Short Stories

Write Right · Oct 21, 2009

Hello. I have written several short stories (with more to come) and would like to seek an agent/publisher. However, I am not sure as to how to format my query letter. I have sent submissions for complete novels before, but never for short stories. What is the correct method of querying when seeking an agent for short stories? Your response is greatly appreciated.

Thank You,
E. Fierro

jclarkdawe · Oct 21, 2009

Short stories are published by magazines, very rarely as anthologies. The query would be sent to the editor. Query is very brief and the short story is usually sent with it. The description in the query should only be one or two sentences long.

Best of luck,

Jim Clark-Dawe

waylander · Oct 22, 2009

Agents do not handle short stories.
The only occasion where they might is for an existing client pitching to a closed anthology
There is no prospect of selling a collection of short stories unless the majority of them have been published in (preferably) high profile magazines.

ChaosTitan · Oct 22, 2009

Ditto what they said. While it's possible to get an agent to represent a short story collection, they don't rep individual shorts. The money just isn't there and shorts are something you can sell on your own, sans agent.

mysterygrl · Oct 22, 2009

Check Duotrope's Digest for a list of short story and anthology markets.

Short Stories

Write Right

jclarkdawe

Feeling lucky, Query?

waylander

Who's going for a beer?

ChaosTitan

Around

mysterygrl