Don’t forget the handouts at: https://www.portlandwritersmill.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/20200117-Maren-Anderson.docx and https://www.portlandwritersmill.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Maren-Andersons-talk.pdf

And here are my notes from Maren’s talk.

If we’re going to submit our writing for publication, we should first spend some time choosing where to send it:

The first question is: What does this publication want?

1. Genre writing aims not to upset reader expectation. If you’re writing in a genre (romance for example), make sure you know what “beats” are required, and don’t break the rules.
2. Literary writing is more about craft.
3. The word genre can also mean poetry, essay, or fiction but you still need to know the expectations of the publication – do all their poems rhyme, or none of them; do they publish fiction, etc?
4. Other limitations for a publication might include:
   1. Geography – do authors have to live within a specific region
   2. Gender – women’s anthologies showcasing women writers for example
   3. Education level – Christian Science Monitor might be high school +. USA today is 7^th or 8^th grade reading level, and the Economist is… rather higher.
5. Publications often have a certain slant – feminism, environment, diversity, etc. However, anthologies run by volunteers can change year to year due to changeover of volunteers, so don’t just rely on the latest publication. In particular, when editors change, so does what they will choose to publish. It’s okay to resubmit something previously rejected.
6. If you find an editor that likes your sort of work, and they’re a paid editor (working for a journal funded by advertising, for example), you might want to follow them as they move to new publications and continue submitting to them.

The second question won’t have quite the same answers: Who is the publication aimed at? The people who write for a journal may not be the audience it’s sold to.

1. Some publications will tell you who they’re writing for, but others leave you to figure it out.
2. Literary works skew toward students and the 35-65 age group
3. A magazine written for women might publish lots of work written by men. Just make sure you know first.
4. Some magazines explicitly don’t publish, say, downbeat writing or writing about death. Make sure you know.
5. Peer reviewed journals are probably academic, aimed at graduates, professional.
6. Twitter and Facebook might give you some idea of who “follows” the journal, but even then, you may be finding writers rather than readers. That said, writers are typically very generous with advice and encouragement.

Ah, but how do you find those journals? Maren offered a very helpful list of resources in her notes. In particular, there are web pages where you can sign up to receive regular emails with information about places seeking submissions.

1. Submittable has a free and paid version, and sends emails: https://manager.submittable.com/opportunities/discover
2. Duotrope gives access to a giant database for a “small fee.” The database is searchable, so you can easily find obscure publications that might like what you’re written. https://duotrope.com/promo.aspx?ref=gaw&kw=duotrope
3. Poets and Writers is a magazine (e and print version) with lots of usefu information. https://www.pw.org/literary_magazines
4. Writers Digest likewise https://www.writersdigest.com/getting-published
5. And there are Facebook groups that you can join to learn more.
6. BUT, don’t forget the submission guidelines. You MUST follow them.

Bear in mind, not all anthologies can afford to pay; they have to pay to be advertised on Submittable (for example) and the money’s got to come from somewhere. Not all submissions are free for the same reason. So don’t make any assumptions. Also, bear in mind, some of those submission requests can be fascinating and strange – they just might encourage you to try your hand at something new (postcard stories anyone?)

What happens next?

1. Typically a publication wants 1^st North American serial publication rights, and you’re allowed to self-publish or publish elsewhere later.
2. It takes time: for example…
   1. Two month submission period
   2. Two month reading period
   3. 1 month editing period
   4. Then the acceptance and rejections might get sent out.
3. Most places accept simultaneous submissions and will congratulate you if someone else takes on your work. But you must keep track of your submissions, and let them know if your piece is accepted elsewhere.
4. Remember, since it all takes time, seasonal submissions must be made well before the season (say, at least 6 weeks before)
5. Some places edit your submission. Some ask you to edit. And some just take it as is.

Why might you want to do this?

1. There’s a huge feelgood factor to someone liking your work enough to publish it.
2. If you have books of your own, getting your name out there through anthologies will help people find them.
3. Experiment and risk are good for you, and good for your writing.

Thank you so much, Maren.