As a writer, I have two rules in deciding where I want to publish my junk. The first is, I only submit to publications that I feel are worth reading. If a magazine sucks I don't want my stuff in it just to get a meaningless publication credit. Secondly, I only submit to editors who I respect as editors or writers. Seems to me that racking up a lot of publication credits in a bunch of shitty journals is no different than a heavyweight fighter racking up knockouts against the bottom rung of challengers. Truth be told, I think I have become somewhat of a better writer learning from my rejected pieces than I have from the accepted ones. I like the challenge of a good editor. It makes the knockout punch all the sweeter when it lands. If it is true we learn from our mistakes, I figure I have learned a hell of a lot folks.
Anyone who has read my stuff over the last few years should realize by now I write for myself. I seek no audience to entertain, nor do I need one to feed my ego. Poetry is a fringe element in our culture and that suits me just fine. Writing on the fringe gives me the freedom to do what I want, without feeling the lame need to live up to any pretentious expectations.
My junk has been published in numerous print journals, collections, and chapbooks. Most are currently no longer in print, because lets face it few people are willing to support the small press. One publication I would like to mention here is Implosion Press. It managed to survive 10 years or so on the fine editing skills of Cheryl Townsend who is a superb writer in her own right. She set this entire writing thing in motion by publishing my first chapbook. Thanks Cheryl.
The links provided here are to some of what I believe to be top shelf online literary journals. The fact that you can find my junk in some these journals is a bonus. I would read these journals whether they published me or not. You should too.