How to get published

Photo by Zuzana Ľudviková, 2025

You’ve been writing for a while and finally feel confident enough to share that short story or poem with the world - congratulations! There is just one problem. How exactly do you go about doing that? 

Getting published in an age when writing is readily available and writers pop up from literally everywhere is no small feat. In fact, it seems to be more difficult than ever. While many of us write out of pure drive and passion for the craft, not always expecting publication, getting some recognition as an author validates your work and can be incredibly rewarding. 

A publication history builds credibility, even if you don’t wish to pursue a writing career - it shows that your work is out there and has some readers, instead of writing for the bottom drawer. The truth is, there is no cheat code or magic formula to publishing as many seem to think. Most of us authors had to do the grunt work and figure it out along the way. Unless you have some affluent connections, making the leap from an aspiring author to a published one can feel overwhelming. Here’s a few tips to help you get started - from someone who’s been in the trenches herself. 

What do I mean by "getting published"

In this blog, I’m referring to traditional (or hybrid) publishing, by which I mean having your work recognized by an authoritative third party such as a literary magazine or a publishing house. Self-publishing - sharing your work on your own website or social media - is obviously not the same. 

While self-publishing can be an effective beginner’s strategy to begin sharing your writing, unfortunately, traditional publishers are still largely the gatekeepers of literary value, and your work will find more readers that way. Moreover, if you wish to submit your piece to a poetry (or fiction) magazine, keep in mind that most request previously unpublished works. And yes, posting poems on Instagram does count as self-publishing. 

Having said that, how exactly does one enter the inaccessible publishing world? Let’s get to it.

Where and how to submit

In order to get published, you first need to submit your work. This means researching literary platforms like poetry or fiction magazines and sending them your work via email or Submittable.  There are tons of literary magazines out there, and new ones are constantly popping up. From small zines to established names like Poetry or Granta, you can pick your choice - I have over 100 literary mag bookmarks on my personal laptop alone! 

If you’ve never submitted anything before, the first and foremost recommendation I can give you is starting small - don't send your short story to The New Yorker just yet. To increase your chances of success, explore the options closest to you first. This might mean a university zine, a small poetry journal your friend is running, or an indie publisher in your city. Be prepared for rejection - the landscape is oversaturated with writers eager to get their work published and every letter of acceptance is a big win. 

What gets published?

Generally, it can be much easier to publish poetry than fiction - at least that’s been my experience. The short form means it’s more feasible for literary magazines, journals, and anthologies to accept and publish single poems. Fiction, particularly full-length novels, demands a lot more space, editing, and investment. Also, the competition for publishing fiction, which is more mainstream, is a lot fiercer.

A mistake many rookie writers make is not reading the submission guidelines, which can differ from magazine to magazine. Always make sure to study them carefully before sending your work somewhere - learn what formatting they require and/or if your work needs to be anonymised. A short cover letter with a personal address to the editor is a nice-to-have. Have this ready along with your updated author’s bio before you sit down to send your submissions.

Finally, submissions can be difficult to track. It's easy to forget about something, and it can take up to a year before an independent poetry press gets back to you with an answer! Personally, I keep a spreadsheet with all my submissions, their state, and timestamps, but there are platforms for writers such as Chill Subs that help you track your submissions and view new opportunities. I cannot recommend Chill Subs more!

Knowing your audience

To set yourself up for success, you need to know who you’re writing for. It’s generally recommended to browse through a magazine’s past issues before submitting to get a sense of what they’re looking for. A guaranteed recipe for disaster is submitting a piece that doesn’t fit with the magazine’s theme or aesthetic - a poem in a traditional metrical form probably won’t land welll in a post-internet poetry zine (unless it’s explicitly self-ironizing). 

Writing in a niche genre, such as horror, can offer less competition and effectively filter your opportunities. An additional, though often overlooked factor to consider is the language you’re writing in. Obviously, English is the dominant global language for publishing and literary markets, but it also means more competition. Local markets might present more readily available opportunities. If you’re a writer who speaks more languages or whose first language isn’t English, consider writing in that language, if you can. You might get your work out there sooner!

Ultimately, remember that when submitting to international magazines, you’re competing with writers from around the world. Don’t underestimate the value of smaller publications - while they may offer limited recognition at first, they can strengthen your portfolio and build your credibility - step by step. 

The guarded world of book publishing

Until now, I’ve only discussed the publication of standalone pieces like poems or short stories. That’s because book publishing is something entirely different. Watching your manuscript go from a file on your laptop to a printed book on a shelf, officially making you a debut author, is a huge milestone. But getting to that point - complete with a polished manuscript, professional formatting, and a custom-designed cover - is a tedious process requiring a lot of work and investment. Many first-time writers finish their manuscript and think, “This is it!” But the truth is, the real work has only begun. 

Unfortunately, traditional book publishing is a world to a big extent still governed by personal connections. A lot is determined by word of mouth, industry relationships, and personal referrals. Editors meet writers at events or hear about new voices through mutual contacts: what to do if you don't have any?

In a word: networking. Yes, the word we all - particularly introverted writers - dread. Showing up to publicly accessible events like book launches or readings is a good way to get your foot in the door. For some, joining a writing course or a summer literary school is the first step toward building these connections and gaining insider knowledge. These programs can be expensive, but they can provide valuable feedback and help push you towards completing your manuscript. Most importantly, they connect you with editors and fellow writers. 

Programmes I like are Faber’s novel writing courses or Penguin Books’ WriteNow - though, of course, these are only the most prestigious examples.

Who is an agent?

Let’s say you finished a manuscript and want to submit it to a publishing house. The problem is most editors don’t accept submissions directly from writers. What do you do?

The answer to this question is a literary agent. Think of an agent as a middleman between you and the editor - if they like your manuscript, they will secure a book deal for it in exchange for a cut of your advance. You are essentially hiring them for their industry connections and good pitching. If they believe in your manuscript, they will do anything to get it published - it's literally their job.

While not all countries are dependent on the agent-based model (in Slovakia, it’s perfectly acceptable for writers to pitch directly to publishers), for the UK and US markets, hiring an agent is recommended. Researching is usually done by looking at agency websites or books similar to yours and finding out which agents represent them. There is a higher chance of an agent accepting your manuscript if they've already worked with something in a comparable vein.

Agents receive hundreds of submissions, so make sure your work stands out. A strong query letter should contain: 

• a brief introduction to you and your work,

• a short synopsis of your manuscript,

• why you’re specifically submitting to that agent (do your research and mention why they’re a good fit),

• any relevant writing experience or credentials (if applicable). 

  
  

Has an agent expressed interest in your manuscript? Congratulations! Make sure to thoroughly review the terms of the contract, including the commission they take, the rights to represent, and any other clauses. If you’re unsure, it’s always wise to consult a lawyer or another experienced author.

Getting published is most certainly not for the weak. It's a process that takes persistence, a certain strategy, and a willingness to grow through failure. Don't let rejections dissuade you - many writers who are famous now had their work rejected at some point. Stephen King's first novel, Carrie, was rejected by 30 publishers and he even threw it in the trash before his wife rescued it!

Do your research, keep polishing your work, and it will find its readers. That feeling of seeing your manuscript make it to the fiction shelves - and eventually to your readers' shelves - is worth it, I promise.

Photo by Zuzana Ľudviková, 2025

About the author

Emma Urbanová is a writer from Slovakia writing in Slovak and English. Her work in English has been published in From Glasgow to Saturn, the day of, Rat’s Ass Review, and Sublunary Review. Her work in Slovak has received multiple awards such as The Young Slovak Short Story (2018).

Her debut novel in Slovak is forthcoming with the publishing house Brak.