I’m teaching a class at the Writer’s Center in Bethesda, MD. One night, I let my students decide the direction they wanted to take by choosing between a writing exercise and a discussion about publication. They chose the publication discussion. This is a class of talented adult writers. Some are already skilled in form and know how to break the formal rules to their benefit. They are an excellent class.

Their questions made me remember that I’ve been directed by poets not to take two of their poems — please take only one, they say — and the assumption I’ll take one is rather funny.

I’ve also had poets say with surprise: “Your magazine is GOOD! I am going to send there.” I guess they thought 32 Poems was a pile of doo doo before they read it.

3 Tips for Submitting Your Work

1. Don’t Lie: One poet said they loved Mr. X’s work in the spring issue. Too bad we had not published Mr. X yet. What the person who submitted poems didn’t know was that we’d bumped Mr. X to the next issue. Oops!
2. Read Them Thar Rules: Editors are a picky lot. I’ve been to several editorial panels. I’ve heard everything from “don’t write about mothers” to “don’t use #10 envelopes.” We can be cranky, so placate us by reading what we want in the submission guidelines. Yes, it is true most magazines make it hard to find the submission guidelines. They are hoping you might actually cough up $12 to subscribe to the magazine and read the work first.
3. Read the Work First: You might not want to spend the money to read the magazine first. If you are in a university or work at one, there’s little excuse not to read the magazine. If they don’t carry 32 Poems at your university, then please ask the librarian to order it. Then, you can read it for zero dollars, and zero dollars is nice.