Submitting work for publication is a minefield to new writers; in the first part, we looked at how to find publications and what you, as a writer, should do. Now, the last three of the most common questions asked by newbie writers.

Should I Submit My Work to Contests?

Absolutely! Contests are not only fun, you get the chance of winning something (it isn’t always cash) and you get more of that all-important writing experience. Many competitions require you to pay a small entrance fee which is then used to pay the winners. It isn’t a lot and it is worth the investment – if you have to pay, you are more likely to submit work that is more polished and professional too. Contests also help new writers to get into the habit of meeting set deadlines and following clear instructions, all of which helps you to focus your attention where it needs to be.

Can I Send One Piece of Work to Several Different Publications?

Most of the time, the answer to this will be a resounding yes but don’t assume it. Read the submission guidelines of your chosen publications thoroughly – somewhere you will find the answer to that question. Two terms you should familiarize yourself with are “multiple submissions” and “simultaneous submissions”.

“Multiple submissions” means that you are sending several pieces of your work to one journal or publication. “Simultaneous submissions” means that you are sending one piece of work to multiple journals or publications. Most are happy to accept these but not all – it will be written in their guidelines if they do not.

Make sure, if you are doing simultaneous submission, that you clearly state it in your cover letter. If one of the publications does accept your work, you must also make sure that you inform all the other publications you sent it to. This stops things getting complicated and keeps you in the good books of the editors, just in case you want to submit any more work in the future.

Okay, I Sent My Work Off; What Happens Now?

Well done! The first thing to do is give yourself a huge pat on the back and acknowledge exactly what you have achieved here. You’ve written a stunning piece of short fiction or poetry; you’ve taken the time to polish it, and you submitted it to the right place. You should always celebrate any achievement in your craft, no matter how small or big it is. This will help to stop you burning out and it will keep your creative juices flowing, help you to retain an interest in your work. Celebrate how you want, whatever makes you happy and then get on to the next writing project.

Never sit back and wait for the first work to be accepted or rejected; your creative juices will stop flowing and you won’t bother writing any more. Keep writing, keep submitting and eventually your hard work will pay off.

Writing and submitting to publications is a never-ending cycle – the minute you send one piece of work off, you should be immediately thinking about the next piece.