The other day I wrote about John Freeman’s new literary magazine, Freeman’s. I’d started that blog entry as an introduction to an article he’d written for Electric Literature, but it got unwieldy. At least in blogging terms. Internet readers like their posts pithy!
In “Anatomy of a Discovery: How a Literary Magazine Finds New Writers,” Freeman dives into the editorial selection process. In short, he say editors:
“Read the slush. Tell the ones we meet to try. Listen to a writer’s supporters.”
The essay reveals that sometimes it’s through meeting someone at a booth at AWP and oftentimes, it’s through the recommendation of an MFA writing instructor.
It’s an insightful article that shows the importance of networking, attending high-profile literary events, and enrolling in the right MFA program (that is, one where the instructor’s are well-connected) being such a standout writer that your writing professor is willing to mention your name to their editor.
As an introvert, I found hope in this sentiment from Freeman:
Fatin, who had seemed so shy in person and on email, was not at all shy on the page. She moves swiftly in and out of four or five different characters points of view like it was nothing, like it was what she was for.
If you want to get published, read the full article here.
You might also enjoy my blog posts:
Keep in Touch with Your Alumni Network
So You Want to Be in Publishing
Five Tips for How to Promote without Selling Out
Making the Most of My Writing MFA
Also! Next month, I’m slated to speak on the panel “Lessons Learned” about my experience publishing at BinderCon.
Stephanie Nikolopoulos 
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