Why Literary Magazines Matter More Than You Think

Plus: Sheena Kalayil featured in The Guardian's 'Dinner Across The Divide'!

A very happy Friday Scribblers,

We loved seeing Sheena Kalayil in this week’s Guardian ‘Dining Across the Divide’ feature talking so eloquently about immigration and humanity:

‘The whole discourse relies on this idea that immigration is a thing that you can evaluate, when it is just the way human beings behave. Just like birds will go to warmer climates, or penguins will march across the Antarctic, human beings move. Most migration happens within the global south. Here it’s talked about as if it’s only happening to the UK. In the end, it’s not something you can control.’

This June, Sheena’s historical romance ‘The Others’ explores what happens when three lovers—Lolita, an Indian trainee doctor, Armando, a Mozambican factory worker, and Theo, an East German writer—navigate the fall of the Berlin Wall. The novel resonates deeply with Sheena's observation in today's piece that migration is "just the way human beings behave." Pre-orders here.

Events!

Not long now until the Northern Publishers’ Fair (26th Apr 2025 11am - 3:30pm, Manchester Central Library) or even our glamorous 1920s book launch for cosy crime ‘The Devil’s Draper’ at Waterstones Glasgow Sauchiehall St (Wednesday 30th April 2025, 19:00).

Plus we seem to be coming down South more often this year… We’ve just booked our first London Waterstones launch! Hope to see you at Waterstones Trafalgar Square on the 6th of June for a conversation between actor and comedian Tom Walker (Jonathan Pie) and author and Oscar award-winning Hollywood director and screenwriter Steven Bernstein, to launch Bernstein’s tragi-comedy novella ‘GRQ’ (Get Rich Quick) - this one is bound to sell out fast so grab a ticket early here.

Last week I had the pleasure of talking to the Manchester Women Writers group and we were looking at establishing a track record, prior to submitting work to a publisher, and I wanted to share some of that conversation with you today. I’ll outline some of my favourite places to look for competition and journal opportunities as well!

Why Literary Magazines Matter More Than You Think

Many writers dream of publishing a book, but few stop to ask: Should I submit to literary magazines first? The answer, according to Bloodaxe Books, is a resounding yes. But not for the reasons you might think.

1. The Track Record Myth

A common belief is that a long list of magazine credits guarantees a book deal. It doesn’t. But what it does indicate is that you’ve honed your craft, tested your work in the field, and built an audience—all of which make your manuscript more appealing to publishers.

Bloodaxe Books Statement: “It is advisable to submit poems to magazines before thinking about putting a book together. Such a "track record" is not used by publishers as a guarantee of quality, but as an indication that the writer has spent time building up a publishable collection”

2. Learning to Edit Like an Editor

Submitting to magazines forces you to refine, cut, and sharpen your work. Unlike a book-length manuscript, which can hide weaker chapters/stories/poems within the whole, a magazine submission is a high-stakes microcosm of your best writing. Because you only send in your best work, right? You’ve self-filtered. And that very act teaches you a lot about QUALITY in itself.

3. Exposure, Audience, and Momentum