On Submitting Stories

Writing is hard. Publishing is a mother.

But that's it for complaints because here's the truth: you don't have to do either. But if you've picked up this habit, here are a few tips for submitting short stories in the literary vein.

Pick up a copy of The Best American Short Stories. Flip to the end and you'll find a list of periodicals from which stories for The Best Of series are culled. These are solid magazines and using this list as your starting point will save you the frustration of weeding through the copious listings in a 1100+ page Writer's Market. And you'll have some great stories to read, too. Check the websites for the periodicals you're planning to submit to for current mailing addresses, reading periods, and other requirements.

Simultaneously submit your stories. I know most periodicals discourage simultanous submissions, but do it anyway. If it takes an average of 3-6 months for a rejection letter and, oh, let's say 25 rejections before your story is accepted, you're looking at 6-12 years before you might find a home for a story. Life's too short. Submit your stories simultaneously, just keep it mum. And if your story is accepted, send a retraction to the other periodicals immediately, with your deepest apologies.

Make sure your story is good. Does it have the quality you find in the other stories in your copy of The Best American Short Stories? Well, probably not, but does it come somewhat close? If not, rewrite or move on to the next story. Not every piece will find a home and not every piece should.

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