12 Ways To Sell Short Stories For Money in 2023

In case you’re a author, you is perhaps taken with learning about ways to sell short stories for money. 

There are several web sites on the market that exist for the aim of helping you publish your works. 

The world is at all times trying to find great writers. By utilizing the sites listed here, you may share your talents with worldwide audiences and receives a commission at the identical time. 

Ways to Sell Short Stories for Money

Just as there are ways to receives a commission for reading, there are also ways to receives a commission for writing. 

Learning the right way to sell short stories for money is one in every of many great ways to earn cash in a gig economy.

You may sell your stories in your spare time, adding income to your regular job. Sell one story or sell a whole bunch, the alternative is yours! 

As well as, you may get your name on the market as a author and increase your possibilities of making your dream of writing a source of income. 

1. Reader’s Digest

Reader’s Digest is a trustworthy publication that has been in print for over 100 years. The net and in-print magazine company shares a number of precious and entertaining content for readers.

In case you’re a budding author or just have a present for sharing a story, Reader’s Digest can pay you for submitting your 100-word true story. 

You may submit a story from just a few different genres corresponding to humor, life lessons, heartwarming stories or more. 

If chosen, your story can be published together with your name, city and state, and shared with tens of millions of readers around the globe. 

Note that not all submitted stories can be accepted.

Pay: as much as $100

2. Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)

Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) program will show you how to publish your personal short stories–or some other story for that matter. 

Pick from fiction, nonfiction or whatever else your heart desires. Your publication can be available to all Amazon visitors.

You’ll earn a percentage of sales depending on what you select to cost your book at.  Design your personal cover, or get help designing a canopy from an Amazon KDP designer. 

Read the submission guidelines rigorously before publishing, and know that you just’ll should pay for any designer, editor or other show you how to enlist from Amazon. 

It’s vital to know that when you’re going to earn money by publishing with Amazon KDP, you’ll be accountable for your personal marketing and promoting. 

Pay: 35% to 70%

3. Poets and Writers

Poets and Writers is a nonprofit online and print publication that exists to serve writers. 

One among the first ways it will possibly show you how to sell short stories for money is by publishing grants and contests for amateur writers. 

Money prizes awarded to winners of contests and grants can earn anywhere from $1,000 as much as several thousand dollars. 

Genres vary depending on the grant or contest. Some genres currently listed include humor, novel excerpts, poetry and other genres. 

Note that there could also be an entry fee to enter some contests.

This site offers a number of other advantages to budding writers, corresponding to workshops, agent and publisher databases and more.   

Pay: Varies: Many contests pay $1,000 or more

4. The Threepenny Review

The Threepenny Review is a long-standing literary publication that accepts submissions for brief stories from January 1 to April 30 every year.

The publication shares a wide range of poems, short stories and articles. In case you’re taken with reading this publication, you may choose from a print version and a digital version.

You may submit your short story electronically or by mail. Short stories submitted to the Threepenny Review are expected to be under 4000 words in length. 

Please read other guidelines this publication has, as they’re strict. Also, any publications submitted outside of the yearly schedule can be discarded as unread. 

The Threepenny Review prefers essays, memoirs and poetry submissions.

Pay: $400 for brief stories, $200 for poems or Table Talk pieces

5. Flash Fiction Online

Flash Fiction Online accepts original fiction short stories from the first to the twenty first of every month. They do have a cap of 425 stories monthly, so it’s best to get your submission in early. 

The location accepts 500 to 1000 word stories with “well-developed characters, compelling plots and satisfying resolutions.” 

FFO accepts stories in a wide range of genres, but asks that you just read their submission guidelines rigorously. 

Note that FFO won’t consider pieces which were submitted for publication elsewhere. For that reason, you’ll need to ensure to maintain FFO pieces for FFO only. 

Pay: $80 per piece

6. The Recent Yorker

How would you want your work published within the infamous Recent Yorker Magazine? This publication does accept submissions from amateur writers. 

You may submit your work to be considered for publication when you write fiction stories, poetry and more. 

The Recent Yorker has notoriously high standards relating to accepting unsolicited work for publication. So in case your work is accepted, know that you just’ve got some serious talent. 

You could find all the submission guidelines on the Recent Yorker link at the highest of this paragraph. 

The magazine’s website is evident that when you haven’t heard from them inside 90 days of submitting your article or poem, it’s likely that you just haven’t been chosen for publication. 

As with many publications, the Recent Yorker doesn’t contact you in case your submission has been denied. They only contact you in case your submission has been chosen for publication. 

Also, please submit copies as a substitute of originals of your work since submissions won’t be returned. 

Pay: Not listed, but you’ll receive pay for accepted submissions.

7. Barrelhouse

Barrelhouse is a literary organization that puts out a print publication and a web-based publication. This company is wide open relating to considering genres. 

Your submitted story must contain a maximum of 8,000 words. Note that submission guidelines are strict, and that Barrelhouse won’t at all times accept submissions.

Submission availability changes based on their current stockpile of articles and other aspects.

Note that Barrelhouse is searching for people to review books as well. Yes, there are methods you may receives a commission to jot down reviews.

You could find more details about submitting a book review to Barrelhouse by visiting the Barrelhouse submission link above.   

Pay: $50 per article

8. Analog

Analog’s Science Fiction and Fact magazine pays writers who submit science fiction stories for publishing. 

In case your science fiction story is accepted, you’ll receives a commission per word, based on the sort of story it’s. You may receives a commission to submit poetry as well, although at a much lower pay rate. 

In case you’re submitting short science fiction stories it’s worthwhile to cap them at about 20,000 words. Serials can contain between 40,000 and 80,000 words. 

Your story can include physical, sociological or psychological science. A believable plot and relational characters are strongly really helpful.

Make certain that the science fiction aspect of your story is so integral to the plot that your story would collapse without it.  

Fact articles are also accepted, although Analog requests that technical jargon is kept to a needed minimum. 

Analog is wanting to accept work from latest and unpublished writers because it seeks to search out and mentor latest writers. 

Pay: $0.06 to $0.10 per word depending on the piece, $1 per line for poetry

9. The Sun Magazine

The Sun Magazine is an independent, ad-free magazine that has been in publication for nearly 50 years. You’ll find an eclectic mixture of stories on this publication, from the heartwarming to the odd.

You may submit personal essays, fiction and poetry to The Sun. Personal essays must be highly vulnerable and help readers see the world from a fresh perspective. 

Fiction stories must be written in a way that helps readers live a day in another person’s shoes. 

Whenever you submit poetry, write to assist readers reflect on their space on this universe, ponder their deepest questions and result in revelations about life. 

Work to maintain submissions under 7,000 words if possible. There may be a $2.50 submission fee. The Sun encourages resubmission when you haven’t heard from them inside six months of submitting your writing piece. 

Pay: $200 and up, depending on length

10. Medium

Medium is a web-based literary publication that focuses on sharing great writing with the world. Whenever you change into a member of their Partnership Program, you’ll earn money by publishing stories. 

Medium’s publishing program works a bit in a different way than among the others mentioned here. As a substitute of getting paid a flat dollar amount, you’ll receives a commission based on viewing activity. 

When a Medium reader reads your story for greater than 30 seconds, you receives a commission. The more readers, the extra money you earn. 

When other members decide to follow your account, you’ll earn a bonus. Medium accepts stories from all genres and stories can vary in length. 

You may write about relationships, politics, self improvement or a number of other genres.

Pay: Varies based on readership

11. One Story

One Story is a web site that’s committed to sharing short stories with its readers. Whenever you subscribe to One Story, you’ll get one printed short story every month. 

And it’s only $10 for a six-month subscription. As a author, you may submit stories of between 3,000 and eight,000 words to this site.

It’s vital to notice that One Story only accepts previously unpublished material, though the corporate may accept material that was published outside of the US. 

One Story does have a 3,000-story submission cap, and once that cap is reached they’ll not accept submissions. 

Once they accept your submission, One Story will retain first serial North American rights. Nonetheless, all rights will revert to the creator following publication of the story. 

Note that One Story also hosts a contest called One Teen Story. Teens aged 13-19 can submit short stories of between 2,000 to 4,500 words.

Winners of the One Teen Story contest get the identical pay as One Story submission winners. In addition they get a chance to work with One Story editors before publication.

Pay: $500 plus 25 contributors copies of the publication 

12. Duotrope

Duotrope is different in that as a substitute of publishing your stories, Duotrope helps you discover ways to publish your stores. 

The location offers a paid subscription package for $5 monthly or $50 per 12 months. As a subscriber, you’re connected to the positioning’s massive database. 

First launched in 2005, Duotrope’s database currently partners with nearly 7,500 publishers and agents. 

You need to use the platform to search out publishers and agents to attach with so you may get your work published. 

Who knows; you might even land yourself a book deal from the connections you make. Whether you’re writing fiction, nonfiction or poetry, Duotrope will help connect you with publishers and agents. 

Pay: Varies based on the partnerships you make

Often Asked Questions

If you could have ever dreamed of writing and selling short stories, you almost certainly have just a few questions. Here’s a have a look at common questions asked.

Summary

There are numerous ways to sell short stories for money. The amount of money you may earn by doing so depends largely in your writing skills and your willingness to get on the market and promote your work. 

Whether you self-publish your stories or submit them for acceptance by a literary publication, work to share your stories with the world.