It used to be an unwritten rule: Writers didn’t send out summer submissions. Literary agents and editors were all on vacation or working summer hours, so the general assumption was—why bother? But that was back in the decades of poodle skirts, tie-dyed shirts, leg warmers, and stone-washed jeans. These are the days of remote offices, laptops, and cloud technology, so editors and agents work year-round and even take the office with them to the beach or backyard! At Writer’s Relief, we’re busting the myth about not making summer submissions! In fact, savvy writers make a point of submitting their short stories, poetry, and books during the summer months. Here are the reasons why:

4 Facts That Bust The Myth About Summer Submissions—And Why You Should Keep Sending Out Work

Fact: Literary journals and literary agents are reading during the summer. We said it before and we’ll say it again: The old adage that journals and agents aren’t reading during the summer no longer applies in today’s publishing marketplace. Yes, some university-sponsored journals aren’t open for submissions during summer break, but the majority of well-known, reputable journals read throughout the year—including during the summer! Literary agents and editors are no less hungry to acquire good writing during the summer season—and they’re sending out acceptances. They aren’t taking a break, and you shouldn’t either.

Fact: You’ll have less competition for acceptances. Let’s face it, there are a lot of writers vying for a limited number of opportunities to get published. But here’s an insider’s tip: Many writers choose to take the summer months off, and some still believe the myth about not sending out work right now. Submit your writing during the summer months and you’ll have less competition! You’ll enjoy the undivided attention of editors and agents, and maybe even increase your odds of getting on a literary award short-list.

Fact: Getting published is often a numbers game. If you want to boost your odds of getting an acceptance, you need to send out your work on a consistent schedule all year. Here at Writer’s Relief, we tell our clients a piece should be submitted 100 times before giving up on it. And more than once, it’s been the ninety-ninth submission that garnered an acceptance or an agent’s interest! Sending out submissions during the summer months helps get your work in front of more eyes more often. It’s a submission strategy that works and will build your publication credits.

Fact: You don’t have to choose between summer fun and making submissions. When the beach or the mountains are calling—or even the latest must-see Netflix series—it can be harder to convince yourself to sit at the computer and spend hours researching the best markets for your work. Thankfully, you don’t have to! The research experts at Writer’s Relief can help target the best summer opportunities for your work. We can also proofread and format your short story, poem, essay, novel, or memoir submission to publishing industry standards. Writer’s Relief will do all the busywork so you can relax with your flip-flops and a cool drink—or better yet, write! Find out how we can help you make more effective summer submissions: Submit your work to our Review Board today!

Question: Which is your favorite literary journal that is open for submissions during the summer?