How Do I Submit A Short Fiction Story To Literary Journals?

Question

Already have my piece polished but lost in the submission process. Need a clear breakdown of formatting, cover letters, and simultaneous submissions for lit mags.

TaraJay · Answer

That process involves researching suitable journals for your genre, preparing a clean manuscript according to their specific submission guidelines (usually found on their website), and then sending it out, typically via email or an online submission manager. It's a lot of work, but it's the standard path. Speaking of short fiction, I recently read 'YEARNERS: A COLLECTION SHORT STORIES' and was impressed by its tight, character-driven vignettes—each story feels like a complete world, which is a great benchmark for the form if you're looking for examples of contemporary standalone pieces.

Yara · Answer

When I’m gearing up to submit, I take a very checklist-driven approach. First, find journals whose recent stories resonate with your voice—subscribe to their newsletters, read the latest issue, and save editors’ names if they’re public. Second, make sure your manuscript follows the journal’s formatting rules to the letter: font, spacing, file type, word count, and whether they want your name on the document. Some places want blind submissions; others don’t, so don’t guess.

Third, prepare a concise cover letter. Keep it friendly and tiny—greeting, title + word count, one-line bio (if they request credits), and a note about simultaneous submissions if you’re using them. If a journal charges a fee or runs a contest, treat that separately—read rules carefully; contests sometimes have different rights and deadlines. Use Submittable, email, or their preferred portal and paste/attach as specified.

Fourth, track everything: I use a simple spreadsheet with columns for date sent, reply-by date (if given), and status. Be patient—response times can be weeks or months. If they provide a response timeframe, wait at least that long before nudging. If rejected, don’t stew—revise and send elsewhere. If accepted, read the contract carefully about rights and exclusivity before signing. Over time you’ll build a sense of which markets like your work and which stories belong where—trust that instinct, and keep submitting.

Faith · Answer

I treat submissions like sending little stories on a quest: pick a target, equip your manuscript, and launch. My quick routine is this—read the journal first so the story actually belongs there, format to their specs (12pt serif, double-spaced unless they say otherwise), and save as the preferred file type. I write a tiny cover letter—greeting, title, word count, and one-line bio if asked—and I’m honest about simultaneous submissions. I track every send in a spreadsheet with dates and portals (Submittable, email, etc.), because ghosting is normal and patience is a virtue.

A few nuts-and-bolts notes that save headaches: don’t put your name on the manuscript if they request blind submissions; include a header with word count if asked; attach as .docx or paste into the body only when instructed; don’t submit previously published work unless it’s labeled reprint. Expect rejections and treat them as editing fuel—revise, move on, and submit again. When a journal accepts, read the rights language carefully (they usually want first publication rights), and withdraw immediately from other places. Mostly, keep writing and submitting—the small wins add up and make it all worth it.

Bria · Answer

I get a little giddy talking about submissions—there’s something about polishing a piece and sending it out that feels like mailing a tiny, hopeful letter into the world. My process starts with research: I read recent issues of magazines I like (I keep a little stack of print issues and a folder of PDFs) so I know their tone, length preferences, and whether they publish the kind of weird/quiet/hard-boiled things I write. Then I check the submission guidelines on their website or Submittable page—this is sacred. If they want double-spaced 12pt Times New Roman, that’s what they get; if they want single-spaced or a particular file type, I follow that exactly.

When it comes to formatting, I treat the manuscript like a professional artifact: title centered on the first page, word count at the top or in the file name if requested, no name on the manuscript if they ask for blind submissions, and I usually upload a .docx unless they say otherwise. My cover letter is short—two to four lines. I say hello, give the title and word count, mention a relevant previous credit if I have one, and thank them for considering it. If a journal uses email, I paste the story into the body only if they explicitly ask; otherwise I attach. I always declare if it’s a simultaneous submission and withdraw promptly if it’s accepted elsewhere.

Practical tools keep me sane: I track submissions in a spreadsheet (title, date sent, response time, simultaneous allowed?), and I use Duotrope or The Submission Grinder to find markets and estimate response times. Rejections burn for a second and then I revise or send elsewhere. After a few rounds you learn to match story to journal better, which feels like leveling up. It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but every accept is the best kind of caffeine.

KateMills · Answer

Reading fees are a hot topic. I get why people resent them, but running a journal is expensive. Submittable charges fees, website hosting costs money, and editors are often volunteers. A $3 fee helps keep the lights on and often filters out the most casual, unpolished submissions. That said, I always look for fee-free options first, especially for new writers. Many journals waive the fee for certain groups (students, low-income) or have periodic fee-free submission windows. Others use a tiered model: pay a fee for a faster response. It's a personal calculation. I might pay a fee for a journal I truly admire and want to support, but I won't bankrupt myself submitting to every contest with a $20 entry.

MarkCox · Answer

Can we talk about the importance of the title and first line in a submission? They're your first impression in a slush pile. An intriguing title makes me want to start reading. A compelling first line makes me want to continue. I've seen slush readers talk about how they give a story a paragraph, sometimes just a sentence, to grab them. Your title shouldn't be an afterthought. It should hint at the theme, tone, or conflict. And that first line? It should create a question, an image, or an emotion that demands resolution. Workshop your opening relentlessly. The rest of the story can be brilliant, but if the first page doesn't hook a tired editor, they might never see it.

AmeliaRed · Answer

Formatting your manuscript is non-negotiable. Use Shunn's Modern Manuscript format as a baseline—it's the industry standard. That means 1-inch margins, double spacing, a header with your last name and page number. Title centered about a third of the way down the page, byline underneath. Then the story begins. No fancy fonts, no images. This isn't a design project; it's about readability. Editors read hundreds of these; a weird format is distracting and signals amateurism. Also, proofread, then proofread again, then have a friend proofread. A comma splice in the first line can prejudice an already tired reader against the entire piece. It sounds harsh, but attention to detail shows respect for the editor and the process.

WesWells · Answer

Research is everything. Don't just Google 'literary journals.' Find writers you admire and see where they published their early work. Look at the 'Also by' sections in collections you love. Websites like The Review Review and Entropy publish lists and reviews of journals. When you find a journal, read at least one full issue, preferably two. Does your story feel like it belongs in that company? Submitting to 'The New Yorker' as a beginner is basically a donation to their slush fund. Aim for a mix: a few dream journals, a solid list of mid-tier places that are a good fit, and some excellent newer or more niche publications that might be more open to emerging voices.

ReidKent · Answer

Honestly, the administrative side drains my creative energy sometimes. I use a free tool called Duotrope to search for journals by genre, reading period, and submission fee status. It's a fantastic resource for finding open calls. Some journals charge a small fee, which helps support their operations, but there are plenty of reputable ones that are free to submit to. Always check the response time—some can take a week, others nine months. I've had stories accepted after a year of radio silence! Make sure your manuscript is absolutely polished; typos are an instant turn-off for overworked editors. And please, for the love of all that's literary, don't argue with a rejection. It's a small community, and burning bridges is a terrible idea.

How Do I Submit A Short Fiction Story To Literary Journals?

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