Advice to Young Poets: How to Make It out of the Slush Pile of Submissions

In May, 1994, I completed a two-year stint as a contributing editor for The Kenyon Review. Previously, I had founded and edited the poetry magazine Open Places (1966-87). In its day, Open Places was home to a number of poets who are more famous now than they were then, including Margaret Atwood, Sharon Olds, Tess Gallagher, Yusef Komunyakaa, and Carolyn Forche.

At The Kenyon Review, I read, evaluated, and fretted over the fate of about a third of the unsolicited poetry manuscripts. Sorting through hundreds of submissions, I saw the need to advise young poets that following certain standards gives a manuscript its best possible chance of being published. I have since talked with colleagues at the Review, as well as with editors in Seattle, and offer the following advice to poets trying to publish their work in literary magazines. >>>

1. Research the field. Purchase or read in the library one of the many excellent directories of literary magazines. I personally like the International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses published by Dustbooks. Writer’s Digest Books publishes the Writer’s Market and the companion Poet’s Market. The Literary Magazine Review, published out of the English Department at the University of Northern Iowa (115 Baker Hall, Cedar Falls, Iowa 50614), is a magazine devoted to the reviews of other literary magazines. >>>

2. Read the literary magazine carefully before submitting. Try to read at least three issues. Don’t just admire the names you recognize; read to discern if that magazine is an appropriate vehicle for your own work. Be realistic with yourself. It is best to start with magazines in your region, especially the smaller ones that are just emerging. Become as familiar as possible with those magazines and submit there. Don’t be influenced by the size of distribution, the fame or lack thereof, of the contributors, or the looks of the magazine. In other words, read the magazine for substance. Good magazines are always evolving. Remember that a number of our terrifically important magazines began modestly and evolved into polished and successful publications over time. >>>

3. Prepare your poems. Begin by separating all the poems you wish to submit into tiers, with the best poems in the first tier, lesser poems in the second tier, and the riskier poems in the third tier. Put together groups of three to five poems, with the best poems first, because many editors will not read past the first poem. Group the poems around one of the themes of your work, or select those that work well together in tone. >>>

4. Present your poems. This is more important than you think! Fold the manuscript neatly in half and mail in a 6 x 9 envelope. Smaller envelopes crunch the pages, and five- or six-page manuscript appears lost and lonely in an 8 x 12 envelope. Make certain to put your name and return address on your envelope. This helps the editor keep track of incoming manuscripts and eliminates much unneeded frustration. Include your cover letter (see the Don’ts and Dos of Cover Letters) and an appropriately sized self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) with adequate postage. Refrain from including copies of publicity releases about yourself, detailed vita, articles or photographs from your local newspaper. Editors are more often amused or bored than impressed by this material. And unless the magazine states that it accepts simultaneous submissions, do not engage in this practice. >>>

5. Have patience. Allow up to three months for a magazine editor to respond. If you do not hear from the editor by then, it usually means she has accepted enough work for the next several issues and is behind in reading those she does not have space to include. After this point, you are justified in writing a note to the editor requesting a decision before submitting the manuscript elsewhere. Try not to be discouraged by rejection notices. It embarrasses me to recall the number of now famous poets I rejected in favor of poets who have not been seen or heard from since. Every editor is guilty of not recognizing all the talent that comes her way. Remember that it takes time to find the right fit for your work. <<<

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