Magazine Mentor Class

Magazine Mentor Class: Aug 1- Sep 5
Cost of class: 25.00 USD

A Beginner’s Six-Week Intensive on Publishing, Editorial Work, and Building a Literary Magazine Career

Week One: Before You Apply—Preparing Yourself Mentally and Professionally

Class Objective:
Before learning how to submit, pitch, edit, or publish, we will examine your motivations, expectations, professional goals, and emotional preparedness for participating in the publishing industry; specifically submitting to magazines.

Topics Covered

1. Why Do You Want to Publish?

• Identifying your personal goals:
  • Validation
  • Career advancement
  • Creative expression
  • Community
  • Financial goals
  • Legacy
• Understanding the difference between hobby, passion, profession, and business.

2. Developing Professional Expectations

• The reality of acceptance and rejection rates.
• Why rejection is not necessarily a reflection of quality.
• Understanding subjectivity in publishing.
• The importance of perseverance and consistency.
• Recognizing that publication is not the same as career sustainability.

3. Emotional Resilience in Publishing

• Learning to separate your identity from your work.
• Receiving criticism without becoming defensive.
• Understanding editorial feedback versus personal attack.
• Dealing with imposter syndrome.
• Avoiding comparison and jealousy within creative communities.
• Recognizing burnout and creative exhaustion.

4. Professionalism and Reputation

• Your reputation begins before your first publication.
• Communicating with editors professionally.
• Email etiquette.
• Social media conduct and professional boundaries.
• Why publishing is a surprisingly small industry.
• Building relationships rather than transactions.

5. Preparing Your Work

• Understanding when a piece is actually finished.
• The dangers of submitting first drafts.
• Self-editing strategies.
• Beta readers and critique partners.
• Learning when to stop revising.

6. Building Your Author Foundation

• Creating a professional author biography.
• Developing a simple author brand.
• Establishing an online presence.
• Keeping submission records.
• Creating realistic writing goals and schedules.