HOW TO MAKE MONEY WRITING STORIES

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The Internet has opened doors to the creative minded.

MONEY MAKER FOR THE TALENTED:

In the old days, I'd be sending off a short story through snail mail and the most important requirements would be patience and some money. The money you would spend on supplies: typing paper, and SASE(self-addressed stamped envelope), and the cost of sending it and getting it back if rejected.

I have illusions about my own talents. I have some strengths and some weaknesses. And most of all, I realize that there are much more talented writers out there. They may be cooking a roast in the kitchen or changing spark plugs in the car. It comes down to raw talent. Yet, online there is such a feast of possible genres and species of literature, that for even the semi-talent like myself, I know there are venues to making money. I will even go so far to say if you can't make money right away exposure and networking with other writers becomes essential.

ONLINE SUBMISSIONS:

The Internet has changed submitting stories, perhaps forever. Duotrope's Digest which lists sites that feature fiction and poetry have a data base of over 2,350 online zines and websites. For lover's of fiction short stories and especially my favorite, flash fiction, it is not only economical it could fill up some gaps in your income.

I will start with pro market. Note: I left out any snail mail submissions:

THE NEW YORKER:

Publishes: Short stories and poetry

What's cool about this site:

It has over a million subscribers: and I don't even included

all those that surf the website. A potentially huge audience for a

new writer.

Genres:

Mainstream and Literary

Inquires for short stories send to: fiction@newyorker.com

Inquires for poetry: poetry@newyorker.com

Submission Guidelines Extraction:

“Except for poetry and newsbreaks, we do not accept submissions that are received as attachments. Please send your work as part of the body of an e-mail.

No more than one story or six poems should be submitted at one time.” PAYS: 5 cents/per word or more. $50.00 for poems.

Waiting Time: 3-6 months(?)

AGNI:

Publishes: Shorts stories and poetry

Genres: Mainstream and Literary

What's cool about this site:

Serves both pro and semi-pro. They also have a online order form, so you don't have to fool with attachments.

Submission Guidelines Extraction:

“AGNI welcomes unsolicited manuscripts between September 1st and May 31st. We do not consider previously published work, which includes work published on any website. AGNI’s reporting time is approximately 2 to 4 months. "

"We pay $10 per printed (or printed-out) page for all accepted prose, $20 per page for poetry, $150 maximum, along with a year's subscription, and, for the print magazine, two contributor's copies and four gift copies of the issue.”

BOSTON REVIEW:

Publishes: Short stories and poetry

Genres:

Mainstream and Literary

What's cool about this site:

If they paying semi-pro, you have a better chance of being

excepted by this magazine.

Submission Guidelines Extraction:

Junot Díaz, fiction editor: “I looking for fiction in which a heart struggles against itself, in which the messy unmanageable complexity of the world is revealed. Sentences that are so sharp they cut the eye.” Please keep submissions under 4,000 words. Response time is generally 2-4 months.” Fiction pays depending on degree of experience. Poetry: Payments vary.

SCIENCE FICTION AND FANTASY AND HORRER:

Because science fiction is dear to my heart, I am including a few markets in that genre: (Note: most of the well-known sci-fi magazines are still using snail mail for submissions.)

ORSON SCOTT CARD'S INTERGALACTIC MEDICINE SHOW:

Publishes:

Flash Fiction, Short Stories, Novelette (Closed to Novelette for the time being)

Genres:

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Horror

What's cool about this site: If they paying

semi-pro, you have a better chance of being

excepted by this magazine. Plus it counts as

a publication requirement for membership in the

Science Fiction writers of America(SFWA)

Submission Guidelines Extraction:

“We are looking for stories of any length in the genres of science fiction and fantasy. . . "

"Science fiction" includes hard sf, sf adventure, alternate history, near-future, far-future, psi, alien, and any other kind of sf you can think of. "Fantasy" includes heroic fantasy (based on any culture's mythology), fairy tales, contemporary fantasy, and "horror" in the sense of supernatural suspense (not gory blood fests, thanks). . . [Wait]three months from the time of submission before expecting a response.” Pays depending on the degree of experience. 5 cents and above/per word.

STRANGE HORIZONS:

Publishes:

Flash fiction, short stories, poetry

Genres:

Fantasy

Dark Fantasy

Science Fiction:

What's cool about this site:

Strange Horizons tell you exactly what they don't want in GREAT detail! Counts as a publication requirement for membership in the SFWA

Submission Guidelines Extraction:

“We have no minimum word count requirement; we will consider short-short stories. However, we generally aren't interested in stories with twist endings."

"We pay 5 cents/word, with a minimum payment of $50. We always respond in less than 70 days. We're looking for high-quality, extraordinary SF, fantasy, horror, and "slipstream" poetry. Pay rates for new poetry will be $20 per poem.”

ELECTRIC SPEC:

Publishes:

Flash fiction, Short Stories

Genres:

Science Fiction

Fantasy

Dark Fantasy

Horror

What's cool about this site:

If they paying semi-pro, you have a better

excepted by this magazine.

Submission Guidelines Extraction :

“We consider any story between 250 and 7000 words with speculative fiction elements. We prefer science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre, but we're willing to push the limits of traditional forms of these genres. We pay $20 for each story we publish. We respond to most submissions within a month. Because we are a tri-annual magazine, it may take us up to four months to make a final decision.”

ALIENSKIN MAGAZINE:

Publishes:

Short stories, Flash fiction, Micro-Fiction(exactly 150 words),poetry .

Genres:

Fantasy

Dark Fantasy

Science Fiction

Horror

What's cool about this site:

The editors of this online magazine

often spare time to critique why

they decide to reject a story.(and do it nicely!)

It could be awesome site for beginners.

Submission Guidelines:

Pays: 1 cent/word. (Note: Pays for short stories only)

Waiting time: about 2 months.

FLASH ME MAGAZINE:

Publishes:

Flash Fiction Only

Open to all Genres:

What's cool about this site:

It could be awesome site for beginners.

Submission Guideline Extraction:

“We are a paying market, accepting all genres of fiction under 1,000 words. Stories with excessive gore, violence, profanity, or sex are not appropriate for Flash Me Magazine. Issues are published on January 31, April 30, July 31, and October 31. Submission deadlines are one month prior to publication.” Payment $10/story.

EVERYDAY FICTION:

Publishes: Flash Fiction Only

Open to all genres:

What's cool about this site:

This a good jumping off point for beginners.

Submission Guidelines Extraction:

“Every Day Fiction is looking for very short (flash) fiction, of 1000 words or fewer. There’s no such thing as too short. if you can tell a story in 50 words, have at it!”

“We believe in the importance of being paid for your writing, even if it’s only a token amount. At this time, we are able to offer three dollars for each published story,...” "Our target response time is two months. . .”

FLASH SHOT:

Publishes:

Flash Fiction only

Genres:

Mystery

Fantasy

Dark Fantasy

Humor

Horror

science fiction

What's cool about this site:

If you think you can write a story in one hundred words or less, Flashshot offer you the chance. Also, it can be used to promote your favorite website. G.W. Thomas(publisher) actually communicates with fellow writer's.