These writers didn’t just get lucky.
You don’t need luck. You need a plan, support, and your own voice—loud and clear.
One of my favourite moments as a writing teacher and community host—when I get to shout from the rooftops about the incredible publication wins from writers in our Lit Mag Love community. 🌟
These writers didn’t just get lucky. They:
– wrote honestly, even when it was uncomfortable
– submitted when it was easier not to
– edited with clarity and guts
– embraced rejection
– paced themselves and took care of themselves when needed
– leaned on community (yes, that means you can too)
Here’s how persistence and care paid off—and what you might take from their paths:
Agata Antonow racked up six publications since our last check-in—across speculative, flash, personal essay, and literary fiction:
“Ruskalka” in The Icarus Writing Collective
“Broken Glass” in Brilliant Flash Fiction
“Three Things I Didn’t Pack in My Husband’s Suitcase” in Spotlong Review
“Into Stone” in Weird Lit Magazine
A beautiful personal essay in CBC First Person
Honourable mention for “Newsie” in the Hamilton Public Library Freda Waldon Award for Fiction
Takeaway: Try writing across forms—Agata does it all. More genres to submit can make for more chances to publish.
Crystal Barnett had her poem “Crane” published in Prairie Fire.
Takeaway: Quiet craft speaks volumes.
Yolande House is building something incredible. She:
published “Disability Tax” in The Fiddlehead
shared thoughts on Every Cripple a Superhero in The Fiddlehead’s Stop! Look! Listen! Blog
published her first chronic illness piece, “The Anxious GERD Diet,” in Plenitude, excerpted from her manuscript Muscle Memory
Takeaway: Your lived experience is valid on the page. Writing about disability, chronic illness, or trauma can connect when done with care and voice.
Tamara Jong’s memoir Worldly Girls is coming September 2025 from Book*hug Press. Yes, a whole book!
When Tamara shared the news, she added: “Please don’t give up on your projects. I did a few times but came back to it.”
Takeaway: You don’t have to be constant. You just have to return. Again and again.
Lina Lau read her writing at The Writers Union of Canada Open Mic Night and the Emerging Writers Reading Series and told me she was grateful for the support of friends and writing colleagues who attended.
Takeaway: Persistence opens doors and builds connections, especially when writers support each other.
Mridula Morgan got poetic and micro, with “Ghabrahat (Nervous),” a 100-word story in Five Minutes.
Takeaway: You can pack a whole world into a paragraph.
Denisha Naidoo is expanding into sci-fi and lit fiction:
“Fly Past The Sun” in Killer Nashville Magazine
“Duck Duck Duck” in Amazing Stories (also in audio on Patreon)
Takeaway: Try new genres. Follow your weird.
Annette Pearson shared with me that Lit Mag Love helped her return to publishing after a long break, leading to the acceptance of three excerpts and a win in the Writers' League of Texas manuscript contest.
Takeaway: A clear, structured approach to reentering the publishing world can open doors and lead to exciting opportunities.
Kelly Pedro’s “Pareidolia” won the 2024 CRAFT Flash Prose Prize!!!
Takeaway: One killer piece can change everything. Keep crafting your standout.
Kimberly Peterson published in Bywords, a journal based in her hometown.
Takeaway: Local lit scenes matter.
Shantell Powell is everywhere. Her work spans myth, climate fiction, and speculative:
Finalist: Aurora Awards
“The Qalupalik” in Flash Fiction Online
“The Tupilaq” in Iridescence Anthology
“Nuliajuk and the Birds” in Strange Horizons
“Pyrocene” in Emerge Literary Journal
“The Ghosts of Forests Past” in ALOCASIA
Interview: Moonlit Getaway
Takeaway: Submission stamina and a wide net work. Shantell is on fire (literally, in one story).
Dorryce Smelts reported back with:
“You Should Know” longlisted at Room Magazine
“An Ocean of Vinyl” shortlisted at Flash Fiction Magazine
She’s also editing a poetry collection by Clarissa Stein, Lines Arriving, out in 2025.
Takeaway: Your voice grows as you lift others up, too.
Olwen Wilson published “The Solitude Booth” in midnight & indigo, part of a collection of speculative stories by Black women writers.
Takeaway: Writing your truth, even in imagined worlds, holds powerful, transformative energy.
These writers didn’t wait for permission.
They wrote. They edited. They sent the work out.
They kept going, even through dry spells.
So, if you're feeling stuck, discouraged, or like it’s never going to happen for you, let this be your reminder: You don’t need luck. You need a plan, support, and your own voice—loud and clear.
And if you’re looking for that support, read on for what’s coming up in my course community.
Ready to level up your writing career?
Join my next round of courses and get:
✍️ Expert feedback on your work
🤝 A supportive community of fellow writers
💡 Proven strategies for publication success
📚 Access to editor insights and market tips
Choose Your Path:
📝 Lit Mag Love - Your 6-week journey to publication (May 21–Jul 1) Perfect for: Writers ready to share their work with the world Learn More & Enroll →
Can't join us this round? Get on the wait list for these upcoming courses:
Questions? Reach out! I'd love to help you find the right fit.
Warmly,
Rachel
P.S. Remember, those success stories all started with a single step.
We rock!