How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses

by Dennis James Sweeney

A comprehensive guide to getting published and building a literary reputation through small presses and magazines—and taking ownership of your own publishing life

This essential guide is the first of its kind to chart a path to publication that is writer led, community based, and accessible to all. How to Submit speaks to writers who want to publish short stories, essays, or poems in literary magazines, as well as to those looking for a fresh route to publishing a full-length book.

Whether you’re a first-time submitter or you have experience sending out your work, How to Submit provides you with the tools and knowledge to successfully share your writing. It’s also a manifesto for finding joy in the process, arguing that seeking publication should give writers energy, not take it from them.

In clear and encouraging chapters, veteran small press author and instructor Dennis James Sweeney shares the secrets of his success, such

practical advice on formulating a submissions plan, including choosing where to submit and whether to submit to contests

tips for writing a standout cover letter, as well as using an encouraging rejection letter to greatest advantage

strategies on how to manage wait times and payment

suggestions for building connections with editors, readers, and fellow writers and increasing your involvement in the literary world

Perfect for writers of any genre, How to Submit demystifies the small press and literary magazine landscape for those seeking a place for their work that really feels like home.

"There are plenty of sources available—online and in print—that provide lists of where to submit your writing this guide explains how to submit. Dennis James Sweeney brings together case studies and his own experiences as an author and teacher to help writers find more success with their writing. This book has it all."— Robort Leo Brower, editor of Writer's Market and senior editor of Writer's Digest

Genres: Writing, Nonfiction, Crafts

216 pages, Paperback

Published February 25, 2025

About the author

Dennis James Sweeney is the author of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses, a guide for writers. His books also include The Rolodex Happenings (Stillhouse Press, 2024), You’re the Woods Too (Essay Press, 2023) and In the Antarctic Circle (Autumn House Press, 2021), as well as several chapbooks of poetry and prose, including Ghost/Home: A Beginner’s Guide to Being Haunted (Ricochet Editions, 2020). His writing has appeared in Ecotone, The New York Times, and The Southern Review, among others. He has an MFA from Oregon State University and a PhD from the University of Denver. Originally from Cincinnati, he lives in Amherst, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Jendi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This concise, friendly guide to building a literary career in the small press world is a one-stop shop for all your questions, from the "how" to the "why" to "what next?" Learn about selecting the right journal for your work, the mechanics of the process from both sides of the editor's desk, keeping track of submissions, what happens when your book is published, keeping up faith in your writing, and identifying your deepest personal goals for your work in the world. The focus is on community-building, first and foremost. Think of your publications as part of a conversation rather than a judgment on your worth.

[Michelle Cornish · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the submission process or disheartened by rejection, How to Submit is a must-read. It’s more than just a handbook; it’s a companion, reminding writers that publishing is not just about getting their work out into the world—it’s about finding the right home for their words and enjoying the journey along the way. Highly recommended!

[Jessica Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is good advice in here that I plan to use in the future. Thank you for making a guide on how to start your writing career and continually building from it. I also enjoyed the part where the author stated that you're going to get rejections. That it's part of the process. Sometimes writers need this reminder.

This novel is worth a read for most writers. Enjoy the great advice within!

[Kit MacAllister · Rating 5 out of 5]

It feels cheesy to call a book "essential," but if you're submitting to literary magazines, this book definitely is. How to Submit is immensely informative, wonderfully practical, and very easy to read. Sweeney infuses the slog of submission with excitement and a grounded sense of community.

I cannot recommend this book highly enough.

[Deborah Bayer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent advice for someone who is brand-new to submitting to lit mags. Even as a seasoned submitter, I found helpful information about streamlining my process to make me more efficient. The information on finding University Presses for book publication was helpful, too. The end of the book is filled with interesting but less practical information, but this is a book well worth reading.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you are a very beginner as in have never even read a literary magazine or pushed the 'how to submit ' button on their site, then this may possibly be helpful to you. Or you could look in the appendix and read the 2 articles he mentions and save a whole lot of time to get the same info much more cleverly

[J.J. Amaworo · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent guide for writers at an early stage of their career. It's full of good, common-sense advice written in a warm, friendly tone and supplemented by useful lists. I'll be recommending this to my MFA students now and in the future.

[Mike Good · Rating 5 out of 5]

Dennis James Sweeney is a gift. This book is such a thorough, generous, and thoughtful guide to submitting your writing.

[Sandor Paulson · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books on anything I've ever read. Immensely helpful for new writers and writers new to publication, me included. Sweeney deserves to be declared a saint.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am a self published indie author but I might try a different route...

[Sharon Moores · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was expecting some tips, but this is incredibly informative -- to the point that I bought my own copy (which is now riddled with stickie flags).