You've probably heard it a billion times, how hard it is to make it as a professional writer. However, once you understand the game and what it takes, you have a much better chance of making it. The most important thing?

Building up a resume. You need connections with editors, credentials, publications. Don't expect to get paid your first time around or even your hundredth. As someone with more than 100 publications and many jobs/roles in professional journals, this is what I discovered you need to know in order to make it in the writing world.

1. Literary Magazines are Your Best Friend

Just so you know, it's almost a requirement to have publications in some kind of magazine or journal in order to get experience. In fact, getting published in a magazine is an incredibly competitive and difficult task- some magazines publish as little as one in every hundred or thousand submissions. However, it is a much less time consuming and emotionally draining method of getting published than manuscript publishing.

The New Yorker or The Kenyon Review are every writer's dream, but they're definitely not places to start if you are new to the publishing industry. Any magazine that is willing to publish you is an accomplishment- you aren't too good for ANY place, even if they don't get a lot of views. You can still get your name out there and get an audience.

If you plan to use a pen name, use it for every submission and don't change it- that way editors can still find your previous work and therefore know your credentials. Getting published in journals is especially hard for teenagers, which is why I mainly recommend student journals and journals aimed at promoting youth, as well as magazines with high submission rates. AVOID places that don't allow simultaneous submissions (submitting the same work to multiple journals,) unless they have a very low response time.

Submittable and Duotrope accounts are a must- most places these days use them. NewPages, ChillSubs, and The Submission Grinder are also pretty good resources.

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I would not recommend submitting to any places that have submission fees- while very common, this often leads to debt unless you are very familiar with the writing process and your chances. Also, if anybody tries to get you to pay in order to PUBLISH your work.. they're scamming you.

My method is usually to find my favorite short stories and poems, and make a list of them. I submit each one to a certain amount of places, say 3-10. In the unlikely event of multiple places accepting a piece- I just let them know!

This is very common in the writing world, so don't worry, they shouldn't get mad. In fact, that's why most editors double check before publishing.

Please, read the submission guidelines before submitting. Most editors reject any works that don't follow the rules.

Here are some websites that provide great lists of literary magazines for teens. If you get published in one, check where the other published writer's credentials are. This is usually listed in their cover letters. (FYI: magazines close constantly so they aren't necessarily accurate. You will have to check!):

https://authorspublish.com/25-approachable-journals/

https://publishedtodeath.blogspot.com/2018/03/mega-list-of-university-literary.html

https://www.newpages.com/guide-to-magazines/undergrad-lit-mags/

https://www.chillsubs.com/lists/litmags-under-18-years-old

https://www.newpages.com/young-writers-guide/young-writers-guide-to-publication/

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2. Submit to Contests

Scholastic Art and Writing is my personal favorite because of how it accommodates pretty much all work, in any genre or topic. It is also not super difficult, but very prestigious.

There are TONS of others thought. This is a great resource to find contests!

https://www.newpages.com/young-writers-guide/young-writers-guide-to-contests/

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3. Find Regular Positions at Magazines

Most/many journals run by young people are looking for staff positions! Check and apply! Here are some of my favorite places:

1. Cathartic

2. Iridescent

3. Trailblazer

4. The Teen Magazine (though it is for journalism, not creative writing)

You can also become a volunteer reader, and help select work to be published!

» 15 Lit Mags/Journals Seeking Volunteer Readers & Why You’d Want To

4. Craft a Good Cover Letter

It is.. annoying to have to craft a bio or cover letter EVERY TIME you make a submission. Have a standard one that lists your hobbies, credentials, and vision. Around 100 words, give or take a couple, is standard. Don't be afraid to be fun or informal, but don't use bad grammar or obvious spelling errors.

5. Start a Publication (or blog)!

Now, going about this depends on your situation.

Lacking funds? Start an online journal!

You can do this by starting a blog, if you only want to be a writer, but I would recommend starting a journal, where others can submit. In order to do so, create a website on Weebly, Wix, or Google Sites, and list it on the major websites I mentioned earlier: Poets&Writers is the most important, but Duotrope, The Submission Grinder, ChillSubs, and others are all great! Reach out to blog writers, Reddit litmag subs, and other social media to spread the word.

Image Credit: Debby Hudson from Unsplash

You can also use Trailblazer's https://www.thetrailblazerreview.com/youth-in-publication tool to find resources.

If you have funds and the time, I would recommend gathering a group of people to build your magazine or journal. You will need a marketer, editors, writers, and people to help format your journal. Having an artist or photographer is always helpful.

If you have a special interest, such as fashion or food, you make a journal specially devoted to that!

I hope you found this article helpful! These are just my techniques to build my portfolio and my skills, but remember that everyone is different! Let me know in the comments if I missed anything, or what worked for you!

Do you have any other tips? Thank you for reading!