Before you can publish your first issue, you need something to publish! But how can you encourage submissions? The best way is to get listed in printed market guides. Writer’s Digest puts out The Poet’s Market, The Writer’s Market, The Photographer’s Market, and The Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. You can contact each publication separately to request a questionnaire. Listings are free.
Since you are likely to start out small, you should also attempt to obtain a listing in The International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses, published by Dustbooks. Dustbooks also publishes a Small Magazine Review, which has a column in each issue that lists new publications. Additionally, the internet boasts numerous writing forums where you can post a call for submissions.
Finally, you may want to post flyers soliciting submissions at the English and Art departments of nearby colleges, or mail flyers to far off colleges along with a note requesting that they be posted on the call for submissions board.
3. Build your list of subscribers
Most new, small circulation publishers begin to secure subscribers among family and friends. You might want to create a website where interested readers can subscribe to your publication, and be sure to include subscription information in your first issue. Many companies such a geocities and tripod allow you to build inexpensive business websites.
Be aware that you may start with a very small subscription base. It may take two to three issues before you begin to obtain a reasonable number of subscribers. You may have to accept some loss on the first one or two issues, and you may need to send free sample copies to libraries and other individuals to drum up business. Some publishers require that authors subscribe before submitting work for consideration. While this may help to give a boost to your subscription list, it will lower the overall number and quality of submissions. Authors will respect your publication more if you do not require a purchase for submission and if you pay contributors at least one free copy of the publication.
Aside from friends and family, early subscribers will probably be authors who have been published in your magazine or who are interested in getting published in your magazine. This is another reason why it is crucial to obtain a listing in the various market books.