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I see you, girl with a Notes app filled with discarded poetry. I’ve been you. Trust me, I know how terrifying the prospect of sharing your work with the world might be, but this is your sign. It’s time to open the vault.
There’s something kind of incredible about seeing your own writing in print. It takes you from being just a passive observer in the literary sphere, a consumer of other people’s words, to an active participant. It makes you an official, capital-W Writer. Not that you weren’t a writer before (what is being a writer if not a state of mind, anyway?) but having the ability to tell people that you’ve been published definitely helps. And getting published isn’t actually as difficult as it might seem.
What is a literary journal?
A literary journal, also called a literary magazine or a “lit mag”, is a platform or publication that features creative writing such as poetry and fiction. Originally, these were all physical magazines, but now many of them exist digitally.
Literary journals are great for readers, since they’re essentially just a curated selection of good writing, but they’re also an amazing way for writers to get their work out there. There are many, many different literary magazines, ranging from super casual to extremely renowned and prestigious.
Terms you need to know
Cover letter: Literary journal cover letters are sort of like job cover letters, but briefer and less pathetic. Usually, they need to include the titles of your pieces and a tiny bit of background about you (like previous publications). Check out this guide to literary cover letters!
Bio: A short list of your accomplishments, in the third person. Often, there’s a word limit. Mine right now is: Trina Das is an emerging poet. Her work has recently appeared in the Poetry Foundation’s Poetry magazine. She was a finalist for the 2024 Montreal International Poetry Prize. Trina enjoys glitter gel pens and the company of her cat.
Simultaneous submissions: When you submit the same piece to multiple magazines at the same time. Usually, a magazine will clarify whether they allow you to do this or not. If they do, you have to notify them immediately if your piece gets accepted elsewhere.
Where to find literary journals
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