Updated August 2023
When authors turn to Writer’s Relief for help making submissions to literary agents or literary magazines—it’s often because their submission process isn’t working. Here are the most common problems many of our clients had when trying to make submissions on their own, and how working with Writer’s Relief was the cure for what ailed them.
Submission Strategy Fixes That Will Help You Get Published
1. Problem: You don’t have time to make submissions and would rather be writing.
Remedy: Think of it this way: You hire someone to take care of your lawn, do your taxes, re-grout your bathtub, even cut your hair. If you don’t have the time or the skill set to make your own writing submissions, you can ask friends and family to help you, or contact a submission service like Writer’s Relief. Okay, true; there is NO other submission service quite like Writer’s Relief. We are a trusted and ethical name in the publishing industry. The point is, don’t go it alone.
Right now, the Writer’s Relief Review Board is open and reading for new clients in the genres of poetry, short stories, essays, and novels/memoirs. If you’re ready to let us give your lackluster submission strategy a big shot in the arm, send in your work today.
We are currently reading for new clients in the following genres:
- Books and memoirs
- Poetry (individual poems submitted in groups)
- Short creative prose
Children’s books and poetry collection are handled by our self-publishing division.
Submitting work to our Review Board is free, confidential, and incurs no obligations. If your submission strategy could use some first aid STAT, submit for consideration today! Be sure to send your best work—our client list is competitive: about eighty percent of writers are turned away.
2. Problem: You haven’t connected with the right literary agent (or lit mag editor) yet—and you’re starting to think you never will.
Remedy: If the creative writing you’re submitting is truly strong, the problem is easy to diagnose: You haven’t connected with the right person because you haven’t submitted to that person yet! It’s time to tweak your submission process.
3. Problem: You don’t know the best markets for your unique style and voice, so you’re just kind of winging it—taking the “throw it against the wall and see what sticks” approach to your submission process.
Remedy: Get serious about literary market research. Sending your submissions out willy-nilly is a waste of time and energy (yours AND the editors/agents who receive your ill-planned submissions). If you keep sending out work without any focus, countless rejection letters will ensure that you’re on the fast track to writer burnout. Instead, dedicate your efforts to pinpointing the BEST markets for your writing. And if you don’t have time for serious research—WE DO. Writer’s Relief can handle all of it for you.
4. Problem: You have no idea why you keep getting “nice no-thank-yous” but no actual acceptances.
Remedy: The good news is that “nice no-thank-yous” mean your writing is strong enough to merit personal responses. The bad news? It may be that your submission strategy is to blame.
5. Problem: You hate rejection. Rejection letters intimidate you and keep you from submitting regularly.
Remedy: Let go of unrealistic expectations. All writers receive rejection letters, even multi-published, best-selling authors. If successful, famous writers have had rejections—can you realistically believe that you shouldn’t get any?
6. Problem: You feel like you haven’t had any good luck when it comes to your writing career.
Remedy: It’s time to start making your own good luck. And to do that, you’ll have to put your writing out there. Relentlessly. In order for your writing to be in the right place at the right time—send it out. You can do it! “Recognize that the harder you work and the better prepared you are, the more luck you might have.”—Ed Bradley
Remember: Submission Success Is A Journey, Not A Finish Line
Even if you succeed tomorrow, the work of making submissions is never going to end. Developing a strong submission strategy now is key to maintaining a long, healthy career as a writer. Send your work to our Review Board today!
QUESTION: Do you face a submission strategy challenge? Writer’s Relief can help! Post your question in the comments section below, and our experts will reply!
How do you know if your writing just isn’t good enough?
Vanessa, try our techniques and crafts tips for writing in our Free Publishing Tool Kit!
When submitting, should the cover letter be a separate page inclusive in the attached works in the document or should it only appear in the body of the mail only?
Abdulrahman, most, if not all, agents/editors require the cover letter to be included in the body of the email. However, a select few might want it attached as a separate Word document. Be sure to double check the guidelines before submitting any work!