Logo

For an unpublished short story writer, what magazines or online publications offer the best chance of being recognized?

10.06.2025 00:29

For an unpublished short story writer, what magazines or online publications offer the best chance of being recognized?

Writer’s Digest (are they even around anymore?) used to have good contests; in 1998 or so, I came in 61st place(!) in the “Literary Short Story” category. I thought that was pretty good; 61st out of hundreds or maybe thousands who entered in that category. Basically my first effort ever in a national competition.

If you’re not shy about that sort of thing, Literotica is a publication specializing in-you guessed it-erotic fiction.

If mystery is your thing, I think Ellery Queen magazine is still around and I assume still takes submissions for contests, etc.

If everyone in Russia dropped into holes in the ground only never to return, would that be good for NATO and international peacekeepers? Can we convince Russians to be less diabolical, so they coexist? Does Putin stink like doo doo in the commode?

Go to a bookstore (a large chain bookstore) and go to the magazine section. Find a magazine of the type of story you’re interested in writing, whether mystery, fantasy/sci-fi, horror, etc. Happy writing!