Can I Submit My Story To More Than One Magazine?


more than one magazine

You’ve written and edited a story, and it’s ready to be submitted.

Should you send it into one particular magazine? Or try submitting it to more than one magazine at the same time?

Generally speaking, submitting the same story to more than one magazine at the same time isn’t a good idea. Here’s why.

Each magazine has a style of its own

Each magazine has a style of its own. They will have set story lengths, and a readership with their own specific likes and dislikes.

So a story written for a particular magazine may not suit the style or word count of another.

Your story might already be scheduled

Submitting to more than one magazine at a time also means that if one makes an offer to buy your story, the others then have to remove your story from their reading process.

If the story has been with them for a few weeks or months, there’s a good chance it’s already under consideration.

Every story that’s a possible for publication is read by at least two members of the “Friend” Fiction team before being passed to Editor Angela for her approval.

So reading stories which then have to be removed from the reading queue isn’t the best use of our time!

Stories submitted to the “Friend” are often read with a specific issue date in mind, and we only publish new stories.

If we contact you to say your story has been successful, we then have to remove your story from the schedule if you come back to us to say it’s already been bought by another magazine.

Before you submit to another magazine

If one of your stories is returned, take another look at the magazine’s specific requirements.

Remember – the secret is to write for the readers.

For more writing advice, click here.

Do you have a story you think would be suitable for the “Friend”? Click here to see our submission guidelines.

Lucy Crichton

Fiction Editor Lucy is always on the look-out for the very best short stories, poems and pocket novels. As well as sourcing enjoyable content, she enjoys working with our established contributors, encouraging new talent, and celebrating 155 years of 'Friend' fiction!