios and cover letters, and a guide to using Duotrope and Submittable to find and submit to literary journals.
- Tips and tricks to make the process as efficient, fruitful, and enjoyable as possible!
Good for both beginners (those who have yet to submit their work) or those who are looking for some tricks to make the process easier, get some additional resources, and/or refine their submission package or strategies.
Your guide is Ana Reisens, an emerging poet who has published in over 40 journals (and counting) since she started submitting in 2020, without a preexisting literary network. This past fall she was nominated for a Pushcart Prize and Best of the Net, and she’s also one of the readers who reviews work as part of The Mud Season Review‘s submission process. Learn more about her in this interview. She’s excited to share what she’s learned to help you see how submitting to literary magazines can be quick, easy…and even enjoyable.
As a bonus, upon registering you’ll get a copy of Ana’s guide “The 20 Most Approachable Literary Journals for New Poets,” which may change how you think about journal submissions. The magazines on the list not only have a higher-than-average acceptance rate, but also respond relatively quickly. Ana has not yet made this available anywhere else, and when she does, it will likely be in a different form.
Join us for three productive hours designed to bring a jolt of energy to your submission process.
Note: This class was offered once already in May 2024. We’d love to host it again! If you’d like to join us, please let us know by entering your email below.
When: On a weekend day to be determined from 12:30 pm EST to 3:30 pm EST. A replay recording will be sent to all students.
Where: Zoom
Cost: $35
Instructor: Ana Reisens
What You’ll Need: About 4-8 poems that you think you’d like to include in a submission package.
Sign up to be notified when registration for this course opens by submitting your email below. Signing up for updates does not commit you to taking the class. Which classes open in the future will depend on which classes get the most interest – so please do sign up for updates if you want to see a class happen! Entering your email for more than one class is encouraged.