3 simple tips to get your personal essays published
Plus screenshots of my successful submissions.
Since having two of my personal essay submissions accepted and published (via HuffPost and Another Jane Pratt Thing here on Substack), a few people have asked me how I did it. I’ve only had two essays accepted so far, and I’ve submitted around 10. I don’t have all the answers, and I probably never will. I think sometimes things just click, and often, they don’t. But I’ll explain the three simple things that have worked for me, so far. I’ll also include screenshots of my successful submissions below in case you want to use them for reference.
Tip 1: Study the titles of essays already published on the website you’re targeting to come up with a compelling title for your essay. Include your title in the subject line of the email submission. This subject: “My Husband Dumped Me on FaceTime”, is much more likely to stand out in a crowded inbox than “essay submission” or another generic subject line, and it follows the same structure and tone as existing stories on Another Jane Pratt Thing, where my essay was accepted and published.
Tip 2: Include a quick summary of what the essay is about/what it explores, and what types of readers it might resonate with and why, in the body of the email. Paste your draft below the summary (if that’s part of the submission guidelines). However, always follow submission guidelines in detail. Some publications don’t want you to include a summary of your piece; they just want you to copy and paste your draft, and some don’t want a draft; they want a short pitch.
Tip 3: Add your short bio to the end of the email, plus links to your full author bio and Substack publication so editors can get a sense of your work.
After acceptance, I received feedback from the editors on both of my essays, which I love, as it helps me become a better writer. I agreed with the feedback and implemented it, but don’t be afraid to disagree if something doesn’t feel right to you. It’s your story to tell.
Screenshots of my successful personal essay submissions
Bonus tip: I can, of course, not guarantee that these strategies will work for you; the story has to fit the publication, so it’s important to be intentional about where you submit your essays. I wouldn’t spray and pray. Instead, read existing essays and try to pick up on structural similarities as well as the themes of the stories being published. Does your story fit in? Is your story too similar to one that has already been published? Why are you the right person to tell this story?
Example 1: Another Jane Pratt Thing
The story that I submitted to Another Jane Pratt Thing (which I also published on my Substack here) was accepted on the same day that I submitted it.
SUBJECT: Pitch: “My Husband Dumped Me on FaceTime” for It Happened to Me
Example 2: HuffPost
I submitted my essay to HuffPost on a Monday, and it was accepted by Thursday.
SUBJECT: Submission: I Had To Trick My Mom Into Assisted Living—And I Still Feel The Guilt
Hope this was helpful!
See you soon,
Alexis