Make your Previously Published Writing Work Smarter

Start submitting to literary journals

As a creative writer on this platform, it’s often disheartening to see how little my poems and short stories make — despite the hours, and sometimes days it takes to write and edit them. And then they end up earning less than three dollars.

Maybe you’re also re-posting your creative work to platforms such as Vocal Media or Simily, hoping to increase your earnings.

But how many creative writers are making good money on these “instant-publishing” platforms?

An Alternative Strategy for Previously Published Work

If you’re a writer of poetry, fiction or CNF (Creative Nonfiction), there’s another avenue to “re-purpose” your previously published work. You can take your strongest pieces and submit them to literary journals and magazines that accept previously published work.

You can earn better money per accepted piece than on Medium, but even when work is accepted into a non-paying journal, the publication credit has numerous advantages for your writing life.

For creative writers, this is a way to make your best already-published writing work smarter.

I know sending off that first submission to a literary journal can be a daunting prospect. I want to share my submitting strategies and tips, because my approach is working well for me. I’ll also give you a list of 10 journals accepting previously published work (or reprints, as they’re often termed in submission calls) to get you started.

How Submitting Reprints is Boosting my Submission Stats

In January, I set a goal to make a minimum of 52 submissions for 2023— averaging one a week. Three months in, I’ve made 17 submissions, which is roughly 6 a month. I’m happy to be keeping ahead of my minimum goal and part of how I’ve done this is to start with submitting some reprints. You can churn a few submissions out fairly fast because you’re not having to write new work from scratch.

From those 17 submissions, I’ve had 6 acceptances so far.

Roughly, that gives me a 35% success rate. Any articles I’ve read on the submission “game” tell me my acceptance statistics are (surprisingly) on the high side. Including reprints in the mix meant I was sending some work that had undergone anything from 3–5 drafts, which perhaps worked to my advantage.

Of the 6 acceptances, 4 are reprints of poetry or fiction initially published on Medium. Two reprint acceptances were for paid publications. A prose poem has earnt me 35USD and a short story for an anthology, at .05c / per word, will pay around 60USD. On Medium, the same prose poem earnt $2.38 and the story, a little under 5 bucks.

More Pluses for Submitting Reprints

If the lure of earning something approaching decent for your work isn’t enough, consider this. Before this year, my most recent publication credit was from 2018 — from a now-defunct journal. Not that anyone lists years anymore (except for awards) but I knew my author bio was getting stale.

Even non-paying publication credits serve to freshen up your bio — plus broadening your reach as a writer.

When I recently needed to send my author bio to an editor, those six fresh publication credits felt like having six gorgeous new dresses in my wardrobe to choose from!

If you’re building a solid repertoire of creative work here, but you’ve never published anything in a literary journal before, sending reprints is a great way to begin testing your work in the larger literary landscape. My prose poem “Flicker” is now published in a print journal for Last Girl’s Club — so it may even lead to you seeing your work on the printed page!

Your Rights to Republish Medium Work

By default, your Medium stories have the “all rights reserved” clause. You can check by going into “Story Settings” under “Content Licensing”.

You retain all rights to your Medium work, including the right to republish outside Medium or remove a story.

Many online journals archive work indefinitely, but having the right to remove stories here is an advantage. Some publishers may be more likely to consider featuring (and paying for) your piece if they know you can remove the “duplicate”. If you’re comfortable removing a story from Medium in the event a journal wants to publish it, tell them in the cover letter.

Journals Define Reprints Differently

I’ve filtered this list to journals and sites that consider reprints of online work. When compiling your own lists, be aware that each journal may define “previously published” differently. (eg: reprints that appeared in print-only publications or defunct journals). So ensure your submission fits their requirements.

Although the majority of journals and submission calls want unpublished work, the good news is there’s still hundreds of journals that do consider reprints.

So — are you ready to level up your creative writing game?

1. Make a Few Lists

To start, grab a notebook and pen.

The first list is about your work. List the creative forms you write (eg: poetry, prose poetry, flash fiction).

Next, work from your Medium stats page and shortlist your strongest published pieces under each form. Beside each piece, note moods or genres (eg: humour, Gothic, dark, surrealist) and the themes explored. This will help when assessing which journals or calls might fit your work.

Next, give yourself two hours to make an initial list of 8–10 calls. Look for ones fitting your forms, genres, moods and themes. Begin with the list below, and head to Google if you want more. You’ll be amazed what comes up by typing “Journals accepting poetry / fiction reprints”. To eliminate old calls, add the year.

2. Set a Small Achievable Goal

Decide how many submissions you’ll prepare each week or month. Hint: go for more than one to build momentum. And don’t sit “waiting” to hear back. Next week or next month, do it again! (A good strategy for all submissions!)

Future posts will share more submission tips, but here are a few important ones (some relevant to reprints):

Quick Tips for Submission Preparation

• Sign up for Submittable. It’s free and helps you discover and track submissions. Plus it’s the main portal journals use for submissions.
• Submission guidelines: Read carefully. Take notes. Follow their requirements to the letter. It shows respect and ensures your submission will actually be read. For reprints, ensure you disclose that they’re reprints and provide any requested information.
• Revise: I treat every submission of reprints as an opportunity to revise my work. Can you write a better opening? Can you enhance the theme for a themed call?
• Read the journal’s work if available. It may inspire, and helps you assess if your work is a possible fit with their vision.
• Cover letters: be professional, friendly, but brief. If you don’t know how to address it, try “Dear [Name of Journal] Editors”.

Literary Journals Accepting Reprints

The list shows non-paying and paying markets. Non-paying journals may have higher acceptance rates and less competition, so consider submitting to at least a few.

STT stands for submission turnaround time, which I’ve included if known. (I’ve submitted to about half of these listed). Additionally, all of these are:

• NOT US-centric: Submissions accepted from writers all over the world
• Fee-free for submissions

An asterisk * indicates journals where I’ve successfully placed work.

Non-Paying Markets

1. Autumn Sky Poetry Daily DEADLINE: None for general submissions ABOUT: The founder hosts a feedback forum for journal contributors. The site feels like a community. Poetry seems generally high quality. FORMS / GENRES: All forms of poetry. SUBMIT: One poem only per submission. Guidelines here.
2. The Ekphrastic Review* DEADLINE: Lorette has specific reading periods for submissions. Competitions have deadlines. Check website for current details. ABOUT: An established, respected journal dedicated to ekphrasis — work inspired by art. FORMS / GENRES: poetry, prose poetry, micro / flash fiction. All things ekphrastic! SUBMIT: Up to 5 poems / pieces. Read guidelines carefully. Please note reprints are acceptable only for general submissions, not competitions or prompts. STT: 2 -12 weeks
3. Eunoia Review DEADLINE: Always open for submissions ABOUT: Singapore-based journal with quality work. FORMS / GENRES: Poetry / Fiction / CNF SUBMIT: Up to 10 poems in single doc. Fiction / CNF: up to 15K words STT: 24-hour response turnaround. This guy never sleeps.
4. Turtle Way DEADLINE: Currently open for submissions ABOUT: The online sister to print journal Write into the Light, Turtle Way aims to decrease the stigma of mental illness. FORMS / GENRES: Poetry, Prose, Short Fiction, CNF artwork & more SUBMIT: See Guidelines
5. Writing in a Woman’s Voice* DEADLINE: Re-opens for submissions May 7, 2023. ABOUT: As the title suggests, this is a women-only journal. Founder Beatte Sigriddaughter is current Poet Laureate of Silver Lake City, New Mexico. FORMS / GENRES: Poetry / Prose SUBMIT: 2–6 poems or 1 prose piece (up to 5,000 words) STT: If your work is accepted, you’ll hear within a month.

Paying Markets

6. Breath and Shadow DEADLINE: Open to submissions. Quarterly issues. ABOUT: Canadian-based journal that publishes work from people with disabilities. They define “disability” broadly to encompass “anyone with a physical, mental, emotional, cognitive, or sensory impairment that significantly affects one or more major life functions.” They seek work that “speaks to living, beingness, inspiration, imagination, spirit, expiration, endings, movement of time, shadow sides, hiddenness, mystery, darkness, and casting new light”. FORMS / GENRES: Poetry, Fiction, Drama, CNF & more SUBMIT: Via Email. See Guidelines. PAYMENT: $20 for poetry, $30 for fiction / nonfiction

7. The Deadlands DEADLINE: Currently open. Check submission portal. ABOUT: “The Deadlands exists in liminal spaces between life, death, and elsewhere.” This is an intriguing journal, examining the subject of death from many perspectives. FORMS / GENRES: Fiction, NF, Poetry (Reprints considered for Fiction) SUBMIT: Via Moksha (submission portal) One story / fiction submission. Other categories: See guidelines . PAYMENT: Reprints @ 1c / word. Higher for unpublished work. STT: 8 days

8. Flash Fiction Online DEADLINE: Different reading periods for original & reprints. Reprint submissions opened March 1st. (I’m prepping a submission now!) ABOUT: A popular mag, they want stories with “crisp prose, well-developed characters, compelling plots, and satisfying resolutions.” FORMS / GENRES: Flash fiction 500–1000 words SUBMIT: 1 story per submission via Submittable. Guidelines here. (More detail in Submittable) PAYMENT: Reprints @ 2c / word. $80 for originals STT: 1 month or less

9. Luna Station Quarterly DEADLINE: Specific reading periods. Currently open til May 15th. ABOUT: Publishes speculative fiction by women-identified authors. Reprints must be 3 years or older. No simultaneous submissions. FORMS / GENRES: Flash, short stories 500-7000 words PAYMENT: 5USD / story

10. Thema DEADLINE: Ongoing deadlines for each issue ABOUT: Quarterly themed print Issues. Current theme is “Missing Piece of the Puzzle”. Established long enough to accept postal submissions (within US). In fact, that’s their preference! Email if outside the U.S. FORMS / GENRES: Poetry / flash (under 1K words) / short stories / artwork / essays SUBMIT: Up to 3 poems. See guidelines . PAYMENT: $25 short story / $10 poems. See guidelines for specifics.

UPDATES: Access all my “Beginner Submitter” stories here. Check out more lists of journals accepting reprints here and here.

I wish you the best of luck, & please comment with any questions. I’d also LOVE to hear if you get an acceptance. Subscribe to my stories for tips, strategies & curated submission calls.

“If Only the Crow”, a Reprint Acceptance:

On Poetry Revision: