Publishing Short Stories
On this page, you'll find a step-by-step guide to publishing short stories, including submitting to literary magazines, publishing a book-length collection, and self-publishing options.
Publishing stories in literary magazines
Many short story writers begin by publishing their work in literary magazines or journals.
It's unusual for a new author to publish a book-length story collection without a previous publishing track record. Publishing in literary magazines lets you build up this track record.
It's a way to get your writing out into the world and participate in the literary community. It's also a way to get noticed by literary agents.
1) Find suitable magazines.
Poets & Writers and Duotrope have online databases which you can use as a starting point.
2) Match your style.
Before deciding to submit to a magazine, take some time to check out the stories it publishes. You can read online versions of many magazines for free.
You're looking for magazines that publish stories similar to your own in terms of subject matter and tone, style and form. This is a good indication that your story might fit what the magazine's editors are looking for.
3) Check the guidelines.
Once you've selected a target magazine, visit its website to make sure it's currently accepting submissions and check the submission guidelines.
These days, most magazines accept submissions via online platforms or email. Some charge a fee for submission, but you'll find plenty of magazines that accept submissions for free.
4) Prepare your manuscript.
Always follow the specific magazine's submission guidelines. But if no formatting instructions are provided...
- Hard copy and email attachments should use standard manuscript format. You can see examples here.
- Pasting manuscripts into online tools or the body of an email tends to cause some formatting problems. In these cases, you might be better off single-spacing your manuscript and leaving an empty line between paragraphs instead of indenting them.
- For a paper submission, you might be asked to include a S.A.S.E. (self-addressed stamped envelope) for the editor's response. Important: Never send out your only copy of your work!
- If you're asked to include a cover letter, you'll keep this brief (maximum 100-150 words); e.g.,
Dear [Editor's Name],
Please consider my [word count]-word short story "[Title]" for [Name of Magazine].
[A line or two about previous publications, any writing credentials or relevant experience.]
[If the magazine's guidelines ask you to notify them of simultaneous submissions, you can mention that here; i.e., "This is a simultaneous submission, and I will keep you informed if it is accepted elsewhere."]
Thank you very much for your time.
Kind regards,
[Your Name]
Cover letters should generally use business letter format.
5) Keep track of your submissions. You can save a copy of this spreadsheet for submission tracking.
6) Prepare to wait. Magazines often take months to reply to a submission. In the meantime, focus your attention on producing new work.
7) Keep trying!
Hopefully, you'll receive an acceptance letter (or phone call!). But chances are, you'll receive some rejections -- maybe many of them -- before that happens. Most writers do.
It truly doesn't mean there's anything wrong with you or your work. It just means you didn't get it to the right editor at the right time.
I know of one successful writer who has a rule that she expects 30 rejections for every acceptance.
Don't sweat it. Just repackage that submission and send it right back out, to the next magazine on your list.
Publishing a short story collection
Some small presses may be willing to consider a collection from an unpublished author, although some a previous publication record is likely to help.
Poets & Writers and Writersmarket.com are two places where you can browse small presses and learn more about what they publish and what they're looking for. You'll have to pay a fee to use Writersmarket.com.
You can also research publishers in the latest Writer's Market book, which may be in your local library. Be sure to get the latest edition of the book since editors move around a lot.
The big publishing houses normally won't accept unagented submissions. You'll need an agent to send your manuscript to them.
Self-publishing
Self-publishing is another option for getting your short stories into the world.
You can easily create a blog for free at Wordpress.com and post your stories there. Just be aware, if you are thinking of submitting the same work to magazines, that many magazines won't considered previously published work. They may consider posting the work on your blog to be a previous publication.
Or you can go ahead and self-publish a collection -- in digital and/or printed format. You can read about self-publishing a book here.
How much will you earn?
Unfortunately, you're unlikely to earn a lot of money writing short stories.
Some literary journals pay small amounts for contributions. Some pay in free copies instead of cash. Some pay nothing at all.
Even book-length collections rarely bring in big money. All of the poets and short story writers I know have day jobs, normally teaching, to support themselves.
One way you can potentially earn some money for poetry and short stories is by winning competitions or grants. However, many charge a submission fee, so it's a gamble.
Poets & Writers offers a list of reputable writing contests. .
Watch out for literary competition scams. Any contest that asks you to purchase something after you've "won" is suspect.
