Submitting your writing to literary magazines can be overwhelming and intimidating. Heck, even writing can be difficult. This tab is full of resources to get you out of your comfort zone and into the world of writing more, publishing, and connecting with other writers!
The blog post below, by student editor Addisea Purvis, is a great place to start fueling your creativity.
An Objective for Content
By: Addisea Purvis
Running flat out of ideas? Is writer’s block holding you down? Well, there is a solution for you. Not sure what it is? Here’s a hint. You’re living in it and surrounded by it every day. If you still don’t know what I’m referring to, then think about the bed you sleep in, the cup you drink from, or even the fan you rely on on hot summer days. What do these objects have in common? They are your lifeline to an amazing success story! At least, a quick experiment to brainstorm some ideas.
Now, what might I be getting at by listing random objects, you might ask? As a fellow writer like you, stumped on trying to find that next story to write, I’ve stumbled upon a solution: a writing exercise that’s tailored to pushing past the limits of your creative scope and creating a story based on random objects! Now, I can see how that might seem silly. If you were to pick up a spoon, per se, what story can you possibly make with something as useless as a spoon? Instead of wracking our brains on the logistics, think about how that spoon can be your very own antagonist, protagonist or even plot that changes the story as a whole. By taking a moment to consider the object as a piece of the story, you can make up all sorts of scenarios that create or lead to a story surrounding that object. Whether you choose to edit the story later on with something else, is your choice but at least it gets your foot in the door to creating a story.
The process of that is simple. First, take a few seconds to find an inanimate object within your vicinity. The goal here is to allow you to build your characteristics depending on the object you choose. Think of it like a cartoon. A movie that comes to mind is any of the Toy Story movies. Throughout the movie, these inanimate objects have their voice, characteristics, and role that progresses the storyline altogether. My point is to not make a similar story like Toy Story but to imagine what that object you found could be. Or, another possibility is how that object will be utilized to progress the story by your character.
The next step in creating your story, after determining what type of object you choose and the role they’ll play in your story, decide on a setting. Where is this taking place? Are they outdoors or inside? What are they doing? Remember, this is just to get you started, so you don’t have to put too much pressure on it. If you’re struggling with this step, you can base it on what’s currently going on outside. The point is to create something new and to make changes later after you establish where this story would start and then eventually end.
After the setting is established choose another object, and think about what the problem might be. What problems does the object face as an antagonist? What problems might the protagonist face? For example, the smiley face sticker on my wall, self-proclaimed as Diablo the III, is separated from his lover (who also has a smiley face sticker) and has fallen to the ground, inches away from a sleeping cat. How will Diablo un-attach himself from the wall, the only oasis he’s known since sticker birth? Will he be able to ever save his love or is she doomed to be a cat’s teething toy, leaving Diablo loveless and forever alone? Who knows? In this situation, you call the shots no matter how ridiculous it may be.
My last word of advice is to tell you to have fun with it. This experiment is just a start-up to channel that creative mind into something unique. This exercise isn’t meant to be formal. It’s supposed to challenge you to make something simple—to something great.
…
Interested in submitting your work beyond Penn State Harrisburg? Searching for some more inspiration? This list of ten resources is here to help you hone your craft, access the literary community, and encourage you in the pursuit of your writing career!
- If you’d like more writing prompts and ideas, this site has hundreds of options that should keep you writing and writing!
- Are you still stuck staring at a blank document or empty piece of paper? Don’t worry. You’re not alone; many writers face the monster of writer’s block. This Masterclass article explains why you may be facing writer’s block, and how to overcome this beast.
- This video is excellent for writers of all levels. Eat, Pray, Love author Elizabeth Gilbert gives an inspirational TED Talk for writers about the creative process, the definition of success, and the importance of pursuing creative work.
- Looking for feedback on your writing skills? Utilize Penn State Harrisburg’s writing center where tutors can personally review your work and give feedback on grammar, structure, mechanics, and clarity. The writing center’s page also includes a link to resources related to academic writing.
- The first part of your submission that editors will look at is your cover letter. Michelle Richmond’s article demonstrates how to write an effective cover letter for a literary magazine submission.
- Time to submit! This site is full of literary magazines that submit undergraduate work.
- Newpages is a free guide that pairs writers and artists with thousands of literary magazines. This is an incredibly useful resource if you’re searching for a niche publication and really want to narrow down the results.
- Missed the deadline? This blog can help you keep track of current contests and calls for submissions! They post regular updates so you won’t have to worry about missing out on an opportunity.
- Rejection got you down? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Kim Liao wrote this article about the commonality of rejection among the writing community. She talks about how she and other writers deal with, and ultimately embrace, rejection.
- Get involved with your local literary community! Penn State Harrisburg and local libraries often host poetry readings, visiting writers, and more. These events are a great way to connect with other student writers, learn from published authors, and gain some inspiration and motivation!