Want to learn how to sell short stories for money?
Writing and selling short stories from home offers a unique opportunity to turn your creative passion into a profitable side hustle. Short stories, which are concise and engaging narratives, typically range from a few hundred to a few thousand words and deliver a complete story with a beginning, middle, and end.
These stories can span various genres, including mysteries, adventures, and humor, allowing writers to explore a wide array of themes and emotions. To successfully monetize your short stories, it’s essential to understand what makes a compelling story, identify the best platforms for selling your work, and employ strategies to maximize your earnings.
By honing your craft and strategically marketing your stories, you can transform your writing into a sustainable source of income.
Best Places To Sell Short Stories For Money
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Below are the different ways to sell short stories for money.
1. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
If you’re interested in selling short stories on Amazon, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a great platform to consider. KDP is a self-publishing platform that allows authors to publish their work easily and reach a vast audience, as Amazon is one of the largest online marketplaces in the world.
To begin, you’ll need to create an Amazon KDP account, which is simple and straightforward. Before publishing, ensure that your short story is thoroughly edited and properly formatted to meet Amazon’s guidelines. Additionally, an eye-catching cover is essential to attract potential readers. You can design your own cover using graphic design tools like Canva or take advantage of Amazon’s Kindle creation tools.
When it comes to pricing your Kindle eBook, prices typically start at $0.99 and can increase from there. You also have the option to enroll your book in Kindle Unlimited, which can help you earn up to 70% royalties.
KDP offers many benefits for authors, including the ease of publishing in just a few steps, the ability to earn royalties, and the flexibility to set your own prices. Moreover, Kindle Direct Publishing enables you to distribute your eBook globally, print physical copies of your short stories, and even assist with shipping them worldwide.
With all these features, KDP provides a comprehensive platform for authors looking to sell their short stories and reach readers across the globe.
2. Clarkesworld Magazine
Clarkesworld Magazine is a well-regarded publication in the fantasy and science fiction community, known for publishing high-quality short stories, articles, and audio fiction. This monthly magazine is available both on their website and in eBook format, making it accessible to a wide audience.
If you’re looking to submit your work to Clarkesworld, the submission guidelines are clear and straightforward. Your short story should be between 1,000 and 22,000 words, falling within the genres of science fiction or fantasy, as horror is not accepted.
The magazine offers competitive compensation, paying 12 cents per word, with payments made via PayPal or check. To increase your chances of acceptance, ensure that your story is well-written, optimized for on-screen reading, and suitable for audio adaptation, as Clarkesworld values stories that engage readers in multiple formats.
3. One Story
One Story is a renowned magazine that stands out by publishing a single short story each month, focusing exclusively on literary fiction. This platform is highly selective, seeking compelling and well-crafted stories that fall between 3,000 and 8,000 words.
The subject matter and style can vary, but the key is that the story must engage and captivate the reader. One Story offers a generous payment of $500, along with 25 contributor copies for each accepted piece. To be considered, stories must be original and unpublished.
Writers can expect to receive a response to their submissions within three months of sending them in, making it a great opportunity for authors who are eager to share their work with a discerning audience.
4. East of the Web
East of the Web is an excellent platform for writers seeking exposure, offering a significant opportunity to showcase their work to a broad audience. The site attracts over 500,000 page views each month, meaning that if your short story is accepted, it’s likely to receive considerable attention.
This visibility can be particularly beneficial as East of the Web also draws interest from agents, press, filmmakers, schools, and other publishers. To increase the chances of your story being accepted, it’s important to craft a compelling narrative that leaves readers fully satisfied.
Your short story should feel complete, with a well-resolved plot that doesn’t require a follow-up to deliver a fulfilling experience. By meeting these criteria, your work could gain significant traction and open doors to further opportunities.
5. Flash Fiction Online
Flash Fiction Online is a respected magazine that specializes in publishing short stories across a variety of genres, including science fiction, fantasy, horror, and literary fiction. If you’re looking to submit your work, your story should be concise, falling within the 500 to 1000 word range.
Despite the brevity, the magazine expects your story to feature well-developed characters, a compelling plot, and a satisfying conclusion. To ensure your submission meets the magazine’s standards, your short story must be correctly formatted according to their guidelines.
This includes using double-spacing, 12pt Times New Roman font, and black text on a white background. Additionally, Flash Fiction Online has a strict policy against stories written by AI, emphasizing the importance of original, human-created content.
By adhering to these guidelines and focusing on quality storytelling, you increase your chances of being featured in this well-regarded publication.
6. The Threepenny Review
The Threepenny Review is a prestigious American literary magazine that publishes a diverse range of content, including fiction, memoirs, poetry, and essays. Writers interested in submitting their work can do so either by mail or through the magazine’s online submission system.
The Threepenny Review offers competitive compensation, paying $400 for each accepted story or article and $200 per poem. It’s important to note that they only accept original, unpublished material. For short stories, submissions should be kept to 4,000 words or less.
With its established reputation and commitment to literary excellence, The Threepenny Review is an excellent venue for writers looking to share their work with a discerning audience.
7. Poets & Writers
Poets & Writers is the largest nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting creative writers, with its magazine available in major bookstores across the country. The organization aims to connect poets and writers with a broad audience, fostering a vibrant literary community.
With a national readership exceeding 100,000, Poets & Writers has become a vital resource for students and faculty in creative writing programs throughout the United States. One of the organization’s most valuable features is its extensive writing contests, grants, and awards database, which allows writers to search for opportunities by genre, cash prize, and entry fee.
This resource makes it easier for writers to find contests that align with their work and goals, ultimately helping them gain recognition and financial support in their creative endeavors.
8. The Atlantic
The Atlantic is a well-respected publication known for its comprehensive journalism, covering a diverse array of topics such as politics, science, technology, culture, and more. In addition to its in-depth reporting, The Atlantic also accepts short stories in genres like fiction and poetry, offering writers the opportunity to have their work featured in a prestigious outlet.
To increase the chances of having a story accepted, it’s advisable for writers to review previously published pieces to understand the type of content The Atlantic favors. When ready to submit, short stories should be sent as a Word document or PDF, ensuring they meet the magazine’s formatting requirements.
9. Reader’s Digest
Reader’s Digest, a magazine that has been both online and in print since its inception in 1922, covers a broad spectrum of topics, including health, humor, and inspirational stories. For writers interested in submitting a short story, the process is simple and straightforward.
Along with the story, writers need to provide their name, address, and email to complete the submission. This ease of submission, combined with the magazine’s long-standing reputation, makes Reader’s Digest an appealing platform for writers to share their work with a wide audience.
10. Medium
Medium is a unique platform that allows writers to publish and monetize their content, making it a great place to share and sell short stories online. While Medium primarily focuses on articles and essays, it also welcomes short stories, giving writers a versatile space to showcase their creativity.
Earnings on Medium are tied to how much time members spend reading your stories, so building a following and consistently producing high-quality content is crucial to increasing your income. For writers looking to earn money from their short stories, Medium offers an accessible and potentially lucrative opportunity.
11. Barrelhouse
Barrelhouse is a literary magazine that welcomes submissions from writers, including short stories. In addition to its print magazine, Barrelhouse is recognized for running a small press, organizing the Conversations & Connections conference, and hosting the Writer Camp retreat.
These events provide excellent opportunities for writers to network and enhance their skills. The magazine seeks unpublished submissions, typically shorter than 8,000 words, and prefers content presented in a format that is easy to read.
For writers looking to share their work and connect with a vibrant literary community, Barrelhouse offers a valuable platform.
12. The New Yorker
The New Yorker is a prestigious American magazine that has covered culture, politics, arts, and literature since its founding in 1925. As one of the most influential magazines in the United States, getting a short story accepted by The New Yorker is a significant achievement, though the submission process is highly competitive.
Writers who wish to submit a short story can do so by emailing their work to fiction@newyorker.com. All submissions are reviewed within ninety days, and if you do not receive a response within that time, it indicates that your story was not accepted.
Despite the challenges, being published in The New Yorker is a noteworthy accomplishment for any writer.
13. Submit to short story contests
Short story contests are competitions where writers can submit their work for a chance to win prizes or gain recognition. These contests are often organized by magazines, writing organizations, and publishing houses that aim to promote emerging writers and bring their stories to a wider audience.
Each contest typically has specific guidelines, including accepted themes and genres, word limits, entry fees, prizes, and details about the judging panel. As contests evolve, some of the most renowned short story competitions include The Bridport Prize, a U.K.-based contest, The Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition, The Moth Short Story Prize, The Commonwealth Short Story Prize, and The Sunday Times Short Story Award.
These competitions provide valuable opportunities for writers to showcase their talent and advance their careers.
14. Start your own blog
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Creating a short story blog can be an excellent way to share your creative work with the public while also earning money. It takes time to build a readership, so patience and consistent effort in marketing your blog and producing high-quality content are essential.
As your blog grows, there are various ways to monetize it. You can earn through ad revenue by displaying ads on your site, or through affiliate marketing by promoting products and earning a commission on sales. Sponsored posts, where companies pay you to write about their products or services, can also be a lucrative option.
Additionally, you can create and sell your short stories directly to your audience, either through a subscription model or by compiling your stories into a paid ebook. With dedication and creativity, your short story blog can become a source of both artistic fulfillment and financial reward.
Frequently Asked Questions
Below are answers to common questions about how to sell short stories for money.
What are short stories?
Short stories are concise works of fiction that center around a single plot, theme, or group of characters. Despite their brevity, typically ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand words, short stories deliver a complete and engaging narrative with a clear beginning, middle, and end.
This form of storytelling allows writers to distill their ideas into a compact format, offering readers a quick yet satisfying experience. The focus on one central idea or event ensures that every word counts, making short stories a powerful medium for exploring themes and emotions in a condensed space.
What are some different short story genres?
Short stories can span any genre and be crafted in various storytelling styles, making them a versatile form of creative expression. Popular genres for short stories include mystery, science fiction, thrillers, fantasy, horror, adventure, historical fiction, romance, personal essays, speculative fiction, and drama.
The possibilities are endless, and writers often blend different genres to create unique and engaging narratives. Additionally, the world of short fiction isn’t limited to prose alone—you can also make money by writing poems, which, like short stories, can be sold and published across various platforms.
Whether you’re crafting a suspenseful thriller or a poignant poem, the diversity of genres and styles in short storytelling offers countless opportunities for creative and financial success.
Are short stories fiction or nonfiction?
Short stories are by definition fiction pieces, and not non-fiction.
How do I sell my first short story?
The key to successfully selling your first short story is to craft a high-quality, compelling narrative that captures the reader’s attention and is free of grammatical errors. Once you’ve polished your story, the next step is to select the right online platforms, journals, or literary magazines where you want to publish it.
It’s crucial to carefully read the submission guidelines for each publication, paying close attention to word counts and formatting requirements to ensure your story meets their criteria. You have multiple options for selling your short story, including submitting it to different platforms or entering short story contests, which often offer recognition, cash prizes, and publication opportunities.
To maximize your reach, actively market your story on social media, your website, and other platforms, helping you connect with a broader audience and increase your chances of success.
How much money can I make selling short stories? How much is a short story worth?
The amount of money you can make from selling short stories varies widely and depends on several factors, including the story’s length, the market, the publication, and the story’s popularity. Payments can range from as little as $25 to over $1,000 for a single short story.
For instance, a story published in Reader’s Digest might earn less than one featured in The New Yorker, which typically offers higher payouts. Alternatively, if you self-publish a short story on platforms like Amazon and it gains popularity, the earnings can potentially reach thousands of dollars.
Your success in making money from short stories hinges on understanding the market and finding the right platforms to showcase your work.
What is the best place to sell short stories for money online?
The best platform to sell your short stories largely depends on your writing style and goals. If you prefer self-publishing, Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is a great option, allowing you to sell your stories as eBooks with control over pricing.
By submitting your eBook to Kindle Unlimited, you can earn up to 70% in royalties when readers access your book. For those looking to submit to literary platforms, there are numerous award-winning sites and journals where your short stories can reach potential buyers. These include Strange Horizons, BBC, Vestal Review for flash fiction, Ploughshares, and many others.
Each platform has its own audience and submission requirements, so exploring different options can help you find the best fit for your work.