If you do not find what you are looking for on this page, contact us for assistance.
How do I submit a general submission to the magazine?
Click on “Submissions” and read the guidelines. The submit. If it is your first time submitting, click the “Signup” link from the submissions page.
The submission manager requires you to signup using only your name and email address. Once you receive your confirmation email, simply log in and submit. The process should be obvious but if it’s not, just ask us. We’ll help you.
Where does my bio appear?
Your bio appears on the authors page. You can modify your bio anytime by logging into the submission manager found on the submissions page.
Where can I buy the magazine?
Our magazine is free and available online. With Amazon’s “Kindle” and millions of magazines and books now online, we believe an online presence makes the most sense today and in the future.
How hard is it to be published in the magazine?
If you are a great writer, you will find MLM more approachable. We only care about quality and we read blindly. You will not be excluded simply because you have not published in the past. It does not matter (at all) whether you are a first time author or a household name. We base our decision ONLY on the quality of your writing. Indeed, we have turned down works by writers who are household names. So no matter who you are, send us your best work.
How prestigious is the online magazine?
If your definition of prestige is closely associated with quality, then MLM will not disappoint. Being published in Midwest Literary Magazine is an accomplishment you can be proud of.
We are a selective magazine. However, overemphasis on prestige or exclusionary practices is not in our philosophy. We believe that journals who focus on the credentials of the authors are irresponsible at best, and fundamentally misguided.
Occasionally writers stand on their pedestals and make claims about how they “deserve respect” for their past accomplishments. We believe that kind of thinking is skewed. At MLM, each writer has an even chance. Because we do not immediately discard great works based on who wrote them, MLM is even more competitive than many elitist journals. THAT is our definition of prestige.
Do you pay money or mail contributor copies for general submissions to the magazine?
This information is found in our guidelines. We are pasting it here for your convenience.
Do we pay you money? Not usually. We are listed at Duotrope as “Pays Occasionally.” We do select several writers each issue to receive a small cash award. We do not have paperback copies of our monthly journal to provide as a contributor copy. Our magazine itself is an online magazine. When writers ask if they can have a contributor copy, we would send one if we had them but we just don’t print such a thing. The magazine itself is free and available online.
We do print anthologies after the works appear online in the magazine. An anthology is a different type of publication and we do not mail them out for free. Why not? Imagine your favorite literary journal mailing everyone who participated 5 courtesy copies of the journal. You would be very surprised. Journals could never support those expenses. Our anthologies represent multiple issues of our magazine. It’s just too expensive to do. We do keep the prices low for a small press (about $20 for a large book). However, if you are a contributor who intends to buy an anthology, we will always give you a token payment in the form of a coupon to help knock the price down for you. Just ask.
Can I get more information about your publishing division?
The publishing arm of MLM is relatively new. We will post more information in the future. Until then, writers who send in manuscripts and are approved will receive more information by email before agreeing to be published.
The process is straightforward. We read your manuscript and accept or reject it. If we accept, we weigh the pros and cons of the project and make you an offer based on many factors. Every offer is different and private. You can choose to accept our offer, or not. The whole process is personal and individualized.
Many publishers focus on whether submitted manuscripts are right for them. At MLM, we understand you want to know if MLM is right for you. We give you personal attention and maintain good communication during the process. Click the link for “Publishing” at the top of the page. Additional information will occasionally be posted there.
