SHORTSTORY: Six Great Markets for your Short Story

In a recent creative writing class, I announced that the following week would look specifically at the art of the short story. Immediately conversation ensued saying that you don't see the short story around anymore, but in the course of my research, I found many a home for your mini-missives. Here are some of them:

GENRE MAGAZINES - Sci-fi and fantasy being the most prevalent, but also crime, romance and mystery. Periodicals like Interzone and Asimov's still pay for short stories, but it is advisable to read their previous magazines and get a flavour of their stories first.

WOMEN'S MAGAZINES - In the UK, there is a rich variety available on the news stand, including Yours, My Weekly and People's Friend. Many have their own specific guidelines, and strict rules on what is acceptable for their readership. Again, do your research, and read up to absorb the feel of their more successful stories.

COMPETITIONS - There are hundreds of short story competitions available. The best place to look for them would be the invaluable Writers' and Artists' Yearbook, and the Booktrust website. Get sending your entries in, and the rewards could be massive.

RADIO - BBC Radio Four certainly still have slots for the short story, and it can be a great ground to get exposure for your writer's voice. Also look at local radio, the new, small community radio stations that have sprung up in recent years, and don't be afraid to submit internationally to radio stations on the other side of the world. Each has time to fill, and even if they don't currently run a fiction segment, perhaps you could suggest one?

SELF-PUBLISHING - The Ebook revolution has blown this area wide open. It's conceivable to market a novella or novelette as a stand-alone item on the usual websites such as Amazon, and a collection with a common theme (paranormal romances, steampunk,etc) would appeal to a niche market. Many successful series offer a short story for free as a taster for their audience.

INTERNET - You can submit to places like http://www.short-stories.co.uk/ who put pieces out for people to peruse, or start your own blog in seconds with sites like Blogger or Wordpress. Remember, any exposure is good.

Any I've missed? This is far from exhaustive, so leave any comments below.

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SHORTSTORY is a series of posts looking at the business and craft of short stories.


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