Getting into Literary Magazines: A Practical Workshop

Publishing in literary magazines can feel opaque, intimidating, or downright mysterious, especially when no one explains how the system actually works!

In this Zoom-based workshop, you’ll get a clear, practical breakdown of how to submit to literary magazines successfully. And its led by me, MJ Huntsgood, an agented author whose work has appeared in over two dozen literary journals and anthologies.

This is not a vague “follow your dreams” talk. It’s a nuts-and-bolts session designed to help you understand how lit mags operate, what editors are looking for, and how to approach submissions with all the gusto and hope you can muster before the rejection letters---and there will be rejection letters---pile in.

We’ll cover:

• How literary magazines really work (and how editors read submissions)
• How to identify magazines that are a good fit for your work
• What makes a submission stand out and what sinks it
• How to write effective cover letters (and why I think they don't matter)
• How to build a sustainable submission strategy without burning out
• Common myths about publishing in lit mags and what’s actually true

You’ll leave with a clearer sense of where to submit, how to submit, and how to think about rejection in a positive way that'll keep you sane.

Who this workshop is for:

• Writers new to submitting who want a roadmap
• Writers who’ve been submitting but aren’t getting traction
• Writers returning to literary publishing after time away
• Writers curious about how lit mags fit into a larger writing or publishing life

Format:
This workshop will take place over Zoom and will include time for teaching, examples, and questions. You’re welcome to participate on or off camera.

No prior publications are required, just curiosity and a desire to learn how this part of the writing world actually works.