Submissions Jumpstart

Megan Alpert

Zip through your first  submissions of the year with a supportive group, including submissions advice, links to open journals, and more.

<h2>Jumpstart Your 2026 Submissions!</h2> Submissions Jumpstart!Start the New Year by zipping through your first 5-10 submissions with a cohort of supportive writers.During the session, you’ll get a list of links to outlets that are taking submissions right now, from top tier “dream” outlets to small but mighty lit mags. You’ll have time to quickly think through a submissions strategy, get a pep talk from me, and then we’ll get to work.As we work, you’ll have space to ask questions, and get advice about small edits, organizing submissions, and cover letters.This session is for you if:<ul><li>You have at least 1-2 pieces of prose or 5 poems that you are ready or almost ready to submit (even if you have a few lingering questions about them)</li><li>You are a shy submitter</li><li>You are an enthusiastic submitter but have trouble setting aside time to send out work</li><li>You get things done better in a group setting</li><li>You spend too much time searching for journals with open reading periods</li><li>You write fiction, poetry, or creative nonfiction</li></ul>Everyone who participates will leave with a printable PDF “100 Rejections a Year” page to hang on your wall and fill out throughout the year.One of the most important qualities a writer can have is persistence. But persistence can be hard to maintain without a group to cheer you on. Submissions Jumpstart will help you start your new writing year on the right foot. Who is Megan Alpert and what does she know about submissions??I’m the author of the poetry book The Animal at Your Side, which won the Airlie Prize. I’ve also published journalism, commentary, and humor, and recently had my first short story accepted for publication. I know how important it is to put yourself out there as a writer—and that means getting rejected, a lot. My poem “Alecto” was shortlisted for the ASP Bulletin Award and published in 2025. Before that, it was rejected by 32 magazines. My poem “Holly 1962” was published by Harbor Review and nominated for Best of the Net. Before that, it was rejected 22 times. My fiction story that just got accepted? Was first rejected 18 times. In fact, some of the work I am most proud of has been rejected the highest number of times because that is how doggedly I send it out. My book, which was a finalist for the National Poetry Series, was rejected more times than I can count (I literally did not keep count)

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Submissions Jumpstart

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