10 Tips to 10 Tips to Help You Help You PublishPublish Your Short Your Short StoriesStories

A Presentation

Maybe you have a whole folder full of short stories

Maybe you have a whole folder full of short storiesBut you just can’t seem to get them published

Maybe you have a whole folder full of short storiesBut you just can’t seem to get them publishedTo help you do just that, we’ve put together 10 of the BEST TIPS you will ever get for publishing your short story…

1. 1. Write a Write a good cover good cover letter when letter when submitting submitting your storyyour story

Your cover letter is the first impression you make on the editor

Your cover letter is the first impression you make on the editorSo make sure that you are successfully selling yourself and your story

What to write:

•A short introduction of yourself.

•A summary of your publication history

•And then a single paragraph on your story (this should be a pitch, not a synopsis!)

2. 2. Don’t Don’t just submit just submit any any story to story to anyany publicationpublication

It is crucial that you research and read the magazine or journal you want to submit to beforehand

It is crucial that you research and read the magazine or journal you want to submit to beforehandMake sure your story fits the tone, style, and genre of the publication – otherwise you won’t get published

If you are too lazy to do publication research yourself, you can subscribe to Duotrope.com

“We have gathered millions of points of data on the publications that we list. All this information is compiled into useful reports that help you make smart decisions” – Duotrope

3. 3. Look for Look for online online magazines – magazines – not just not just print print publicationspublications

In today’s digital world, online magazines have become just as well-respected as print magazines

In today’s digital world, online magazines have become just as well-respected as print magazinesWhat’s more: There are far more online magazines out there, and its easier to get published in them

You can also think about starting to write for blogs as a way of building your reputation and experience a bit

This is something you can mention in your cover letter

4. 4. Show your Show your stories to stories to friends, friends, colleagues, colleagues, and people and people whose whose opinions you opinions you trusttrust

Sure, you might feel too shy to let anyone read your story. But in the end you want to submit the best story you possibly can

Sure, you might feel too shy to let anyone read your story. But in the end you want to submit the best story you possibly canSo get over yourself and let people read and critique what you wrote!

If you are still too shy about your work, join an online writer’s community like www.writerscafe.org

Here you can post your work and get reviews and advice from thousands of other writers

5. 5. Consider Consider entering entering writing writing competitioncompetitionssas well as well

A great alternative to getting your short story published in a magazine is to win a short story competition

A great alternative to getting your short story published in a magazine is to win a short story competitionThere are countless competitions out there – just do a simple Google search to find them

Here are some of the biggest writing competitions out there: Commonwealth Short Story PrizeGlobal Short Story CompetitionBristol Short Story CompetitionTom Howard/John H. Reid ContestFiction Desk’s Ghost Story CompetitionLorian Hemingway Short Story Competition

6. 6. Be Be innovative innovative and and interestinginteresting

Maybe you are a good writer. But every editor reads thousands of well-written short stories every month

Maybe you are a good writer. But every editor reads thousands of well-written short stories every monthWrite stories that are innovative, engaging and that will stay with the reader long after they’ve moved on

Read your story before submitting it and ask yourself:

“Is this captivating and interesting enough to stand out from other equally well-written stories?”

7. 7. Read the Read the submission submission guidelines guidelines and follow and follow them to the them to the letterletter

Editors throw out submissions merely because they don’t follow simple submission guidelines or format

Editors throw out submissions merely because they don’t follow simple submission guidelines or formatIf you were too lazy to follow the guidelines –why should an editor waste time reading your story?

If you can’t find a specific magazine’s guidelines online, simply send an e-mail to the magazine or journal and ask for it

8. 8. Money Money comes comes second!second!

Sure, you want to start making money from your writing, but it is more important to get published and start building a reputation

Sure, you want to start making money from your writing, but it is more important to get published and start building a reputationMoney comes later. If you keep it up, it will come

“Yes, I’ve made a great deal of dough from my fiction, but I never set a single word down on paper with the thought of being paid for it … I have written because it fulfilled me … I did it for the buzz. I did it for the pure joy of the thing”

- Stephen King

9. 9. Keep Keep working – working – keep tryingkeep trying

If your story gets rejected, go back and rewrite it, or write something else – something better

If your story gets rejected, go back and rewrite it, or write something else – something betterIt might take a while before you perfect your style, but the only way to do it is to practice

“A professional writer is an amateur who didn’t quit”

- Richard Bach

10. 10. Don’t Don’t ever fear ever fear rejectionrejection

Maybe you will only get 1 in 10 stories published – maybe less. This is normal, so don’t stress about it

Maybe you will only get 1 in 10 stories published – maybe less. This is normal, so don’t stress about itJust keep submitting stories. Submit as much as you can!

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone was rejected 12 times before J.K. Rowling found a company that wanted to publish her book

Bonus Tip:Bonus Tip:If you want If you want to learn to learn how to how to write write better…better…

You can enrol for one of Skills Academy’s Writing CoursesLearn how to craft better stories, and develop new writing skills

You can enrol for one of Skills Academy’s Writing CoursesClick on the button below to

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You can enrol for one of Skills Academy’s Writing CoursesClick on the button below to

find out more

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