On Friday, Sept. 12, students gathered in the Household Commons to hear from Dr. Joshua Kulseth, a widely published poet, as he offered insight into the world of literary publishing.  

To begin, Dr. Kulseth emphasized the importance of mastering the craft of writing before seeking publication. “Work on your craft first and foremost,” he told students. He encouraged them to take their time developing strong work, whether through writing workshops or classes. Working with peers is also important, he said, because “that’s who will be judging your writing.” Once your writing is refined, then it’s ready to be shared with the world. 

Dr. Kulseth reminded students that patience is crucial. “Submit everywhere and hope to God you get one, because every so often you get a gem,” he said. It often takes 3-6 months for a response once you submit your work, which can be discouraging. Dr. Kulseth shared that he wrote for 10 years before submitting his work anywhere. 

Rejection, he explained, is part of the journey. Rather than being discouraged, Dr. Kulseth kept track of his submissions and sent work to multiple places at once. The more he submitted, the more recognition he received, eventually leading to publication in prestigious literary magazines. 

For those looking to start submitting their work, Dr. Kulseth recommended using the website Submittable, which hosts literary magazines and calls for submissions. 

 “Start with Submittable and work from there. Any magazine worth its salt is going to be here,” he said. He also recommended using NewPages, a resource that ranks publication opportunities by difficulty, time, cost and prestige.  

When discussing publishing techniques, he recommended sending in simultaneous submissions. “Some magazines accept them, and some don’t,” he said. “If they don’t, you probably shouldn’t submit there.”  

However, he warned that simultaneous submissions come with responsibilities. If a piece is accepted, writers must notify and withdraw the piece from every other publication to which it was submitted. “When someone accepts your work, they own it,” he said. Failure to withdraw accepted work can result in copyright issues. 

To manage this process, Dr. Kulseth urged students to keep careful records. He recommended using spreadsheets or notecards to log the date of submission, along with the acceptance or rejection dates, and to track magazines’ average response times for better planning. 

Above all, Dr. Kulseth stressed the value of persistence. Submitting widely, he said, helps writers gain credibility. “If you win or get accepted, it serves as an indication that you’ve got something.”  

Quoting poet T.S. Elliot, Dr. Kulseth reminded students, “No artist is an artist alone.” Through community, collaboration and continual effort, writers can grow and succeed in the literary world.