Literary magazines have been around for hundreds of years and feature a writing style different from what we commonly read. Many writers may see this style as a barrier and, therefore, never pitch these types of magazines. This writer is here to tell you there’s opportunity!

Is this writer the kind who graduated from a writing program with an MFA? No. Is this writer someone who has gotten published in literary magazines? Yes. Read on.

Before you take a leap into literary magazines, remember that they are difficult to break into. Most maintain high standards and will automatically reject your work if it’s not there. Others only publish writers who have either an MFA or an MLA. Most of these types of publications also prioritize writers who have received a prestigious writing award or been awarded a fellowship.

If this isn’t you, then stay with me. In order to surpass the barrier to getting published in a literary magazine, consider these tips:

Not all literary mags are the same

While most of these publications publish a more academic style of writing, there are others which don’t. In fact, some of them, such as Longleaf Review (https://longleafreview.com/) and The Stinging Fly (https://stingingfly.org/), are open to new writers. Some of them even accept genre fiction. One editor of a literary magazine shared an invitation to submit spooky stories for her Halloween issue. What matters is that the writing is good.

Read as many copies of these magazines as you can

Study for an idea of what kind of writing they publish. Read several issues and pay attention to specific requests in their guidelines. I read several poems in one literary magazine before submitting, and one of them was accepted. Familiarize yourself with what they publish. If they don’t have samples available online, look to Instagram or Twitter (X) to see if anything is shared there. Your library or bookstore might also have some copies. Then there’s always the option of buying a copy. After all, they cannot afford to pay if nobody buys.

Practice writing what they publish

When one lit mag editor requested a specific type of poetry from me, I got busy studying how to write it. I practiced writing these poems, with several revisions. After receiving positive feedback from beta readers, I submitted my poetry with this style, and it was accepted. If you can’t write something similar to what these magazines publish, practice the style and try them later. If it’s your goal to publish in a literary journal but their writing style is intimidating, just know that may achieve that caliber of writing over time. Have faith in yourself.

Consider critiques. Run your work by other writers who have been published in these magazines. Take a workshop on how to write for literary magazines. Some of these magazines will provide feedback, usually for a fee.

Some literary magazines are regional and only publish work from writers in their area, while others accept work from writers everywhere. Some only want work from undergrads, while others accept work from writers of all ages. Make sure you submit the right material to the right magazine.

Getting published in a literary magazine takes time and patience. Expect many rejections but hang in there. With practice, research, and persistence, your work will find a home.

Where to find literary magazines:
https://www.pw.org/literary_magazines
https://www.newpages.com/guide-to-magazines/literary-magazines/
https://www.brechtdepoortere.com/rankings 
https://www.erikakrousewriter.com/erika-krouses-ocd-ranking-of-483-literary-magazines-for-short-fiction

BIO: Dawn Colclasure is a writer in Oregon. She is a freelance writer, book reviewer, columnist, and author and co-author of over four dozen books. Her forthcoming titles from PsychoToxin Press include the YA horror story collection, The Worst Thing You Ever Did, and the psychological horror novella, All the Beautiful Things. She has work published in Skyline E-Magazine, HNDL Magazine, All My Relations, Halfway Down the Stairs and Front Porch Review, among others. https://dawnsbooks.com/ and https://www.dmcwriter.com/. Twitter @dawnwilson325 and @dawncolclasure.