Getting a short story published can feel like a huge leap, especially if you’re submitting your WIPs for the very first time. But getting published doesn’t necessarily mean convincing a major book publisher to take on your story. There are so many ways for writers to share their work, from literary magazines and online publications to writing competitions, anthologies, and self-publishing platforms.
The process can still feel confusing when you’re just starting out. Where should you submit your story? How do you tell whether a publication is a good fit? And what do editors actually expect from a submission?
Today at What We Writing, we’re lifting the lid on how to get a short story published, where to submit your work, and what you need to do before sending it out to editors. Whether you’re hoping to see your name in a literary magazine or just want to start sharing your fiction with readers, here’s how to take that next step.
How Do You Get A Short Story Published?
To get a short story published, your first step is to finish and edit your story, find publications that accept work in your genre, carefully follow their submission guidelines, and send your work over for consideration. You can submit short stories to literary magazines, online publications, writing competitions and anthologies, or look to self-publish your own work.
Whilst the process can seem pretty intimidating to begin with, getting a short story published is typically straightforward enough. The tricky part is usually finding the right home for your story and being prepped to keep persevering if your first submission doesn’t work out.
In most instances, the process will look something like this:
- Finish your short story.
- Edit it carefully before submitting it.
- Find publications that are a good fit for your work.
- Read and follow their submission guidelines.
- Submit your short story for consideration.
- Wait for a response from the editor or publisher.
- Keep submitting if your story is rejected.
Every stage comes with its own challenges, but knowing how the process works before you begin can make submitting your work feel far less daunting.
1. Make Sure Your Short Story Is Ready To Submit
Before you begin looking for places to submit your work, ensure your short story is genuinely ready for consideration. Finishing the draft is an important achievement, but coming to the end doesn’t necessarily mean the story is done.
Give yourself time to go through multiple rounds of editing. Look out for the obvious things first, including grammar, spelling, and formatting, but don’t stop there. Look closely at the bigger picture too. Does the plot make sense? Are your characters convincing? Does each scene serve a purpose?
It can also help to get feedback from someone you trust. Another reader might spot confusing moments, plot holes or character issues that you’ve become too familiar with to see for yourself. Reading the story aloud is another helpful editing technique, especially for identifying clunky dialogue and sentences that don’t quite flow naturally.
Pay special attention to your opening. Editors often read a huge number of submissions, so your story needs to give them a good reason to keep going.
Most importantly, don’t submit your first draft just because you’ve come to the end. Take the time to edit your short story properly before deciding it’s ready to send out.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Edit A Short Story
2. Choose Where You Want To Publish Your Short Story
Once your short story is ready, the next step is choosing where you want to submit it. There isn’t one correct way to publish a short story, and the best option depends on what you want to get from the experience.
Literary Magazines
Literary magazines are one of the most established ways to publish short fiction. They can be notoriously competitive, but being accepted can give you valuable publication credit and introduce your work to new audiences.
Online Literary Publications
Many websites publish short stories online, giving writers another way to reach an audience. Some pay contributors, while others publish work without any compensation.
Short Story Competitions
Writing competitions can offer prizes, recognition, and publication opportunities. However, some charge an entry fee, so do be sure to check the terms carefully before you enter.
Anthologies
Anthologies bring stories from multiple writers together around a particular theme, genre, or idea. They’re especially worth keeping in mind if your story fits a specific submission call.
Self-publishing
Self-publishing gives you total control over where and when your story appears, although you’ll also be responsible for finding readers and covering any costs.
| Publishing route | Best for | Usually paid? | Competition |
| Literary magazines | Building publication credit | Sometimes | High |
| Online publications | Reaching readers | Sometimes | Varies |
| Competitions | Exposure and prizes | Sometimes | High |
| Anthologies | Genre or themed fiction | Sometimes | Varies |
| Self-publishing | Full control | You cover the costs | Depends on marketing |
The important thing is to choose a route that suits your goals as an author, rather than assuming there’s only one way of getting a short story published.
3. Research The Publication Before Submitting
Finding a publication that accepts short stories isn’t enough. Before you submit, spend some time working out whether your story is actually a good fit for the publication.
Start off by reading some of the stories they’ve recently published. This gives you a far better idea of the sort of writing their editors are looking for than a submission page alone. You should also read the publication’s About page and check whether they have a particular genre, style, or thematic preference.
Most crucially, read the submission guidelines carefully. Check the required word count, formatting, submission windows, and any restrictions around previously published work.
As you research, keep in mind one simple question:
Would my story realistically fit here?
For example, a YA romcom may meet a publication’s word count requirement, but still be a poor fit for a magazine that specialises in psychological thrillers.
The more carefully you research potential publications, the more likely you are to send your story somewhere it genuinely fits.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Expand Your Short Story
4. Read The Short Story Submission Guidelines Carefully
Before submitting your short story, read the publication’s submission guidelines from start to finish. These instructions can vary dramatically between magazines and websites, and ignoring them is often a surefire way to be rejected before an editor has even read it.
Check the required word count, file format, and manuscript formatting. Some publications may specify a particular font, spacing, or file type, whereas others might ask you to remove your name from the manuscript.
You should also check whether the publication accepts simultaneous submissions, meaning you can send the same story to other publications whilst waiting for a response. Some may also have rules about previously published work.
Finally, look for information about cover letters and submission fees. Don’t assume every publication wants a cover letter, and be cautious about paying fees without knowing exactly what you’re paying for.
The golden rule here is simple: follow the guidelines exactly. They are there to tell you what the editor expects, so make sure you’ve met every requirement before hitting send.
5. Write A Simple Cover Letter
If a publication asks for a cover letter, don’t overthink it. A short story cover letter is typically a brief introduction rather than an opportunity to explain your whole writing career or summarise your story in detail.
Unless the publication provides different instructions, you can typically include your name, the title of your short story, its word count, and a short relevant biography. If you have previously been published or won writing competitions, you can mention those here, but don’t worry if you don’t have any credits yet.
Keep the tone professional, friendly, and concise. Most importantly, check the publication’s submission guidelines before writing it, as some editors don’t ask for a cover letter at all.
Short Story Submission Cover Letter Example
A simple cover letter for a literary magazine submission may look something like this:
Dear [Editor’s Name],
Please find attached my short story, “[Story Title]”, which is roughly [word count] words long.
I am a writer based in [location]. My work has previously appeared in [publication, if applicable], and I am especially interested in writing [brief description of your work].
Thank you for taking the time to consider my submission.
Best wishes,
[Your Name]
You don’t need to make your cover letter memorable. The story is what you’re really asking the editor to read.
6. Submit Your Story
Once you’ve found a suitable publication and checked its submission guidelines, it’s time to send your short story.
Some publications use online submission managers, while others accept stories via email. Follow the instructions provided and double-check that you’ve attached the correct file before submitting.
If you’re submitting by email, keep your message concise and ensure you’ve included everything the publication has requested. For online submissions, check that you’ve completed every required field.
After submitting, look out for a confirmation email or notification. It’s also worth keeping a record of every submission you make. A simple spreadsheet is a good way of keeping track:
| Story | Publication | Date Submitted | Response | Notes |
| Story title | Publication name | Date | Pending/Accepted/Rejected | Follow-up date |
Keeping organised makes it far easier to manage multiple submissions without losing track of where your stories are.
7. Be Prepared For Rejection
If you’re submitting your short story for the first time, it’s important to be prepared for rejection. Even a well-written story can be turned down, and a rejection doesn’t automatically mean your story is bad.
Editors need to make choices based on all sorts of factors. Your story may not be the right fit for the publication, an editor’s personal taste might just be different from yours, or they may already have accepted a similar story. Some publications also receive far more submissions than they have room to publish.
Try not to allow rejection to stop you from submitting. Keep a record of where you’ve sent your work, pay attention to any feedback you get, and consider revising your story if you see any patterns appearing.
Most importantly, submit it somewhere else. A story rejected by one publication may be precisely what another editor is looking for.
Rejection is all a part of being an author. The aim isn’t to avoid it totally; it’s to keep writing and submitting despite it.
How Long Does It Take For A Short Story To Be Published?
There’s no set timeframe for getting a short story published. Some publications might respond within a few weeks, whereas others can take several months or longer to make a decision. If your story is accepted, there may then be an additional wait while the publication works through its editorial and publishing process.
Response times can vary depending on the size of the publication, the number of submissions they receive, reading periods and their editorial process. Smaller publications may have fewer submissions to work through, while larger or more competitive magazines can take markedly longer.
Before submitting, check the publication’s guidelines or submissions page for an estimated response time. Some publications will also explain when you should follow up if you haven’t heard anything from them.
Try not to worry if you don’t get an immediate response. Once you’ve submitted your story, the waiting period is largely out of your control. Instead of constantly checking your inbox, keep track of your submission and use the time to work on your next project.
If the publication’s stated response time has passed, check its guidelines before contacting the editor for an update.
Check Out These Writing Prompts To Jumpstart Your Short Story
Do You Need An Editor To Publish A Short Story?
Usually, no. You don’t need a literary agent to publish a short story.
Most literary magazines, online publications, competitions, and anthologies accept submissions directly from writers. This means you can research suitable publications, check their submission guidelines and send your story yourself without needing an agent representing you.
Literary agents are typically more relevant when you’re looking to publish a book-length work, such as a novel or collection of short stories, with a traditional publisher. An agent can help with finding publishers, negotiating contracts, and managing your wider publishing career.
For a standalone short story, however, there’s typically no need to wait until you have an agent before trying to get your work published.
If you’re just starting out, focus on writing the best story you can, finding publications that are a good match and learning how the submission process works. Building up publication credits can also be handy if you do eventually wind up pursuing an agent for a longer project.
How Much Does It Cost To Publish A Short Story?
The cost of publishing a short story can range from nothing at all to a significant amount, depending on how you decide to publish it.
Many literary magazines and online publications accept short story submissions for free, so you don’t necessarily need to spend anything to try and get your work published. However, some writing competitions charge an entry fee, while certain publications may charge a submission fee.
Self-publishing can also involve optional costs. You may decide to pay for professional editing, proofreading, cover design or promotion, although none of these is necessarily needed.
If you’re submitting to publications, always check their terms before paying a fee and ensure you understand what you’re getting in return.
Be especially cautious about companies asking for large amounts of money just to publish your story. Paying for optional professional services like those found on Reedsy is different from paying someone to accept your work. A legitimate publication should make its submission and payment terms clear.
FAQs
Can Anyone Get a Short Story Published?
Absolutely. You don’t have to be an esteemed author to submit a short story for publication. Literary magazines, online publications, competitions, and anthologies regularly accept submissions from newer writers. That doesn’t mean every submission will be a success, but you can start submitting your work without having any previous publishing experience.
Where Can I Publish Short Stories For Free?
You can submit short stories for free to many literary magazines and online publications, although every publication comes with its own rules. Some competitions and magazines charge submission fees, so always check the guidelines before submitting. You can also publish your own short stories online through platforms that don’t charge you to upload your work, such as Kindle Direct Publishing.
Can I Publish a Short Story Online?
Totally. You can submit your story to online literary magazines and fiction websites, or publish it yourself through an online platform. However, check whether a publication considers online publication to count as previous publication, as this can affect your ability to submit the story elsewhere later on.
How Many Times Can You Submit a Short Story?
There is no fixed limit on how many times you can submit a short story. You can continue submitting it to different publications after receiving a rejection. However, always check each publication’s guidelines, especially if you’re making simultaneous submissions or have already published the story elsewhere.
Do Literary Magazines Pay Writers?
Sometimes. Some literary magazines do pay writers; others don’t. Payment can range from a small contributor fee to professional rates based on word count or rights purchased. Some publications also offer copies of the magazine rather than payment. Always check a publication’s submissions page or contributor information to find out whether and how writers are paid.
What Rights Do You Give Away When Publishing a Short Story?
The rights you give away depend on the publication’s contract or submission terms. Some publications request first publication rights, while others might ask for additional rights or exclusivity for a particular period. Always read the terms carefully before accepting publication. Once your story has been published, you may not automatically retain every right to republish or distribute it elsewhere.
Wrap Up
Getting a short story published may seem daunting at first, but the process is far more straightforward than it first appears. Finish your story, edit it carefully, find publications that genuinely suit your work, and follow their submission guidelines closely.
You don’t need an agent or a long list of previous published works to get going. You just need a completed story and the willingness to put it out there.
You may receive rejections along the way, and that’s totally normal. One publication saying no doesn’t mean another editor won’t adore your story.
The most important thing to keep in mind is to just keep on writing, keep learning, and keep submitting. Your first publication may take time, but every submission gives you more experience and brings you one step closer to seeing your work in print.
Check Out Our Guide On How To Format A Book Manuscript
James has been passionate about storytelling ever since he could hold a pen. Inspired by the epic fantasy and historical dramas he devoured in his youth, his work now centers on dark, psychological tales featuring intense, introspective characters and atmospheric, gothic undertones. In 2025, he founded What We Writing to share his creative journey and the lessons he’s learned along the way with fellow writers and passionate storytellers.
