Literary Magazine Submissions: 10 Steps to Get Published

Submitting to literary magazines can feel like trying to hit a moving target. You’re juggling deadlines, different genres, and a bunch of rules that seem to change from one publication to the next. Honestly, I’ve been there—one minute you’re feeling confident, and the next you realize you missed a formatting requirement and your submission is basically dead on arrival.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be chaotic. I’ve gone through this process enough times to know there’s a pretty repeatable flow: find open markets, read their rules like you mean it, prep your piece properly, and then submit in a way that’s respectful and organized.

Ready to get your work in front of editors? Let’s do it.

Step 1: Find Literary Magazines Accepting Submissions Right Now

Start with the obvious question: where can you actually send your work today? Most literary magazines don’t run year-round open submissions. They usually open for a window—often a couple months—and then close while they read.

In my experience, the fastest way to spot open markets is using reputable directories like Poets & Writers and submission hubs like Submittable. These are especially useful when you’re trying to build a list quickly and you don’t want to click through 30 separate sites.

I also like subscribing to free newsletters that track open calls. Authors Publish sends weekly updates, and it’s the kind of thing that saves you from that classic mistake: submitting to a magazine that “was open” last month.

Quick tip I live by: before you hit submit, re-check the magazine’s website. Status changes happen, and not every directory updates instantly. It’s annoying, but it’s cheaper than sending a submission into a closed window.

Step 2: Check Guidelines Like Word Counts, Genres, and Submission Limits

If you want to avoid instant rejections, this is the step that matters most. Editors are busy. They’re not rejecting you because they hate your writing—they’re rejecting you because your submission doesn’t match what they asked for.

Here are the guideline details I always scan first:

• Word counts: short fiction is often something like 1,000–7,500 words, while poetry submissions may require multiple poems (for example, 3–5 per batch).
• Genre restrictions: some magazines are very specific. If they say they’re primarily poetry, don’t send fiction and hope for the best.
• Simultaneous submissions: some magazines allow you to submit elsewhere while you wait; others explicitly don’t. This isn’t just a “rule”—it’s an ethics thing.
• File formats: you’ll usually see DOC, DOCX, or RTF. I’d treat PDF as a “no” unless they specifically ask for it.

Also, take competition into account. Split Lip Magazine, for example, reported nearly 1,000 submissions in a recent year. That means you really can’t afford to ignore the basics. Follow the instructions, and you move your piece from “not a fit” to “worth reading.”

Step 3: Prepare Your Writing for Submission (Fiction, Poetry, Nonfiction)

Let me be blunt: your submission has to survive first impressions. Editors may be skimming hundreds (or thousands) of pieces, and even great writing can get overlooked if it looks unfinished or hard to read.

Making your work submission-ready isn’t just spell-checking. It’s polishing until it feels clean on the page. What do I mean by that?

• Clarity: reread for confusing sentences, sudden jumps, and paragraphs that don’t earn their place.
• Consistency: tense, formatting, capitalization, and punctuation should stay stable.
• Sound: read it out loud if it’s dialogue-heavy or lyrical. Your ear catches problems your eyes miss.

One thing that genuinely helps: get fresh eyes. I’ll often swap with a critique partner or ask a trusted friend to do a quick pass for typos and readability. It’s not about rewriting for them—it’s about catching what you stop seeing when you’ve stared at the same pages for weeks.

And if you’re targeting a specific magazine, don’t guess their vibe. Read recent selections in the same genre you’re submitting (nonfiction essays, creative poetry, or short fiction). The details matter—sentence rhythm, imagery, pacing, and how “experimental” they’re willing to be.

Formatting is part of this too. When editors first open your file, they’re looking at structure: page numbers, margins, and a readable font. If you want a quick reference for presentation, this guide on best fonts for book covers and page formatting can help you think through typography choices (even though magazines may have their own standards).

Bottom line: make it easy for them to read. If the editor doesn’t have to fight the document, they can focus on the story/poem/essay.

Step 4: Identify Magazines That Pay for Accepted Work

Here’s a question a lot of writers don’t ask early enough: do they pay? Some magazines pay cash, some pay with contributor copies, and some do… neither (or don’t make it clear).

If money matters to you, check the submissions page and look for payment terms. I’d rather know upfront than waste a submission slot.

Payment can show up in a few common ways:

• Per piece: for example, $50 for a short story or $25 per poem.
• Per word: like a set rate per word (e.g., 5 cents/word).
• Contributor copies: sometimes they don’t pay cash but they provide print or digital copies.

One tradeoff I’ve noticed: higher-paying or more prestigious outlets can be more competitive. The New Yorker, for instance, has been reported as accepting around 0.14% of unsolicited submissions per year. If you’re aiming there, you’ll want to be extra careful with fit and presentation.

That said, even if you’re early in your publishing journey, submitting to a magazine that pays (even modestly) can still be a solid credibility boost.

Step 5: Format Your Submission Clearly and Follow All Instructions Given

Editors can handle a lot. But they shouldn’t have to decode your document. If your submission looks messy—weird spacing, unreadable fonts, missing page numbers—you’re making the editor’s job harder.

What I aim for is simple, standard formatting:

• Double-spacing (unless they say otherwise)
• Times New Roman or Arial, usually 12 pt
• 1-inch margins on all sides
• Clear page numbers and a header with your contact info if they request it

Poetry can be trickier. If a magazine asks for a specific structure (line breaks, spacing, or formatting conventions), follow it exactly. I always preview the file after exporting, because what looks right in Word doesn’t always look right once it’s saved and reopened.

Some magazines provide templates or examples. If they do, use them. It’s one of those boring steps that signals you’re paying attention.

And if you want a general reference point for typography and layout, you can look at best fonts for book covers and page formatting—just remember the magazine’s instructions come first.

Step 6: Write Personalized Cover Letters If Required

Not every submission needs a cover letter. But if the magazine asks for one, I treat it like a quick handshake.

What I don’t do: copy-paste a generic template and call it a day. Editors can tell. And if you can’t be bothered to personalize, why should they give your work extra attention?

A good cover letter is usually short—two or three paragraphs. Include:

• The magazine name (correctly)
• A specific reason you like their work (tie it to something they’ve published)
• A brief description of your piece (title, genre, and maybe a one-sentence hook)
• Any relevant publication credits, if you have them

Example of the kind of line that works: “I really enjoyed your recent poetry issue, especially the poem XYZ, and my piece leans into similar themes and imagery.” See the difference? It’s specific. It’s not vague.

Also, be respectful of their time. Don’t turn it into a life story. Give them enough context to decide whether to read closely.

Step 7: Submit Using Preferred Platforms (Online Submission Managers)

Most magazines now want submissions through a platform. Common ones include Submittable and Duosuma.

In practice, these tools make life easier. You get a dashboard, you can see status updates, and you’re not constantly digging through emails to figure out what happened.

If the magazine says “use our submission manager,” then use it. Don’t email extra attachments unless they specifically ask you to.

One small tip: check the status labels. You might see things like “in progress,” “accepted,” or “declined.” It sounds obvious, but I’ve watched writers obsessively refresh their inbox when the real update was already sitting in the platform.

And yes—save your login details somewhere safe. If you’re submitting across multiple magazines, you’ll be juggling more than one account.

Step 8: Manage Simultaneous Submissions Responsibly (Withdraw Quickly If Needed)

Simultaneous submissions are when you send the same piece to multiple places at once. It’s usually allowed unless a magazine says it isn’t.

Here’s the part that matters: if one magazine accepts your work, you should withdraw from the others fast. That’s basic professional courtesy.

Why be so quick? Because editors talk, and relationships matter. You never know when you’ll want to submit again—and you want them to remember you as reliable, not complicated.

If you used a submission platform, withdrawals are often built in with a simple button. If you’re doing manual withdrawals, send a short, polite email letting the editor know the piece was accepted elsewhere.

Keep it clean. No drama. Just: “Thanks for your time—I've been accepted elsewhere and am withdrawing.”

Step 9: Keep Track of Your Submissions and Response Deadlines

If you submit a handful of pieces, you can probably remember what you did. But if you’re sending multiple submissions per month (which most of us end up doing), you’ll need a system.

I use a simple spreadsheet, and it works. No special software required.

Include columns like:

• Magazine name
• Submission title
• Date submitted
• Expected decision timeframe (if listed)
• Simultaneous submission status (allowed? yes/no?)
• Current status (under review, rejected, accepted, withdrawn)

Also, check the magazine’s stated response time. If they say “we respond within 8–12 weeks,” don’t follow up the next day. On the flip side, if the timeline passes and you were asked to wait until a certain date, that’s when a follow-up makes sense.

This kind of tracking prevents two common problems: forgetting submissions (and accidentally resubmitting the same work) and sending follow-ups too early.

Step 10: Increase Your Chances by Reading Previously Published Work in Magazines You’re Targeting

If there’s one “secret” that isn’t really a secret, it’s this: read what they publish. And don’t just skim the titles—actually pay attention to what gets selected.

What I look for when I read recent issues:

• Voice: Is it lyrical, punchy, conversational, formal?
• Length and pacing: Do they like tight scenes or sprawling narratives?
• Themes: What topics keep showing up?
• Experiment level: Are they experimental with structure, or more traditional?

For example, Dryland Literary Magazine publishes mostly poetry. If they fill roughly 40 of 55 spots with poetry, then sending poetry (if it matches your style) may genuinely improve your odds compared to submitting fiction.

And if you realize your work doesn’t match their typical selections? No worries. That’s useful information. Move on and find a magazine where your voice fits better.

Sometimes inspiration comes from the magazine itself. I’ve had “okay, I need a seasonal piece” moments after reading what they’ve published before. Even something as simple as seasonal writing prompts can spark a new draft that’s tailor-made for a specific call.

It’s time-consuming, sure—but it makes your submissions more targeted. And targeted submissions are the ones that tend to get read closely.

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