How to Submit Poetry to Literary Magazines: A Step-by-Step Guide

Submitting your poetry to literary magazines is one of the most meaningful steps you can take as a poet. It’s also one of the most anxiety-inducing. What if they reject you? What if your formatting is wrong? What if you submit to the wrong journal?

This guide demystifies the entire process of how to submit poetry to literary magazines — from preparing your poems to handling rejection — so you can approach submission with confidence.

 

Before You Submit: Is Your Work Ready?

This is the honest question: is your poetry ready to submit? Not perfect — poetry is never finished, only abandoned — but revised, polished, and as strong as you can make it.

Ask yourself:

• Have I revised this poem multiple times?
• Have I read it aloud and fixed anything that sounds wrong?
• Have I had at least one other reader look at it?
• Would I be proud if this poem appeared in print exactly as it is?

If you answered no to any of these, return to the revision process. The submission pool is competitive. Submit your strongest work.

Not sure if you’re making common mistakes? Review this before submitting:

→ Review: Common Poetry Mistakes New Writers Make

Step 1: Research the Right Journals

Don’t submit randomly. Spend time researching literary magazines whose aesthetic and style match your work. Read their back issues. Ask yourself: would my poem feel at home here?

There are thousands of literary magazines, ranging from the highly prestigious (Paris Review, Poetry Magazine) to newer, smaller journals actively looking for emerging voices. As a first-time submitter, aim for journals that welcome new writers.

→ Find your targets: Best Literary Magazines for New Writers

Step 2: Read the Submission Guidelines Carefully

Every literary magazine publishes submission guidelines. Read them carefully and follow them exactly. Journals receive thousands of submissions; editors notice and often reject submissions that don’t follow guidelines.

Guidelines typically specify:

• How many poems to include (usually 3–5)
• Formatting requirements (font, spacing, header format)
• Whether they accept simultaneous submissions
• Submission window dates (many journals are only open at certain times)
• Which platform to submit through (most use Submittable)

Step 3: Format Your Submission Correctly

Standard poetry submission format:

• 12-point Times New Roman or similar serif font
• Your name, address, and email in the top left corner of the first page
• Title centered, poem below
• Each poem on its own page (for multi-poem submissions)
• Page numbers optional but useful for longer submissions

Your cover letter should be brief: your name, the titles of submitted poems, your brief bio (2–3 lines), and a note if you’ve published elsewhere. Don’t describe or explain your poems in the cover letter — let them speak for themselves.

Step 4: Submit — and Track Your Submissions

Use a submission tracker — a simple spreadsheet works well — to record where you’ve submitted each poem, the date, and any response. This keeps you organized and prevents you from accidentally submitting the same poem to a journal twice.

Most journals use Submittable as their submission platform. Create a free account and you’ll be able to manage and track all your submissions in one place.

Step 5: Wait — and Keep Writing

Response times range from a few weeks to several months. The average is 3–6 months. While you’re waiting, keep writing. Keep revising other poems. Keep submitting to other journals. The worst thing you can do is put your creative life on pause waiting for a response.

Step 6: Handle Rejection Gracefully

Most submissions are rejected. This is normal. Even successful, well-published poets receive many more rejections than acceptances. A rejection from a literary magazine tells you almost nothing about the quality of your work — it may have been the wrong fit, or simply a matter of editor taste on that day.

When you receive a rejection, note it in your tracker, and re-submit the poem elsewhere within the week. The faster you resubmit, the less power any individual rejection has over you.

When Your Work Is Accepted

Acceptance is a real moment worth celebrating. You’ll typically be asked to confirm your bio, sign a brief contract (usually granting the journal first publication rights), and in some cases provide a brief statement about the poem. Keep the rights period in mind — most journals ask for first rights, meaning you can republish after a specific period.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many poems should I include in a submission?

Most journals request 3–5 poems. Check their specific guidelines. Some accept single poems; others require a minimum.

Should I explain my poems in the cover letter?

No. Your cover letter should introduce you, not interpret your work. Let the poems speak for themselves.

Can I submit the same poem to multiple magazines?

Many journals allow simultaneous submissions, meaning you can. If a journal doesn’t, they’ll say so. Always withdraw a poem immediately if it’s accepted elsewhere.

How long should I wait before following up on a submission?

Only follow up if the stated response time has clearly passed (by a month or more). Most journals are understaffed and very slow to respond. Patience is essential.