Submitting to Literary Journals: A Practical Guide to Finding and Submitting Your Poetry for Publication
4 min read
Publishing poetry in literary journals can feel mysterious, even intimidating. But at its core, submitting work is less about cracking a secret code and more about building intentional connections between your writing and the editors actively looking for new voices. Think of it as matchmaking: you are pairing your poems with the journals most likely to love them.
This guide breaks the process into manageable steps, with strategies to help you move from hesitant beginner to confident submitter.
Submitting your poetry to Journals can help you:
- Find your audience. Readers discover new poets in journals every day.
- Build credibility. Publication credits look good in bios, applications, and grant proposals.
- Test your work. Rejections and acceptances both offer clues about what resonates.
- Join a community. Journals are often hubs for conversations, readings, and fellowships.
Submitting is less about validation, more about growth and visibility.
Step 1: Research With Intention
Not every journal is right for every poet. Submitting everywhere is like casting a net in the desert. Instead, focus your search.
- Start with directories. Poets & Writers, Submittable Discover, and Duotrope allow you to filter by genre, submission fees, and response times.
- Look local. Regional or university-affiliated journals often love to highlight writers in their area.
- Check themes. Many journals release themed issues. Your city poems might fit perfectly in a special Urban Landscapes issue.
Pro tip: build a spreadsheet of journals that interest you. Include word or line limits, reading periods, editor notes, and deadlines.
Step 2: Read Before You Submit
Editors can tell immediately when a poet has not read their publication. Every journal has its own voice. Some lean experimental, some formal, some narrative. Submitting blindly is like walking into a costume party without knowing the theme.
- Read at least one issue. Even skimming will give you the flavor of the journal.
- Notice what is consistent. Do they prefer free verse, persona poems, long lines?
- Look at contributor bios. You will learn what stage writers are in their careers.
If your poem feels like it could sit comfortably alongside what is published, submit. If not, save it for another venue.
Step 3: Prepare Your Submission Packet
Think of your packet as your introduction to editors. Sloppy submissions often get tossed before the poem is even read.
- Follow the guidelines exactly. If the journal wants single-spaced poems in one PDF, give them exactly that.
- Choose your strongest 3–5 poems. Editors read hundreds of submissions. Quality over quantity matters.
- Polish, do not rush. Revise until your language is as sharp as possible. Consider peer feedback or a trusted workshop.
- Write a professional cover letter. Short and simple: name, brief bio (2–3 sentences), and titles of included poems.
Example bio: Julia Press Simmons is the author of [book title]. Her work has appeared in [Journal 1, Journal 2]. She lives in Philadelphia.
Step 4: Track, Rotate, Repeat
Submissions are a numbers game. A single packet will not cut it. You need a system.
- Create a log. Use a spreadsheet or Submittable’s dashboard to record where and when you sent each poem.
- Simultaneous submissions. Unless forbidden, send a poem to multiple journals. Withdraw it immediately if accepted.
- Recycle fast. When a rejection comes in, do not mope. Resend that poem to the next journal on your list.
Over time, you will develop a rhythm. Each month, aim to have at least 5–10 poems out for consideration.
Step 5: Understand Rejections
Even the best poets, including the famous ones, get rejections. Here is how to handle them:
- Form rejection: Standard “thank you but no.” Do not overthink it.
- Tiered rejection: A note like “we encourage you to submit again” signals you are close.
- Personal rejection: Editors comment on your work. This is gold. Save those notes, because they mean your poems stood out.
Rejection is not failure. It is proof you are in the game.
Step 6: Build Relationships
Editors are people, not gatekeepers sitting on a throne. Engaging with the literary community can make submissions feel less transactional.
- Attend readings hosted by journals.
- Share and celebrate issues you enjoy on social media.
- Support journals that publish voices like yours.
Over time, your name will become familiar, and your submissions may get an extra careful read.
Step 7: Think Long Game
One publication credit is nice. A body of work across multiple journals builds momentum. Use each acceptance to:
- Update your bio.
- Apply for residencies, contests, or grants.
- Build a poetry portfolio you can later turn into a manuscript.
Submitting is less about getting in and more about growing into the writer you are becoming.
Submitting to literary journals requires patience, organization, and persistence. But it is also one of the most empowering steps you can take as a poet. You are sharing your voice with editors and readers who are hungry for fresh work.
Start small. Stay consistent. Treat rejections as part of the process, not the end of it. And remember: every poem you send out is an act of faith in your own voice.
