Demystifying Submissions: Meet Ireland’s Literary Journal Editors

Interested in learning more about Ireland’s flourishing literary journal scene? Perhaps you’re looking to submit a poem, short story or essay for the first time? Maybe you’ve been submitting to journals before but you’re struggling to get published?

In this online event, ‘Demystifying Submissions’, listen to 15 literary journal editors from across the island of Ireland as they talk about the types of writing they like to publish, how their submission process works, and how best to approach submitting your work for publication.

Hosted by Tolka‘s editor Liam Harrison and Holy Show‘s director and co-editor Brendan Mac Evilly, this webinar provides an accessible and informative introduction to some of Ireland’s most exciting journals. Packed with information and tips, this event was attended by Tolka, Holy Show, The Pig’s Back, Four Faced Liar, Poetry Ireland Review, The Waxed Lemon, Sans Press, Profiles Journal, Paper Lanterns, Banshee, The Dublin Review, Swerve Magazine, Skylight 47, Impossible Archetype and Púca.

Full recording can be found here (1 hour 23 minutes)

For a summary of tips and useful links from the webinar, see below.

Tips:

• Familiarise yourself with the journal by reading their past issues. This will give you a better idea of the journal’s taste and what they’re looking to publish. If funds are tight and/or you’re not able to pick up a copy, don’t worry as most journals will have an archive tab on their website where you can read samples of past work.
• Improve your odds. Submit everywhere! Don’t hold out for one journal’s response. Improve your likelihood of getting published by submitting your story, poem or essay widely. If you can submit more than one piece, do! It’ll help with your odds and may also give the journal a better sense of your style and what you’re about. (Do make sure the journals you apply to accepts multiple/simultaneous submissions!)
• Don’t overthink the theme. If the journal you’re submitting to has a theme, view it as a guiding vision which will allow the different pieces in the issue to speak to each other. It doesn’t need to be a literal interpretation.
• Put in a content warning if your writing is explicit. Nobody wants to read a gory body horror scene during their morning cornflakes. Include a content warning at the beginning so the reader can choose the best time to read your work.
• Read the guidelines carefully. Are you submitting within the deadline? Are you over the word count? Have you read the formatting guidelines? Make sure you haven’t missed anything.
• Don’t publicly get annoyed about your rejection on social media. (Especially if you follow the journal!)
• Bin the word ‘rejection’. Instead of viewing your unsuccessful submission as a rejection, consider the set back as something less final: it’s just not your time yet. It’s good to bear in mind that the journal scene is very competitive where only a sliver of submissions (under 5%) get published. Inspiring essays on this subject include: Thomas Morris’s essay on Notes on Rejection and Emily Cooper on The Road Not Taken.
• Is your piece ready to submit? Has your writing been workshopped? Show it to someone you really trust and have a really honest chat about it. Are you part of writing group? Have you taken a writing course? Find mentors, writers and readers to draw and learn from. But do trust in your own voice as well. It can be useful to put your writing away for a while and then come back to it with fresh eyes.
• Would your writing work better in a different form? Is your idea best expressed through a short story or would it work better as a non-fiction piece (or vice versa)?
• Keep moving forward. Write new stuff. Don’t keep submitting the same piece for years and years as this will get disheartening.

Useful news:

Meet the journals at Dublin Book Festival (next week!)
Some of the journals who attended this webinar will be at Dublin Book Festival for Leabharlann Beag – A Literary Journal Showcase on Saturday 9th November 2024, 6.45pm at The Printworks, Dublin Castle. Leabharlann Beag will be a vibrant celebration of Ireland’s literary journals, with readings selected by the editors of Channel, Howl, Pig’s Back, Profiles, Sans. PRESS, Sonder, The Four Faced Liar, Tolka, Ragaire and others. This a free event. Tickets here.

Submission calls (currently open or opening soon):
Banshee Press – submissions close tomorrow!!! (31 October). More details here.
Púca journal – submission close on 14 November at 8pm. More details here.
Tolka – submissions are opening soon (31 October – 17 November). More details here.

To keep up to date with the latest writing competitions, submissions windows and other opportunities for writers by checking out our opportunity listing webpage in our resources section. We aim to connect our writers with the best upcoming opportunities. Got a listing for our website? Email damien@irishwriterscentre to get it listed. 

‘Demystifying Submissions’ was an independent event organised by the journals in attendance. We would like to thank the organisers who have kindly allowed us to include the recording as a resource on our website.