Why Is It so Hard to Get Published? | Teen Ink

Why Is It so Hard to Get Published? MAG

April 2, 2016
By HaliBug PLATINUM, Apopka, Florida
HaliBug PLATINUM, Apopka, Florida
31 articles 1 photo 8 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything seems impossible until it's done," - Nelson Mandela


I never thought of myself as a struggling writer until I joined Teen Ink. I’ve been a member for 46 months, 29 days, 5 hours, and 22 minutes. For that entire time, I’ve submitted pieces to try to get published.


So far, no dice.


I’ve heard it’s an honor to get my work published on the Internet, but I’ve had my work on the Internet since I was 13. I’m 19 now; my time for this website isn’t long, and just once, I’d like to have something published in Teen Ink magazine.


I’ve read that only the best of the best gets picked for the magazine, but why can’t what I write be the best too? Why is it so incredibly difficult to get published in Teen Ink?

 

Editor’s response: Hali, if your goal was to see your name in print, sending us feedback is one of the fastest ways to achieve that goal. If your passion lies in fiction or poetry, then the competition is fierce, so yes, you need to be confident, have perseverance, and submit a lot of work. So thanks for sticking with it.



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This article has 6 comments.


TheVG GOLD said...
on Jun. 1 2017 at 2:56 pm
TheVG GOLD, Fair Haven, Vermont
13 articles 4 photos 11 comments
Unfortunately, things like this take lots of time. I'm sure you'll get out there and get something published soon enough, whatever you wish that to be. I'm sure a lot of us can agree that the feeling is mutual. Here's to you getting published!

on Apr. 28 2016 at 2:16 am
CruxClaire GOLD, Park Ridge, Illinois
11 articles 1 photo 22 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please."
-Mark Twain

It's kind of arbitrary, honestly. I'm too old to write for Teen Ink now, but I had a poem published maybe 5 years back, and it's definitely not the best thing I've written, nor did it have a great reader response on the website. I think there's an element of luck. It's much easier to get published in some genres than others, though. From what I understand, short fiction and poetry are the most difficult due to the sheer volume of submissions.

on Apr. 8 2016 at 3:37 pm
ArtsyAuthor PLATINUM, Oakland, New Jersey
21 articles 1 photo 40 comments

Favorite Quote:
"At first you don't succeed, try, try again."

Because it's real life. Face it -- only the best can become rich, famous, and glorified. TeenInk is no exception. I'm not saying your writing is bad, I'm saying that it's just not good enough to meet the publishing standards. I know that feeling too, HaliBug, but each time, I feel more determined to get into the mag. Don't worry -- I'm sure your change will come.

on Apr. 8 2016 at 10:53 am
Nated315 DIAMOND, Georgetown, New York
92 articles 7 photos 105 comments

Favorite Quote:
Truth has many shades. It's not a matter of black and white, but many grays.

the more you write and submit each week and month the more likely to get published.... they literally have to read over 1000 submissions each month.....

Secret1237 said...
on Apr. 8 2016 at 7:57 am
Secret1237, New City, New York
0 articles 0 photos 9 comments
In all honesty, I don't believe getting published is what makes your writing good. It's what YOU think makes your writing good. And if you don't think it's good enough, leave it alone for a while and come back to it and see if you can't make your writing better.Or find some people who are willing to read your work and have them give you an opinion or two, if you'd rather have an outside voice than you're own opinion. When I submit to Teen Ink I submit because I want my work to be seen somewhere other than where I live, but so far none of my stuff has gotten published except for on the site. But I don't mind because I don't really do it for the recognition or attention-I do it because being able to show someone- who doesn't know me personally-my work, gives me more satisfaction than having someone I know read my work. Because if you don't know me and my style of writing you won't be thinking of me as you read-you'll be wondering what the mystery is behind it al and maybe you'll start to create an image of me in your head:wondering what type of person I am and whether or not my writing hides little pieces of me or if my writing is exactly what it that-just writing.-though whether you're accurate or not doesn't matter.What matters is that I made you think of something other than what's right in front of you. I'm not looking for recognition-I'm looking for open mindedness and imagination.

on Apr. 7 2016 at 11:49 am
L.J.Barnes. GOLD, Powhatan, Virginia
15 articles 0 photos 53 comments

Favorite Quote:
Avoid roasted cabbage, don't eat earwax and look on the bright side of life!
~Angela the Herbalist

I am sorry that teen ink hasn't published anything that you've written. When I joined teen ink about a year ago, I thought that nothing I wrote would ever be published, and quite honestly I've seen really great things on this website that haven't been published. The one thing I've noticed though, reading other articles that have been published,that the themes have always been the same mutual feelings that all teens feel. Like not being good enough, growing up, fear of failure, etc. So when you write consider that while some people may not be able to relate to your exact situation, they may be able to relate to those emotions you feel. And try to capture those emotions in your writing. And there is a really good chance that this article will be published, since they put a red checkmark on it. :D The bottom line is, don't be discouraged. Write because you love to write, write because it gives you an outlet in which to express yourself. So write every day and try to improve yourself, read other great writing, and one day those efforts will be rewarded. :D