Publishes: Short Venues: The Top 10 Magazines and Sites to Publish Your Short Stories

Publishes: Short Venues: The Top 10 Magazines and Sites to Publish Your Short Stories

So, you’ve finished a short story. Congratulations! Now comes the (sometimes daunting) task of finding a home for it. While big-name literary magazines are fantastic, they're often inundated with submissions and rarely prioritize pieces under a certain word count. This guide focuses on venues specifically designed for brevity – those magazines and websites dedicated to flash fiction, microfiction, and short shorts.

Why Target Short Story Venues?

Publishing in these venues offers several benefits:

• Faster Turnaround Times: Short story submissions are often reviewed quicker than longer works.
• Higher Acceptance Rates: Because they specialize in short forms, these publications tend to have more open submission slots.
• Building a Portfolio: Consistent publication in these venues builds credibility and demonstrates your ability to craft compelling narratives concisely.
• Exposure to a Niche Audience: Many short story venues attract readers specifically seeking these bite-sized narratives.

The Top 10 Short Story Venues:

1. Flash Fiction Online: (flashfictiononline.com) A highly respected online magazine dedicated to flash fiction under 1,000 words. They pay well and have a strong reputation.
2. The Drunken Dragonflies: (drunkendragonflies.org) Accepts flash fiction up to 500 words. Known for their vibrant aesthetic and willingness to publish experimental work.
3. Fractured Lit: (fracturedlit.com) Publishes microfiction (under 300 words) and flash fiction. They prioritize innovative and emotionally resonant pieces.
4. The New Flash Getaway: (thenewflashgetaway.com) An online magazine featuring flash fiction and very short stories. They seek stories with strong voice and memorable characters.
5. Tiny Seed: (tinseed.com) Focuses on flash fiction and poetry. They publish pieces that are emotionally impactful and visually striking.
6. Brevity: (brevitymag.com) While primarily focused on nonfiction, Brevity occasionally publishes exceptionally crafted flash fiction. Focus is on quality over length.
7. Lost Balloon: (lostballoon.com) Publishes flash fiction and poetry. They are particularly interested in work that explores themes of loss and longing.
8. Story Quarterly: (storyquarterly.com) A journal that features flash fiction, short stories, and essays. They are open to a wide range of styles and voices.
9. SmokeLong Quarterly: (smokelong.com) Dedicated to flash fiction, they accept submissions year-round. Known for their high standards and curated selections.
10. GigSalot: (gigsalot.com) A newer venue gaining traction, GigSalot publishes flash fiction and microfiction with a focus on speculative and genre-bending stories.

Tips for Submitting to Short Story Venues:

• Read the Submission Guidelines: This is *crucial*. Each venue has specific requirements regarding word count, formatting, and submission procedures.
• Proofread Carefully: Even short stories need to be polished. Typos and grammatical errors can instantly disqualify your submission.
• Tailor Your Submission: Consider the venue's aesthetic and editorial preferences. Submit stories that align with their style.
• Don't Be Afraid to Submit Multiple Times: If your story is rejected, revise it and submit it to another venue.

Finding the right home for your short story takes effort, but these venues offer a fantastic starting point. Happy submitting!