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Lesson On Literary Magazines So you’ve heard that literary magazines are a great way to get discovered in the publishing world. You pick up your copy of the Literary Marketplace (LMP) or hop onto the Internet and soon discover hundreds of magazines out there. Which are the best? Is it even worth the hassle? Literary magazines have long been touted as one of the best ways to break into the literary world. Traditionally, these publications were produced by universities as a way of broadening students’ minds and providing them with an outlet for their work. While many established journals are still run by universities, including the Alaska Quarterly Review and Emerson College’s Ploughshares, literary magazines have expanded past the realm of colleges and are published far and wide. In fact, some of the most reputable titles, such as The Paris Review, have no educational affiliations whatsoever. There is no doubt that literary magazines have had an influence in the careers of several well-known authors of the twentieth century. Jack Kerouac and George Steiner had their first works published by The Paris Review and John Irving was originally printed in Ploughshares. Recently, however, there has been some question as to whether literary magazines still have the influence they once enjoyed or whether the expansion of titles in the industry, paired with today’s modern technology and influx of literary agents, has made printed journals a thing of the past. The general consensus is that literary magazines still have extraordinary influence on publishers and the literary world in general. Agents and editors regularly read these journals to find new talent and according to the Directory of Literary Magazines, "Through literary magazines, writers see their art in print and are given a permanent place in our culture. At the same time, readers may discover new voices and talents and experience a wide range of quality literature which is excluded from or underrepresented in the commercial marketplaces." Literary publications generally expect to work with new writers, so they are more willing to accept pieces from "first-time" authors who have no previous published works. They are often more likely to publish experimental or longer stories than regular mainstream magazines, although mainstream magazines have been known to pick up works and authors who have had success in smaller literary journals. Literary magazines also provide the opportunity to be nominated for industry awards, such as the "O. Henry Short Story Award" or the "Pushcart Prize." These awards offer wide recognition as well as the chance to have your story included into an anthology of prize-winning works. And while it may seem disheartening that there are so many literary magazines to choose from, this may actually work to your benefit. Research the market to find out which magazines fit the genre of your work. No matter what your style and format, there is probably a literary magazine willing to consider (and hopefully publish!) your piece. Sound too good to be true? Keep in mind that literary magazines often offer low or no monetary pay to publish your work. Many offer free copies or subscriptions to the magazine in exchange for publication rights and those that do pay average out at $50 per piece. However, there are always exceptions to the rule and you may stumble upon a magazine that is willing to pay a few hundred or even a thousand dollars for your original work. Beware of publications that charge "reading fees;" the most reputable magazines will not charge to read your manuscript and credits from those who do won’t count much. In conclusion, literary magazines are well worth the effort. Even if the pay is nominal, you are guaranteed to get some critical publishing experience, a new clip to add to your writing portfolio and another contact to add to your database. With a little luck, you may even become the next Jack Kerouac.
BUY THE BOOK BY CLICKING HERE. Jennifer Renk is a professional writer and editor who hopes to someday
make freelance writing her full-time career. She lives in Connecticut with her
husband and two cats. Jennifer can be reached at jennfilipek@hotmail.com. |
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