How to get published for the first time
Using the "more is more" tactic.
Welcome back to Soft Hobbies, a weekly creative check-in for imperfect perfectionists with limited time and unlimited distractions. You can respond to this post by liking it, leaving a comment, or replying to the email. I’m Auzin, a Seattle-based writer in the fiction, poetry, and tech writing spheres. For more of my work, go here.
Hi softies,
Today, I’m bringing you an article that I wrote in 2022 for Write or Die magazine. It’s for new writers who are looking to get their work published for the first time. If you think it could be helpful to anyone in your life, feel free to forward this email to them. Best of luck in all your creative endeavors!
So, you’re thinking of publishing your work for the first time.
From one writer to another, congratulations! You’re ready to share your work with the public, and that’s courageous behavior. I’m proud of you, and I want to help you find a home for all your precious words. I’ve placed my work in print and digital over 25 times, and it was all within the last three years.
When you’re new to publishing, everything is intimidating and confusing. You just want to know that your work is worth reading. It’s totally natural to want validation as a writer, since our struggle to produce work is mostly invisible to others. Your family and friends might not support your work, or you may struggle to summon creative energy after your day job runs you ragged. The world is typically not kind to artists unless they “prove themselves” in an unfair, rigged system.
This is why independent literary magazines and presses are a gift to writers. Do you want someone to take a chance on you? Do you want to be told that your work is excellent, well-written, important, etc? My first publication was life-changing and made me feel like a writer, not just someone who writes. The magazine was small and didn’t pay, but the editors were kind to me and generous with their promotion. I knew immediately that I wanted to publish more.
Let’s explore a much-maligned tactic for getting published: sending out submissions with a “more is more” mindset.
Figure out your requirements.
Submitting to a lot of markets doesn’t mean you’ll throw your work at anyone. You should have standards, even as a new writer! Your work deserves it.
For example, I like seeing a mission statement page and a masthead, preferably with photos of the staff. I want my words to live in places that are inclusive, welcoming, and innovative – not upholding tired standards of what is “literary” and who can write or edit it.
What’s important to you? Do you want to submit to only places that will print your work physically? Or maybe you’re attracted to a large social media presence? Whatever your requirements are, take note of them and use them to filter your submissions. Hint: Chill Subs has a vast array of filters in their database to help you find exactly what you need!
Keep track of everything; keep everything on track.
It’s pretty easy to submit the same piece to a market multiple times (guilty!). Getting organized feels powerful, and it doesn’t have to be hard or expensive. I use a Google Sheet to list all my pieces that need homes, and I use Chill Subs and Submittable to track the status of current submissions. The best method is the one you’ll use, so try a few different ones. You’ll feel proud of yourself and pro as hell.
Practice welcoming rejection.
Lots of submissions means lots of rejections, and that’s true at any level of experience. A rejection does not mean that you or your work lack quality. It just means “not here, not now” and that’s okay. Do the emotional processing that you need to do, and know that facing rejection will get easier with time. The road to “we love your work and feel so lucky to publish it,” is paved with “no thank you.” Rejections are an uncomfortable but necessary part of getting published as a creative.
Don’t submit work that has never been seen by another person.
There are so many free options for excellent feedback. Check out Pencilhouse, writers’ workshops in your area, virtual feedback circles, or even a trusted friend who has great taste. Nobody is above critique or revision. This goes beyond your creative work! Your cover letters, queries, and follow-up emails should partner with your work to make a good impression.