Submitting to Literary Magazines: Our Quick Guide

By: Iris Cai, Felix Chen, Jessica Wang

Due to popular demand, our editors-in-chief at Eucalyptus Lit have compiled a quick guide to navigating the submission process. We hope it serves you well!

1. Understand the magazine you’re submitting to

Before submitting, make sure familiarize yourself with the magazines you’re interested in. Duotrope and Chillsubs are great resources to find information, as are many writer webpages such as NewPages and Authors Publish. Each magazine has its own unique style, focus, and audience, which may be outlined on their website: be careful to ensure that the work you’re submitting to a journal aligns with what they publish! Read through past issues to get a feel for the magazine’s aesthetic and thematic preferences. This will not only increase your chances of acceptance, but also ensure that you've picked the ideal place to house your work.

2. Follow the submission guidelines

Every literary magazine has its own set of submission guidelines, which are typically detailed on their website. Adhering to these guidelines is crucial: editors are busy and may automatically reject faulty submissions. Pay attention to specifics like:

• Word Count: Adhere to the magazine’s maximum and minimum word limits.

• Format: Common formats include double-spaced text for prose and single-spaced text for poetry, standard margins (1 inch), and serif font types like Times New Roman or EB Garamond.

• File Type: Most magazines prefer .doc, .docx, or .pdf files. 

3. Prepare a strong cover letter

Many magazines ask for a cover letter, which may be pasted as the body of your email or attached as a separate file. Check out our guide to writing cover letters here!

4. Prepare your submission

Ensure your manuscript is free from errors before submission. Proofread for grammatical mistakes, typos, and inconsistencies. Some journals will accept and ask you to fix any typos afterward—but it’s a good look to have a well-polished piece submitted in the first place. 

5. Submit your work

Many literary magazines use online submission platforms such as Submittable, while others may accept submissions via email, Google Form, or even postal mail. Follow the submission instructions exactly as outlined. If you’re submitting electronically, make sure your files are in the right format (.pdf or .docx?) and named appropriately (e.g., “LastName_FivePoems.docx”).

6. Keep track of your submissions

Keep a record of when and where you’ve submitted your work; this can be as easy as a Google Sheets page. Our editors like to track the date we submitted and the status of each piece (accepted, pending, rejected). Note the magazine’s response time and follow up only if their guidelines explicitly state that you should do so after a certain period. 

7. Celebrate the process

When you receive an acceptance letter, take the time to celebrate and share your work with others! But also don’t be discouraged when faced with rejections: each magazine has its own timeline and aesthetic, and oftentimes it is not a reflection of your skill but of a simple matter of fit. Always remember that your voice is important and deserves to be heard!

After each submission, applaud yourself for taking the time and care to witness, create, and share. Writing and publishing is not an end goal but a process by which we, together, try to make sense of our world.