So You Want to Join a Literary Magazine?

I have always wanted to give back to the lit mag scene, which is why I’ve now become a reader/editor. Being a reader/editor is great because you get to look at things from the other side of the table: how sad it is when you have to reject a gorgeous piece because slots are limited, and how lovely it is to home prose that writers have worked so hard on, and so many others.

But how does one even start? It was by chance for me. I was scrolling Substack when I found an article that lists lit mags that have open calls for readers and editors. There are ways to become a lit mag reader/editor that doesn’t require you to find the right post at the right time on Substack, though. Today, I’ll lend you the key to the backdoor.

1. Know What You are Actually Applying For

It’s not uncommon that people think that ‘reader’ and ‘editor’ have the same job descriptions. In some lit mags, especially youth-led ones, that’s the case. But readers and editors are not the same.

A reader is usually someone who filters the submissions. They get what you’ve probably heard before as a ‘slush pile’. Depending on the lit mag, readers would downvote or upvote pieces, rate them, or in general recommend which pieces should advance. They are often also asked to elaborate on why they evaluated a piece the way they did.

Editors read the filtered pile at the next stage of reading. What they do is usually more varied: they may provide feedback, discuss with other editors which pieces to accept, proofread and edit accepted work, schedule issues, and communicate with contributors. And then there are titles like managing editor, assistant editor, section editor, or editorial assistant, and each have their own differing responsibilities, which again, depends on the lit mag.

But, yes, the line gets fuzzy sometimes. Which is probably also the reason why people think the two are mutually comprehensible. So before you apply, investigate what that particular lit mag means by its roles. Carefully read the job description (if there is no job description or the expectations are not well-defined, that is a red flag) and read masthead bios; see if their staff says anything about their responsibilities publicly.

2. Find Lit Mags That Fit You

Ask yourself: Why do I want to work for this magazine specifically? Read several pieces across different issues and familiarize yourself with their aesthetic. Check their ‘about’ section and what they publish.

Also, think about your goal. If your goal is to get volunteer hours, many youth-led lit mags offer that. If your goal is just to gain experience, indie lit mags it is. If your goal is to gain experience and polish your CV, a more established magazine might be a better place, although they may have higher standards and be harder to join.

Finally, think about what you can do. If the job description includes responsibilities you can’t confidently say you can fulfill, don’t apply. For example, if you are expected to read and comment on 20 poems per week and you know you don’t have the capacity to do that, don’t apply. You will suffer. The lit mag will suffer.

3. Search for Open Calls

The easiest route. CLMP, Chill Subs, and even social media if your algorithm is good. Recently, Chill Subs has introduced a feature where you can filter jobs, internships, and volunteer opportunities.

If you simply can’t find one that suits you, that brings us to No. 4.

4. Try Sending Cold Emails

They work. Most of the lit mags I work with right now, I work with because I sent them an email out of the blue. Some have told me that they were impressed by my proactivity. A lit mag not advertising for staff does not necessarily mean it would never welcome a new reader/editor. Most lit mags are run by people juggling that and work, school, families, and so on. It’s likely that some lit mags would warmly welcome an extra pair of hands.

You can put your subject email as “Inquiry Regarding Editorial Positions at [lit mag’s name]”. The keyword is ‘inquiry’. You are asking if they have an open spot that you could possibly fill in. I would also say to not cold email discriminately. Cold emailing should be targeted. You are looking for places you hope you could learn and grow in.

Before sending one, check the lit mag’s website and social media - make sure there isn’t already an open call you can immediately apply to or a recruitment period you are supposed to use. Look out for specific statements that indicate they are not accepting unsolicited staffing inquiries. Finally, find the appropriate contact address; that would usually be the email or contact form on their website. Contact form is straightforward, when emails might be a little more tricky; don’t accidentally send the email to submissions@[lit mag].com instead of editors@[lit mag].com. Just find the email address that’s meant for ‘general inquiries’.

I would say 300-400 words is the sweet spot for your cover letter in the body of the email, but it can be shorter or longer. Don’t make it super short (below 200 words) or super long (above 500 words), though; in other words, don’t make it so brief that the team doesn’t have enough information about you to continue the conversation, and don’t make it so long that reading the email becomes a chore for the already very busy lit mag team.

First, introduce yourself. Your name, what you do, where you’re from–things that you would also include when you introduce yourself in cover letters for submissions would suffice.

Now, cold emailing is not a demand to invent a position or open a spot just for you. That’s why you should not, under any circumstances, start your email with “I am writing to apply for an editorial position.” Instead, say something along the lines of “I am writing to inquire if there is an open position for a reader/editor at [lit mag name].”

When that’s done, here is a checklist of what you should include:

• Explain your concrete literary history. What do you like to read? What do you like to write? Are you published in any lit mags? Have an MFA? Had a writing or editing-related job/internship/volunteer experience? Anything relevant works.
• Give reasons why you’re sending an inquiry to that lit mag specifically.
• Give reasons why you want to be an editor/reader, both in general and for the lit mag.
• Explain what you can bring to the table: reading? Manuscript proofreading and editing? Copyediting? Giving feedback to submitters? What kind of genre (poetry, prose, fiction, non-fiction, etc.) would you want to read?
• Explain why you’re the right person to bring those things to the table.
• Mention how many hours per week you can dedicate.
• Thank them for their time and that you look forward to hearing from them.
• Attach a CV/Resume.

My pro-tip, above all else, is to be humble. Don’t boast. Be confident, of course, but humility means presenting your accomplishments as your background rather than telling the lit mag team how impressed they should be by them.

5. Keep Going, and Stay Connected

What if you apply to an open call or send a cold email and they say no or don’t respond? Just like with submission rejections, move on! Find another lit mag. Don’t beg, don’t double-email. Truth is, you are probably going to get more rejections than acceptances, and that’s okay. A lot of lit mags simply don’t have the capacity for another member at the moment, or they prefer to stay as a small, close-knit team. Some lit mags that said no to my cold email said that they preferred to be a one-man team, even. Also, lit mags affiliated with university MFAs almost always don’t take in readers/editors that aren’t their students.

In the meantime, you can still connect with lit mags without being on their masthead. Aside from submitting to them, it’s worth it to follow them on social media, read their issues, subscribe to their newsletter, and attend their events. Engage with them. It’s important, I think, to recognize the lit mag scene as a community. Familiarizing yourself with it genuinely helps you figure out which lit mag you would actually want to read/edit for.

Then, keep applying and inquiring until an opportunity pops up. And once you’re in, prove to them that you’re worth keeping around. Meet deadlines, communicate, and do what you are expected to do. And before anything else, just try your utmost best. Good luck!