A Quick Guide to Crafting Your Publication 'Hit List'
It was Ashley Kalakgian Blunt who hit it home for me when in one of our conversations (or perhaps it was on social media? I can’t recall now!) that some writers seem to have a carefully curated list of where their writing gets published and others - herself included - had a more machine-gun scatter approach. This approach generally involves firing work out into the world and hoping something sticks.
I think there is merit to both approaches. I know when I first started writing, I tended to be quite open and nondescript about where and who I wrote for. My core focus was on honing my work and writing for lower-end platforms was a significant component of this process. I wasn’t wrong - it helped shape me as a stronger writer, and I learned a lot about the broader content writing/freelancing process.
As I’ve grown more confident in my skills and more certain of the types of work I enjoy putting my energy into, I’ve also become sharper in checking out where I submit my work and who I choose to write for and with. Sometimes I do wish I’d been more discerning in my early days (especially as some of my work is decidedly cringey, and I’d prefer it not to be on the platforms it is), but I also know that without those learning experiences, I definitely wouldn’t be where I am now.
Over the last few months, as I’ve been working on a professional online profile that’s more in line with how I want to represent myself as a writer now, I’ve been thinking about what other publications exist I’d like to write for and redeveloping what I call my Publication Hit List.
What is a Publication Hit List?
In a nutshell, it’s the list of websites, publications, magazines, or organisations you’d like to get your words published with.
A hit list is an excellent resource for freelance writers as it can help you develop your values and overall mission as a writer. By researching and reviewing a good cross-section of different places you might publish your work, you’ll start to get a strong vibe for what it is that attracts you to writing for somewhere. When I first started writing, I had no clue how to assess a potential website or publication to be a good fit for me. Now, I know to check out the ‘About’ pages, review social media pages, read a good section of the work, do a little background check on the editors (which, yes, includes looking at their social media), and generally make sure I have a solid understanding for what I’m committing to if I send work and am potentially published with the platform.
It’s also helpful in creating and setting some writing goals and helping you better understand what you need to do to keep improving to get your work published where you really want.
How Do You Create One?
Creating your publication hit list is pretty straightforward, and you may have already started compiling a list of some sort.
While it’s a basic task, don’t underestimate just how helpful this resource can be. Here are the three key steps I take to create and manage my hit list:
Think About the Top Publications You Want to Write For: Make a list of the very top, high-end publications you’d love to get your writing with someday. These can be as prominent and daring as you like. This is what I call my Top Hat List.
Take it a Step Back: Next, take it a step down from those big publications. Where else could you write for that could be a possible lead-up to writing for those more prominent publications? Take a look at the bios and publishing lists of some of your favourite writers on the big sites to help you learn more about this and see where else you might potentially write for. This is what I call my High Five List.
Repeat one more time: Take it one more step back and see where else exists that you could write for. When I’m starting out writing about a new topic or genre, this is the list I start with. I’ll research how to submit and publishing tips, read and follow some of my favourite writers on the site, and learn more about getting started. This is what I call my Let’s Go List.
You can give your lists any name you like! ‘Top Hat’ for me speaks to those high-end and more difficult to connect/get published with but worth pursuing places. ‘High Five’ means these are significant publications that make me feel accomplished when/if I get published. And ‘Let’s Go’ means these are the publications I feel confident about pitching and subbing to and will generally have a good section of work finding a home with.
Now you have three lists. I recommend aiming to get between 5-10 publications on each list to start with. Once you have your list of publications you want to write for, you can start setting yourself some goals.
How to Set Hit List Goals
I love to use my hit list to create and set myself some writing goals. I never make these too intense, and if other work picks up and I can’t meet them, I don’t let it stress me out, but setting these goals has helped me over the years to keep going and stay on track.
Here’s a few examples of some goals I’ve previously set based on my hit list:
Secure regular writing slot with two publications on my ‘Let’s Go’ List.
Pitch to at least three of my ‘High Five’ List this month.
Review writing guidelines for one of my ‘Top Hat’ List and generate three potential story ideas.
Get three published articles with one of my ‘High Five’ publications this quarter.
Goals should be fun and manageable. When you’re starting, freelancing can often feel like you’re walking around a dark room, blindfolded with your ankles tidied, trying to find the exit. Having goals like this can help you have focus and something to aim for. Start small and build over time!
Of course, you don’t have to have a publication hit list, but I’ve found it helps. It stops me from getting distracted by e v e r y publication that’s out there and to stay focused on what I want to achieve. As I discover new publications, I can make goals to review them and see if they might be a good match to go on my hit list too.
As writers, one of the critical things to remember is that we have autonomy over where we publish our work and who we choose to share it with. A hit list can help you hold onto this vital component of your writing journey.
