How do I submit my work to a literary magazine? What goes into an artist statement for a residency or writing workshop? How do I approach an agent? Designed for fiction writers of all levels, this class will answer these questions—and more—about how to present your work and yourself to the editors, agents, and selection committees on the other side of the submit button. After lessons conclude on December 6th, students will have the opportunity to attend a live panel of industry professionals discussing the submission process on December 8th. You’ll leave armed with the skills you need to prepare your work, organize your submissions, and craft great cover letters and artist statements to use in applications to residencies, MFA programs, writing workshops, and beyond.
Class Schedule:
- December 2nd: Classroom opens
- December 4th: Submitting to Literary Magazines
- December 5th: Submitting to Residencies
- December 6th: Submitting to Literary Agents
- December 8th: Panel Discussion, 6:30pm - 7:15pm ET, Zoom (panelists TBD)
About Lena Valencia:
Lena Valencia is the director of educational programming and managing editor of One Story. She has held positions at A Public Space and BOMB Magazine, and for three years hosted the HiFi Reading Series in Manhattan. She teaches at the Sackett Street Writers Workshop and Catapult. Her writing has appeared in Joyland, Epiphany, CRAFT, the Tiny Nightmares anthology (Catapult, 2020) and elsewhere. She has an MFA in fiction from The New School, is the recipient of a 2019 Elizabeth George Foundation grant, and has been awarded residencies at the Vermont Studio Center and the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts. For more information, visit lenavalencia.com.
FAQ
When can I register for this class?
Registration is open now through December 3rd.
How does the class work?
Daily written lectures and course material will be posted at 12am UTC. The class also includes a discussion board where participants can interact with one another and with Lena. The class will be followed by a live Zoom panel on December 8th from 6:30pm - 7:15pm ET.
Can I take the class on my phone?
Yes, the class can be taken on a mobile device, but we recommend a computer or tablet to get the most out of the experience.
Is participation on the discussion board required?
No, it’s optional; participants are welcome to jump into the conversation or sit back and observe.
Is there homework?
No. There are some optional exercises designed to help you build out your cover letters, query letters, and artist statements, which you may optionally share with the class for feedback.
How much time will the class take?
Plan to spend about 45 minutes per day reviewing the lessons and completing the assignments or exercises, plus however much time you choose to spend on the discussion board.
What if I want to take the class, but the dates don’t work for me?
The class is designed for you to proceed at your own pace, on your own schedule, so if you miss a day or three, no problem. All class materials, including a recording of the panel discussion, will be accessible online until January 7th at 11:59pm UTC. Please note, however, that Lena will be available on the discussion board only December 4th - 8th.
Can I save the material for later use?
There will be some downloadable documents provided by the instructor, but otherwise class content lives on the learning platform. Students are not permitted to copy/paste the lessons to prevent distribution of the material without our knowledge, but are of course welcome to take notes.
Can the instructor give me feedback on my cover letter/artist statement/query?
Due to the large number of students in the class, the instructor can’t provide feedback on student work. She will be available on the discussion board to answer any questions from students. There will also be a designated discussion board where students can get feedback from one another.
I write nonfiction/poetry. Is this class for me?
Those working on poetry or nonfiction may find some of the information useful, but the class is designed with fiction writers in mind.
I’m a new writer who has never sent work out to a literary magazine. Is this class appropriate for me?
Yes. This class is designed for anyone who is looking to take the next steps in their writing career.
I’ve been published in a few magazines, attended some residencies, and have an agent. Should I take this class?
Though this class is designed for writers of all levels, writers who have experience submitting to magazines, attending residencies, and who already have an agent may find some of the material familiar or unnecessary. Lena is available on the discussion boards to answer all questions that are not addressed in the lessons.
What if I can’t wait to get started?
The discussion board will open on Wednesday, December 1st, two days before the first lesson, so that participants can meet, mingle, and familiarize themselves with the learning platform.
Do you offer financial aid or scholarships for this class?
Yes. We offer a limited amount of partial scholarships on a first-come, first served basis for those with financial need. Please email Lena Valencia at lena for more information.
Our online classes are designed to be safe spaces for all who participate. One Story will not tolerate hate speech, bullying, or harassment directed toward instructors or fellow students, and reserves the right to remove participants who engage in such behavior from our classes.
Member Discount: In order to qualify for our member discount, you must be a member at the time of registration. Please note that the discount is for our members only. Members commit to annual donations and receive benefits that allow them to participate in the organization in more meaningful ways. Not all One Story subscribers are members. If you’d like to find out more about becoming a member, you can do so here.
Refund Policy: One Story class payment is non-refundable after the class’s start date. For questions about the refund policy, or if you are unable to take the class after you have registered, please contact maribeth.
If you have any questions, please contact lena.
Class Registration:
