Writing is what we do, but finding a home for what we write is a major part of our writing world. Years ago, before the onset of the internet, writers learned of markets by word of mouth and by studying market guides, printed on an annual basis. If you bought one, it became outdated within one year. They were expensive, so many writers made a trip to their local library to study the guides. A lot of time was needed, and you had to make a list of all the info you thought worthy of a try. Then snail mailed your submission, often with a SASE envelope included for the response.
Today, we have search engines to do the job for us. Go to your favorite and type in 'Call for Submissions' to have a world of choices at your fingertips. You do have to spend time sifting and sorting. You can narrow the search by being more specific. Type 'Essay Submissions' or 'Short Story Submissions' or 'Memoir Submissions,'
This morning as a test, I used 'Call for Submissions' as my keywords, and pages of choices popped up. You can narrow your search by reading the title of each entry to know if it is something you want to look at or pass by. Do check the date on each entry. If one was posted in 2015, it may not be what you're looking for today.
Facebook has a page titled 'Call for Submissions' as well as other pages geared to writers with occasional Call for Submissions.
If you know a publication well and they change their needs off and on, check it on a regular basis o see if there is something new. Chicken Soup for the Soul is one I check about once a month.
You can also use a search engine with the keywords 'Contests for Writers' or 'Writing Contests' which gives you another opportunity to submit your work. Many contest winners are published in the publication that sponsors the contest. You have a double winner in that case.
Many newsletters for writers add submission news. They are usually quite up to date. I find it beneficial to subscribe to these newsletters on a limited basis. Start signing up for too many, and your inbox witll be overflowing, and you'll not have time to read all of them. They pile up until you end up deleting. So, sign up for the ones that appeal the most.
Writers sometimes find markets by talking with another writer. Or reading about a publication on a writer's social media pages.
You won't find places to submit your writing by sitting at your desk and waiting for notes from Heaven to drop into your lap. Finding markets is work. For each one, you must check the guidelines carefully and adhere to them if you want to up your chances of being accepted.
If an editor has published your writing once, submit more work. You're already one step ahead of someone who has never had work accepted by that publication. The editor knows your work.
Someone once told me that the writing is simple, selling it is not. It's all part of your writing journey. I think of submissions as being a Ferris Wheel. We keep adding one after another, and the wheel keeps turning. Never submit one piece and sit back and wait to hear from the editor. Submit on a regular basis.
What about simultaneous submissions? Should you send one essay to three editors? You can, but you'd better check the guidelines to see if they accept this type of submission. Plus, if one editor accepts your essay, then you are responsible for letting the others know your essay is no longer available. More work for you. I once sent the same personal essay to two publications, and they both accepted it within a day or two of one another. I felt bad about having to turn one down. Ever since, I have stayed with submitting to only one place at a time.
Keep a record of your submissions. It can be simple or an elaborate chart. Your choice. The important thing is to keep track of where you sent what and when and the result.
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