How to Publish a Short Story

Guide Note

If you've recently written a short story, and you're trying to figure out what to do with it, why not consider publication? How to Publish a Short Story walks you through the submissions process from final edits to surviving rejection.

Table of Contents

Introduction

(Photo by Marja Flick-Buijs)
(Photo by Marja Flick-Buijs)
  • You've just finished writing and heavily revising your short story, so now what do you do with it? Instead of hiding it away on your zip drive, why not submit it for publication? Before you do however, there are a few things you need to know before you submit your manuscript. The short-story market is one of the hardest markets to break into because there are hundreds of thousands of writers constantly producing work and submitting it. Unfortunately, it is a little known fact that when you're writing a novel, it's a lot easier to get your manuscript seen by an agent or a publisher when you have a publication history they can refer to. While it seems that the odds are already stacked against you, there are tips and tricks that will make your manuscript stand out against your competitors.

Step 1: Re-Revise Your Revisions

Writing is rewriting. (Photo by Nicole Holte)
Writing is rewriting. (Photo by Nicole Holte)
  • Perfection is one of those terms that many of us spend half of our lives trying to get away from, but submitting a manuscript full of errors is the easiest way to earn yourself a rejection letter. Get your manuscript as close to perfect as possible by revising and re-revising until you are absolutely certain you've caught all of the mistakes.

Proofread

  • Edit, edit, edit! Making sure your manuscript is free of typos and mistakes is one way to get on the good side of an editor. While a mistake or two isn't the end of the world, it could be the deciding factor between your story and an error-free story.
  1. Check for double words: double double.
  2. Look out for homonyms like there, their, they're or its and it's.
  3. Double check your narrative point-of-view and tense for consistency.
  4. Make sure you've caught any punctuation and grammar errors.
  5. Don't rely on your computer's spell checker or grammar check. It won't pick up things like homonyms, missed words or wrong words.

Plot Consistency

  • Make sure your plot makes sense from beginning to end. One way to check this is to ask one or two people read over your story and then listen to their feedback. If their view on the story is incredibly far off from what you intended, you may need to do some revising.

For more information on short story writing, see Mahalo's guide to How to Write a Short Story.

Manuscript Format

  1. Manuscripts should always be typed.
  2. Use only one side of the paper.
  3. Stick with a plain font like Courier or Times New Roman at 12 points.
  4. Double-space between lines so there is room to make comments or corrections.
  5. Use a one inch margin at the top, bottom and left and right sides.
  6. Type your name, address, phone number and email in the upper left-hand corner of page one and the word count and genre at the top on the right-hand side.
  7. Center the title halfway down the page, and if you write under a pseudonym, add that directly underneath the title.
  8. Double space twice and begin the text of the short story.
  9. Add a header in the upper-right-hand corner of every page but page one that contains your last name (or the last name of your pseudonym), a word or two from the title and the page number: Hudock / How to / 13
  10. Justify the left-side margin only. The right-hand margin should be left ragged.

Step 2: Study the Market

Know the market. (Photo by Sanja Gjenero)
Know the market. (Photo by Sanja Gjenero)
  • Once your manuscript is properly formatted and error free, you're ready to begin searching the market for a magazine or journal to submit to. One of the greatest resources available to writers is an annual publication put out by Writer's Digest called The Novel and Short Story Writer's Market. This guide book is broken down by genre and has a great symbolic guide that shows you which publications are new, which ones accept new authors, if they are a paying market, and so much more. It is definitely a worthwhile investment for writers who plan to actively submit and publish their work.
  • Some publishing authors believe you should start small and publish in low-paying or non-paying markets before even attempting the big time, while others think it is better to dive right into the professional paying markets. It's up to you to choose which route you'd like to go. You also have the option of internet publication. The internet has made publishing so easy, and the growing number of online eZines and competitions give amateur writers a place to showcase their work and build up their publication history and experience.
  • Here are a few tips to help you navigate the market so you can find the best places to submit your short story:
  1. Look for publications that print material similar to your story so you can find your target audience.
  2. Pick up an issue or two of publications you are considering, and read through them so you are familiar with their preferences and styles.
  3. Study the pay scale so you know what a publication is willing to offer for a story of your length.
  4. Know your competition. The more prestigious the journal or magazine, the higher number of submissions it will receive.
  5. Whether you are using a book like the Novel and Short Story Writer's Market or perusing the internet for publication information, look carefully at the guidelines and follow them word for word. Ignoring an editor's guidelines is like asking them to send you a rejection letter.

Fiction Contests

  • Accredited fiction contests are another great way to get your work out there, and having an award or two to add to the list of achievements in your cover letter may raise an eyebrow or two. There are a number of annual contests that offer cash awards that range anywhere between $50.00 to $1000.00, possibly even more. Since many of these competitions require a reader's fee when you submit, you definitely want to research their origins and make sure they are legitimate. The Novel and Short Story Writer's Market has an entire section devoted to annual contests, and many of them also advertise on major internet writer's groups and forums.

Step 3: Putting Together a Submission Packet

Pink submission envelope not required. (Photo by Sophie)
Pink submission envelope not required. (Photo by Sophie)
  • You want to put together a professional submissions packet whether you're submitting online or through the mail. Here is a list of things you want to make sure to include:
  1. On top of the packet should be a short cover letter with a brief biography. Don't go overboard on your cover letter. Include information relevant to your writing including any English or writing degrees you might have earned, writing awards you've won, and recent publication information.
  2. Next will be your properly formatted manuscript. Double check the submissions guidelines for the publication you are submitting to, as they may have their own manuscript protocols.
    1. If submitting online, you may be asked to save your packet in a specific file format, like rich text or a Word Document.
    2. Be sure to provide a valid email address for communication.
  3. Next include a self-addressed, stamped envelope with proper postage so the editor can reply.
  4. If you want your manuscript returned you will also want to send a self-addressed manila envelope with enough postage to cover the weight of your manuscript.
  5. You might include a simple postage-paid, addressed post card for the editor to drop in the mail when they've received your manuscript.
  6. Don't forget to send the check for any publications that require a reading fee.
  7. Many publications do not accept simultaneous submissions, and the few who do require that you notify them immediately if your submission has been accepted elsewhere.

Step 4: Surviving Rejection

This manatee may have a rejection letter for you. (CC photo by Peter Dutton)
This manatee may have a rejection letter for you. (CC photo by Peter Dutton)
  • After putting together the perfect submissions packet, you're ready to submit your story. Submitting doesn't guarantee publication, in fact, there are no guarantees when it comes to getting published.
  • Rejection. It's such a negative word, and so many writers allow it to run them into the ground, but surviving rejection and continuing to submit despite it will make you a stronger writer. One of the biggest things to bear in mind is that rejection is not a personal thing. It has nothing to do with you or your abilities as a writer. Rejection can be the result of anything from the editor who reviewed your story having a headache that day to your story simply not meeting the publication's current needs.
  • Here are a few useful tips that will help keep you so busy that you don't have time to think about rejection on a personal level.
  1. As soon as you submit one story, move on to the next project. Start the process over again, and keep repeating it so you always have work out for consideration.
  2. Track your submissions so you always know their progress.
  3. Once you receive a rejection, print that story out and send it off to the next appropriate publication on your list.
  4. If a rejection letter comes with a critique, take that advice and run with it. It's not often that editors offer their expertise, so consider it a gift!
  5. Stick with it no matter what! Giving up is too easy. If you've been writing for a month or for forty years, you know first hand that there is nothing easy about being a writer.

Did you know that Stephen King once kept a nail on the wall beside his desk to collect his rejection letters?

Conclusion

  • Publishing a short story can be an incredibly rewarding experience, but it definitely comes with a price, and I don't mean the one you're hoping to be paid for your hard work. In the end you might start to feel like publishing your short stories is harder than writing them, but it is a goal worth pursuing. Remember to keep your chin up no matter how many rejection letters you get, and try to comfort yourself with the knowledge that even well known authors like Stephen King at one time received more rejection letters than he did acceptances. Persistence is the key to seeing your work in print!

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