Over the past few decades, the Internet has opened up many opportunities for creative writers. The ability to share work online has removed many of the constraints of print-only publishing, allowing for more diversity and for a side-stepping of the traditional gatekeepers in the publishing industry.
Although print publishing is still the preferred mode of delivery for readers, as well as the greatest area of profit when it comes to the publishing world, there are still many opportunities for authors to gain a readership and even sell their works online, either independently or through traditional Ebook publishing.
The opportunities for publishing online are seemingly limitless, with writers able to write their own work and post it to a blog (like this one) without editorial oversight. There are also opportunities to submit work to online literary journals and magazines. With the vast number of web pages on the Internet nowadays, it can be difficult for independent blogs to come to the attention of potential audiences. Therefore, submitting work to online journals may be a good way to get your work noticed, both in the beginning and throughout your writing life.
There are many literary journals and magazines out there, and in my latest (and debut) podcast with author Des Barry, some suggestions came to light: 3:AM Magazine; Quart; Lit Hub; Minor Literatures; Overland; Meanjin; The New Yorker; and Granta (I’ve gone ahead and added a couple). Not all literary magazines pay writers for submissions, so this is something to consider on a case-by-case basis – just be sure to read the submission guidelines and have a look to see whether they pay. However, if you’ve got some longer works in the pipeline, it can be a good idea to get something published online (even if it’s small), since both publishers and readers will look favourably on that. It’s my personal opinion that writers shouldn’t work for free, but of course it’s an individual judgment call.
I mentioned above that publishing on a blog, for example, is done without editorial oversight. However, I will stress that meticulous proofreading and editing must, in this case, be undertaken by the author themselves. The same goes for submitting work to literary journals. You’ll want your work to be as polished as it possibly can be before publishing online or submitting to an online magazine. Good quality content is crucial and will keep readers coming back for more.
The web really does offer a plethora of opportunities for the savvy author. Whether you want to write solely online or use online spaces to promote your writing projects, there are many avenues to take. Perhaps the most important aspect is establishing a presence that reflects the work that you do and establishes your craft in a professional way. Having a positive online presence is better than having no presence at all if you want others to read your work, and perhaps buy your books if you’ve published them online. However, being aware of the pitfalls of publishing online is equally important. As mentioned previously, editing and proofreading are especially important, and many good writers find these exercises to be very difficult. Fortunately, there are many editing courses you can take in your spare time that can improve your skills. Alternatively, there are freelance editors out there who can help (although they can be costly) if you’re having trouble.
Finding a suitable publication for your work is a skill in itself, and I’ve been to numerous events and functions that focus on how to approach editors and publishers. The hard truth is that many editors will be looking for an excuse not to read your work (due to their existing workloads and busy schedules), and this is why appropriate presentation, high quality content, following submission guidelines, and thoroughly researching the publication that you’re submitting to are so important. It is true that online publications have more space to display content, but editors will still be looking at whether your submitted piece of writing fits with the overall aims and style of the publication. A good editor will always have their readership in mind when assessing whether a piece of writing is appropriate for their particular audience’s demographic and perhaps even political affiliations.
This brings us to an important point: audience. If you’ve researched an online magazine and think your writing aligns with the publisher’s mission statement and previously published pieces, then you’ve pretty much met this criterion already. But what happens if you’re writing your own blog from scratch? While writing your own blog is pretty much an opportunity to bask in your own freedom to create, it certainly comes with challenges of its own. Clearly in this case you’ll have to find your own audience and ensure that the content you create is suitable. Again, be sure to do your research. The good news is that there are loads of online literary journals and magazines to choose from.
Also, be sure to keep your eye out for new and emerging publications. These publications are always looking for contributions from writers to get their brand going, and can therefore be a good opportunity to try something new and to develop a good working relationship with an editor that could last for many years. Networking with other industry professionals is equally as important, since they may know things you don’t and vice versa. Only the other day I came across The Suburban Review after an old friend recommended it to me (it may not be new but I hadn’t heard of it). Keeping lines of communication open can be a lifeline for writers, and writing online can help facilitate this communication. Long gone is the myth of the lonely writer in their garret. The new writer is connected, contemporary, and more in-demand than ever. There have never been more opportunities for writers of all kinds. It’s up to you to decide on how involved you want to be, where to take your writing craft, and where you want your writing craft to take you.