How to Match Your Writing to the Right Lit Mag

This was originally published as part of our free course, A Submitter’s Guide to Lit Mags, on The Forever Workshop. Read the original post in its entirety here.

If submitting to lit mags were a sport, time and money would be steroids. I have yet to figure out how to obtain more of those two things, so instead, I've found ways to organize what I've got. Since time is money and money is time, I'll just talk about "time" since the alternative makes me die a little inside.

The first step is figuring out what matters so you don't waste your time.

Two things matter:

1. Your work is good.
2. Your work fits.

Everything you do should be in pursuit of those two goals. It’s not that other things don’t matter, only that when you’re trying to get published, all other things don’t pay off to the same degree. Some examples of those other things that don't pay off in terms of submission success:

• Over-analyzing rejections. I don't read rejections. I glance at them, see a no or "unfortunately," and move on. Unless there is a specific note addressing the work, I archive it, and off I go. My work didn't meet their style or standards, or was the wrong piece at the wrong time. Rejections mean nothing.
• Over-analyzing minute details. A lot of folks agonize over small details. It’s truly not worth it. Your writing will be what stands out.
• Looking for the trick. There is no trick to getting accepted. Be good. Be on time. Be a little lucky.
• Checking on submissions. I don't submit anywhere that doesn’t allow simultaneous submissions unless their response time is super short. And if they go past their response time, I start submitting again. Chasing down editors to ask about work is a waste of time.

So what should you be spending your time doing?

Step 1: Writing → 70% of the time

All of the stages from "idea in my brain" to "perfectly polished work, formatted and ready to go." Don’t buy into the “write every day” advice. Do whatever works for you, but in the realm of submitting, make sure it takes up the vast majority of your time.

Step 2: Research → 20% of the time

Read lit mags because it increases your chances of acceptance. But how do you actually do that?

Passive research → Read, take notes, and enjoy

Read industry anthologies in the genres you write—Pushcart, Best American, Best Micros, Best of the Net. These will give you an idea of what's out there (and what lit mags published the pieces you’re reading).

Set aside even just an hour a week. Keep a log of all the lit mags you find that you might be interested in. Bookmark them on Chill Subs. Go from there.

Active analysis → Nobody in your life will understand why you do this, but do it

Once you've gathered some lit mags, dig deeper into their style. Erik Harper Klass, founder of Submitit, analyzes lit mags for a living and has something like an 80% hit rate. His breakdown for prose:

Before submitting, read at least two stories. Focus on: descriptive details and figurative language (do they overflow with literary devices?); sentence structure (one of the fingerprints of style); poetics (is there verbal playfulness, alliteration, interesting vocabulary?); experimentation (don't trust a journal's claim that it publishes "experimental fiction"—about half who say they do, do not); tone (casual vs. elevated, light vs. dark, humorous vs. serious). Also consider difficulty, international/historical settings, and underrepresented voices.

For poetry, Shannan Mann, editor of Only Poems, recommends "scanalyzing."

Get key descriptors for what a mag publishes: imagistic, lyrical, social justice, love/sex, formal, prose poems, experimental, genre-friendly. You're not trying to mold your poems into these styles, but understanding a mag's aesthetic will save you time and effort.

Step 3: Submitting → 10% of the time

Once you've done the writing and researching, submitting is about strategy. I submit once a month for a few hours—usually 20–30 lit mags at a time, targeting high and modulating down.

Some submitting strategies to consider:

Wide net: Submit one piece to up to 25 places at once. Good for beginners; less likely to land in prestigious mags.

Seek easy wins: Start with easier-to-get-into journals, build confidence, and move up. Good for beginners.

Best fit: Submit only to mags that seem like a strong match. Fewer rejections, more research time. Intermediate.

Play favorites: Focus on mags you admire; builds editor relationships. Intermediate.

Money-focused: Prioritize paying markets first. Requires patience. Intermediate and advanced.

Prestige-seeking: Start at the top, work down as rejected. Time-consuming. Advanced.

Go with your gut: A mix of the above based on instinct. Gets better as you learn the landscape. Advanced.

Theme chasing: Target themed submission windows. Less competition, but requires a specific piece. Intermediate.

Submit and forget it: Submit, then don't track or check until a result comes in. Beginner.

The Maurice method: Maurice Carlos Ruffin submits to nineteen places per piece, since there are so many factors behind a rejection. Beginner.

Create a schedule: Submit by year (aim for 100 submissions), by week, by routine, or by a specific goal.

Once you have chosen a technique that fits your goals and schedule, apply the research methodology to developing your list of victims.

I mean, target lit mags.