A spread from Where Women Create, where thoughtful storytelling and inspiring creative spaces come to life in print.
This is your year. You’ve decided to pitch your work to your favorite magazine in hopes of being published in an upcoming issue. There’s nothing quite like having your hard work come to life digitally or on beautifully printed, heavy-stock magazine pages.
But how do you ensure your submission survives the “slush pile”? As the Editor-in-Chief of the Women Create publications, I have seen my fair share of submissions come through our web portal. While the sea of content is vast, the successful ones inevitably share common DNA. If you want to move from “submitted” to “scheduled,” there are five essential keys to ensuring your pitch gets noticed.
Do Your Homework
It sounds obvious, but you must be keenly aware of the magazine’s soul. This goes beyond being a fan. It requires a detailed look at its content. You want to do more than just read back issues; you want to actually study them! Have an understanding of what type of articles are shared, how they are written, how long the articles are, and what type of photography is showcased. You want to ensure that your submission is consistent with what the editor is looking for. Even if you plan to submit unique, or out-of-the-box content (which can also be wonderful), know how your suggestion can fit within the magazine’s structure.
Sharpen Your Angle
The goal is to present an idea that is narrow enough to be focused, but deep enough to be compelling. You’ll want to suggest an angle that is not too broad or overly general, that resonates with the readership. For example, we receive many submissions from women who are painters. We look for how someone’s painting technique, process, or artwork stands out from others that have already been featured in the magazine.
Questions to ask yourself:
- What is special about my work?
- What is the specific hook?
- Why would a reader be interested in my technique, ideas, process, or story?
- Is this a perspective they haven’t encountered before?
Behind every strong submission is a maker with a unique story, process, and point of view worth sharing.
Bring the Receipts
The proof is in the pudding. Show that you are able to execute your idea within your submission by providing a thorough description of your concept, images (if applicable), and links to your portfolio, website, and social media channels. When it comes to sharing images, unless the submission process specifically suggests otherwise, provide five varied images that support your editorial focus. Ensure they match the magazine’s aesthetic, even if they are not the exact images that will be used in the article. A picture says a thousand words; make sure yours say ‘Wow’.
Precision Matters
Most magazines use digital portals with specific requirements. If you miss a required field or forget an attachment, you aren’t necessarily disqualified, but you are making it harder for the editor to say yes. In a fast-paced editorial environment, it is much easier to skip an incomplete form and move to the next one where all the materials are intact. Be the easiest “yes” of their day.
Readers and contributors proudly holding What Women Create and Where Women Create magazines.
The Art of the Follow-Up
If you haven’t heard back from the editorial team within one to two weeks, a polite email follow-up is appropriate. Always reply to your original submission email. This keeps your details, links, and history in one place, saving the team from researching who you are. Social media managers aren’t necessarily the decision-makers for editorial content, so I don’t recommend sending a DM via Instagram as the best follow-up method. Check the masthead for the Editor-in-Chief or Managing Editor and send a professional note directly to their inbox.
*BONUS* Be a Dream Collaborator
If your submission has been approved and you are looking forward to being published, congratulations! Modern magazines thrive on community engagement. Once approved by the editor, share your excitement on social media, engage with readers in the comments, and link to the issue on your website. You’ll be promoting yourself AND supporting the ecosystem that published your work.
**If you are interested in submitting to Women Create, you can do so here. Our publications are solely created with contributor submissions, and we’d love to meet you!
***And if you’d like to submit to other magazines, take a look at our Big List of Magazine Submission information right here.
Susan Harold
contributor
With over three decades in magazine publishing spanning circulation, content creation, and editing, Susan Harold has spent her career at the heart of creative storytelling. As the Editor-in-Chief of Where Women Create and What Women Create, she continues to champion the maker community. Susan is also the author of The Art of the Studio, the premiere coffee table book from Women Create.
