Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Liane Carter on July 15, 2010 at 12:27pm

I've had essays in Literary Mama, Memoir(and), Mom Writers Literary Magazine (now called Mamazina), and the Mom Egg. Take a look at Brain,Child Magazine too.

Permalink Reply by Honeysmoke on July 15, 2010 at 6:27pm

Thanks for your help. Brain, Child Magazine is on my list.

Permalink Reply by Alle C. Hall on July 15, 2010 at 3:50pm

Hi, Liane,

I have much to say on the subject. First, though, can you answer some questions?

Which lit. mags do you read?

What other kids of material do you read, other memoirs, etc?

Where are you in the process of finishing your manuscript and proposal?

What are your other publications?

If you want to answer, I will pop your responses into my "Where should I Publish" computer and spit you out your results.

FYI:
My "'signature" class is "Get Published: Your Short Pieces Find a Home." I'm not teaching it anywhere it the near future, Besides, I live in Seattle, so what are the chances that you could take it? PS. I really believe the SW philosophy of writers helping other writers. I benefit from sharing as much as you benefit from whatever in my experience might make sense to you. So ask away.

Alle the Zygote Lady

Permalink Reply by Honeysmoke on July 15, 2010 at 6:35pm

I think you are addressing me in the above note.

Which lit. mags do you read? You've got me here. I can't say I read a lot of lit mags. Creative Nonfiction is the only one I can really claim.

What other kids of material do you read, other memoirs, etc? newspapers, online news sites, black and women's mags, nonfiction books, especially memoir.

Where are you in the process of finishing your manuscript and proposal? proposal is complete. now writing manuscript.

What are your other publications? started my career in newspapers. my essays have been published in LiteraryMama, The Root.com, Chicken Soup for the Teen-age Soul on Tough Stuff.

Permalink Reply by Alle C. Hall on July 16, 2010 at 12:09pm

Sorry, Liane, for my gaff. Take 2: Hi, Honeysmoke!

It sounds like you resonate on the border between commercial and literary writing. As you have a proposal and are working on the mss, I would guess that you are more interested in finding an agent than publishing in a lit mag which may or may not carry weight but not many people read. You want to get some on-line clips that you can drop into an e-mail query to an agent. Lit. mags take a l-o-o-o-o-o-o-ng time to respond, maybe two years. It could be a year, eve two, after acceptance that you see your work in print. My record:

Creative Nonfiction -- two years from acceptance
Literary Mama -- almost three.

I am pleased as punch with both publications, but my interest in publishing them was 1) to work with the quality editors that level of magazine offers; and 2) to be in those magazines. I wasnt ready for a book deal If I were in your position, try focusing on submitting to magazines that you like reading, that have a good web presence. Big, small; it doesn't matter in terms of your goal (find an agent).

Here's an off the top of my head list that might work for you which accept CNF and essay. It is by no means exclusive, nor organized in any particular fashion.

Fourth Genre
Mid-American Review
Prairie Schooner (newly interested in CNF = better chance at getting in)
Open City (ditto; I think. Make sure to check first.)
River Teeth
Fuge
Black Warrior Review
Brevity (750 words or less)
This Great Society (brand new, and I had a new clip on-line within three months of submitting)
Sonora Review
Crab Creek Review
Other Voices

Good luck. I'd love to hear how you progress.

Alle

Permalink Reply by Honeysmoke on July 16, 2010 at 4:34pm

Thanks for the list! Yes, I'm trying every possible angle. Ultimately, I'd like to have an agent, but I'm starting to seriously consider POD or some version of it.

Permalink Reply by Anastasia Ashman on August 6, 2010 at 12:34pm

Nice suggestions Alle. Honeysmoke can also try submitting to general interest mags both online or not since motherhood topics are evergreen and they all seem to have a section for essays (like NEWSWEEK'S "My Turn") Good exposure, sweet clip, lots of competition though..