March 2026 Meeting: Short-Form Success—A Panel on Publishing in Magazines, Journals, & Anthologies
Are you ready to submit your poetry, short stories, and essays but unsure how to navigate the world of literary markets? Publishing short works in magazines, journals, and anthologies is a vital step for any writer looking to build credentials, find a readership, and refine their craft.
Join us for an insightful panel discussion featuring three members of the writing community with deep and diverse experiences in the short-form publishing landscape.
In this dynamic session, our panelists will share practical advice on:
- Finding the right market: How to efficiently research and target magazines and journals that match your genre and style.
- Understanding submission guidelines: Essential tips for crafting cover letters, formatting manuscripts, and avoiding common rejection pitfalls.
- Leveraging anthologies: Exploring the submission process for themed anthologies and what editors look for in these curated collections.
- Transitioning from hobbyist to professional: Strategies for building a portfolio of published works to advance your writing career.
Whether you write genre fiction, literary essays, or poetry, this panel will provide the actionable knowledge you need to take your short works from manuscript to publication.
Speaker Bios
Darius Jones
NVWC Board Member & Award-Winning Author
Darius is a highly active member of the speculative fiction community and an NVWC Board Member. He specializes in Cosmic Horror, Weird Fiction, and Dark Fantasy. His short stories and poems have appeared in respected markets such as Strange Horizons, The No Sleep Podcast, and Star*Line Magazine. He is a member of the Horror Writers Association (HWA), Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA), and the Science Fiction Poetry Association (SFPA), giving him extensive insight into professional short-form genre publishing. His first book, The Books of Hours, a collection of 24 Dark Cosmic poems, was published in 2025 by Alien Buddha Press.
Allie Nelson
NVWC Social Media Coordinator & Pushcart Prize-Nominated Author
Allie is a multiple Pushcart Prize-nominated author and the NVWC Social Media Coordinator. Her work has appeared in a wide array of publications, including The British Fantasy Society, Apex Magazine, ILLUMEN, Eternal Haunted Summer, and various others. Her writing has been translated internationally into Polish and Spanish, curated by notable figures like Kevin J. Anderson, and appeared in anthologies alongside authors such as Graham Masterson and Jane Yolen.
Heidi Hess
Florida Writer, Paranormal Author, and Festival Organizer
Heidi Hess is a paranormal fiction author and an organizer of the Read It Write It Book and Writing Festival. Her short stories have appeared in her own collections, including Chronicles of Chaos and The Short End of Madness. As both a published author and a successful event organizer, Heidi brings a valuable perspective on not only submitting to publications but also the process of creating and compiling original short-story anthologies.