How to Publish a Short Story & Best Publishing Platforms

• Nov 05, 2024
• 7 min read

• Tags: Fiction, Self-Publishing, Short Story

Do you dream of seeing your story published? This guide provides a simple roadmap, covering all publishing options, essential tools, marketing strategies, and common mistakes to avoid. For readers searching for how to self-publish a short story online, we’ve got you covered! 

We’ve also added steps and tips to create an eBook for your short story collection. So let’s dive in to explore all the steps for publishing! 

How to publish a short story online

The following are the steps to prepare your short story for publication: 

1. Thoroughly edit and proofread your story 

This involves checking for grammar errors, typos, punctuation, and spelling mistakes. It also includes simplifying any complex sentence structures. 

You can consider hiring professional editing and proofreading services to refine your short story. Trained editors can provide in-depth feedback and eliminate all errors easily. 

2. Take feedback from beta readers 

Share your story with trusted friends, family members, or writers who can provide honest feedback. Specifically, tell beta readers to point out any plot holes, inconsistencies, unclear passages, and areas where the writing could be more engaging.

3. Carefully format your story 

At this step, you need to format all aspects of your story including font size, alignment, spacing, margins, page numbers, and title. It’s important to format the story according to the selected platform/contest/magazine’s guidelines. 

If a file format has been specified in the guidelines (e.g., pdf, .doc), ensure your file is saved in the correct format. 

4. Create a cover letter/query letter (optional) 

Several magazines and writing contests usually ask for a cover letter or query letter. These aim to introduce the author and their work. 

The author’s contact details, story title, and word count are usually mentioned in these texts. Depending on the guidelines, authors can also mention their writing experience and achievements (awards and recognition). 

While creating a cover letter/query letter, it’s important to: 

• • • Keep it concise and focused. (Not more than 200 words) 
    • Proofread carefully for any errors. 

Here is a sample cover letter for reference: 

Dear [Editor’s name and surname] 

I am writing to submit my short story, “Whispers in the Wind,” for consideration in the anthology The Best Autumn Short Stories. The story is approximately 3,500 words and belongs to the genre of historical fiction. 

This story has been sent to various magazines for publication. I will promptly inform you if it is accepted elsewhere.

I recently completed my post-graduation in Creative Writing at Willow Creek University, specializing in historical fiction. In my spare time, I volunteer at history museums and explore Montana’s autumnal landscapes, which directly inspire my work.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely, 

John Danvers 

Email: [email protected] 

Phone: (555) 123-4567

5. Check if you’ve followed all guidelines 

It’s crucial to meticulously review if you’ve followed all guidelines for genre, theme, short story length, formatting, and file format. Here are some other important pointers to consider: 

• • • • • Submission method: Follow the exact submission process, whether it’s via email, online form, or postal mail.
        • Simultaneous submissions: Check if the publication allows short story submissions to multiple places simultaneously.
        • Cover letter: If required, prepare a cover letter adhering to any specific instructions.
        • Rights: Understand what rights you’re granting if your story is accepted.
        • Deadline: Ensure you’re submitting within the specified submission window. 

Where can you publish your short story? 

You can publish your story in literary magazines, anthologies, and online platforms. You can also self-publish your story on self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP. Alternatively, you can also submit your stories to writing contests for publication. 

Browse through a list of platforms where you can submit your story! 

1. Literary magazines 

Here are some literary magazines to submit to: 

• • • • • • • The New Yorker  
            • The Paris Review 
            • Granta 
            • Clarkesworld
            • Asimov’s Science Fiction
            • Nightmare Magazine
            • The Dark Magazine
            • Tin House
            • McSweeney’s
            • The Kenyon Review

2. Anthologies 

Following are the anthologies that writers can submit to: 

• • • • • • • • • Best American Short Stories
                • The O. Henry Prize Stories
                • The Pushcart Prize Anthology
                • The Year’s Best Science Fiction
                • The Year’s Best Dark Fantasy & Horror

3. Self-publishing platforms 

Here are the best self-publishing platforms writers can submit to: 

• • • • • • • • • • • Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
                    • IngramSpark 
                    • Apple Pages 
                    • Kobo Writing Life 
                    • Barnes & Noble Press 

4. Writing contests 

Some of the best writing contests that accept short story submissions are: 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • The Writer’s Digest Short Story Competition
                        • The Bridport Prize
                        • The Bath Short Story Award
                        • The Nebula Awards
                        • The Bram Stoker Award

5. Other online platforms 

Some other online platforms where you can submit your short stories are: 

• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • The Short Story Project
                            • The Rumpus 
                            • The Millions 
                            • Electric Literature 
                            • LitHub 

Bonus tip: You can search on websites like submittable.com and duotrope.com for contests inviting short story submissions for new writers. 

How much does it cost to publish a short story? 

The cost to publish a short story varies widely depending on the publishing method you choose. It usually costs 0-$50 to publish a short story. While publishing on some self-publishing platforms is free, publishing in magazines and other platforms may have additional charges.

Common mistakes to avoid while submitting your short story 

Some common mistakes you need to avoid are: 

1. Submitting a story that isn’t ready 

Submitting a story without proper editing and proofreading reduces its chances of publication. Editors expect polished work, and any errors can make a story look unprofessional 

2. Submitting a story without any feedback 

If the story is submitted without feedback from beta readers, this harms its chances of selection. Beta readers provide useful suggestions to improve the story for the target audience. 

3. Not following the submission guidelines

Ignoring submission guidelines can lead to instant rejection, even if your story is excellent. Magazines, platforms, and contests often have strict requirements for formatting, file types, and even the short story length. It’s crucial to pay attention to all guidelines before submission. 

4. Submitting a story that isn’t a good fit 

Submitting a story that is not a good fit for the target audience, tone, and genre of the chosen magazine or contest will definitely get rejected. Furthermore, submitting a story that is too similar to something you’ve already published or to a story that has already appeared elsewhere can also lead to rejection. 

How to create an eBook for your short story collection? 

Once you select your short stories and edit and proofread them, the next step is to create an eBook. The following are the steps to create an eBook for your story: 

1. Finalize the book title and cover design 

Once you select an attractive title, you can either create a book cover or hire book cover design services. Canva, AdobeSpark, Crello, and BookBrush are useful book cover design tools. 

Alternatively, you can select from the best book cover design services offered by PaperTrue, BookBaby, Kirkus Reviews, Ebooklaunch, MiblArt, etc. 

2. Decide the formatting style 

This involves deciding the font type, font size, line spacing, alignment, margins, indentation, and chapter headings. You also need to format the images along with any footnotes and end notes. 

3. Choose a tool or service for creating an eBook 

You can choose from eBook creator tools like Apple Pages, Kindle Create, Draft2Digital, and Atticus to convert your book into an eBook. However, this can be a tedious process. Alternatively, you can opt for the best eBook conversion services offered by PaperTrue. 

4. Select book formatting software or services 

You can use book formatting software like Kindle Create and Vellum. Alternatively, you can also opt for PaperTrue’s services if you require professional formatting for your book. 

5. Decide the pricing 

To set the right price, consider your genre and target audience. Research similar eBooks in your genre to understand the price range for your genre. Also, consider your production costs and desired profit margin to decide a profitable price for your eBook.

6. Choose online publishing platforms to publish 

You can choose from online platforms like Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, Lulu, Draft2Digital, PublishDrive, Blurb, and BookBaby to publish your short story collection. Barnes & Noble, Apple Pages, Kobo Writing Life, and Smashwords are other platforms you can consider. 

How do you market your short story? 

The simplest way to promote your short story is by using social media (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, etc.) Some practical strategies to get maximum readers for your story are: 

1. Use targeted hashtags 

Use a mix of broad hashtags and specific hashtags to reach a wider audience. Broad hashtags are related to bigger categories (e.g. #shortstory, #fiction). In contrast, specific hashtags target a more niche audience (e.g. #mysterythriller, #indieauthor) 

You can also group related hashtags to make it easier to read. To find the best hashtags, you can research competitors’ posts and use tools like Hashtagify.me, All Hashtag, and RiteTag. 

2. Market your literary work through Goodreads 

This is one of the best strategies for promoting a short story collection. You can create an author profile to promote your literary work through Goodreads. Add an engaging bio and accurate details of your book’s title, genre, and publication details. 

Joining Goodread groups related to your book’s genre, engaging with readers, and hosting giveaways are other ways to promote your book. 

3. Consider paid advertising

Use platforms like Facebook Ads, Google Ads, or Amazon Ads to target your ideal readers based on their location, interests, and reading habits. For the best results, experiment with ad formats like image ads, video ads, or text ads. 

4. Market it through your newsletter and author website

To promote your story, provide a brief teaser of what your story is about. You can mention an intriguing quote, a plot twist, or an unexplored theme that your story contains. Include an eye-catching image, video, or GIF to make your email/post more appealing. 

5. Reach out to libraries, writing communities, and book review clubs 

You can contact libraries, writing communities, and book review clubs to promote your eBook. If possible, you can ask them to organize an event where you can read an excerpt of your book and offer signed copies. 

6. Free or discount offer 

You can also offer free copies of your book in exchange for reviews. Alternatively, you can allow readers to view one short story for free to entice them to buy the book. Also, by running a limited-time discount promotion, you can attract new readers. 

We hope this article has helped you understand how to get a short story published. If you’re unsure about how to edit a short story, we can help! As trusted providers of editing and proofreading services, we can eliminate all errors from your story. We also provide high-quality typesetting services to enhance your short story. 

Furthermore, we can upload your short story collection to self-publishing platforms like Amazon KDP, Barnes & Noble, CreateSpace, Lulu, etc. Get in touch for more information about our services! 

Here are some other useful resources for you: 

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Priya

Priya has a talent for academic research and enjoys simplifying complex topics. When she's not helping students improve their writing, she can be seen reading poetry, playing the harmonium, or learning classical dance.