Why Publish Short Stories
One reason to publish short stories is to appeal to people who have less time to read. Because they are naturally shorter than novels, short stories get to the point faster than longer works. Stories also allow authors the opportunity to fine tune their craft through multiple individual publications, and can be steppingstones to writing a novel. A short story can introduce the public to you, so later on, a novel can burnish your reputation and grow your readership.
Where to Publish Short Stories
Short Story Collections
Because traditional publishers are not often willing to take a chance on first-time authors (since readers are unlikely to buy a short story collection from an author they have never heard of), traditional publishers usually only publish collections from established authors. If you are a published short story author (whether in a literary magazine or an anthology), and you decide you want to publish a short story collection, you will first need to find a literary agent. Many large, prominent publishing companies do not accept unsolicited submissions. Then you will have to write a query letter tailored specifically for short story collections. A large benefit to choosing a traditional publisher is a large distribution (and thus greater sales).
However, small, reputable publishers might be more likely to accept your short story collection, or would be willing to publish an individual short story within an anthology.
Alternatively, you can forego traditional publishers and self-publish your short story collection. Some of the benefits to self-publishing include quicker publication, more creative control, a higher retention of royalties, and full ownership of publication rights.
Many self-publishing sites also allow you to set prices and help with distribution. However, you are also solely in charge of finding readers and marketing your book to them.
Single Short Story
If you want to publish a single short story, you have a few places where you can do so. The first is a literary magazine or journal (either print or online). Before submitting to these short story magazines, you should research the market in order to find a publication whose brand best fits your particular story. The benefits of getting published in a literary magazine include higher visibility to traditional publishers and increased recognition as an independent author. Furthermore, after you publish your first story, it will likely be easier to publish future stories. Some downsides are that many magazines or journals charge publication fees, and you are never guaranteed that the publication will print your story. Also, you must follow the submission guidelines exactly, or else the editors will reject your short story.
The second place to submit a short story is a short story competition. If your short story wins the competition, your author reputation will be more credible and your confidence might be boosted. One downside is that as with magazines, some competitions require a small fee.
Lastly, you can consider posting your story to a personal website or blog, or to a host site such as Medium. While you might not earn money from this publication method, it is free to publish, and it can still help you build your readership. However, you are also solely responsible for your own editing and marketing.
Final Advice
No matter where you publish a short story, make sure it is the best it can be by editing for length, plot, character development, and memorable introductions and endings. If you are not self-publishing, you will also need to write an attention-grabbing cover letter that describes what makes the story interesting, highlights your expertise and credentials, defines your target audience, and shares your contact information.
Lastly, be sure to keep track of all your submissions by listing them in a spreadsheet or other software tool. This will help you follow up with each publication, including notifying them when another publication accepts your story. Good luck!
By: Matthew Wade
Matthew is an Editorial Assistant at Technica Editorial
