How to Improve Your Chances in Juried Calls (Without Gaming the System)
You cannot buy acceptance.
But you can improve clarity.
1. Read the Theme Carefully
If the theme is “Memory,” avoid vague symbolic interpretation.
Ask:
Does my work clearly engage this theme?
Jurors evaluate alignment.
2. Study the Publication’s Past Selections
Look for:
Tone
Conceptual depth
Presentation quality
Not to imitate, but to instead understand expectations.
3. Submit Work That Feels Resolved
Juried platforms favor work that feels complete.
Avoid:
Sketches
Early-stage experiments
Incomplete bodies of work
4. Keep It Focused
Submit a cohesive group.
Not a résumé.
5. Accept Rejection as Structural
Strong work is often declined.
Juried platforms are constrained by:
Issue size
Theme balance
Visual cohesion
Rejection does not equal weakness.
