Submitting Short Stories

Submitting fiction is a craft of its own. The story matters most, but editors also notice whether a writer follows guidelines, writes a clean cover letter, and behaves professionally. None of it is difficult — it simply rewards patience and a little organization.

04  ·  Writing the Cover Letter

A cover letter is short, warm, and professional — three or four sentences. It does not explain or defend the story. A reliable template:

Do not: apologize, summarize the plot, list every credit you have, or address editors by the wrong journal name. Always double-check you have the right journal in the greeting.

Rights & What Editors Actually Buy

When a journal accepts a story, it does not own it forever. Most acquire First Serial Rights (often First North American Serial Rights) — the right to be the first to publish it. After publication, those rights return to you, and you keep the copyright throughout. You are then free to reprint the story in a collection or, once it counts as a reprint, submit it to venues that accept previously published work. Always read the acceptance note to confirm what rights are taken and when they revert.

“Published” Is Broader Than You Think

Nearly all journals want unpublished stories, and many define “published” to include your personal blog, a public social-media post, a contest anthology, or a piece posted in an online workshop. If a story has appeared anywhere public, treat it as a reprint and look specifically for journals that accept reprints. When in doubt, ask the editor before submitting.

Reading Fees — and the No-Fee Philosophy

Some journals charge a small fee (often $2–$3) to submit, usually to cover their submission platform. This is normal and not a scam. But you never need to pay to build a serious publication record: the majority of respected journals are free, and many paying journals offer fee waivers on request. Reserve paid submissions and contest fees for venues you genuinely want.

Avoiding Vanity Presses & Scams

Legitimate journals and contests never ask you to buy your way into print.

When unsure, look a venue up on Poets & Writers, check whether respected writers have published there, and search Writer Beware for warnings.

Payment: What to Expect

Short fiction pays a wide range. Many fine journals pay in contributor copies or a token amount; stronger-paying markets offer anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars per story, and a few pay more. Publishing for little or no pay is normal early on; the value is in readership, credits, and building toward a collection or a novel.

Flash, Short, and the Path to a Collection

Most fiction writers build in stages. Place flash (usually under 1,000 words) and short stories in journals first. Over time those credits accumulate into a collection you can submit to contests and small presses, and they strengthen a query when you have a novel to sell. Every published story is a brick in that foundation.

Patience & Persistence

Response times commonly run one to six months, and rejection is the norm even for accomplished writers — acceptance rates at good journals are often under five percent. A “no” usually means the story didn’t fit that issue, not that it lacks worth. Keep a steady rhythm of submissions, celebrate personal notes from editors, and treat each rejection as one step closer to the right home for the story.

These journals publish short fiction and either welcome emerging writers explicitly or keep barriers low. Most are free to submit to. Every venue was verified on its own website in July 2026 — always confirm current guidelines before submitting.

Flash-only markets are noted in the description. A few venues are cyclical or briefly paused — confirm the live status on each journal's own site before submitting.

Contests can bring larger prizes and visibility. Several below are reserved for writers without a book from a major press — a genuine advantage for newer writers. Deadlines rotate annually; the dates shown reflect the 2026 cycle unless noted.

A few 2026 deadlines have passed or were still showing a prior cycle at verification — they illustrate the annual pattern; check each site for the next opening. UK contests (Bath, Bristol) are priced in GBP.

On a budget? Submittable + Chill Subs (or the Submission Grinder) + Poets & Writers is a complete, no-cost toolkit.

The vocabulary editors use, in plain language.

Simultaneous submission

Sending the same story to more than one journal at once. Standard practice, but withdraw immediately anywhere it is accepted.

Multiple submission

Sending more than one separate story to the same journal in one reading period. Usually discouraged unless the journal allows it.

First Serial Rights

The right to be the first to publish a story. Reverts to you after publication; you keep the copyright.

Reprint

A story published before (including on a blog or social media). Only certain journals accept reprints — check first.

Flash fiction

Very short fiction, usually under 1,000 words; 'micro' is often under 300.

Reading period

The window when a journal accepts submissions. Many open only a few months or weeks a year, or close at a monthly cap.

Standard manuscript format

12-point serif, double-spaced, with a header carrying your name, title, and page number.

Cover letter

A brief, professional note accompanying your story — not a place to summarize the plot.

Contributor copies

Free copies of the issue your work appears in, often given in place of (or alongside) payment.

Slush pile

The stack of unsolicited submissions editors read through. Yours starts here — that's normal.

Fee waiver

A free pass around a submission fee, offered by many journals on request or for writers facing financial barriers.

Tiered / expedited response

An optional paid upgrade some journals offer for a faster reply. Never required.

If this feels like a lot, start here. This four-step rhythm will place you on a professional footing within a single afternoon.

Stories live when they find readers. Send them out, keep good records, and let each "no" move you toward the right "yes."