Get Paid to Write Short Stories: 22 Places That Will Buy Your Fiction.

Lots of us write short stories. But when we think of making money from our writing, we tend to get hung up on the idea of publishing a novel—or, better yet, a series of novels. Short stories are ways to explore new ideas and techniques or are giveaways for our email newsletter readers, but they don’t pay the bills.
Not so fast.
For a long time, short stories were actually a fiction writer’s best way to break into paying work, and they can still form a strong part of your author career. Selling short fiction into paying markets nets you exposure, new readers, and, oh yeah, some cash!
Sure, most literary magazines and fiction markets don’t pay a ton, but it never hurts to add another tool to your kit, giving you another distribution channel and a way to bolster your professional career.
There are new literary magazines opening all the time, especially online, and so it’s impossible to come up with a definitive list of all the paying markets currently accepting submissions—especially when you realize that there are dozens of venues for every imaginable genre.
Writers who are really interested in focusing on the short fiction opportunities out there might want to subscribe to Duotrope, Poets & Writers, or Writer’s Market to get more ideas of where to submit.
Here, though, we’ll take a look at 22 of the strongest paying markets for short fiction and what they’re paying.

Contemporary Literature

AGNI
About: The literary magazine of Boston University, AGNI specializes in publishing emerging authors. It accepts poetry, short contemporary fiction, and some critical essays or other nonfiction. There are two print magazines per year and other fiction is published online biweekly.
You can submit between September and May every year.
Pay: $10 per printed page for fiction, $20 per page for poetry, plus a year’s subscription to the magazine and several copies of the issue.
Black Warrior Review
About: Black Warrior Review is the graduate English department publication of the University of Alabama and is produced twice a year. This literary magazine seeks to embrace diversity and risky fiction; it welcomes both authors and stories with diverse backgrounds, including LGBTQ, (dis)ability, and people of color. Although it prefers contemporary fiction to strict category genres, magical realism and futuristic stories are encouraged—anything that pushes boundaries and encourages deep thought is embraced.
Black Warrior Review also accepts graphic novels and visual narratives.
Pay: One-year subscription and a “nominal lump sum fee,” the amount of which isn’t made public.
Boulevard
About: Another longstanding, award-winning journal, Boulevard has been publishing contemporary short stories, poetry, and essays since 1985. It particularly encourages new writers to submit—authors who have already been published in another paying market are actually at a disadvantage here!
Boulevard doesn’t accept genre fiction, only contemporary literary fiction.
You can submit between October and May each year.
Pay: $100–$300 for prose, $25–$250 for poetry.
Carve
About: This literary ‘zine focuses on “honest fiction” published online, but also offers a print magazine that includes poetry, nonfiction, and illustrations. One unique feature is that the editors frequently respond to submissions with editorial critiques instead of just a rejection note.
Carve only publishes literary fiction, not genre fiction (so no horror, sci-fi, fantasy, romance, thrillers, etc.)
Pay: $100 per short story.
Glimmertrain
About: Glimmertrain champions new and emerging writers in its three annual issues. The magazine has several different submissions periods each year; check the website for details on what they’re currently looking for (categories often include unpublished writers, super-short fiction, and various topical themes).
Pay: $700 and up, depending on category.
The Iowa Review
About: Part of the prestigious University of Iowa writing program, this journal has been around since 1970 and specializes in publishing fiction, poetry, and creative nonfiction in a variety of styles. It publishes three times a year and accepts submissions in September, October, and November each year.
Pay: $0.80 per word for fiction, with a $100 minimum payment.
The Missouri Review
About: Another journal that welcomes contemporary fiction, poetry, and nonfiction essays, The Missouri Review has been around since 1978. It publishes four issues per year and frequently publishes new writers.
Pay: $40 per printed page.
Ploughshares
About: Published three times a year as a high-quality paper journal, Ploughshares is one of the most respected literary journals in the world. They accept submissions during a particular window, usually from June through January each year. Contemporary literary fiction is preferred. There’s also an annual Emerging Writers Contest for previously unpublished or self-published writers.
Pay: Ploughshares pays $25 per page, with a minimum of $50 and a maximum of $250.
The Southern Review
About: The Southern Review publishes contemporary fiction, poetry, and selected nonfiction including essays and book reviews. Submissions are accepted between September and December each year.
Pay: The Southern Review pays $25 per page, with a maximum of $200. It also provides two copies of the magazine and a year’s subscription.
Threepenny Review
About: Pitched as a “general literary publication,” Threepenny Review publishes contemporary literary fiction, poetry, and a wide array of essays and other nonfiction. It publishes four times a year, in print and online.
Pay: $400 per short story, $200 per poem.

Science Fiction and Fantasy

Analog
About: Analog publishes a wide range of science fiction, including welcoming hard science fiction. The technology, worldbuilding, and characters and plot must all be believable and seamlessly woven together—no tacking a plot on to a really cool world. New writers are encouraged to submit.
Pay: 8–10 cents per word.
Apex
About: Do you write edgy sci-fi, fantasy, or horror? Check out Apex! They actively seek boundary-pushing speculative fiction for their monthly online issues, which are available through a hybrid combo of free online access and paid eBook editions. Many now-famous writers got their start with Apex, which still regularly publishes new authors.
Pay: 6 cents per word.
Asimov’s
About: One of the most prestigious science fiction magazines around, Asimov’s concentrates on character-driven, rather than technology-focused, science fiction. Stories should “examine or illuminate some aspect of human existence.”
Pay: 8–10 cents per word.
Clarkesworld
About: Clarkesworld has won just about every award out there, and stories published in its pages also regularly win awards. It publishes monthly issues and also publishes story collections through its book program.
Clarkesworld welcomes fantasy, sci-fi, and horror of many types, but they have a long list of themes that they see too often; check it out before you submit.
Pay: 8–10 cents per word.
Fantasy & Science Fiction
About: Another longstanding, award-winning publication, Fantasy & Science Fiction accepts a broad range of speculative fiction, although stories should be focused more on characters than worldbuilding or technology. Science fiction and humor are particularly encouraged. The magazine publishes six issues per year.
Pay: 7–12 cents per word.
Giganotosaurus
About: Giganotosaurus likes long short fiction—yes, kind of an oxymoron, but unlike many markets, they welcome submissions ranging all the way up to 25,000 words. All kinds of sci-fi and fantasy are accepted, and a single story is published online every month.
Pay: $100 flat fee.
Strange Horizons
About: Every week, Strange Horizons publishes a broad range of speculative fiction, including horror, sci-fi, and fantasy—if you can imagine it, they’re probably open to considering it. They also produce podcasts of published stories and accept poetry, media reviews, and some nonfiction.
Submissions regularly open and close, so be sure to check the website to make sure they’re currently reading for your preferred category.
Pay: 8 cents per word.

Romance

East of the Web
About: East of the Web publishes a huge array of short stories across all genres, including romance (crime, sci-fi, fantasy, and children’s stories are also welcome). It has an open submissions period for most genres.
Romance stories here should include a thriller or mystery element. Previously published stories will be considered.
Pay: 5 cents per word.
Heroes & Heartbreakers
About: Heroes & Heartbreakers is actually an imprint of the publishing giant MacMillan. However, it specializes in short stories and novellas in the romance genre, making it a great place to get paid to start your romance writing career.
Pay: $1,000 advance against 25% royalties.
Shades of Romance
About: This quarterly print and digital magazine emphasizes diversity, including stories by and about people of color. It publishes short romance stories as well as tips and tricks about writing and motivational or inspirational nonfiction. Any genre of romance is acceptable, though erotica is not.
Query before submitting.
Pay: $25 flat fee.

Other

Flash Fiction Online
About: The shortest of short stories are welcomed at Flash Fiction Online, a digital publication. Pretty much any fiction story between 500–1,000 words will be considered, including science fiction, fantasy, romance, and literary fiction.
Pay: $60 flat fee.
Vestal Review
About: Do you write flash fiction? Then The Vestal Review is the place for you! It’s the oldest established market for super-short fiction (they only take stories of 500 words or less). It accepts every genre except children’s lit and hard science fiction and publishes twice a year in print, with some stories also published online.
You can submit between February and May and again between August and November each year.
Pay: $25 flat fee per published story, plus one copy of the magazine.

There are many, many more paying short story venues out there—no matter what, there’s a home for your work. Or you could always consider self-publishing your stories. When creating your author career, there’s no wrong choices, only what’s right for you.

Source: Tckpublishing.

Get Paid to Write Flash Fiction: 18 Places That Will Buy Your Super-Short Stories.

Getting paid to write is the goal of every dedicated author—and it’s even better if you can get paid to write only a couple of words at a time. That frees you up to go write more things elsewhere, keep your releases coming regularly, and always be providing your fans with new work to enjoy.
This is one of the reasons flash fiction is so great. We’ve talked before about what flash fiction is and how you can use it to promote your books, but did you know you can also get paid to write super-short stories?

Paid Flash Fiction Markets

Believe it or not, there are actually quite a few paying markets for flash fiction!
You’ll never make as much as you would selling a novel or a short story, but you can get paid to write flash fiction and start building your publishing credits up.
If you belong to a writing marketplace website like Poets & Writers, Writers Digest, or Duotrope, you can search their listings for magazines and journals that are currently accepting flash fiction submissions.
You can also check in with these 18 markets, all of which are reputable paying publications and were active as of July 2017.

American Short Fiction

American Short Fiction prefers literary fiction of 2,000 words or less and is open to submissions year-round. It also holds contests for flash fiction of 1,000 words or less.
The journal charges a $3 fee per submission, but it pays a professional rate for published work, likely 5 cents per word or a bit more (it doesn’t publicly disclose rates).

Brevity

Brevity magazine publishes flash nonfiction, meaning very short (under 750-word) essays. It also publishes short essays on the craft of writing. It offers $45 on publication. The magazine opens to submissions periodically, so check in on the website to see when you can submit.

Daily Science Fiction

Daily Science Fiction publishes new, short works of sci-fi daily, just like the name says. They accept flash fiction between 100 and 1,500 words in any speculative genre, including hard sci-fi, space opera, fantasy, slipstream, and more. The shorter the story, the better your chances of publication (as long as it’s a great story, naturally).
You can’t have published your story anywhere else previously, including on your blog, Twitter, or email newsletter.
DSF pays 8 cents per word. You may also have the opportunity to appear in one of DSF’s theme anthologies, which pays a small additional amount.

Devilfish Review

Devilfish Review publishes short speculative fiction—fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and other, weirder things. Unlike many journals, it’s open to poetry submissions. Stories should be 5,000 words or less, with a separate submissions category for 500-word flash fiction. It also considers some nonfiction submissions.
Devilfish Review publishes quarterly and pays $10 per accepted piece.

Everyday Fiction

Everyday Fiction publishes flash fiction of 1,000 words or less that tells a complete story. You can’t have previously published the story anywhere, including on your blog. Any and all genres are welcome, and the magazine pays $3 per story. Authors are encouraged to link to their website and to any available books.

Flash: The International Short-Short Story Magazine

Flash is the journal of the International Flash Fiction Association and, as a result, getting published here is a pretty big deal. That said, it’s not really a paying market—you only receive a complimentary contributor copy of the print issue your work appears in.
Still, it’s worth considering as a professional publication credit, especially since published stories might be nominated for the Pushcart Prize or other major awards. The journal publishes twice a year and has rolling submissions depending on whether the next issue is full; check the website for details. It prefers literary fiction of 360 words or less.

Flash Fiction Online

Flash Fiction Online is open to submissions on a revolving basis; be sure to check the website to see if they’re currently open. Stories should be between 500–1,000 words long, in any genre other than erotica. The editors particularly like fantasy and science fiction, but they’re open to any well-crafted flash fiction.
Flash Fiction Online pays $60 for original fiction. Reprints are also now accepted, with a payment rate of 2 cents per word. If your work is selected for inclusion in an anthology, you’ll receive 2 cents per word. This is an SFWA-qualifying market, too, so you can work towards your professional guild membership status with publication here.

Funny Times

The Funny Times is all about humor—it publishes original cartoons and funny stories of 500–700 words. Nothing’s off limits, as long as it’s humorous.
They only accept printed, mailed submissions, and pay $60 per published story.

Gettysburg Review

Gettysburg Review publishes a variety of fiction, essays, and poetry and accepts submissions between September and May every year. It doesn’t accept genre fiction—only literary fiction, though the editors prefer stories that are “off-beat, penetrating, and surprising.”
The journal publishes once a quarter and pays $25 per printed page for prose. There’s a $3 fee to submit online, but you can submit a hard copy by mail for free (or, well, the cost of a stamp).

Glimmertrain

Glimmertrain is one of the most respected literary magazines out there, and they love to publish new writers and unusual work. That includes flash fiction! They open to general submissions twice a year, and also have a variety of contests that run throughout the year, including a contest specifically for flash fiction.
Submitting regular fiction to Glimmertrain costs $2, and writers are paid on publication; the journal doesn’t specify how much, but it’s a professional market and may pay $500 or more per piece. Contest submissions often cost more, but awards can be up to several thousand dollars.

Journal of Compressed Literary Arts

The Journal of Compressed Literary Arts is produced by Matter Press and welcomes a wide range of super-short works. Fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and artwork all have a place here, as long as they’re “compressed” in some way—what that means is up to you and the editors.
Accepted pieces earn $50. Only 1% of work is accepted—this is a super-competitive journal. Reading periods run from June 15–September 15 and December 15–March 15 every year, and work is published weekly.

Nanoism

Nanoism specializes in Twitter-length short fiction: all submissions have to be 140 characters or less. They also accept serials: linked segments or episodes that tell a bigger story. Literary fiction is preferred.
Nanoism pays $1.50 for stories and $5 for serials regardless of number of segments. You can submit up to once a week, and they publish an author bio with links to your website, Twitter, etc. to help promote your other work.

Nature Futures

Believe it or not, the highly respected international science journal Nature has a long-running science fiction column called “Futures.” It publishes book, TV, and movie reviews, criticism, and even runs a podcast. But best of all, it publishes sci-fi flash fiction.
Submissions should focus on hard science fiction—sci-fi that uses real scientific principles to construct fantastic or futuristic scenarios and plots, rather than using hand-waving to explain the future. Stories should be between 850–950 words. Nature pays $130 per published piece and is extremely selective.

New England Review

The New England Review accepts a range of literary-style submissions, including flash fiction, essays, and even art. They currently read submissions between September and May, although this may change due to submissions volume—check the website to see when they’re open. Literary fiction, nonfiction, and poetry are the most likely to be accepted.
You can choose whether to submit to the print journal or to the website, which publishes various forms of creative writing. It costs $3 to submit to the print journal and $2 to submit for the website, but published stories are paid $20 per page in print and $50 flat rate for the website.

Pedestal Magazine

The Pedestal Magazine accepts a quirky variety of work, preferring poetry and speculative fiction (preferably flash fiction). It has rolling submissions, so check in before sending your work; sometimes it’s open only to poetry, other times only to certain genres of fiction.
Only new, unpublished work will be considered. Accepted works are paid $40 on publication.

People’s Friend

The People’s Friend is a long-running UK short story publication that also encourages poetry and so-called “pocket novels.” Stories should be between 1,200 and 3,000 words long—so a bit longer than standard flash fiction, but still shorter than many short stories. They prefer upbeat, inspirational, and slightly traditional stories—no gore, erotica, or depressing subject matter. If you like writing sweet romances and uplifting inspirational stories, this is the market for you.
The People’s Friend doesn’t disclose its pay rates, but various writers suggest they’ve received anywhere from £100–300 for stories of 2,000 words or less. The magazine pays on acceptance, not publication, so you get paid right away—which is pretty rare!

Strange Horizons

Strange Horizons is one of the best markets for short speculative fiction. They don’t have a category specifically for flash fiction, but they prefer stories under 5,000 words and may welcome very well-crafted flash work. Look carefully at the editors’ guidelines and preferences, as certain sub-genres are more likely to be published than others.
Submissions open each week on Monday night and close when the editors get swamped, so always check the website before submitting.
Published pieces are paid 8 cents per word with a minimum payment of $60, and you get paid within 60 days of being accepted—which is awesome, and slightly unusual for the industry (you usually have to wait until some time after publication).

Vestal Review

Having been around since 2000, Vestal Review is the longest-running publication devoted exclusively to super-short stories. It publishes flash fiction of 500 words or less twice a year, both in print and online. It accepts a range of genres, but literary fiction is the most likely to be published.
Submissions are only accepted in February–May and August–November, and you can only submit two stories in any given reading period.
Vestal Review charges $2 per submission and pays $25 for each published story.

Beyond these, there are many, many other places to publish your flash fiction, but lots of those places don’t pay—you only get exposure for your work and a potential publication credit.
Don’t get me wrong, exposure is incredibly valuable, and it never hurts to have new people exposed to your work. But you may want to try the paying venues we’ve listed here before going to free markets, just on general principle.


Source:  Tckpublishing