Literary journals
, or literary magazines, include a combination of essays, short literary fiction, poetry, literary reviews, literary criticism and interviews with writers. Literary journals are often published by colleges and are considered small-press publications. The purpose of most literary journals is not to make a profit, but to promote the appreciation of literature in all its forms. Learn how you can write a literary journal of your own.
Instructions
1. Plan your literary journal before you begin writing it. Decide if you'll write all of the material or if you'll use freelance writers. If you plan to use freelance writers, you'll want a Web site for the magazine where you can post submission guidelines. Be sure the submission guidelines include how you will pay writers. Literary journals typically pay only a token fee or provide copies of the issue in which the writer's work appears.
2. Write an editorial introduction to the first issue stating the magazine's purpose. It seems that the purpose of the magazine might be obvious, but literary magazines can take on a particular slant based on editorial opinion and preference, more so than mainstream publications.
3. Include at least two pieces of short fiction per issue. Focus on fiction that isn't obvious genre fiction. There are plenty of magazines that cater to genre fiction. The fiction in your literary journal should blur the lines between genres. Experimental fiction is a good idea.
4. Include at least two essays in your literary journal that focus on writing techniques or examine the writing process.
5. Plan on three to five poems per issue and consider poems that fall into a common theme. This doesn't mean every issue should contain only themed poetry, but keeping a common thread among the poems per issue of your journal presents a more unified structure.
6. Write one piece of literary criticism per issue that focuses on a classic novel or short story. The piece should be about 1,000 to 1,500 words long and present an analysis of form, structure, style and content of the chosen literary work.
