THE RAG: This genre magazine accepts gritty fantasy, horror, and science-fiction stories that may be up to 10,000 words long. They pay about $250 per published work, depending on the length of the story. The Rag is also looking for short fillers of 150 to 1,000 words.
SEQUESTRUM: This biweekly literary magazine acquires both essays and fiction. Essays may be general interest, humor, opinion, or personal experience; while fiction can be adventure, confession, experimental, literary, fantasy, horror, humor, mystery, science fiction, suspense, western, and slipstream. Submissions may not exceed 5,000 words, and they pay $10 to $15 per published story.
THEMA: Thema challenges writers to write a personal essay or short story with a specific theme in mind. Check Thema’s website for current and future themes. Categories accepted include adventure, ethnic, experimental, fantasy, historical, humor, mystery, religion, science fiction, and suspense. Submissions may be 300 to 6,000 words, and they pay $10 to $25 per published work.
THE THREEPENNY REVIEW: This quarterly magazine acquires both essays and short stories in any style. The Threepenny Review is known to have an experimental and adventurous attitude. Submissions may be 1,200 to 2,500 words, and they pay $400 per published work.
VESTAL REVIEW: Vestal Review is a magazine devoted specifically to flash fiction. All short stories must be between 50 and 500 words long. Styles accepted include: ethnic, fantasy, horror, humor, and mainstream. They pay three to ten cents per word.
As you can see, every magazine has a list of wants and needs. Some magazines are very specific, and others are more general. To make an authentic match to a magazine, make sure your word count and categories reflect the magazine’s requirements.
ONLINE VS. PRINT PUBLICATIONS
Many literary journals have an online presence to accompany their print journal, sharing some content in print and other content online. Tin House, for example, features flash fiction weekly in their online market, “The Open Bar.” Some magazines publish a few of their printed stories online to allow readers to sample what the journal has to offer in their current issue. Other journals are exclusively online.
These online-only journals are becoming more common as magazine production and distribution costs increase. Online journals are relatively inexpensive to maintain, and issues can be formatted quickly, dramatically speeding up the process. Some online journals produce a new issue every single week.
There are some great benefits to being published in online journals. Faster production schedules mean shorter times between acceptance letters and actual publication of your work. Print journals can take up to a year before publishing your accepted work, while online journals usually publish your work within three months. Also, when you’re published online, your work is archived with the magazine for eternity (or until the magazine closes its doors). That means that you can send the link to your story or essay to friends and family, add the link to your website, and share your work quickly via social media.
Online journals are less expensive to maintain, but that doesn’t mean they’re profitable. Like literary journals, online journals are usually a low-paying market. Many online journals don’t offer anything for publication but exposure. Literary agents and book publishers read online journals as often as ones in print. That exposure is important, but a writer doesn’t need constant exposure. Your other goals need attention, too.
Something to consider: Printed copies of magazines are still considered the pinnacle of prestige in literary magazines, especially as they become increasingly rare. Revisit your list of goals, and make sure you’re getting what you want out of the bargain every time you send your work to editors.
WHERE TO FIND MAGAZINES LOOKING FOR WRITERS LIKE YOU
To make submission choices, you need to locate a batch of potential markets. The most widely used and well-known resource for finding places to send polished writing is Writer’s Market. This paperback marketing reference has more than 3,500 listings of book publishers, consumer magazines, trade journals, writing contests, and literary agents. You can find Writer’s Market at bookstores across the country. At about $30, this book is an indispensable resource. Fiction writers might also consider buying the Novel & Short Story Writer’s Market. Every entry is a book publisher, magazine, agent, or contest interested in acquiring fiction.
Libraries and bookstores (and some grocery stores) have a magazine section, organized by category. Creative-writing opportunities are generally found in the “literary” section, but don’t neglect the other magazines on the rack. There are hundreds of niche magazines looking for freelance writers, too. For writing opportunities, check the last page or two of each magazine. For example: Psychology Today has a section called “Two-Minute Memoir” in the back of their magazine. In these 1,500-word essays, the author writes about personal transformation (without any clinical or research background). Think about the topics in your work. Maybe that humorous story about your dog can find a home in The Bark. Perhaps a fitness magazine will be interested in your yoga-inspired essay.
Another great way to find markets is to pick up a short-story or essay collection. You’ll find these housed with other books. Collections are groups of stories or essays all written by the same person. For the best research opportunity, select a collection where the voice or style of the pieces is similar to your own. Many of the included works are those that have been previously published in journals, which will be listed at the front of the book.
The Internet is another wonderful research tool. There are several online resources for finding creative-writing markets, including:
THE REVIEW REVIEW: (www.thereviewreview.net) This is my favorite market resource for placing short stories and literary essays and not just because I spent two years on the editing team there (okay, I am a little biased). This magazine is dedicated to helping writers navigate the world of lit mags. The Review Review has a fantastic database of literary magazines and interviews with a plethora of editors. Each week there is a new “Publishing Tips” article, and founder Becky Tuch has one of the best free weekly newsletters in the industry. She had this to say about her publication: I began The Review Review in 2008 in order to fill what I perceived to be a void in the literary landscape. Back then, there wasn’t much detailed information about literary magazines. I wanted to create a forum that would provide writers with a deeper understanding of every journal, what kinds of stories, essays, and poetry they tend to favor, how carefully edited they are, what the magazine seems to be looking for, etc. I also wanted to open up a discussion surrounding lit mags. We hear all the time that no one reads these journals, that they are irrelevant, but they are so very important to writers! By creating a space for honest, engaged reviews, I hoped to create renewed engagement with lit mags overall, and to ensure their longevity.
WRITER’S DIGEST: (www.writersdigest.com) This online companion to the print magazine has a terrific database of articles about the craft of writing and publishing opportunities. They are a resource for online classes as well. I subscribe to the print version of this magazine, too, because it is one of the most comprehensive industry resources around.
DUOTROPE: (www.duotrope.com) This search engine for short story, essay, and article writers and poets contains information on every literary magazine in the country. You tell the website what you wrote (item, length, genre, etc), then decide how much you’d like to be paid and if you’d like to see all magazines or just those available in print. They will provide you with a list of magazines that meet your requirements and with links to each magazine. They also have a monthly list of anthology opportunities. Duotrope used to be a free service but now costs $5 per month.
BEYOND YOUR BLOG: (www.beyondyourblog.com/opportunities-online) This is a fantastic resource for placing personal essays. Nonfiction opportunities are listed by category and are updated regularly.
NEWPAGES: (www.newpages.com) NewPages posts news and information about lit mags, publishers, creative-writing programs, writing contests
, and more.
FUNDS FOR WRITERS: (www.fundsforwriters.com) At freelance writer Hope Clark’s website, sign up for the free weekly newsletter and have new markets sent to your e-mail each week.
POETS & WRITERS: (www.pw.org) The long-established and well-respected writer’s magazine has a wonderful online version. They list anthology and magazine opportunities every month.
AEROGRAMME WRITERS’ STUDIO: (www.aerogrammestudio.com) This is a great weekly blog about local and international writing opportunities.
ASSOCIATION OF WRITERS & WRITING PROGRAMS: (www.awpwriter.org) This community of writers and writing instructors has a yearly membership that includes access to contest information and calls for submissions from literary magazines around the country. AWP also hosts an annual conference where you can meet literary-magazine editors.
GOOGLE: Search for more markets using keywords such as: writing markets, essays, submission guidelines, call for submissions, freelance writing, dog stories, adventure stories, etc.
ANOTHER GREAT MARKET: WRITING CONTESTS
There are hundreds of writing contests available each year, with prizes in cash or publication, and sometimes both. Contests can be a terrific way to get your writing noticed by editors and book publishers. Some are more prestigious than others, but all of them give you a chance to be read.
Contests are a great place to showcase your very best work. The competition is stiff, especially in the more well-known contests, so make sure your manuscript is polished and ready to be judged.
Nearly all contests ask for an entry fee. It isn’t unheard of to spend up to $20 for entry to a very distinguished literary competition, although many fees are lower. Make sure you feel the fee you pay is equitable for the prize they’re offering. Let your personal writing goals lead you.
You can find contest listings in many of the same places you find magazine listings, including Writer’s Market and Poets & Writers. You can also do a quick Google search by contest name or search for “writing contests.”
Most contests will publish the winning entries. Read the winning entries from previous years to best understand what the contest is looking for in submissions. Here are a few reputable writing contests you might consider (contest information was accurate at the time of this book’s original publication):
Essay Writing Contests
NEW LETTERS PRIZE FOR NONFICTION: This contest is offered annually to discover and reward emerging writers. Send unpublished essays of up to 8,000 words. First place: $1,500 and publication, sponsored by the literary magazine New Letters.
HUNGER MOUNTAIN CREATIVE NONFICTION PRIZE: This annual contest rewards the best writing in creative nonfiction. Send unpublished essays of up to 10,000 words. First place: $1,000 and publication in Hunger Mountain.
LITERAL LATTÉ ESSAY AWARD: This contest is open to any writer, and works may be on any topic. All essays must be unpublished and not exceed 10,000 words. First place: $1,000; second place: $300; third place: $200.
LINDA JOY MYERS MEMOIR VIGNETTE PRIZE: This contest is part of the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition and is open annually to any writer. Send one entry of up to 1,500 words. Previously published material is accepted. First place: $100; second place: $50; third place: $25.
DIAGRAM ESSAY CONTEST: Sponsored by the Department of English at the University of Arizona, writers may enter essays of up to 10,000 words. First place: $1,000 and publication.
ANNIE DILLARD AWARD FOR CREATIVE NONFICTION: Sponsored by Bellingham Review, it is offered annually for unpublished essays on any subject and in any style. First place: $1,000 and publication, plus copies of the issue where their essay appears.
JOHN GUYON LITERARY NONFICTION PRIZE: Sponsored by Crab Orchard Review, this annual award is for unpublished creative nonfiction. Essays of up to 6,500 words are eligible. First place: $1,250 and publication.
GAIL WILSON KENNA CREATIVE NONFICTION PRIZE: Sponsored by the Soul-Making Keats Literary Competition, creative nonfiction of up to 3,000 words is eligible. First place: $100; second place: $50; third place: $25.
MONTANA PRIZE IN CREATIVE NONFICTION: Sponsored by CutBank, this contest accepts one creative nonfiction essay of up to thirty-five pages per participant. Prize: $500 and a feature in CutBank.
WRITER’S DIGEST ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION: Open to any writer, essays of up to 2,000 words are eligible. Grand Prize: $5,000, publication, paid admission to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, and other prizes; first place: $1,000.
Short Story Contests
BOULEVARD SHORT FICTION CONTEST FOR EMERGING WRITERS: Open to any writer who hasn’t yet published a book of fiction (novel or short-story collection), participants may send stories of up to 8,000 words. First place: $1,500 and publication in Boulevard.
CHARITON REVIEW SHORT FICTION PRIZE: This is an annual award for the best, unpublished short fiction on any theme. Writers may send stories of up to 5,000 words. First place: $500 and publication in Chariton Review.
BELLEVUE LITERARY REVIEW GOLDENBERG PRIZE FOR FICTION: The BLR awards outstanding writing related to the themes of health, healing, illness, the mind, and the body. Writers may send stories of up to 5,000 words. First place: $1,000 and publication in Bellevue Literary Review.
DEADLY QUILL SHORT STORY WRITING CONTEST: Stories that echo The Twilight Zone, Alfred Hitchcock, and The Outer Limits are the focus of this competition. First place: $250; second place: $200; third place: $150.
THE GHOST STORY SUPERNATURAL FICTION AWARD: Submissions may or may not include ghosts. Any paranormal or supernatural theme is welcome, as well as magical realism. The contest accepts stories that are between 1,500 words and 10,000 words. First place: $1,000 and publication in The Ghost Story.
GIVAL PRESS SHORT STORY AWARD: This press acquires novels and short-story collections, making it a great place to get your fiction noticed. To enter the contest, send unpublished short stories that are between 5,000 and 15,000 words. First place: $1,000 and publication on the Gival Press website and in an upcoming anthology.
GLIMMER TRAIN’S SHORT STORY AWARD FOR NEW WRITERS: This contest is open to any writer whose fiction hasn’t appeared in a nationally distributed magazine, and participants may send fiction that is no more than 12,000 words. First place: $2,500 and publication; second place: $500; third place: $300.
WILDA HEARNE FLASH FICTION CONTEST: Sponsored by Southeast Missouri State University Press, this competition is open to any writer and accepts unpublished stories of up to 500 words. First place: $500 and publication in Big Muddy: A Journal of the Mississippi River Valley.
ZOETROPE: ALL STORY SHORT STORY CONTEST: Sponsored by Zoetrope: All Story, submissions may be up to 7,000 words in length. First place: $1,000 and publication on the website; second place: $500; third place: $250.
WRITER’S DIGEST ANNUAL WRITING COMPETITION: Open to both genre and literary short stories, writers may send fiction of up to 4,000 words. Grand Prize: $5,000, publication, paid admission to the Writer’s Digest Annual Conference, and other prizes; first place: $1,000.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES
Every potential magazine has guidelines for writers that identify what kind of material they accept. These are called submission guidelines or writers’ guidelines. These guidelines tell you what you need to know about submitting to their magazine, including:
the types of writing they acquire (ex: essay, creative nonfiction, short story, flash fiction)
the length of writing they accept
whether or not they are currently open to submissions
their general submission window (September through December, for instance)
what they offer as payment (ex: money, free subscription to magazine, contributor copies, exposure)
how many stories or essays you can submit at one time (multiple submissions)
whether it’s okay for you to send the same story to another magazine at the same time (simultaneous submissions)
how they accept work (ex: e-mail, Submittable, snail mail)
whether they charge a reading fee
Many magazines go even further into detail and include information about styles they prefer, what they don’t want to see in submissions, and exactly how they’d like you to format your work. Some magazines have themed issues that they’ll discuss in the guidelines.
You can find writers’ guidelines at a magazine’s website, but it might not be easy to locate. If you don’t see a link to submission information on the front page, find the contact page or a “frequently asked questions” section. If you can’t find what you’re looking for there, try a quick Google search. Something like “The Sunlight Press magazine submissions.”
If, after all of that, you still can’t find the writers’ guidelines for a magazine, that’s no accident. Magazines that don’t have public writers’ guidelines are not seeking freelance submissions. Many larger magazines have a stable of freelance writers they work with exclusively. If you’d like to be published in one of the magazines with an exclusive staff, send a formal business letter to the main editor, asking about opportunities at the magazine.
Multiple and Simultaneous Submissions
The term “multiple submissions” refers to a batch of stories or essays that you send to one editor all at the same time. In the writers’ guidelines, editors who accept multiple submissions will state so, and it’s great when they do. It increases your chances of placing at least one of the pieces that you send. Multiple submissions are most common when submitting flash fiction.
Writing & Selling Short Stories & Personal Essays Page 16