General Literary Magazines:
* High-paying: The Paris Review, The New Yorker, Granta, Harper's Magazine, Esquire
* Mid-paying: The Atlantic, Glimmer Train, Ploughshares, Tin House, One Story
* Low-paying/Unpaid: Many smaller literary magazines are looking for new voices and may offer minimal payment or none at all. Check submission guidelines.
Genre-Specific Magazines:
* Science Fiction & Fantasy: Clarkesworld, Asimov's Science Fiction, Analog Science Fiction and Fact, Lightspeed, Tor.com
* Horror: Weird Tales, Cemetery Dance, Chilling Tales for Dark Nights, Nightmare Magazine, Apex Magazine
* Romance: Romantic Times, Harlequin, Entangled Publishing, Loveswept, Samhain Publishing
* Mystery & Crime: Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine, Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, The Strand Magazine, Hard Case Crime, Mystery Weekly
Online Platforms:
* Short Story Contests: Writers Digest, The Writer, Writer's Digest Self-Published e-book Awards, etc. (can win prizes and publication)
* Anthology Publishers: Check out publishers like Apex, Tor.com, and others who regularly publish anthologies.
* Self-Publishing: Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark allow you to sell your short stories directly.
Other Options:
* Literary Agents: If you're aiming for publication in high-paying literary magazines or want to sell to major publishing houses, agents can help you get your work noticed.
* Writing Contests: Winning competitions can be a great way to gain recognition and potentially get published.
Tips for Selling Short Stories:
* Read widely: Familiarize yourself with the specific markets you want to target.
* Follow submission guidelines: Each publication has different formatting requirements, word limits, and submission procedures.
* Craft a compelling cover letter: Briefly explain your story's relevance to the magazine and why it's a good fit.
* Be patient: It can take time for your work to be accepted. Keep writing and submitting.
Resources:
* Duotrope: A database of literary magazines and their submission guidelines.
* Submittable: A platform for submitting your work to magazines and contests.
* Writers Digest: A popular magazine and website with resources for writers.
* The Writer: Another magazine and website dedicated to writers.
Remember, the best way to find success in selling your short stories is to write compelling work, research your markets, and be persistent!