# So where can someone with unpublished short stories get them published? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 4, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656 "2008-12-04T12:18:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/1 "2008-12-04T12:18:47Z")
I’ve been a firearms historian and writer for a number of years and have been looking to branch out in my writing. I’ve tried getting my non-fiction work published in the US but have been politely rebuffed by every magazine I’ve contacted- usually with a polite “Sorry, but we’re not interested in foreign guns” response- so I’ve written a number of short fiction stories as a way of passing the time and because I like writing. Anyway, they’re not doing a lot of good sitting on my USB key, so I started wondering: Where could I get them published? I’m thinking of something “reputable”, or at least not “University-based E-Zine” type stuff, but I’ve really got no idea where to start looking. Also, if possible, I’d prefer to get some money out it, but I realise that’s probably being a bit optimistic. Anyone got any suggestions, advice, etc? ---
**Author:** ![threnodyangelfire](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ecc23a/32.png) [@threnodyangelfire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/threnodyangelfire)\ **Post date:** [December 4, 2008, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/2 "2008-12-04T13:05:20Z")
Look at [redbubble.com](http://redbubble.com). It’s still vanity publishing but you get exposure. The other way into it, that I have found out, is to target your audience and flood the publishers of anthologies, and eventually they’ll take one on. I’ve had great success with redbubble and lulu. I have my 2nd paid for by a publisher book out in march and my second “yay! this is just for fun book!” out in january. _edit_ clearly didn’t answer the question… sorry for the hijack \* ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 8:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/3 "2008-12-05T08:07:10Z")
Interesting… Adding a “Bump” to get more replies… either that or I’ve become invisible on the boards (I’ve had a couple of posts completely ignored lately…) 😕 ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 8:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/4 "2008-12-05T08:58:16Z")
Buy yourself the most recent Writer’s Market (2009 I think). It’s packed with tons of legitimate places you can submit your writing - magazines, literary journals, ect. It lists their submission guidelines, deadlines, and what they pay (if at all). Really, it’s got everything from Playboy to small college literary journals. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 9:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/5 "2008-12-05T09:02:47Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Buy yourself the most recent Writer’s Market (2009 I think). It’s packed with tons of legitimate places you can submit your writing - magazines, literary journals, ect. It lists their submission guidelines, deadlines, and what they pay (if at all). Really, it’s got everything from Playboy to small college literary journals. Where would I get this from? I’ve never seen it here in Australia. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/6 "2008-12-05T13:41:53Z")
You can probably get \*Writers Market \*or the \*International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses \* from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). Are your stories in any particular genre? There are various market lists online. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/7 "2008-12-05T13:44:57Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > You can probably get \*Writers Market \*or the \*International Directory of Little Magazines and Small Presses \* from [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com). > > Are your stories in any particular genre? There are various market lists online. They’re probably best categorised as “Adventure Stories”, in the “Boy’s Own” vein, but not quite. Unhelpful, I know, but the best I can come up with at this late hour… ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 3:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/8 "2008-12-05T15:29:36Z")
Well, one possible way is to go to a magazine dealer in Australia and look for magazines that publish that type of story. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/9 "2008-12-05T16:57:34Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Where would I get this from? I’ve never seen it here in Australia. [Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) would have it. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/10 "2008-12-05T17:17:07Z")
You can also try finding it at a large library or a college library. My college was a medium-sized state school and we had them (albeit, we have a very big journalism department). You might prefer than over purchasing the guides - I think they’re sort of expensive. ---
**Author:** ![SiXSwordS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/49beb7/32.png) [@SiXSwordS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SiXSwordS)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/11 "2008-12-05T17:26:14Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Where would I get this from? I think this is the same [Writer’s Market](http://www.writersmarket.com/) **drastic\_quench** is referring to. ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2008, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/12 "2008-12-05T18:12:58Z")
A friend of mine is using [Authonomy](http://www.authonomy.com/)to get exposure for his work. It’s a site Harper-Collins use to get new material. ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/13 "2008-12-06T00:50:14Z")
> [@WormTheRed](#): > > A friend of mine is using [Authonomy](http://www.authonomy.com/)to get exposure for his work. > > It’s a site Harper-Collins use to get new material. That looks very promising… thanks for the link! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![WormTheRed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/bbe5ce/32.png) [@WormTheRed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WormTheRed)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 12:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/14 "2008-12-06T00:54:57Z")
You’re welcome. Be sure to let me know if you add something, I’m WormTheRed there aswell. ---
**Author:** ![drastic\_quench](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e36b37/32.png) [@drastic\_quench](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drastic_quench)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/15 "2008-12-06T02:14:28Z")
> [@SiXSwordS](#): > > I think this is the same [Writer’s Market](http://www.writersmarket.com/) **drastic\_quench** is referring to. I like the book format. ---
**Author:** ![leander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/bcef8e/32.png) [@leander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/leander)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 2:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/16 "2008-12-06T02:58:30Z")
> [@drastic\_quench](#): > > Buy yourself the most recent Writer’s Market (2009 I think). It’s packed with tons of legitimate places you can submit your writing - magazines, literary journals, ect. It lists their submission guidelines, deadlines, and what they pay (if at all). Really, it’s got everything from Playboy to small college literary journals. Here is a link to Amazon: [2009 Writer's Market Deluxe: Brewer, Robert Lee: 9781582975429: Amazon.com: Books](http://www.amazon.com/2009-Writers-Market-Deluxe-Online/dp/1582975426/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228531910&sr=8-2) Amazon will ship to Australia. Also, and I’m sure you’ve heard this before but it bears repeating: PERSISTENCE. Keep submitting stuff and don’t give up, despite all the criticism and rejections (and there will be plenty). If a publisher or agent says no to one story, send them another. And finally, write a damn good cover letter. Keep it short but make it stand out somehow. It can make a big difference. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/17 "2008-12-06T03:08:12Z")
[www.duotrope.com](http://www.duotrope.com) is an online guide to places you can submit short fiction to. (There’s another one, too, but I can’t think of it off the top of my head). ---
**Author:** ![Martini\_Enfield](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/martini_enfield/32/11123_2.png) [@Martini\_Enfield](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martini_Enfield)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 3:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/18 "2008-12-06T03:38:25Z")
> [@DeadlyAccurate](#): > > [www.duotrope.com](http://www.duotrope.com) is an online guide to places you can submit short fiction to. (There’s another one, too, but I can’t think of it off the top of my head). That’s exactly the sort of thing I’m looking for! Thanks! I have to say I’m not sure how “complete” their listing is; they don’t mention a couple of reasonably well-known outlets that I’ve pitched stories to. If you could remember the other site you were thinking of that would be very helpful… ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/19 "2008-12-06T16:45:23Z")
Moving thread from IMHO to Cafe Society. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2008, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656/20 "2008-12-06T17:26:37Z")
Other than duotrope, try The Write Market ([http://www.writemarket.com/](http://www.writemarket.com/)) Literary Markets ([http://www.mamohanraj.com/Writing/litmarket.html](http://www.mamohanraj.com/Writing/litmarket.html)) Absolute Write Consumer Markets and E-Zines ([http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance\_writing/markets\_online.htm](http://www.absolutewrite.com/freelance_writing/markets_online.htm)) The Market List ([http://www.marketlist.com/writers\_index/](http://www.marketlist.com/writers_index/)) Towse’s Links ([Towse's Links to Online Guidelines - Paying Markets for Writers A-B](http://www.internet-resources.com/writers/markets/online-guidelinesAB.htm)). Writers Digest has a list of Hot Markets on its website, but I think those are usually nonfiction. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/so-where-can-someone-with-unpublished-short-stories-get-them-published/475656.md?page=2)