8 Lessons Learned Reading Nonfiction for a Lit Mag

including thoughts on formatting, fragmented storytelling, and poor theme framing

I am wrapping up a semester reading nonfiction submissions for the graduate-run lit mag at my university and have kept a running tab of common trends I noticed while sifting through submissions. Trends, such as incorrect formatting being a top reason for rejection, aligned with common myths I’ve heard about the lit mag publishing industry. However, I also noticed that writers whose author bios heralded MFA’s, PhD’s, and even long lists of prior publications were not necessarily submitting compelling, well-written stories.

As a reader, I am looking for reasons to accept a story, not reject it, and good writing shines immediately. Here are 8 common trends I noticed in nonfiction submissions and advice on how to set yourself apart.

1. Incorrect Formatting

I was amazed at how many submissions simply did not follow the submission guidelines. Incorrect formatting is one of the biggest reasons I rejected pieces (especially contest submissions) regardless of the quality of the writing.

How to set yourself apart: follow the guidelines! Times New Roman, double-spaced, no identifying info on the document. However, check the submission guidelines for every magazine you submit to as this may differ.

2. Qualifications Don’t Mean Quality

Many pieces were submitted by writers with MFA’s and PhD’s. However, this did not automatically mean the submitted writing was good. In many cases, the stories were poorly organized, fragmented, or simply lacked personality. At the same time, many authors submitting their work for the first time submitted strong pieces. The moral of the story is good writers are good writers and a degree doesn’t necessarily guarantee good writing.

How to set yourself apart: submit polished stories that present an engaging narrative.

3. Strong Start to Faltering Follow-Through

Many stories weaponized a gripping opening line or started out strong throughout the first page only to lose drive and falter throughout the rest of the piece.

How to set yourself apart: Submit pieces that build tension and develop with purpose beyond the first page. Every sentence, every paragraph should be a reason to keep reading.

4. Fragmented Storytelling

Many stories switched topics halfway through or took too long to get to the main point. This consistently led to pieces that developed a voice and became stronger toward the end of the story, but the weak and meandering openings took away from the strength of the piece as a whole.

How to set yourself apart: Foreground your main theme/subject/focus from page one and consistently develop it throughout the piece.

Hot Tip: delete the first half of your first draft. Now you have the beginning of your story.

5. Contest Theme Interpreted too Literally

Towards the mid-point of the semester, I started reading contest submissions for the themed contest hosted by the lit mag. One of the biggest trends I noticed in contest submissions was poor framing of the contest theme. For example, the contest theme was memory. Many of the submissions were simply accounts of a moment the narrator remembered with no narrative or framework to build the memory into a story with meaning.

How to set yourself apart: use a given theme as a jumping-off point and be creative about your interpretation of the theme. The less literal you are, the better.

6. Teamwork is Tricky

It can be tricky to work as part of a team of readers as each person brings a different mindset and understanding to their interpretation of a story. You are not the sole judge of whether a story will be published or not. Instead, a story’s rejection or acceptance relies on team discussion. Learn to ground your interpretations in the story and be respectful of others’ opinions.

How to set yourself apart: take the lead whenever possible. You can never count on the next person to step up.

7. The Editorial Team is Human Too

The editorial team will falter, especially if it’s headed by undergraduate/graduate students who are as busy as you. Communicate about issues as soon as they arise and remain professional in your correspondence.

How to set yourself apart: do your work and don’t become another rock in the road. And again, take the lead whenever possible.

8. Reading for a Lit Mag is a Valuable Experience

Reading for a lit mag is a valuable way to gain insight into how editorial decisions are made. As a writer, it equipped me with a better understanding of how many eyes will judge my work and pushed me to submit only my strongest work. Knowing my story needs to convince the lit mag reading team and the editorial team, who ultimately makes the final decisions based on reader recommendations, motivates me to revise, to make sure my opening line is strong, that my narrative is effectively framed, and that ultimately I am telling a compelling story with purposeful language.

Reader positions at lit mags are largely voluntary and a wonderful way to gain experience as well as to see what is being written and submitted to lit mags now. If you’re interested in reading for a lit mag, most lit mags post openings on their websites and social medias so look there first.

If you have read or are reading for a lit mag, what would you add to this list?