Are you interested in creative writing? Do you have a notebook full of poems or stories, but not sure what to do with them? Have you ever dreamed of seeing your writing published in a real, professional outlet?
Breaking into the literary scene is incredibly difficult…but it can be incredibly rewarding, too.
You don’t need to wait until you’ve finished college to start exploring opportunities to publish your work, nor do you need permission from anyone. All you need is enough confidence in your work to hit that “submit” button. But…where do you start? How can you even get published?
My advice: start by picking up a literary journal.
What is a Journal?
A lot of interesting and important works published by contemporary authors will first appear in a journal before it ever becomes a book.
Simply put, a journal is a literary magazine. They publish fiction, nonfiction, poetry, literary criticism, interviews with authors and publishers, and more. Some are tailored to a specific niche, while others accept any work. Some like to publish weird or experimental work, and others tends toward more traditional writing. Journals are published on a regular basis, often quarterly (once every three months).
There are several reasons to start reading literary journals:
- Learn What Other Writers are Doing: A lot of the most interesting and cutting-edge writing appears in journals. You can study what other authors do and how they do it.
- Learn What Editors Like to Publish: If someone’s work appears in a journal…that means someone decided to publish it. Familiarize yourself with what editors are looking for.
- Learn About the Industry: Publishing is a tough game, but you don’t have to go it alone. Reading journals related to your niche exposes you to the culture, practices, and other things to know ahead of time.
And of course…a literary journal is just great reading.
Where to Start
There are hundreds of different literary journals and magazines in publication. Some cover different niches, like genre fiction. Others are geared toward essays and creative nonfiction, or focus solely on spotlighting voices within a marginalized community.
If you’re looking to work in a specific niche, you can use Google or social media to help identify publications within that community. For more generalized publications, you can even check out your local book store to see which journals they keep in stock.
Not sure where to start? Not a problem. I recommend you begin your search by checking out some of the most widely-read journals and literary magazines on the market:
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is one of the country’s leading sources for journalism, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons, and poetry. The weekly magazine featured work from many of the most important names in 20th Century American literature.
The Paris Review
Though originating in Paris, The Paris Review has been published in New York since 1973. This quarterly publication remains among the longest-running and most prestigious literary journals in the world.
Kenyon Review
The Kenyon Review is a publication affiliated with Kenyon College, focused mainly on poetry and short fiction. The Kenyon Review claims the distinction of having published more O. Henry Award-winning stories than any other nonprofit journal.
F(r)iction
F(r)iction is a newer magazine, published by Tethered by Letters since 2015. F(r)iction publishes experimental, weird and fantastical writings, much of which is by new or previously-unpublished writers.
Ploughshares
Now based at Boston’s Emerson College, Ploughshares is another high-profile quarterly publication. The journal also hosts the yearly Ploughshares Emerging Writer’s Contest, with $2,000 prizes for fiction, poetry, and nonfiction writers.
Virginia Quarterly Review
The Virginia Quarterly Review publishes poetry, fiction, book reviews, essays, photography, and comics. Operating since 1925, the publication is based at the University of Virginia and, as the name implies, is published quarterly.
The Rumpus
The Rumpus is an online literary magazine founded in 2009. The magazine publishes interviews, book reviews, essays, comics, and criticism, plus original fiction and poetry. They also publish Letters for Kids, targeted at readers age 6-12.
The Iowa Review
The Iowa Review is published three times a year (April, August, and December) from the University of Iowa. The journal has featured a long list of notable contributors since the first edition almost fifty years ago.
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
What about genre fiction? Well, The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction has been a leader in the form for 70 years. The magazine also features interviews, scientific essays, criticism, and news from within the community.
The Southern Review
Another long-running quarterly, The Southern Review is based out of Louisiana State University and publishes fiction, poetry, critical essays, and excerpts from novels in progress by established and emerging writers.
Also, an honorable mention goes out to Tin House, a great publication who announced they would be shutting down the magazine side of their organization back in December 2018. They will refocus those energies on book releases and workshops for new and developing writers.