most prestigious on-line lit journals?

[doeraymee]

There are TONS of on-line literary journals out there. Does anyone know WHICH ones are considered prestigious by most book agents and publishers? I'm thinking specifally of general or literary fiction (not genre). I would like to compile a list of these for future submissions. I have started with the ones that are listed in the Million Writers Award Notable Stories of 2005 at http://www.storysouth.com/millionwri...lestories.html (http://www.storysouth.com/millionwriters/2005notablestories.html) but would be interested in hearing about more.
I'm aware that there are many print ones, too, but for now I'm just focussing on the on-line journals.
Also, another question: with so many markets, how do you decide where to send your work? I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now.
Would love to hear some thoughts about this. Thanks!

[Pnin]

This is a tough question to answer. For several reasons, many editors still consider online publications to be of lesser value than print pubs. (This is not necessarily fair, of course). However, there are a few that are considered "better," because of a history of big-name contributors, a companion print edition, etc. The most obvious of these is mississippireview.com, the companion but totally separate online pub for the legendary journal The Mississippi Review. Other journals with a separate but equal online presence are Agni and Conjunctions, in which a publication is going to look mighty good on a cover letter, certainly better than a no-name print journal. Other strictly web journals that are considered quality are nerve.com and failbetter.com. I'm sure there are more but I can't think of any right now. To be honest, at the moment online publications carry less weight than traditional publications, though that may change in the future. You can read on storysouth the trials and tribulations of trying to earn respect from the establishment for an online journal.

For the second part of your question: Your idea of checking "Best of" lists to see where stories were published is a good one. Check put the Best American and O. Henry anthologies -- you'll find the same fifty or sixty journals are publishing the prize-winning stories each year. Look at newly released short-story collections or collections by your favorite short -story writer and see where the stories were originally published. Go online and read samples (most journals post excerpts from their current issue), go to the bookstore/library and browse the literary journal section, and, most importantly (if you can afford it), subscribe to a few journals that seem interesting. You need to know something about the journals you're submitting to. Good luck.

[doeraymee]

Thanks Pnin. I have been doing a LOT of on-line reading lately! might need new glasses soon LOL

[Mike Coombes]

Go to Duotrope.com and search for online publications that pay pro rates. That's a reasonable yardstick.

[doeraymee]

Thanks. Just this morning I came across this website. Seems I've found the answer to my questions!
http://www.mamohanraj.com/Writing/litmarket.html

[pdr]

Another great site for our markets list stickied at the top of this thread.