What Editors Look For – Insider Tips from Literary Journal Editors

Submitting to literary journals can feel like sending your work into the void. You hit “submit” and wait… and wait… only to receive a form rejection (or worse, no response at all). But what actually happens behind the scenes? What makes an editor say yes to a submission?

As the founder and editor-in-chief of In Her Space Journal, I’ve read countless submissions, and I can tell you—there’s a clear difference between a piece that captivates and one that gets overlooked. Here are five insider tips on what literary journal editors are really looking for.

New to literary journal submissions? Check out our guide: "Publishing 101: A Guide to Literary Journal Submissions & How To Get Published."

1. Literary Journal Editors Look For a Strong, Immediate Hook

Editors read a lot of submissions. If your first few lines don’t grab attention, your piece might not make it past the first read.

✅ What works: A compelling opening, a unique voice, an intriguing first sentence.

❌ What doesn’t: A slow, overly descriptive start, clichés, or too much exposition.

💡 Tip: Read the first sentence of your piece out loud. Does it make you want to keep reading? If not, tighten it up.

2. A Clear, Cohesive Narrative (or Theme)

Your piece doesn’t have to have a traditional plot (especially if it’s poetry or experimental work), but it does need a sense of direction. Editors look for:

• A strong central idea or emotional core

• A beginning, middle, and end (even if abstract)

• Writing that feels intentional, not just a stream of thoughts

  
  

💡 Tip: Before submitting, ask yourself: What is this piece really about? If you can’t sum it up in a sentence, it might need more focus.

3. Fresh, Authentic Voice

Editors are drawn to writing that feels real—pieces that are bold, honest, and uniquely you.

✅ What works: Personal perspective, vivid imagery, writing that takes risks.

❌ What doesn’t: Trying too hard to sound like another writer, using complex words just for the sake of it.

💡 Tip: Instead of writing what you think editors want, write what excites you. Passion and authenticity always shine through.

4. Attention to Submission Guidelines

This one might seem obvious, but you’d be surprised how many submissions get rejected simply because they don’t follow the rules.

✅ What works: Correct formatting, word count, file type, and submission process

.❌ What doesn’t: Submitting outside the submission window, ignoring word limits, sending pieces that don’t fit the journal’s theme.

💡 Tip: Always read the guidelines. Each journal has different rules, and following them shows professionalism and respect for the editor’s time.

5. Polished, Proofread Work

Editors aren’t expecting perfection, but they do appreciate submissions that are carefully revised and thoughtfully presented.

✅ What works: Clean, proofread work that shows effort.

❌ What doesn’t: Typos, sloppy formatting, unclear sentence structure.

💡 Tip: Before hitting submit, read your piece aloud or have a friend review it. Even small errors can make a piece feel unfinished.

Ready to Submit?

Now that you know what editors look for, it’s time to put your best work forward! Submissions are now open for Mini Issue 2.5 of In Her Space Journal—a special edition dedicated to amplifying bold, authentic voices. If you have a piece that speaks to our theme “Plastic Pearls,” we want to read it!

Check out our submission guidelines and submit your work to inherspacejournal@gmail.com