Let us research the 25+ best-suited markets for your work! Our A La Carte Services are affordable, there’s no commitment, and you don’t have to go through the Review Board.

SAVE TIME and MONEY! Combine your legwork with our expertise to keep costs down.

Put our expertise to work for you!

Basic A La Carte Service: $100
Let us research markets that specialize in your type of writing AND prepare 25+ mailing labels for your submissions. PLUS, you’ll get an important step-by-step Submission Guide to achieve professional results!! Partner with us to get your work into the right hands AND save time for writing. Learn more: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx.

A La Carte PLUS Service: $200 - $250
Along with the step-by-step Submission Guide and targeted mailing labels, you’ll also get 25+ personalized cover/query letters—each strategically composed AND individually addressed. We rescue you from the tasks that eat up your valuable time: writing and designing your cover/query letters; researching addresses and agent/editor names; individually addressing and printing each letter; PLUS making coordinating mailing labels. Learn more:http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Want-Us-To-Create-Your-CoverQuery-Letters.aspx.

When your work gets into the right hands, it’s more likely to be published. Get the professional advantage you need.

We’re in your corner. We get results.

Our A La Carte Services are a great way to combine your do-it-yourself abilities with all the knowledge we’ve gained since 1994.

Call us TODAY at (866) 405-3003 to get your writing on the market—it’s easy, fast, and affordable! Or e-mail info@wrelief.com.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you.

Because poetry tends to be an especially musical form of writing, there are a number of words that poets use to talk about their particular techniques. Here is some vocabulary to help you discuss the music of your poetry. Enjoy!

Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning of words.
 
Anapest
Two unaccented syllables followed by an accented one, as in un-der-STAND.

Assonance
Repetition of similar vowel sounds.
 
Caesura
A pause within a line.

Dactyl
A stressed syllable followed by two unstressed ones, as in SHUD-der-ing.

Diction
The selection of words in a literary work—for example, if a narrator says blood-red, that selection has different connotations than rose-red, even though the colors may be similar. 
 
Elision
The omission of an unstressed vowel or syllable—such as o’er for over.

Falling meter
Meters that move (or fall) from stressed syllables to unstressed syllables.

Foot
A unit of measure in a metrical line; syllables included in a kind of musical bar or measure.

Iamb (as in Iambic)
An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed one, as in at-TEMPT.

Meter
The pattern of accents in poems.

Onomatopoeia
Words that imitate the sounds they describe.

Pyrrhic
A metrical foot composed of two unstressed syllables (as in for the).

Rhyme
Matching sounds in two or more words.
 
Rhythm
The repetition of accents or stresses.

Rising meter
Poetic meters that move (or ascend) from unstressed to stressed.

Spondee
A metrical foot represented by two stressed syllables.
 
Style
The way an author selects and arranges words, and develops ideas using literary techniques.

Syntax
The order of words.
 
Tone
The writer’s attitude implicitly conveyed through diction, syntax, etc.
 
Trochee
Accented syllable followed by an unaccented one, as in MAY-be.

Guest blogger Suzan L. Wiener has had many greetings accepted by Andrew McMeal, Gallant Greetings, Peaceable Kingdom Press, Yippie Cards, etc. Many of her tips on writing, short stories, poems, and other short works have appeared in major publications.

Do you wonder how some poets and writers manage to sell their greeting card verses while others miss the mark completely or only get an acceptance on a rare occasion? This Q & A will give you the information you need to see your writing in the greeting card aisle (and help you make a little money at the same time!).

Q. Where do you find companies who will buy your greeting card verses?

A. I look in market books for writers or online at www.google.com. Then search for "paying greeting card markets."

Q. How do I know what type of greetings to send to each company?

A. Always request the company's guidelines. Follow them to the letter. If you don't, your ideas may be disqualified just for that reason.

Q. If I only write rhyming verses, should I try to write unrhymed verses or one-liners?

A. Definitely. Why limit what you are writing? Who knows, you may have a flair for writing unrhymed verses. If you don't give it a try, you will never know. You could be losing out on sales. I find it is a lot of fun to write different types of greetings rather than limiting myself to one form.

Q. When should I give up on a company if I keep getting rejections?

A. Only you can decide that. If submissions have been rejected for a year, it's time to rethink what you are sending to the company. Something obviously isn't meshing. Either you can sell your greeting card verses to another company, or you can rework them and try again. I always find it is best to send my ideas to another company, wait a few months, and then send other ideas to the first company. An editor might move on to another greeting card outfit, and the new editor might love your work. This has happened to me.

Q. What if I'm not an artist? Can I still get my verses published?

A. In fact, unless you are a professional artist, publishers prefer you send submissions without artwork. They have in-house artists to do the illustrations. You can, of course, suggest a visual for your text directly on the card you are sending. Editors even appreciate stick figures. If you cannot draw, just give them an idea of what you are trying to convey.

Q. What rights do greeting card companies acquire?

A. Each company is different. Some will ask for all rights, others will ask for first-time rights, etc. Some will send you a contract and others just an acceptance letter. Giving away all rights isn't the best way to go, but if you want to write for that particular company, you will have to relinquish them, unfortunately. That means you cannot resell your card ideas at all. When acquiring all rights is their policy, they don't normally negotiate different terms.

Q. Do greeting card companies send you free copies of your cards?

A. Usually they do. It's a great feeling to see the greeting that you wrote on the card itself. Some companies will even include your name on the card!

Q. Is there any way to guarantee that a card idea you wrote will sell?

A. The answer, in a nutshell, is no. But if you keep practicing your verse writing, gear your ideas to what editors prefer, make them a me-to-you message—which greeting card enthusiasts refer to as "sendable"—you will have a much higher rate of sales.

Q. How much can I get paid for writing greeting cards?

A. Greeting card payments vary from company to company—anywhere from $50 to $300 per card. These rates can change, and it's best to check each publisher's writers' guidelines.

* * If you’re not already subscribing to our FREE Writers’ Newsflash, you’re missing out on regular publishing leads like this one. Get time-saving tips and important industry etiquette information delivered to your inbox monthly. Just visit this link!

Do you remember the poetry you wrote as a teenager? Many poets would rather eat paint chips than share their teen-angst poetry with the world. Teenage poetry is often raw, drippy, sloppy, histrionic, self-centered, and overdone. But there are valuable lessons to be learned in remembering the way we used to write before we ever dreamed of getting a poem published.

The type of poetry most often associated with a poet’s personal emotional journey is confessional poetry. This style is a particular favorite among editors of literary journals and magazines, because it demonstrates intimacy and reflection.

Writing confessional poetry is important to a poet’s personal journey toward self-improvement. Before you cared about poetic technique, you probably just cared about the act of writing. Writing a poem when you’re feeling a strong emotion is often a great way to make sense of your feelings. Poetry can be therapeutic and cathartic, allowing writers to discover their true feelings in a safe space.

When you’re feeling troubled, grab a pen. Writing heals. When you write, you make time for yourself—and that’s important. Confessional poetry can get you through the biggest hurdles in your life, and you should not be afraid of plunging into intimate, meaningful confession.

BUT before you go pulling your old, high school confessional poems out of the attic so you can get them published—or before you start thinking that every confessional poem you write is genius—think again. They are important to the writer but can come off as self-indulgent to the reader. To be published, they need to demonstrate that the writer is self-aware and has great insight and technique.

Apart from being overly emotional, the other problem with confessional poems is that they run the risk of being unruly. Although poetic verse can be free form, it must always be carefully wrought. Poems that spill on to the page and are done in a single draft are poems that you as a writer may want to consider putting away for a while. Better to judge your poems once you’re a bit distant from them—so you can see them for what they really are.

At Writer’s Relief we believe in the power of the pen. But be sure to learn the difference between when a poem is necessary emotional spewing and when it is true, carefully crafted art.

Writer’s Relief would be pleased to help you submit your poems for publication. We can target your poems to the editors of literary magazines and journals who will be most likely to appreciate your writing. Learn more about our services at www.WritersRelief.com.

For more articles about poetry, read:

Seven Techniques You Must Know To Make Editors Notice Your Poetry

How To Get Your Poetry Published

Spotlight on Poetry

Free Verse: The Hidden Rules Of Free Verse Poetry

The Seduction of Poetry Contest Scams

Whether or not you decide to partner with Writer’s Relief to help with your submissions (via our exceptional Full Service or our budget-friendly A La Carte Service), NOW is a very important time for serious writers. Here’s why you should get those submissions in the mail ASAP.

1. Many markets are open in the fall. Almost all literary journals that are affiliated with colleges and universities open their doors to new writers for the academic year. Editors are actively searching for exciting new writers; send your work now to take advantage of their enthusiasm.

2. Remember the excitement and importance of those first few days of school? The chatter, the competition, the feeling of beginning again? It’s the same in publishing. When summer hours end, there’s a communal sense of starting fresh.

3. Because fall is so busy for publishing—and there are so many submissions making the rounds—the sooner you send your work out, the better. Although response times vary from market to market and submission to submission, it’s been our experience that replies tend to arrive more quickly in the fall. When student readers and interns arrive at literary magazines in the fall, the response time tends to improve.

4. Since so many writers are submitting in the fall, you’ll be among the publishing movers and shakers. There’s a party going on, and you’re on the guest list. BUT if you want to roll with the in-crowd, you’ve got to show up!

5. Winter is coming, and with it comes the holiday season. Although many writers go into November and December with good intentions of writing and submitting, it’s extremely easy to drop the ball when the days get shorter. Send out a round (or two) of submissions sooner rather than later, and you’ll see better results.

If you want to simplify the submission process but you’re not ready for our long-term Full Service, check out our A La Carte Service. Starting at just $100, we can help you get a round of submissions in the mail in just a few days!

1. Get the look. If you want people to take you seriously, you’ve got to present yourself in a serious way. When making your submissions to agents and editors, skip the bright-colored paper, the “clever” query letter intros (editors get sick of them fast), the thumbnail image of your face on the manuscript. Just be brief, straightforward, and businesslike. Also, follow industry standard formatting and have your work proofread. Interestingly enough, it’s often the veteran writers who are more inclined to appreciate proofreading than the newbies—but that’s probably why they earn veteran status to begin with.

2. Write to the right people. The first mistake of making submissions is taking the “blanket” approach: wallpapering the whole country with your query and cover letters. A few well-placed and specific queries truly mean much more than 50 that are almost well-placed. Queries that are almost well-targeted will almost get you published. Do the research (or hire someone who will) to make your submissions matter. (NOTE: We’ve found that writers who take this seriously tend to be more successful. Submitting selectively is a sign of a writer who knows what she or he is about. Selective writers put so much love into their manuscripts that they won’t submit to just anyone. Selectiveness is a very good sign because it demonstrates the right attitude for success.)

3. Be the tortoise, not the hare. Make submissions part of your writing habit. Submitting your work in dribbles and drabs is NOT a strategy; it’s a crapshoot. Sustainable and steady wins the race. To a certain extent, submissions are a numbers game. When you submit more regularly, it’s likely you’ll get published more often and more regularly. And the more you build up your bio, the more likely you’ll be well-received. Don’t give up on a story just because twenty places rejected it. Plan to submit to at least 100 markets. AND create a schedule to lock yourself into making submissions. When you create a calendar for your submissions (and deadlines for your writing so that you can make submissions) you will see your publication rate increase.

4. Organization is your friend. Some people are naturally well-organized but others are not. To truly make the most of your submissions, you need to keep track of who read what, who liked what (and why), who rejected what (and why), who wants to see more work from you, and who acquired what rights. It is a TON of work (that’s why Writer’s Relief takes on this burden for our clients). When the acceptance letters start coming in, you’ll thank yourself for the extra effort.

5. Chin up! Last but not least, work to maintain a good attitude. Negative thinking, getting glum about rejections, and believing yourself less than worthy... It’s easy to fall into those traps. Positive thinking takes real work when you’re getting bombarded by rejections (and you WILL get bombarded—it’s part of the process). Start looking at your rejection letters as proof of your dedication, devotion, and all-around awesomeness. Attitude is often the only difference between a nobody and a rising star. Every rejection brings you closer to acceptance, so submit regularly and chip away at those numbers. If you’d like to stay positive and motivated, we’re willing to give you a free E-book, Rejoice in Rejection (details here). We know it will help!

If you’re not able to develop a submission strategy on your own, or you just don’t have the time and patience for it, do yourself a real favor and check out Writer’s Relief. We can take on as much or as little of the submission process as you like so that you can focus on what you love: writing.

At Writer’s Relief it’s our business to work with our clients to develop a submission strategy that 1) keeps them focused on writing, 2) eases the stress and frustration of the submission process, 3) circulates manuscripts regularly (with no spamming) to generate interest, and 4) targets the BEST literary agents and editors (those most likely to enjoy the writing in question).

For more tips on making strong submissions, visit:

How To Write Cover and Query Letters That Get Attention 

Why Length Matters When Submitting Your Stories And Poems For Publication

How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast

Seven Techniques You Must Know To Make Editors Notice Your Poetry

If you want to get editors at literary magazines or publishing houses to notice and publish your poetry, there are a few key things you can do to increase your odds of having a poem accepted. At Writer’s Relief we’ve been working with poets since 1994—helping writers submit their work to literary agents, magazines, and journals—and we’ve picked up on some pretty significant trends. Our clients get published by the hundreds (thousands, if you want to get technical). Here are some of the things they do (and don’t do) to ensure their poetry has a competitive edge. 

Skip the rhyme. Rhyming poetry is difficult to place. In fact, it’s so difficult to publish rhyming poetry that we won’t work with poets who primarily focus on rhyme. If you want to rhyme, feel free. There are plenty of outlets online and even a few print journals that adore rhyme. Just be aware that at most magazines, it’s a dead end. Rhyming poetry done well is beautiful. Done poorly? Ugh.

Keep it short. Poems that are one page long tend to be more readily accepted than any other length poem. Also, watch your margins. A poem that is too many characters wide may not fit on the narrow pages of literary magazines. Tight poems are more easily publishable and more readily accepted.

Submit three to five poems per submission. Submitting more than five poems makes you look demanding and overeager. Submitting fewer than three poems implies that you don’t have a significant body of work. Also, don’t submit more than ten pages MAX (5-8 pages is best).

Avoid clichés. Money, love, and death are said to be the big three topics for writers. But be sure that you’re approaching them in a truly new way. (Tip: The only way you can be sure your writing is not cliché is by reading poetry. Lots of poetry. If you love poetry, read and support the magazines that keep poetry alive.)

Steer clear of one-word titles, unless your one-word title is truly an amazing and unique word. Titles like “Death” or “Friendship” tend to be more often overlooked by editors. Consider the wording of your title just as important as the rest of your poem.

Use eye-catching titles. After one-word titles, lackluster titles also tend to go unnoticed (as do lackluster poems). Pep up your poetry titles to get better results.

Develop a strong bio. At some point, everyone has absolutely no writing credentials. But the fact remains that the stronger your bio is, the more likely you’ll be well-received. For some tips on how to build up your bio, read these articles: Building Publication Credits and No Publishing Credits? Get Publishing Credentials: How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast.

As always, be sure that when you submit, you’ve researched the proper markets, prepared stellar cover letters, and followed all appropriate guidelines. If you’d like help submitting your poetry for publication, check us out. Our clients regularly publish poetry in hundreds of print journals.  Click here to learn more about how we can help you! We remove the pressures and frustrations of the submission process in order to improve your acceptance rate and give you more time to write. There’s something for every budget at Writer’s Relief.

We’re so excited to tell you about our newest E-book, Insider’s Secrets: A Step-by-Step Guide To Proper Proofreading in the Creative Writing Industry! Our E-book will tell you everything you need to know to start or expand a professional proofreading business. If you’ve thought about starting your own freelance proofreading business, or if you want to hone your own proofreading skills, this E-book is for you.

If you’ve asked yourself:

• How do I start my own freelance proofreading business?
• Where do I find proofreading jobs?
• How do I expand my freelance proofreading or editing business to include creative writers, such as poets, novelists, and short story writers?
• What do I need to know to proofread my own writing?
• How do I become a better proofreader?
• Where can I learn to proofread specifically for creative writers?
• What are proofreaders’ marks (proofreading symbols)?

We have the solution for you. We know you don’t have a lot of time, so our E-book cuts through the “filler” and gets right to the point. Improve your proofreading skills and your freelance business.

Click here to learn more: http://www.WritersRelief.com/proofreading-manual-for-creative-writing-and-publishing-industry.aspx.

We at Writer’s Relief believe there’s no substitute for patience when it comes to creative writing. But if you want to build your writing credentials quickly, here are some ways to improve your professional writing bio AND your writing skills.

Please note: It goes without saying that you should only use these strategies if you can implement them with honesty and true dedication to your craft. Agents and editors can and will see through superficiality. In other words, when it comes to your devotion to writing, good technique is better than lip service. Also, there's no substitute for good old-fashioned publication credits at literary journals, independent presses, and large publishing houses (we help our clients build their bios regularly with reputable publishers). But when you're in a pinch, it's our opinion that demonstrating an authentic commitment to craft and to the writing community can work in your favor.

Develop a good submission strategy. When you’re sending work out into the world, you’re creating opportunities for yourself. When you’re not sending out your writing, you’re not making opportunities for yourself. You’ve got to knock on doors if you want them to open. So develop a good submission strategy and you’ll see results. Writer’s Relief’s A La Carte service can get your work into the right hands within just a few short days. Check it out!

Join a well-known writing organization. Are you writing romance? Join Romance Writers of America. Are you into high-end literary works? Check out the Association of Writing Programs. You will probably need to spend some money to join these organizations, but the benefits are endless. First, you’ll get to put their well-known name on your cover or query letter. Second, you’ll get access to lots of great resources and you’ll score great networking opportunities. And third, you’ll show the agent or editor of your dreams that you’re committed to and serious about your writing—whether you’ve published anything or not! The credentials in your writing bio will be much improved—stronger and more impressive. 

Join a little-known writing organization. Writers all over the country are conducting workshops, and they may be meeting in your area. By being able to write “I attend a weekly writing workshop meeting,” you show that you’re resourceful and diligent. Not only that, your writing technique will benefit greatly, and you may meet other like-minded writers and make friends! Many times these types of meetings are free. You can find them by looking into various social-networking sites online; just be sure to take all necessary precautions to stay safe.

Volunteer. If you love writing or reading, it’s important to pass that love on. By volunteering for the spring cleanup at your local library—or by devoting your time to other worthy endeavors—you demonstrate that you care deeply about literacy. It may be brutal, but it's honest: Editors and agents like to see writers who truly have hearts of gold!

Take classes. Even if you don’t have many (or any) publishing credentials, taking a class at your local community college or online establishes your dedication to being a professional writer. It will help your technique and your reputation. Editors and agents like to see writers who are diligently committed to their craft. Being able to write, “I took a class at the University of XYZ” may strike a chord with agents and editors, who are familiar with many writing programs. If you can’t get to a school, check out online classes at www.ed2go.com or www.gothamwriters.com.

Go to a writing conference. If your budget permits, attend a writing conference. Not only will you learn and network, you’ll also be able to write that you attended said conference in your bio. The idea is, a writing conference is like a party—everyone who’s anyone will be there. If an agent or editor recognizes the name of the conference (maybe he or she attended or perhaps just knew a colleague who did) that may tip the scales in your favor.

These are just a few ways you can quickly improve, expand, or develop the biographical section of your cover or query letter. You may not have great publishing credits—maybe you’ve never published anything—but by proving that you care about your work and your craft, you demonstrate that you are reputable, dependable, and devoted. Good luck!

You’ve been writing. Now what? If you are confused about what your next step should be, here is a great opportunity to take a giant leap forward in your writing career. We’re offering to share what we’ve learned about publishing in the creative writing industry. Take a look at the services we list below, and call us to discuss whether you and your writing are ready.

You already receive one of our useful tools for writers, so you know our FREE Writers’ Newsflash contains lots of articles that help you hone your craft as a writer.

Here is an outline of other services and tools available to you:

Our Blog (also FREE) is an amazing source of information for writers in all genres. You may search on topics such as how to write a query letter, how to choose a literary agent, where to submit children’s books, submitting poetry to the best markets, choosing point of view, why length matters for short stories, grammar and punctuation rules, etc.

$100: A La Carte Service—Get started right away! This is a more do-it-yourself service, with Writer’s Relief targeting markets and guiding you through the process. You’ll get 25+ submissions out into the world within three days. This service is simple, quick, and affordable. We provide the best market research available to creative writers. Info about our A La Carte Service may be found at http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx.

$200 - $250: A La Carte PLUS Service—Everything that’s fast and affordable about our regular A La Carte Service, with the time-saving bonus of full-service cover/query letter preparation. We will target the best markets for your work, prepare mailing labels, and create 25 to 30 personalized, professional cover/query letters. More information may be found at http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Want-Us-To-Create-Your-CoverQuery-Letters.aspx.

$339 - $399: Full Service—Our most inclusive level of service. Your work must be presented and accepted by our Review Board. We do not accept all authors. If you don’t have time to take care of all the tasks required to get your submissions in the mail, this service is for you. We’ll create cover letters, target and track submissions, research guidelines, assign you a personal submission strategist, etc. Everything you need to develop a high-level submission strategy is included. http://www.WritersReliefblog.com/post/Submission-Guidelines-For-Full-Service-Clients.aspx

Included with ALL services:

** Targeting 25+ literary venues that specialize in YOUR type of writing. (Your work will be targeted to the most appropriate markets based on the topics, word count, etc., of the particular piece [or group of poems] you’re submitting.)

** An online database that lists all your submissions. As an A La Carte client, you’ll have access to your submission list 24 hours a day for 30 days.

Our A La Carte Service, A La Carte PLUS Service, or our Full Service? Choose the one that works best for you and suits your budget. All services include targeting your work to the best markets. Go to this link to see which level of service is best for you: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Three-Levels-Of-Service.aspx.

We invite you to give us a call for a FREE consultation with one of our submission strategists. Meg, Kriste, or Lisa will be happy to discuss your needs. Call us toll-free at (866) 405-3003 between the hours of 8:30 – 2:30 Eastern time if you need help deciding which service is best for you.

If your dream is to land a publishing contract with Random House and see your book in stores across the country, we recommend that you consider building your publication credits by submitting shorter pieces to journals and magazines.

Some folks believe that it’s not important to have published any short works before approaching an agent. If you’ve written a fantastic book that can stand on its own, you may well be able to find an agent without any publication credentials at all. But getting shorter pieces published before querying an agent is a strategy that gets your foot in the door, and based on our experiences in preparing submissions since 1994, writers who can boast publication of shorter works tend to have an easier time getting agent interest.

There are a number of reasons publishing your individual poems, essays, and short stories can help you get ahead.

1. Being published shows agents that you can manage submission deadlines and guidelines and that you are a serious writer with serious goals. You establish yourself as savvy and in-touch by being published in smaller markets, and you lay the groundwork for a career in lengthier fiction.

2. If editors like publishing your short works, it means they believe that their readers will enjoy your writing. When an agent sees that other people are getting excited about your writing, he or she will be more likely to want in on the action.

3. Having credentials in the small press market may help you get a leg up on the competition. Most agents are aware of how difficult it is to secure one single publishing credit. It may be enough to sway an agent into representing you. If an agent is offered two books of equal merit—with the only difference being that one author has a history of publishing short works and the other doesn’t—you can guess which book will get the contract.

4. Not only will publishing your shorter works make you a more interesting prospect, having those publications is emotionally rewarding. Acceptance letters from literary magazines go a long way toward keeping you motivated as you write your book. A short story can be written in less than a week, whereas the novel can take years. Keep your dream alive with smaller publications of short fiction.

5. Also, publishing in literary magazines might help you directly with getting an agent. A number of our clients have been approached by big New York agencies because an agent read a story in a literary magazine. Getting your work, your name, and your bio out there can get you noticed in the same way that a model might get noticed simply by hanging around at the hottest nightclubs. Add a blurb to your bio that you are “currently working on a novel,” and those who have enjoyed your work can be on the lookout for future projects.

6. Collections are especially difficult to place for writers who have not published any of the works within the collection. Because collections are generally not considered as lucrative as other book-length forms, agents and editors like to be assured of an author's potential for "popularity" by seeing some selections from the longer work published.  

At Writer’s Relief we help our clients build their portfolios as they work toward publishing a book. Some of our clients publish stand-alone works from within a larger book in order to show that their book is marketable. Others write stories that are entirely separate from their books.

There are literally thousands of journals and literary magazines out there, and it should not be an impossible task to find a home for one of your short stories or poems—provided your writing is strong and your submissions are targeted and professional. We have an up-to-date database containing detailed information on hundreds of nationwide publications, their editors, and their guidelines, and we’ve helped hundreds of writers reach their publication goals.

Here are some general tips for submission.

Research carefully. Find the perfect home for your work by submitting to magazines and journals that publish work like yours. Don’t waste your time (or an editor’s) by not doing your homework or blindly submitting to any old publication.

Start small and work your way up. Naturally, if you’re confident, feel free to go straight for the big guns, but most writers start with the smaller markets. You may have to forgo paying markets at this time in order to get your foot in the door.

Follow guidelines to the tee. If the magazine is looking for work under 4,000 words, do not submit 5,000 and hope that your work is good enough to be accepted despite the length or assume that the editor will be willing to cut it down to size for you. Pay attention to submission dates, submission formats, seasonal themes, the genre and style the magazine accepts, and any other rules they set forth. Follow them carefully.

Submit to the proper person. Again, do your homework and make sure you have the most current editor’s name for your submission. Details like this go a long way in impressing an editor and can increase your chance of being noticed.

Call Writer’s Relief (or e-mail us at info@wrelief.com) if you’d like us to help you build up your publication credits. We’ve helped writers fine-tune their personal submission strategies since 1994. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Our A La Carte Service, A La Carte PLUS Service, or our Full Service? Choose the one that works best for you and suits your budget. All services include targeting your work to the best markets. We outline all three services and costs at http://www.WritersRelief.com/comparison.asp.

Full Service: Your work must be presented to, then read and accepted by our Review Board. If you don’t have time to take care of all the tasks required to get your submissions in the mail, this service is for you. http://www.WritersReliefblog.com/post/Submission-Guidelines-For-Full-Service-Clients.aspx

A La Carte Service: Get started right away! This is a more do-it-yourself service, with Writer’s Relief targeting markets and guiding you through the process. If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, our A La Carte Service is quick and easy. We provide the best market research available to creative writers. Info about our A La Carte Service may be found at http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx.

A La Carte PLUS Service: Everything fast and affordable about our regular A La Carte but with the added bonus of Full Service cover/query letter preparation. We will target the best markets for your work, prepare mailing labels, and create 25 to 30 personalized, professional cover/query letters. More information may be found at http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Want-Us-To-Create-Your-CoverQuery-Letters.aspx.

It’s simple AND affordable. Keep reading and printing!

Included with ALL services:

** Targeting 25+ literary venues that specialize in YOUR type of writing. (Your work will be targeted to the best markets based on the topics, word count, etc., of the particular piece [or group of poems] you’re submitting.)

** An online database that lists all your submissions. You’ll have access to your submission list 24 hours a day for 30 days.

We invite you to give Meg or Kriste a call to discuss your needs. They are trained as personal submission strategists here at Writer’s Relief and will be happy to speak with you.

UPDATE: Deadline has passed. Winners will be announced on or around March 15th!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! In honor of Writer’s Relief’s 15th anniversary, we are having a special contest. To win the grand prize of 25+ targeted submissions of your writing, submit a poem, short story, or essay of exactly 15 words for our 15th anniversary!

There will be two (2) first-prize winners!

For our active, Full-Service clients, the first-prize winner will receive $106 off of his or her February to April 2009 invoice.

For all other writers the first-prize winner will be awarded one round of A La Carte submissions (Monetary value: $106). More information at: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx. 

Any honorable mentions will receive one of our T-shirts. You can see what they look like here: http://www.WritersRelief.com/Products.asp#shirts.

The information you need to know:

Deadline: 02/28/09.

Submit to: Writer’s Relief’s 15th Anniversary. E-mail via RTF or DOC attachment to: contest@wrelief.com. Please put “Contest Submission” in the subject line. Or mail to: “Contest Submission,” 409 South River Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. NOTE: Your entry must be postmarked by 2/28/09.

Entry fee: NONE!

Type: Poems, short shorts, and short essays (15 words EXACTLY). 

1. We will read entries anonymously, but YOU MUST include ALL of your contact information (name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address) with your submission.
2. Do NOT post your entry as a comment on this blog; it will be disqualified.
3. If your piece is under OR over 15 words, the submission will also be disqualified.
4. Do NOT include a title. We want the work to be strong enough to stand on its own.
5. Only ONE (1) entry per person.
6. Winning entries will be posted on our blog; we will acquire one-time rights.
7. Winners will be announced for our anniversary, which is March 15.

Get those contest submissions to our inbox or in the mail TODAY!

Many of our clients here at Writer’s Relief tend to shy away from tooting their own horns. So we’re happy to do it for them this month!

Here’s some information about our wonderful writers!

We had 157 acceptances in this December – February cycle: Please note that many magazines accepted work presented by more than one client. (We love when this happens.) The following magazines will be publishing work from Writer’s Relief clients. All of these journals accepted work within the past two months alone:

Agni, Alabama Literary Review, Alembic, American Literary Review, Argestes, Atlanta Review, Bat City Review, Bayou, Cadillac Cicatrix, Cairn, Center: A Journal of the Literary Arts, Chaffin Journal, Chautauqua Literary Journal, Compass Rose, Connecticut Review, CQ (California Quarterly), Cresset, descant, Dislocate, Eclipse, ellipsis . . . literature and art, Emrys Journal, Eureka Literary Magazine, Evansville Review, Fourth River, Grasslimb, Healing Muse, Hurricane Review, Inkwell Magazine, Iodine Poetry Journal, Kerem, Lullwater Review, Lungfull!, Minnetonka Review, Old Red Kimono, Paper Street, Passager, Permafrost, Pisgah Review, Portland Review, Quercus Review, Quiddity Literary Journal, Rambler, Red Wheelbarrow Literary Magazine, Rhino, Rio Grande Review, RiverSedge, Salamander, Schuylkill Valley Journal of the Arts, South Carolina Review, Sou’wester, Sulphur River Literary Review, Tampa Review, and Willow Springs.

In addition, the following agents requested manuscripts this cycle:

Ann Rittenberg
Brandt & Hochman Literary Agents
Elyse Cheney
Nicholas Ellison Literary Agency

Also, we had six clients nominated last cycle for The Pushcart Prize and another client nominated this cycle!

We love to celebrate with you!

Writers wishing to benefit from the Full Service submission assistance program that we offer at Writer's Relief must first apply to our Review Board. Now is a great time to kick-start your submission strategy and start seeing the results you want. We can help you get your work to the best-suited agents and editors in the best format possible.

There is no reading fee for our Review Board.

NOTE: Our FULL SERVICE clients enjoy our most comprehensive service, with lots of personal attention and our highest success rate; therefore, Full Service clients are invited only upon approval by the Review Board. A LA CARTE clients prefer a more do-it-yourself approach to working with us in order to keep costs down; therefore, A La Carte clients do not need to apply to the Review Board. Click here to compare pricing and services: http://www.WritersRelief.com/compare-our-writers-services.aspx.

Wouldn't it be amazing to get your submissions in the mail to all the best publishers and agents? Writer's Relief has successfully helped writers beat the procrastinator in them since 1994. We help clients find the time to write.

Keep in mind that we must turn away 80 percent of the work that comes to us. However, if your writing is strong, don't let procrastination, hesitation, lack of marketing experience, or fear stop you from submitting your work. We can help you make effective submissions. Send your writing for consideration today!

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO THE REVIEW BOARD

For online submissions: Visit http://www.WritersRelief.com/submission-guidelines-for-review-board.aspx.  Use our simple online form to get your work to us quickly. This is our preferred method.

Regular Mail Submissions: To apply, mail us your COMPLETE contact information (mailing address, phone number, e-mail), biographical information, a list of publishing credits, and a few words regarding what you would like us to accomplish for you. Include a self-addressed, stamped envelope for our reply. If you would like your work returned, be sure your SASE is the right size, with the right amount of postage. MAIL SAMPLE PAGES ACCORDING TO GENRE: Poetry (10-12 poems); Short prose (three stories or essays); Novels (a synopsis and the FIRST 25 pages); Nonfiction books (proposal and sample pages as needed, up to 30 pages total).  

If you are accepted into our FULL SERVICE client list:

If you've been putting off getting your work to our Review Board, now's the time to send it to us. Writers who submit their work regularly and extensively increase their odds of acceptance…dramatically. Act now to get your submissions into the world ASAP!

Writers have been looking to us for years to help them alleviate the countless hours needed to research ever-changing writers' markets. We continue to have the most current and best writers' markets included in our database. Because our database is updated daily from information we receive from all of our clients, as well as thousands of journals and agents directly, our lists are more up-to-date than any market book or online source.

We want to be your partner in the submission process. Call us toll-free (between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time) if you have any questions. One of our personal submission strategists will be happy to spend a few minutes with you on the telephone.

You can e-mail your questions to info@wrelief.com.

Our A La Carte PLUS Service:
You have already heard about the affordable alternative to our Full Service—our A La Carte Service. You may be interested to know that we now offer an A La Carte PLUS Service. Writer’s Relief will prepare your COVER/QUERY LETTERS in addition to targeting markets and preparing preaddressed mailing labels.

Clients have been requesting this service:
We are delighted to offer you an additional service that helps to fulfill your personal submission needs. We can now prepare a succinct cover/query letter and provide printed cover letters for each of the markets specially targeted for your work. You’ll save lots of time and avoid errors.

We know what editors and agents want in a cover/query letter:
Editors and agents want you to follow industry standards when composing these letters. We’ve been creating successful cover/query letters for clients since 1994. We’ve happily provided clients with information on how to do this themselves. In spite of your fear, there is no big mystery involved. If you love to create cover letters, great! If not, we can alleviate the stress associated with developing and addressing these letters. You’ll also save hours of worry and preparation. We know, if you’re like most writers, what you want is more time to write.

Here’s how the PLUS part of this service works:

1) We’ll ask you for the information we need to insert into your cover letters. This will include your name and contact information, as well as some biographical information and publication/writing credentials (if you have acquired any).

2) Writer’s Relief will create the template for a universal cover/query letter for you. This will be based on the information you give us in addition to the standards set by our industry.

3) You will review the letter, return it with your feedback, and send any proposed changes or your final okay. (Pricing allows for one back-and-forth or revision before we prepare final letters.)

4) Writer’s Relief will target submissions for your work and prepare an individually addressed cover/query letter for each of your 25+ submissions. (Please note that industry standard now requires letters be addressed to the editors’ full names. Example: Dear Ronnie L. Smith, as opposed to Dear Mr. or Ms. Smith. This is the format that we follow.)

How much will it cost?
If you wish to sign up for our A La Carte PLUS Service and receive printed cover/query letters, the total cost of this service is $200 – $250 (plus $6 for US postage and handling; international rates vary) to target and prepare cover/query letters and labels to 25 markets.

Stop spending your time wondering if your cover/query letter will do its job, and stop worrying whether you’ve typed all of that contact information correctly. Let us help you by providing this additional service that so many of you have asked for—just think how amazing it will be to send out professionally prepared cover letters with your submissions in a matter of days! A list of itemized services and prices may be found at http://www.writersrelief.com/comparison.asp.

If you would like to sign up for this service, please call us toll-free at (866) 405-3003, and ask to speak with Meg or Kriste. They are specialists in handling A La Carte clients and cover/query letters.

…will help you get your submissions in the mail by next week! We’ll do the market research and give you clear and simple instructions to properly prepare submissions to industry standards. You’ll have your submissions in the mail within a few days—REALLY! You don't need to enroll in our full services in order to benefit from what we've learned about publishing since 1994. (If you do want a more full range of services—including creating cover/query letters, tracking submissions, proofreading, etc.—you’ll need to apply and send work to our review board. Call for details.)

If you’re a do-it-yourselfer, our a la carte service is quick and easy. We provide the best market research available to creative writers.

It's simple AND affordable. Keep reading.

You’ll get:

** A CUSTOM list of 25+ literary venues that specialize in YOUR type of writing. (Your work will be targeted to the best markets based on the topics, word count, etc. of the particular piece [or group of poems] you’re submitting.)

** Self-adhesive labels (one for each contact) containing the most up-to-date address information. These labels make it very easy for you to mail your own submissions.

** An online database that lists all your submissions. You'll have access to your submission list 24 hours a day for 30 days.

** BONUS: We will also include a FREE bonus packet of informational tip sheets that will teach you the insider's secrets we've gathered since 1994. We want you to be successful. Following these guidelines (including sample format sheets, submission do’s and don’ts, etc.) will ensure that your work is well-prepared, which will, in turn, ensure a good read. This bonus packet of materials will include an easy-to-follow checklist for creating a most effective cover/query letter.

In order to create a CUSTOM list for you, we will need you to provide topics covered in your work. We will make this very EASY for you by giving you access to our online Work Cover checklist. We will prepare your specially targeted list of markets after receiving this information.

Call us with your credit card authorization between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and we can get started. We will prepare your submission list within one business day of receiving your completed Work Cover Sheet. Imagine how it will feel to have 25 properly targeted and prepared submissions in the mail within days!!

How much will this cost? Only $100, plus $6 U.S. postage and handling (international rates will vary). Your packet of specially targeted markets will arrive via U.S. Priority Mail. Our a la carte service or our full service? Choose the one that works best for you. Both services include targeting your work to the best markets. We outline both services and costs at http://www.writersrelief.com/compare-our-writers-services.aspx.

We invite you to give Kriste or Meg a call to discuss your needs at (866) 405-3003 or (201) 641-3003. They are trained as personal submission strategists here at Writer's Relief and will be happy to speak with you.

Our great-grandparents might not understand, but many of us now wake up to our Yahoo! or MSN home page to get our daily news and celebrity gossip fix. While daily newspapers will continue to be an important part of our lives, there’s no denying the impact of having such an array of online reading material. According to many surveys, more and more people than ever before are using the Internet to read the news, access blogs, articles. Studies also show that people tend to access online journals more frequently than print journals. Again, print magazines and journals aren’t in danger of disappearing anytime soon, but the Internet offers an alternate source of reading material—material that is usually up-to-date, easily accessible, often free, and conveniently waiting for us in our own homes or on our laptops. And as we ease into the world of cyberspace, online magazines and literary journals are quickly earning prestige and increased readership.

Online Magazines and Journals

There is a proliferation of literary magazines popping up on the Internet, and this is changing the way literature reaches readers. Suddenly, literature is more accessible to the entire world, and E-zines are offering more selections to their readers. These online magazines are finding better ways to meet the needs of writers and their readers, becoming a defining force in literature.

Literary journals and E-zines usually publish poetry, short fiction, and essays and offer information about authors and book reviews. Much of the work is written by new writers, so beginning writers take note: The Internet offers greater opportunities than ever before to get your work published. It hosts a variety of smaller-niche publications that offer new writers a forum for their work, as well as a worldwide audience. This translates to more people seeing a writer’s work than ever before. And, as it should be, the goal of these E-zines is to feature the work of deserving writers, both experienced and inexperienced.

Suppose you’ve placed a short story in a respectable print journal. Your story will be in active circulation for a certain number of weeks, and then it will be moved to the archives. If your story appears in an online literary journal, it may be viewed by thousands, and when it is archived, a mere click of the mouse will bring it back to life. No trips to the back rooms of libraries. Plus, your story will be viewed by people all over the world who may not have access to work you’ve published in print. This long-term exposure is a definite advantage for the author. This may explain why many mid-list literary magazines are switching to both online AND print editions.

New writers who are looking to be published in a print magazine would do well to target the mid-list (or second-tier) literary magazines. Obviously, the very best placement for an author’s short fiction would be in first-tier magazines; but if this goal is unattainable, online publications are a great way for new writers to get those first credits.

The Internet also offers writers newsletters, chat rooms, and forums where they can network with fellow writers from all over the world. This is a great way to stay current and glean information about particular editors and agents or hear about new E-zines and what they are looking for.

Blogs (short for Web log) have been on the Internet since the early ’90s. Originally, blogs started as personal diaries online, but that has since evolved and expanded. Not only are blogs for personal use, but blogs are often vehicles for sharing and discussing specific subjects, such as travel, politics, entertainment, and, of course, creative writing. Some of these blogs for creative writers can serve as an online journal, publishing a new poem or short story on a daily basis. Other writer-friendly blogs, such as http://www.writersreliefblog.com, offer information and advice for improving one’s writing skills.

Editors/agents will consider your work published if it’s posted publicly on your blog. Avoid sharing your work until it’s already been published elsewhere, giving credit to where it was first printed. In addition to sharing already-published work, if you’re promoting a book you’ve written, you can have friends and loved ones comment with reviews, announce book readings/signings, etc. Start sharing your blog link—that is, the URL, the WWW to get to your blog—in your e-mails and other communications. The more people you have visiting your blog, the more likely people will spread the word. An added bonus is that your rankings in Internet searches will increase.

Anthologies are rich with opportunity for new writers hoping to break into the market. And they're a popular market now—simply count the number of Chicken Soup for the Soul collections in circulation.

An anthology gathers stories and/or essays that center around a common theme, which opens up a great avenue for aspiring authors. Are you a lifetime hiker? There's probably an anthology of nature-based tales waiting for your contribution. Are you a cancer survivor? Caretaker of an elderly parent? If there's a common thread that makes people feel a connection with each other, there's likely a market for your story. These publications depend on the contributions of folks just like you.

Anthologies are often started as a way to fill gaps in the market when a publishing house perceives a need for a certain theme. Sometimes authors get together and submit samples as an anthology package, and other times a single author comes up with the idea and invites other writers to submit. Writers' forums are a good place to find these calls for stories. Smaller publishing houses often put out anthologies too. The process will require research, but it may be well worth it.

A few things to look out for when choosing to submit:

1. Some anthologies consider reprints, and it's best not to be locked into selling all your rights to the piece. Look for "reprints welcome" and "one-time or nonexclusive rights." If the publisher insists on first rights only, you should receive a larger payment. Check the simultaneous submission policies as well, so that you can circulate your story to more than one potential anthology. However, if your piece is highly specific (targeted for Chicken Soup for the Avalanche Survivor's Soul), you may have only one market in mind.

2. You should not be forced to purchase the anthology that has published your work, and you should receive at least one free copy plus discounts on additional copies. Avoid "reading fees" and collections that are "for a good cause" (unless you're willing to write for free).

3. Get the terms of your payment up front and in writing. Some anthologies pay token fees, which can be acceptable when you consider a great writing credit, while others pay quite handsomely.

Tips for Submission:

1. Pay attention to reading periods. Ignore them and risk the Round File.

2. Study the editor's submission guidelines and follow them to the letter. If the editor wants a 4,000 word count and Times New Roman font, do not be the exception to the rule to "stand out."

3. Keep your cover letter brief, professional, and to the point. Do not tell your story in the cover letter and then use a couple of paragraphs persuading the editor to buy it. Let her do her job and get on to the good stuff—your actual piece.

4. If you have writing credits, list only the top four or five recognizable journals or publications. A list of 20 obscure 'zines will likely be skipped over.

5. Make sure your work is proofed and polished to within an inch of its life. Clean copy is your friend.

6. As with all submissions, do not be impatient and pester the editor to make sure your piece was received or to ask if he liked it. This is a sure sign of an amateur and a surefire way to irritate the editor. If the publication deadline is looming and you still haven't heard anything, then a quick query is acceptable.

Overall, anthologies are a great way to get started in this difficult industry. Even if you don't land a lucrative sale, you'll still be able to boast a writing credit, and this is what it's all about—getting your work out there to be read.

This old adage rings true today: If it looks too good to be true, it probably is. In the writing world, as in every industry, there are less-than-legitimate companies out there hoping to separate the writer from his money, promising to get you published without the usual hard work, research, dedication, and learning curve the rest of us writers must endure. Now there's a new kind of service being offered to writers, promising to blast off your queries to hundreds, even thousands of agents and editors, saving you countless hours of hard work. But is this a legitimate route? Most editors and agents don't think so.

One new service aimed at writers offers to submit your query online and send it out to hundreds of editors and agents. While it would be lovely to sit back and have your query "blasted" across the country, there are a few areas of concern. First, these services use only e-mail, which eliminates a large percentage of editors who request paper submissions. Second, these mass mailings are often identified as spam and immediately relegated to the junk mail folder. Many editors and agents automatically delete any submissions from services such as Bookblaster or eQuery Online. Some of them already recognize the cut-and-paste formula and weed those queries out automatically. The general consensus is that these cookie-cutter queries are causing serious annoyance in the publishing world.

Another problem is that there's no guarantee that these services maintain a carefully researched, up-to-date database. And if you're paying good money for this scattershot approach, you'd be better off taking the time to research a more manageable target group on your own. At least you'd have your own best interest at heart.

At Writer's Relief, we offer to edit and format your query, target potential agents and editors, and send your query to the appropriate people on a regular submission schedule. We promise to take a load off your shoulders, but we do not promise to do all the work for you. Our clients are seasoned writers who have already put in the long hours. They simply want a little help with the promotion of their work. We screen our writers carefully and only accept those whose work has promise—and we do not charge a reading fee.

If you are a writer who wears too many hats, you may feel it's worth paying someone to deal with the busywork of submission, and that's the service we offer. We do not promise to get you published, and we do not offer you the luxury of sitting back and waiting for a contract to fall in your lap. What we do promise is to help you get organized and motivated to submit on a regular basis to a carefully compiled list of editors and agents so that you can focus your time and energy on the business of writing.

If in doubt, keep the following points in mind when comparing submission services:

Avoid services that keep you out of the loop. Your work should be submitted in your name, not the service's. The only person who should act as your middleman is your agent.

Check references and testimonials. Does the service provide a list of satisfied clients with publication credits that you can confirm? Does the staff have writing or publishing experience? Resumes and testimonials should be accessible to any prospective clients.

Get specific fee information up front and in writing. (It's a bad sign if this information is not easy to locate.)

Assess the quality of editing services if offered. Find out how stringent the qualifications for proofreading or editing are for this company.

Avoid fancy "extras" like cover mock-ups or 8 x 10 glossies of you by the pool. Editors have enough to sort through without fancy binders and clippings and photos.

And lastly, get a feel for the level of personal service. Are you treated well and your questions answered courteously and promptly? Or are you ignored? Given the runaround? Writing is a highly personal endeavor, and the people handling your work should be sensitive and caring enough to treat it as such.

In general, there are no shortcuts in the business. And there's no way to bypass the hard work and devotion required to be a good writer. But there are some legitimate services that help take some of the frustration out of the process and free up a little time for creativity. Writer's Relief is here to do just that. Our database of editors and agents is constantly being updated so that your work is targeted to the people most likely to accept it. Our fees are up front, and our clients have full control over the level of service they want to pay for, which can include record keeping, personal databases, and itemized expense lists for tax purposes. And yes, all these things you certainly could do for yourself. Our clients are quite capable of writing a powerful query letter and researching the market for themselves—but they relish the opportunity to devote more time to their writing, while we take care of the details.

So, I’m sitting here wondering why the query I sent out last week has yet to be answered. It took several months to compose that query, and another four weeks to track down a suitable agency to send it to. You could say that I have quite a lot invested in this query, and now I need answers as to why I’m being ignored.

Could it be something to do with the post office? I suppose it’s possible the neighborhood letter carrier ran into a shambling group of zombies. When he discovered he had only a banana and a toothpick with which to defend himself, my poor query probably fell to the wayside and became covered with banana goo. It’s also possible that a flock of great horned owls swooped down and mistook my query for nesting material—good taste on their part. Even supposing that the letter carrier avoided zombies, owls, and envelope-eating voodoo doctors, my query couldn’t have made it to the agency’s door, or I would have heard something by now.

Unlike the literary agency I queried, my writing group was lightning quick in responding to my complaint. They’re asking why it took so long to complete a single query and wondering why I only managed to send it to one agency. Are they negative or what? They don’t know what I’ve been facing this past year! For one thing, I had a disastrous accident on my scooter last December. Then my frontal lobotomy didn’t go quite as planned, and things started slipping my already slippery mind. Spent several unproductive months watching the Food Network and buying Hulk Hogan Ultimate Grills from the Home Shopping Network. Oh, and let’s not forget my tragic loss in the national 52-Card Pickup tournament in Vegas.

It’s been a rough year, but I hope to get more writing done, not to mention a few more queries submitted in the months ahead. It would be really cool to sell a story or two. If so, I could pay for a few of those Ultimate Grills sitting in my garage...if any literary agents are reading this, maybe we could work out a deal?