Articles by Emily Harstone

Emily Harstone is the pen name of a published writer. Her work has been published in ten countries, four continents, by over fifty different journals. She is a professional submissions adviser and editor. If she owned a dog it would be named Wystan.

3 Steps to Take Before Publishing Your Manuscript

When you read a book you know when it is finished, because you have reached the final sentence on the last page of the last chapter. When you are writing a book it is hardly that straightforward. When you have finished writing the last page of the final chapter, you will probably need to go…
Issue Seven Publishing Guides

Ilk Journal Review

Ilk is an online poetry journal that has been around for over a year now. They just reopened to submissions. They publish work that is creative and experimental but still has a narrative arc. Ilk is easy to read and well organized, they have published a lot of established and emerging authors. They are new…
Issue Seven Literary Journals

Review: Moon City Review

Moon City Review recently reopened to submissions. They publish short stories, non-fiction, and poetry. They are a print journal, well bound, and with an excellent taste in artwork. They are based in the Ozarks and some of what they publish concerns the region, but the bulk of the fiction and poetry they publish is unrelated…
Issue Seven Literary Journals

Should You Self Publish in Print?

Most people that self publish these days focus on e-books, but there there are still a lot of people that prefer holding a real book in their hands instead of tablet. Also it is nice to see your name in print. If you have already decided to self publish but are not yet certain if…
Issue Six Publishing Guides

Writing Prompt: Fable

A fable is a fictional story that features animals, plants, mythical creatures, inanimate objects or forces of nature which are anthropomorphized, and that illustrates or leads to an interpretation of a moral lesson or point. Fables are all around us. They were told to us as kids and we repeat them as adults. Fables have…
Issue Six Writing Prompt

Farrago: A Brand New Journal

Farrago is a brand new online journal that plans to publish twelve issues a year. Farrago will publish essays, short stories, and poems. The first issue will be published in June. If you want to be considered for this first issue you must submit before the end of May. Farrago’s well designed website and striking…
Issue Six Literary Journals

Cold Mountain Review: Closing to Submissions Soon

Cold Mountain Review is a twice yearly print publication that is interested in essays, narrative non fiction, short fiction, and poetry. Cold Mountain Review has been around for 35 years. They are only open for submissions until the 30th of May, after that they will not consider submissions until August. Cold Mountain Review is published…
Issue Six Literary Journals

Writing Prompt: Other Words

Pick a book from your shelf that you haven’t read recently. This book should be one that you enjoy. It can be a book of poetry, or prose, even a play or non fiction. It should not be a dictionary or an encyclopedia. Start a 10 minute timer, and then open to a random page….
Issue Five Writing Prompt

Switchback: Now Open for Submissions

Switchback is a journal published by the MFA (Master of Fine Arts) program at the University of San Fransisco that has just re-opened to submissions. They accept short works of fiction, non fiction as well as poetry.  They are an online journal that also has an e-book edition. Switchback is well respected, and has a…
Issue Five Literary Journals Uncategorized

Kestrel: Now Open For Submissions

Kestrel is an established and respected journal with two print issues a year. They just re-opened to fiction, poetry and non fiction submissions. They are published by Fairmont State University, yet they publish work from all over the world, although they claim to be “specially happy to publish work by West Virginian and Appalachian writers”….
Issue Five Literary Journals

Review of Fiction on the Web

Fiction on the Web (FotW), was founded in 1996, which makes it one of the oldest online literary journals. In fact it is the oldest online journal that focuses solely on publishing short fiction. They have had hundreds of thousands of readers over the years. However they also have rather high acceptance rates. FotW is…
Issue Four Literary Journals

Self Publishing vs Traditional Publishing: 5 Important Considerations

When you have finished writing your first manuscript and edited it to your own satisfaction, what is your next step? You can either go the traditional route and start writing query letters to agents who may help you get a contract with a traditional publishing company. There are several questions that you can ask yourself,…
Issue Four Issue Thirty Three Publishing Guides Self Publishing Special Feature

Publishing Guide: What to Consider Before Self-Publishing an Ebook

Many authors self publish these days, that way they can avoid the hassle of dealing with editors, and slow moving corporations. Even some established  authors have switched to self publishing because they have more control over their book and even their profits. However self publishing is far from straight forward. This article is not intended…
Issue Five Publishing Guides Self Publishing Uncategorized

Writing Prompt: The 3 Minute Warm Up

This is a writing technique that is very popular for screen writers. However it seems to work well for writers of fiction and poetry. I always enjoy doing this writing exercise even if I am not stuck. When I am in the middle of writing something else, doing this exercise before going further helps my…
Issue Four Issue One Hundred Fifty Six Writing Prompt

Review of Softblow

Softblow is an online literary journal. They are based out of Singapore but they publish only English language poetry. They publish work by only three poets every month. Softblow usually publishes 3-5 poems per poet, and they are placed on the same page, underneath the Author’s biography. Softblow is a great place to be published…
Issue Four Literary Journals

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