SF short story venues that build credibility

I'm building a list of sci-fi short story venues that have some visibility/cross-pollination for authors who also write novels. I'm starting with SFWA listed markets, but honestly, I'm more interested in what message might be sent to a publisher by having a story in a particular venue than qualifying for SFWA. Does anyone have ideas as to other markets with broad circulation or good name recognition? Alternately, how might one establish tiers within the SFWA listed markets by circulation/name recognition? I'd like to pursue venues that connote "writer who might have the skills to finish longer work." Finally, any thoughts as to whether this might be a misguided notion? I see a fair number of writers who publish both novels and short stories, and I'd like some synergy between my efforts in both fields.

Right now, my list is fairly short: Asimov's, Apex, Strange Horizons, Daily Science Fiction, and Clarkesworld. I don't think I'd be ready to give up on a story if it was serially rejected by only five venues, so I need to expand this list at least to ten. Escape Pod, for instance, attracts me because of the crossover list of names that are both novelists and featured there. However, the audio-only venue makes me pause. Writing for voice strikes me as different than writing for the page, though of course, the ear is always engaged when writing.

thank you, Waylander, for the suggestions, and Polenth for the perspective.

lizmonster said:

What kind of benefit are you looking for? Your sig mentions you're on sub; does that mean you're already agented?

I don't think a short story sale is going to make a publisher buy a book they wouldn't already buy, unless you'd received a major amount of press for it (i.e. they can convert your name to $$$ independent of the book itself). But I've been known to be wrong.

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Yes, I'm agented. I've had a fair number of full requests from big publishers that haven't yielded bids/offers. No number of short stories will change that outcome. However, a fair number of publishers didn't request the full even though I think I'm a good match for their house style and editorial focus. I guess I'm just looking to increase the likelihood of a full request since I believe that eventually the manuscript will find the right home.

PastyAlien said:

Agree with the others. I don't think short-story sales will have any effect on your novel sub (actually don't I think short-story sales have any effect on short-story subs. *stares sadly at latest Rs*). But it's soul destroying a fun challenge to try to get a short story published in a pro or semi-pro market. Do you use the Submission Grinder? You can search by Market Qualification (SFWA or whatever), and/or Minimum Pay (you can put in 8 ¢/word for pro-pay markets). This will also bring up anthos and contests and whatnot. It's verrah handy!

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I appreciate the perspective from people. I think my instincts have been formed by the literary world, where it is very common for short stories to precede novels, and where short story collections often serve as author debuts.

I used to track submissions through Duotrope when I was a more active poet. I stumbled across Submission Grinder once I became active on AW and love it as a free alternative that seems to be very well populated with data for SF magazines.And searching by pro rates is probably the right placeholder for the less tangible quality I'm looking for.

As regards wait times, Introversion, I'm a survivor of scholarly journals and poetry ones where six months to a year was practically the norm. I'm agog at publications that get back to people within four months.