a good start for a first timer?

darkkazier · Sep 20, 2006

I just wanted ot know if their was any good places someone who has never had a short story published should look into. I am trying to write some short stories and get them published but i have never had anything published before.

Peggy · Sep 20, 2006

The first place to look is on the "Writing Short Fiction" board:
http://absolutewrite.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=15

What genre are your stories? I believe most of the genre boards also list places you can submit your work.

TemlynWriting · Sep 20, 2006

I'll move your thread from Paying Markets to the Short Fiction forum where you'll probably get more replies!

smiley10000 · Sep 21, 2006

Check out Writer's Market or some other place that lists markets.

Don't be concerned about never being published. Just dive right in send it to the best market for your story.

If they don't accept, send it out again and again. Someone will eventually pick it up.

If you aim for the lowest market, you will never know how good your work is...

Good luck!

10000

Variant Frequencies · Sep 21, 2006

Most magazines are open to writers who've never been published, as long as your work is suitable for their market. Do some research, read their guidelines, and read their publication to see if your story is a good fit. http://duotrope.com is a favorite site of mine. They list magazines by genre and other search criteria, and provide links.
Good luck!

Siddow · Sep 21, 2006

Please do take a look at Duotrope. You can click on the link on the right of the page where it says "Response Time Stats", and scroll down to the most approachable markets. Keep in mind, though, that a lot of those are non-paying.

Mike Coombes · Sep 21, 2006

Look in all the same places that published authors look. It's a level playing field - work is judged on it's own merits, not on what the writer did last time around.

pdr · Sep 21, 2006

Market lists

And we do have many excellent market lists stickied at the top of this Short Fiction thread. Start there and be sure to go to the bottom of the list too where some new ones have been added.

Kate Thornton · Sep 22, 2006

And use the Share Your Work area here if you would like your stories critiqued before you send them out!

PeeDee · Oct 2, 2006

Mike Coombes said:
Look in all the same places that published authors look. It's a level playing field - work is judged on it's own merits, not on what the writer did last time around.

Well. At least for short stories, anyway. At least, for a little while.

KTC · Oct 2, 2006

Try www.placesforwriters.com

They have a thorough listing for calls and contests. Excellent resource.

PeeDee · Oct 2, 2006

I'd never seen that site before, what a useful place.

KTC · Oct 2, 2006

It's fantastic, PeeDee. Down that middle section there...they update every couple a days or so. It's phenomenal.

Lee G. · Oct 2, 2006

I'd never seen that website either. Really great, although I wish the list of writing grants included some that Americans could qualify for. BTW, does anyone know if a list of American writing grants can be found somewhere online?

Lee G. · Oct 3, 2006

^ I decided to find a website listing U.S. writer's grants myself instead of asking someone else to just hand deliver the answer.

I found a good one at the Poets and Writers website, if anyone's interested. http://www.pw.org/mag/grantsawards.htm

Kate Thornton · Oct 4, 2006

Thanks so much! That's a good list!

a good start for a first timer?

darkkazier

Peggy

TemlynWriting

The Tony Award-winning

smiley10000

What do we do? We write...

Variant Frequencies

Podcaster

Siddow

I'm super! Thanks for asking

Mike Coombes

Guru

pdr

Kate Thornton

Still Happy to be Here. Or Anywhere

PeeDee

Where's my tea, please...?

KTC

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