A Guide to (somewhat) Surviving the Submission Process

By R. Emmae

The submission process is stressful and, at least for me, my very personal hell. And, first-time submitters, let me tell you something up front: it doesn’t get better. But you’ll get used to it.

Below are some of the things I personally wish I’d known when I first started submitting my work to mags, including guides to writing bios, places to find mags, etc.

Hope this helps, and know that BLEACH! is always open to queries and questions. Just send us an email :)

  • Most mags request the submitter to include a 3rd person bio. While this bio could literally be anything, here’s a basic format that could hopefully provide some guidance.

    [A sentence or two introducing yourself. Perhaps some basic info like where you’re from, your school, etc.]. [List some previous publications/awards. You can skip this if you don’t have any; a lot of people leave this part out. It’s not that important.] [Some fun facts about yourself. What do you do when you’re not writing? This is totally skippable too.]

    Overall, don’t overthink it. Keep it between 15–150 words and you’ll be fine. Most mags don’t base their decisions on your bio, and if they do, they’re most likely the problem.

  • Like a lot of things in the modern lit world, this is a concept that is over-complicated on the first page of Google.

    It’s basically when a submitter submits the same piece to multiple mags and/or contests. Most mags allow this, but always check the guidelines. Also, always, ALWAYS keep track of the places you’ve sent a piece. You have to withdraw from every mag you’ve sent that submission to immediately after it gets accepted somewhere. Otherwise, chaos will ensue.

  • Most mags don’t require this. But if you do decide to write one, keep it brief. Say hi to the editors, spend a sentence talking about why the mag is a good fit, maybe include some biographical info, etc. Treat it like a normal email.

  • If there is one thing you should take away from this page, it’s that pieces are most likely rejected because they don’t fit the vibe of the rest of the issue/mag. This means that a rejection does not reflect a piece’s quality—it merely means it’s not for that specific mag! I personally have rejected pieces I absolutely loved because they weren’t right for BLEACH!. This is why simultaneous submissions are important—it gives your piece a better chance of finding its perfect fit.

    Anyways, some good places to find mags to submit to are:

    • ChillSubs (really good for new/smaller mags)

    • Duotrope (like ChillSubs but for bigger mags)

    • Social media (Twitter is still a good place to start, despite the El*n M*sk situation. Also try Bluesky.

    • Read other writers’ bios! Many include the mags they’ve been published in.

    • Readings, physical/virtue events, etc. This isn’t an option for everyone everywhere, but I’m still adding this to remind those with a local scene. Feel free to ask around! Most writers are nice.