MC-Guide

Content Writing

Website 42: Tahomaliteraryreview.com

How Can You Earn Money Writing For “tahomaliteraryreview.com” Website

This guide shows you, step by step, how a beginner can learn to pitch and sell stories to tahomaliteraryreview.com.

You will learn what Tahomaliteraryreview.com wants, how to test your idea, how to write a pitch, and how payment roughly works. You can use this like a small SOP.

Literary · 01 Beginner Friendly Target: Tahoma Literary Review

Step-by-Step Guide — How to Write for & Earn from Tahoma Literary Review

This guide walks a beginner through everything you need to know to prepare, submit, and (if accepted) monetize a publication with Tahoma Literary Review. It collects the essential rules, formatting tips, sample language, a ready-to-use checklist, and practical strategies to turn a TLR byline into paid work, clients, or teaching opportunities.

Read the official submission page first — the editors publish their guidelines and pay rates on Submittable. Use this guide as a clear companion: prepare your manuscript, submit correctly, and increase your chances of acceptance and earning.

Section 1 · About the magazine

Why submit to Tahoma Literary Review?

Tahoma Literary Review (TLR) is an established independent literary magazine that publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, flash, graphic narratives, and translations. They operate with regular reading periods and publish online (with print back issues available). A TLR acceptance gives you a respected byline and — importantly — a paid publication credit that can be shown to agents, clients, and teaching programs.

Read recent issues to understand style, voice, and length expectations: explore their homepage, the latest issue, and the archives to match tone and subject matter.

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Who reads TLR?

TLR readers are literary-minded: poets, fiction readers, teachers, and fellow writers. They value craft, original voice, and precise language. If your piece shows craft and a clear perspective, TLR editors will consider it seriously.

Section 2 · Pay & clear numbers

Exactly what TLR pays — and how to use that

TLR publishes its current pay schedule publicly. Use these figures to decide whether a submission is worth your time and to estimate your effective hourly rate after research, revision, and edits.

Category	Pay (published)	Notes
Poetry (per poem)	$55	Up to six poems per poetry submission allowed.
Flash prose / flash nonfiction (≤ 1100 words)	$55	TLR treats flash up to 1,100 words as a flat-rate piece.
Longer prose (1,101–6,000 words)	$0.05 per word	Paid on publication; this is prorated by word count in accepted range.
Graphic narratives	$50 for 1–5 pages; $10/page thereafter (up to 10 pages)	Specific limits apply — check the graphic narrative category on Submittable.

Source and details live on their Submittable and “What We Pay” pages — check the live guidelines before you submit because rates and categories are authoritatively listed there.

Section 3 · When to submit, fees, and categories

Reading windows, fees, and categories — the practical facts

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Reading periods & timing

TLR usually runs two reading periods: January–March and August–October. They announce exact dates on their Submissions / Guidelines page and on their social channels. Plan to submit during an open reading period.

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Submission fees & waivers

Standard submission fees are small: generally $4 for poetry or flash, $5 for longer prose. TLR offers a limited number of free submissions to writers from historically marginalized groups — these run out early in a reading period, so plan to submit early if you need one.

Tip: if you need a fee waiver, check the “free submissions” note on Submittable, and if you have accessibility needs contact the editors via the TLR contact page before submitting.

Section 4 · Manuscript formatting (exact)

How to format your prose, poetry, and graphic narratives

Follow the editors’ formatting rules exactly — this shows professionalism and makes editing easier for them. Below are the exact points TLR highlights on their Submittable page.

File types: Word or PDF for prose and poetry. If you submit PDF and are accepted, editors will ask for a Word (or compatible) version for final production.
Prose manuscript format: Standard manuscript format — double-spaced, Times New Roman 12pt (or similar), one-inch margins, author name and contact info on the first page.
Poetry: You may include up to six poems in a single poetry submission; follow clean line breaks and avoid unusual fonts.
Graphic narratives: Up to ten pages; check the graphic narratives category for page-based pay rules.
No previously published work: TLR does not accept previously published pieces (this includes personal blogs and web publication).

These technical details are on their Submittable guidelines — always check before you upload so your file is exactly what editors expect.

Section 5 · Prepare a strong sample & demo strategy

How to build a submission that stands out (step by step)

Step 1

Read TLR’s recent pieces

Read 4–6 pieces from the current issue and recent archives. Note tone, pacing, sentence length, and how pieces open and close. Save examples that feel closest to your voice — you will reference them mentally while editing.

Step 2

Polish to a publishable draft

Edit your work three times: (1) structural (does the piece flow?), (2) line-edit (tighten sentences), (3) proofread and format (typography, spacing, consistency). If possible, have a trusted reader or beta reader review it.

Step 3

Use the critique service if you need it

TLR offers paid critiques — these are useful if you want an editor-style read before submitting. Consider a critique when you’re close but not confident about structure or clarity.

Step 4

Respect the word-count ranges

TLR pays by word for longer prose. Carefully count words and place your piece in the correct category on Submittable. For flash, make sure you meet the ≤ 1100 words definition.

Section 6 · Submitting on Submittable (exact workflow)

How to submit — quick Submittable SOP

Use TLR’s Submittable page to submit. Follow these exact steps:

Create a Submittable account (if you don’t already have one) at tahomaliteraryreview.submittable.com.
Choose the correct category (Poetry, Flash, Fiction, Creative Nonfiction, Graphic Narrative, Translation, or Critique).
Upload your file — Word or PDF. Ensure the first page contains your name and contact details for prose.
Complete metadata (title, word count, brief bio if requested). Be concise and factual in your bio.
Pay the submission fee (unless you are using a complimentary submission). Double-check the fee amount before payment.
Confirm and submit. You’ll receive a Submittable confirmation email. Save it.

If Submittable is inaccessible for you, TLR asks that you contact the editors via their Contact page to request alternative arrangements.

Section 7 · Sample cover note and pitch language

Short, editor-friendly cover note templates (copy-paste-ready)

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Template · Fiction / Flash

Hello — my name is [Your Name]. I am submitting “[Title]” for consideration in the Flash Fiction category. The piece is [word count] words. A short bio: [one sentence — where you write or relevant credential]. Thank you for reading. This work is previously unpublished and not under consideration elsewhere.

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Template · Nonfiction (brief)

Dear editors, attached is my essay “[Title]” (approx. [word count] words) for your Creative Nonfiction reading period. Short bio: [one sentence about your writing experience]. Thank you for your time; this piece is original and not previously published.

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Template · Graphic Narrative (notes)

Hello editors — submitting “[Title]” for Graphic Narrative (approx. [pages] pages). The attached file contains page images in PDF. I confirm these are original and not previously published. Brief bio: [one line about your practice or publications]. Thank you for considering this piece.

Use short, factual, and polite language. TLR editors get many submissions — brevity helps.

Section 8 · Critiques, feedback, and revising

How to use TLR’s critique services productively

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Quick critique vs full critique

TLR offers both short feedback (a paragraph or two) and a more detailed paid critique. For writers close to ready, a full critique (priced on Submittable by word range) can identify major structural issues quickly.

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How to act on feedback

Take one major revision per feedback cycle. Don’t simultaneously rewrite 80% of the piece: instead, prioritize structural changes, then line edits, then a final proofread. Repeat if necessary.

Section 9 · Rights, reposting & payment timing

What rights TLR asks for and when you get paid

TLR requests first North American serial rights and typically intends to keep accepted work online as part of an issue. Rights revert to the author after publication per their policy. Payment is made on publication (the editors will confirm payment and rights at acceptance).

If you plan to repost elsewhere, wait for the editor’s acceptance email and any exclusive period terms before doing so — always confirm the exact reposting rules in your acceptance message.

Section 10 · How to turn a TLR byline into income

Practical ways to earn more from one acceptance

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Use the byline as a portfolio piece

Promote the published piece on social media, your website, and LinkedIn. Link to it in pitches to magazines, clients, and course platforms. A TLR byline increases your credibility when pitching paid essays, speaking gigs, or teaching workshops.

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Repurpose content for paid offers

Adapt a well-received TLR essay into a workshop, a paid newsletter deep-dive, or a premium short course. Use the editorial process lessons to shape a repeatable product.

Business tip: keep a simple “press kit” (one-page PDF) featuring your TLR byline, a short bio, sample clips, and contact info to share with clients and small presses.

Section 11 · Final SOP checklist & templates

Before you hit Submit — final micro-SOP

SOP: keep a “submission log” (CSV or spreadsheet) listing date submitted, title, word count, category, fee paid, confirmation ID, and follow-up date. This is invaluable for tracking response times and rejections.

Section 12 · FAQ + resources (many links)

Quick answers & resource library

Q: Are TLR submissions paid?

Yes — see the pay table above. They publish their current pay scale on their Submittable page and the “What We Pay” page on the TLR site. Links are in the Resources area below.

Q: How long until I hear back?

Standard response time is up to twelve weeks from submission. TLR offers a $3 expedited response that shortens the turnaround to two weeks (this does not guarantee acceptance). See Submittable for exact wording.

Q: Can I submit to multiple magazines at once?

Yes, TLR allows simultaneous submissions but asks you to inform them if the piece is accepted elsewhere (use Submittable’s withdraw feature if necessary).

Essential TLR links (open these first):

Helpful general resources for writers (recommended reading/tools):