Guide: How to Submit to Shenandoah & Turn Publication Into Income

Section 1 · Publication overview

What Shenandoah is — quick, practical portrait

Shenandoah (also styled “Shenandoah: The Washington and Lee Review”) is a long-established, biannual literary magazine based at Washington & Lee University in Virginia. It publishes fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, comics/graphic narrative, translations, and visual art — and it places emphasis on diverse voices and work that earns readers’ attention for craft and imagination. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Important to know right away: Shenandoah uses an online submission manager (Submittable) for most genres; they run specific reading periods for sections (poetry, fiction, nonfiction, comics, translations) and occasionally open special calls, fellowships, and prizes. The site is the canonical source for up-to-date reading windows and editor names. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Sources: Shenandoah homepage & submissions pages. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

Section 2 · Reading windows & submission basics

Where to submit (Submittable) and short facts you must memorize

Shenandoah’s primary submission system is their Submittable manager. Use the Submittable listing for the section you plan to send to (fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, comics). Submittable lets you track status and withdraw if your piece is accepted elsewhere. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Quick facts to keep handy (these change, so double-check before sending): many prose submissions should be under 8,000 words; poetry submissions usually ask for 3–5 poems, no more than ~10 pages total; simultaneous submissions are generally accepted but must be promptly withdrawn if accepted elsewhere. Shenandoah sometimes caps the number of submissions they accept each month, and they publish reading-period notices on their submissions page. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Read the official Shenandoah submissions page before you make the final click. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}

Section 3 · Prepare publication-ready work

Format, polish, and small demos that editors respect

Literary editors read for craft. Your submission must do three things well: (1) be cleanly edited (no obvious typos or malformed sentences), (2) be properly formatted and easy to read on screen, and (3) have a clear and compelling opening — the first page matters a lot.

If you’re unsure about whether work is “ready,” treat a trusted first reader or a paid editor as an investment. A single strong acceptance pays that editorial cost many times over.

Section 4 · Submission SOP (step-by-step) — Templates included

Exactly what to do, click-by-click

Follow this SOP each time you submit to Shenandoah. It minimizes errors and increases professionalism.

Cover letter template (for Shenandoah)

Dear Shenandoah editors —

Please consider my [story/essay/poems/comic] titled “[Title]” for [fiction / creative nonfiction / poetry / comics]. The piece is [___ words / [X] poems].

A short bio: [One sentence — your current position or what you do, one recent publication if any].

I am submitting this work simultaneously / not simultaneously. Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Email] • [City, Country] • [Link to work sample or website — optional]

Short author bio template (2 lines)

[Your Name] is a [profession or writer descriptor] living in [City]. Work has appeared in [publication1] and [publication2] (or “is forthcoming in…”). Find more at [website link or ORCiD].

Section 5 · Money, prizes, rights

How Shenandoah pays and how to turn a byline into income

Public records and market directories indicate Shenandoah pays professional-rate fees for prose and poetry. Duotrope lists a common rate of roughly $80 per 1,000 words up to $400 for prose and reports poetry payment figures in earlier notices (rates can change and are confirmed per-assignment by editors). Use this as a planning guide and always confirm in the editor’s email/contract. :contentReference[oaicite:9]{index=9}

Note: Payment amounts and prize rules change. Duotrope and aggregator sites publish current reported figures, but you should confirm in Shenandoah’s acceptance message or their official pages. :contentReference[oaicite:11]{index=11}

Section 6 · After acceptance — what editors expect and what you can do

Rights, edits, promotion, and reprints

If Shenandoah accepts your piece, expect editorial edits (light to substantial) and a rights agreement. Many journals buy first serial rights and reserve the right to publish; reprint rights and author reposting policies are negotiated or stated in the acceptance. Ask your editor about the timeline for print/online publication and reposting rules. If you plan to repost on your own site, save the acceptance email and confirm the allowed reprint window before reposting. :contentReference[oaicite:12]{index=12}

Section 7 · Submission tracking & healthy habits

How to keep sane while submitting and what metrics matter

Treat submissions like a small project. Track: date sent, genre, title, word count, link to Submittable entry, response date, outcome, and any notes (editor feedback). Build a spreadsheet with filters for “Awaiting / Accepted / Rejected / Withdrawn”. Update it weekly.

Healthy habits: send only your best, keep rejections as data, and submit consistently. Even renowned journals publish very few pieces — focus on growth instead of instant wins. :contentReference[oaicite:13]{index=13}

Section 8 · Checklist, FAQs & a 30-day action plan

Everything you should do in one month

Section 9 · Resources — open every link

Direct links you should open now

Tip: Open 3 Shenandoah pieces in the genre you aim to write in and outline their structure before finalizing your draft. Editors notice when submission voice & structure fit the magazine’s tone. :contentReference[oaicite:26]{index=26}