Prompt # 307 – Ten Recommended Journals

In the comments to last week's post, there were several requests for a list of poetry journals that I personally recommend. There are hundreds of outstanding poetry journals edited by gifted and discerning editors, and I'm grateful to those who have published my work. Below are ten (listed alphabetically) that are edited by people I know and for whom I have the greatest respect as poets and editors. I can vouch for the excellent design, elegant production, and superb poetry that are signature qualities of these fine literary journals.

 

Twenty years ago there were no online submissions, fewer literary magazines, fewer workshops and contests, fewer MFA programs, and fewer hopeful poets. Back then, most magazines did not allow simultaneous submissions, and most submitting was done by snail mail. Sending your poems off for consideration was an exercise in getting the materials together, sending them out, and waiting for an acceptance or a rejection to appear in your mailbox (often many months later). The “submissions culture” in those days was far different from today’s. Now, the process is quicker and easier. There are many more literary journals and e-zines looking for poetry, so poets have more choices than ever before; and submissions software for both electronic and print journals makes submitting poems less time-intensive than it used to be.

I suggest that you read a copy or two of any journal to which you hope to submit your work. It’s always a good idea to have a sense of what type of poetry is most likely to find a home before you send your poems (a way to avoid disappointment). In addition, be sure to read each journal’s specific submission guidelines carefully, and make a point of following them!

Consider this a “prompt” to encourage you to work on your poems
and to send some out for consideration.
I wish you the best!

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Recommended Journals

Edison Literary Review

Editor: Gina Larkin

Exit 13 Magazine

Editor: Tom Plante

Snail Mail Only to:

Tom Plante

PO Box 423
Fanwood, New Jersey 07023

Lips Poetry Magazine

Editor: Laura Boss

Paterson Literary Review

Poets & Writers Listing, Paterson Literary Review

Editor: Maria Mazziotti Gillan

Ragazine

Poets & Writers Listing, Ragazine

Poetry Editor: Emily Vogel

Shot Glass Journal

Poets & Writers Listing, Shot Glass Journal

Editor: Mary-Jane Grandinetti

Shrew, A Literary Weekly

Editor: Joe Weil

An exciting new weekly online journal—still in the process 

of establishment.

You can read the first issue here: Shrew, Issue #1

Still Water Review

Poets & Writers Listing, Still Water Review

Editor: David Crews

Tiferet Journal

Publisher: Donna Baier Stein

Poetry Editor: Adele Kenny

U.S. 1 Worksheets

Poets & Writers Listing, U. S. 1 Worksheets

Editors: Rotating, Members of U.S. 1 Poets’ Cooperative

            Snail Mail Only to:

            U.S.1 Worksheets
            P.O. Box 127
            Kingston, NJ 08528-0127