How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses

A comprehensive guide to getting published and building a literary reputation through small presses and magazines—and taking ownership of your own publishing life

This essential guide is the first of its kind to chart a path to publication that is writer led, community based, and accessible to all. How to Submit speaks to writers who want to publish short stories, essays, or poems in literary magazines, as well as to those looking for a fresh route to publishing a full-length book.

Whether you’re a first-time submitter or you have experience sending out your work, How to Submit provides you with the tools and knowledge to successfully share your writing. It’s also a manifesto for finding joy in the process, arguing that seeking publication should give writers energy, not take it from them.

In clear and encouraging chapters, veteran small press author and instructor Dennis James Sweeney shares the secrets of his success, such as:

• practical advice on formulating a submissions plan, including choosing where to submit and whether to submit to contests

• tips for writing a standout cover letter, as well as using an encouraging rejection letter to greatest advantage

• strategies on how to manage wait times and payment

• suggestions for building connections with editors, readers, and fellow writers and increasing your involvement in the literary world

Perfect for writers of any genre, How to Submit demystifies the small press and literary magazine landscape for those seeking a place for their work that really feels like home.

"There are plenty of sources available—online and in print—that provide lists of where to submit your writing this guide explains how to submit. Dennis James Sweeney brings together case studies and his own experiences as an author and teacher to help writers find more success with their writing. This book has it all."—Robort Leo Brower, editor of Writer's Market and senior editor of Writer's Digest

© 2025 Recorded Books (Audiobook): 9798895940617

Release date

Audiobook: February 25, 2025