by Shreya
Looking through social media nowadays, there are dozens of lit mags founded by teens cropping up. It’s a great way to give a platform to a topic you’re passionate about, and it's a fun extracurricular too. Starting a lit mag is not so easy; it requires a lot of work and dedication, and may be overwhelming and confusing. So, here's a guide on how to start your own lit mag that can hopefully help make the process easier!
Step 1: Find Your Purpose
Determine Your Mission: Why do you want to start this literary magazine? Are you aiming to showcase emerging writers, focus on a specific genre, or create a platform for underrepresented voices? Define what you want your magazine to achieve.
Step 2: Choose a Name and Create a Visual Identity
Pick a Name: Choose a name that is interesting and reflects the magazine’s purpose.
Design Your Brand: Develop a visual identity including a color palette and logo. This should align with your magazine’s theme and help create a cohesive look for cover design, typography, and layout.
Step 3: Establish a Social Media Presence
Create Accounts: Set up social media profiles on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. This will help with advertising, marketing, and engaging with your audience. Regularly update these accounts to increase exposure and interaction. It is also important to interact with other literary magazines and collaborate with them on posts,reels, or other projects. Reels work better with instagram algorithms therefore post more reels than posts. Remember to stay intune with latest trends to make your posts and reels more visible to the algorithm.
Step 4: Assemble a Team
Build Your Crew: A literary magazine is a team effort. Recruit dedicated individuals for various roles such as writers, graphic designers, editors, and social media managers. A strong team will help manage the workload and bring diverse skills to the project. It is important to create a head which helps you immensely as the pressure of checking up on your teammates will be reduced. Graphic designers and editors are the two most vital components for the crew. A strong graphics team and editors will result in successful and creative endeavors and projects.
Step 5: Create a Website
Go Professional: Launch a website to enhance your magazine’s professionalism. It should include information about the magazine, submission guidelines, and a platform for accessing current and past issues. This will also serve as a central hub for your operations. You can also list your magazine in Chill Subs, and in Submittable to make the submission process to your magazine easier.
Step 6: Release Your First Issue
Plan and Execute: Decide on a theme for your first issue, create submission guidelines, and begin advertising. Collect and edit submissions, then put together your issue. Make sure to promote the launch to maximize visibility.
Step 7: Improve and Evolve
Gather Feedback: After releasing your first issue, assess the response. Review feedback and analyze what worked and what could be improved. Adjust your approach based on audience reactions and consider reaching out to other literary magazines for advice.
Step 8: Keep It Engaging
Maintain Interest: Don’t just focus on releasing issues. Organize additional activities like writing contests, interviews with authors, or virtual readings. These activities will help engage your audience and increase readership.
This guide will hopefully help you navigate the complexities of starting and running a literary magazine while keeping the process manageable and enjoyable. Make sure to take it slow and stick to your purpose.
Good luck with your literary venture!
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