I’m Young or Emerging: where can I get published?

Below is a list of literary journals and magazines that especially focus on publishing the work of emerging and young poets and fiction writers / authors. 

It’s really important to start getting your work out into the world of professional publication, right? 

Agents and publishers want to see that you’ve taken those first steps, been paid for your work, and perhaps even won or been long or short listed for a competition. 

While we all want to be published in the New Yorker as often as possible, it’s probably a good idea to also research magazines and journals that especially foster the work of new writers! 

Always stay on the lookout for competitions, especially ones that are judged ‘blind’ i.e. the assessors don’t know the author of the work when they judge it. This will give unknown writers the greatest chance of success. 

AGNI 

AGNI is a terrific journal that places an emphasis on supporting emerging writers, and most significantly, unlike The New Yorker, mostly publishes work that writers without representation have sent in! 

They write, “AGNI is a literary magazine housed at Boston University and known among readers around the world, as the writers group PEN put it, for publishing important new writers early in their careers, many of them translated into English for the first time. Most of the writing we publish comes to us unsolicited.”

Sounds good, right? 

Overland Literary Journal https://overland.org.au/about/ 

Overland is an Australian literary journal first published in 1954. It has a progressive, left wing political agenda, and as part of that mission statement seeks out new progressive voices, especially from communities that have been marginalised in the past.

They say that “The magazine has published some of Australia’s most iconic writers, and continues to give space to underrepresented voices and brand-new literary talent every single day.”

Emerging writers should definitely submit here! Each submission is read by two readers, who recommend whether the journal should proceed with the story, before the submission is passed to the fiction editor, so there is a plurality of opinions at each decision making instance. 

Voiceworks Journal https://www.voiceworksmag.com.au/about-voiceworks 

This journal only publishes Australian writers, but they mention a couple of things that are worth discussing. 

They write “Our purpose is to create a space for people under twenty-five to develop their creative and editorial skills and to publish, and be paid for, their fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art and comics.” 

They are stating that the journal is a platform for writers under 25 to get paid. While many of us would happily write for free, and be thrilled to get published, its critically important to try to take that step into the world of professional publication, if your eventual goal is to be a professional writer.

They also point out that each submission is considered in a collaborative environment, so you don’t have to worry about the whims of a single individual.

They also write that “we provide individualised feedback for all unsuccessful submissions.” Pretty cool, right!? So every submission is already a win because you get great free feedback

Although this is just for Aussies – writers in other countries should keep a look out for opportunities like the ones offered by Voiceworks. 

Kill Your Darlings https://www.killyourdarlings.com.au/write-for-kyd/ 

This is a youngish journal, with a focus on new writing. They write “we encourage writers from diverse backgrounds and at all levels of experience to pitch and submit to KYD.”  

They maintain a focus on fostering talent at the early stages of development. 

Here’s how they describe their activities, “In addition to championing Australian writers, KYD also runs several early-career writing awards, produces a regular podcast, provides professional writing services such as workshops, mentorships and manuscript assessments, and hosts literary events. We are also the publisher of the annual short-story anthology, New Australian Fiction.”

Festivals

Keep an eye out for writing festivals that have a particular focus on young and emerging writers, there are plenty out there! Here’s one: https://youngwritersfestival.org/

Festivals offer emerging writers many things, from classes, talks, competitions, networking, and friendship building opportunities. 

This is how the festival mentioned above describes themselves: “The National Young Writers’ Festival (NYWF) is an annual gathering of young writers. A place to show work, share ideas, and learn. Our programs are free, and made by and for young writers who create across stage, page, web and beyond.”

Try Googling ‘Young and emerging writers’ festival” to find one local to you!