Submitting poetry and flash can be tricky. Most (but not all) journals will consider multiple pieces in a single submission. Some journals allow you to send two flash, others three. Some will read three poems (but no more than ten pages), or five one-page poems, or only poems with fewer than ten lines. Occasionally, there are no limits at all. This can send writers (I’ll be honest, I’ve been there) into a tailspin. Should I put my strongest piece first to catch the editor’s

Submitit has recently made some changes. Here’s the big one: WE NOW OFFER POETRY SUBMISSIONS!!! (We're going to send an email blast about this soon.) But you’ll also notice a few other changes at your new Client Portal. Refresh Your Screen (Probably) If you're an existing client, after you click the link above, your browser may try to connect with our old system. To be safe, plan to do a hard refresh to clear your cache. Just click the following keys (all at once), depending

As I’ve discussed in past posts, I’m selective with the literary journals I add to Submitit’s database. I always ask myself the following questions: Is the journal’s website (layout and copy) of relatively high quality? Is there a masthead, preferably with multiple editors, and are the editors experienced and accomplished (as editors, writers, or (ideally) both)? Are the submission guidelines sensible and clear? (Some new journals, with inexperienced editors, have unusual gu

First of all, if this is your first time exploring my style essays, please check out the Introduction . As usual, most of my examples are from my “textbook”: The Penguin Book of the Modern Short Story , ed. John Freeman (Penguin Press, 2021). I recommend—I dare say, insist—that writers get ahold of this book. It is an excellent source of spectacular writing, truly the best short story writers of the past fifty or so years. (I also recommend this book to writers of creative no