Getting Your Short Story Published: What You Need to Know About Submission, Rights and Payments

By Rayne Hall, @RayneHall

Part of the Focus on Short Fiction Series

JH: Writers are on their own when it comes to the business side of short stories. Rayne Hall explains what you need to know when submitting and publishing your short fiction.

We’re in a ‘golden age’ for short stories, with more opportunities for short story authors than ever before. This doesn’t mean that getting your tales published is easy, or a way to earn riches fast.

You need to be sure that your stories are good, and you need to submit them to the right markets.

Where To Submit Your Story

If your story falls under a category (a ‘genre’), focus on markets specializing in that genre, because there your chances of acceptance are greatest.

Selling Short Fiction, Part One: The Basics

By José Pablo Iriarte, @LabyrinthRat

Part of the Focus on Short Fiction Series

JH: There are a few things you ought to know before diving into the short story market. José Pablo Iriarte answers questions writers often have with short fiction.

When my spouse and I give presentations to conferences and writing groups, I'm usually the grumpy one who wants to focus on craft more than business, because I believe no gimmick or pitch is going to make you a selling writer if your craft is not professional grade.

That said, I've seen enough red flags in magazine practices, in contest submission guidelines, and in assumptions expressed by new writers to make be feel that we definitely should talk about the business side of things, when you're a short story writer. You might have a sense, from reading Fiction University and from other sources, of how you approach novel publication. Some of those lessons overlap into short fiction, but in many ways the short fiction landscape is unique, so it's worth talking a little bit about how to seek publication.

The Agent Lens: Advice from an Author Turned Agent

By Joyce Sweeney

Part of The Writer’s Life Series 

JH: Seeing multiple sides of the publishing industry can give someone a different perspective on it. Joyce Sweeney shares thoughts on making the switch from author/editor to literary agent.

Joyce Sweeney is the author of fourteen novels for young adults and two chapbooks of poetry. Her books have won many awards and honors. Joyce has recently switched to writing adult fiction and is represented by Nicole Resciniti of the Seymour agency.

Joyce has also been a writing teacher and coach for 25 years and offers online classes. In 2019, she, Jamie Morris and Tia Levings released Plotting Your Novel with The Plot Clock (Giantess Press). At this writing, 64 of Joyce’s students have successfully obtained traditional publishing contracts.

Joyce lives in Coral Springs with her husband, Jay and caffeine-addicted cat, Nitro.

Take it away Joyce…

The Spit Shine: Things to Check Before You Submit (or Publish) Your Novel

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

There's a lot to remember when revising a novel, so here's a list of words to check before you declare that novel "finished." 

I love checklists, especially ones that I can use to easily improve my manuscript. My master editing list is always a favorite, and I like to bring it out at least once a year for the new readers. For long-time readers, I've added a few new words as well.

One of the last things I do with a novel before I call it "done," is to go through a list of words I know I overuse (or misuse), words I shouldn't use many of, words that often spell trouble, and words to avoid. I search for each one and decide if I really need it, or if the sentence would be better without it. It's boring and tedious, but it does force me to focus on those little edits that can really tighten a manuscript.

I call it the spit shine.

This long list has developed over years from various books, posts, conferences, etc. on how to write and edit. I've found it very helpful in cleaning up stragglers and tightening the prose.

Even better, after you've done this a few times, you'll stop using a lot of these words, because you've trained yourself out of it. Your early drafts will be tighter and need less editing.

The Dating, er, Agent-Search Game

By Lisa Lowe Stauffer, @LisaLStauffer

Part of The Writer's Life Series 

JH: Finding an agent is almost as challenging (if not more so) than finding a publisher for your manuscript. Lisa Lowe Stauffer visits the lecture hall today with tips on how to make the most of your agent search.

Lisa Lowe Stauffer, author of Two By Two (Zonderkidz, 2018). She stays busy writing books for children and teens, volunteering with SCBWI as the Assistant Regional Adviser to Southern Breeze region, and traveling with her own red-headed husband.

Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter |

Take it away Lisa…

I Quit: When to Give Up on a Novel

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

When it is time to call it quits with your manuscript?

Unless you're one of the rare lucky ones to sell the first book you ever wrote, you'll have that moment when you wonder if it's time to shove your baby in the trunk. I've had those thoughts twice with just one manuscript, and I re-wrote and re-submitted my first novel. The first time I decided it wasn't time to give up and slaved away another year. The second time, I knew it was over.

How?

Well, 50 rejections made it pretty clear that the novel had problems, but what really convinced me was the nagging feeling I'd had that the book wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either. Good wasn't going to cut it and get me published. It was hard to admit that I had a decently written novel with an overdone plot. But I knew. Oh, I knew.

What Your Query Says About Your Book

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy


The query letter is a valuable tool for writers. Not only does it help them clarify their idea, it's the letter that will hook and agent or editor, or become the cover copy that will make a reader buy the book. Writing one is a smart move, whether you're going indie or traditional publishing.

The query letter is the first impression your manuscript will make on someone, and when it doesn't make a good impression, it's not uncommon to ask (often in frustration), "How much can you really tell about my book from a query anyway?"

A lot, actually. And not just about the book.

Why Did I Get a ‘No’? – The Do’s and Don’ts of Query Letter Writing

By Mark Gottlieb

Part of the How They Do It Series

JH: Please help me welcome literary agent Mark Gottlieb to the lecture hall today, to share his thoughts on writing that all-important query letter.

Mark Gottlieb attended Emerson College and was President of its Publishing Club, establishing the Wilde Press. After graduating with a degree in writing, literature & publishing, he began his career with Penguin’s VP. Mark’s first position at Publishers Marketplace’s #1-ranked literary agency, Trident Media Group, was in foreign rights. Mark was EA to Trident’s Chairman and ran the Audio Department. Mark is currently working with his own client list, helping to manage and grow author careers with the unique resources available to Trident. He has ranked #1 among Literary Agents on publishersmarketplace.com in Overall Deals and other categories.

Take it away Mark...

Are We Done Yet? How To You Know if Your Novel is Ready to Submit

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy


"How can I tell if my manuscript is finished?" is a pretty common question for new writers. There's that rush as you write the last word, but more work is to come. Revision after revision after revision goes by, and then the itchiness to get moving starts.

You're sick of the book and want to send it out.

You can't wait any more to hear what agents have to say.

You just heard about someone getting a big deal in your genre and you feel now is the time to strike.

Trying to Sell Novels Outside the Mainstream

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

A commenter asked...

"I would like to see you write about novels that are so original and different they fall outside the desired mainstream. I suspect there are a number of us who fear we just may have written this type. I would also like to see you address the issue of whether an agent will be interested in novels like this at all. Is this a non-starter?"

I'm going to preface this by saying I'm not an agent or editor, so everything I'm about to say is purely my opinion based on what I've read and conversations with those in the biz.

The Hunt is On! How to Find an Agent

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Having a literary agent has been one of the major first steps of writers seeking publication for decades. Getting an agent was sometimes harder than getting a publisher, and writers agonized over no one ever taking them on as a client. But in today's changing publishing landscape, many writers are questioning whether pursuing an agent is necessary, or the right path for them. There's no right direction here, it's just what you want for your writing career.

If you choose to go the agent route (still the preferred method for those seeking a traditional publishing path), here is a handy-dandy guide for finding an agent.

Formatting Your Manuscript for Submission

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Submitting a manuscript to an agent or editor can be a terrifying experience. We worry about every little detail we might have missed and if that slip up will get us rejected.

Courier or Times Roman? 10 or 12 point? Double or single spaced?

Don't fret. As long as your manuscript is readable and follows some very simple guides, you'll be fine. (Well, your story still has to wow, but that's a whole other article)

Making a Buck With Your Writing While Waiting at the Dock

By Cathy Hall, @cathychall

Part of the How They Do It Series

Novels can take a long time to both write and sell, but that doesn't mean we have to sit quietly and wait until that happens. Please help me welcome Cathy Hall to the lecture stage today, to share some tips on getting your writing out there--and getting paid for it--while you're waiting for your novel to find a home.

Cathy C. Hall will one day sell her very own book. In the meantime, she’s busy making a buck, selling whatever. (Well, that didn’t come out quite right. Just go see her blog and you’ll see what she’s working on now. Oh! And you’ll get more writing stuff, too.)

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Stories and Bylines

Take it away Cathy...

Your Writing Questions Answered: The Query and Submission Round-Up

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Feels like a good day to pull out another handful of reader questions. Everyone offered so many great ones that I'm still working my way through them. This time, it's a round-up of some querying and submission questions.

Q: If we have writing/publishing work experience, but it was long ago, should we mention it in a query letter? I was the managing editor of a magazine way back in 2000/2001 and I would like to mention this in my letter, but...I fear it would look like I must have sucked or quit since I'm no longer in that business. The truth is, the turn of the millennium was rough, economy-wise. After 9/11, lots of publications went out of print. I became a lawyer when my final magazine shut down and I got tired of getting laid off. But since one shouldn't talk in a query letter about work experience that's not relevant to writing, my whiny lawyer story will remain untold. How do we explain good, writing-related work experience that is...old?

Are Writing Contests and Book Reviews Worth It?

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

Today's question covers more than just writing contests, but the industry professionals I contacted had very similar thoughts on the book review aspect. Reviews are pretty much an after-the-sale issue, not something that would help you land an agent:

Q: Talking to established writers, or those within a specific genre, the common wisdom seems to be: enter lots of contests hosted by your genre association, plunking down bucks; cross your fingers that you'll win something to at least catch an agent's attention; use that win to promote yourself to established review channels; catch a wave of sales through an established channel, either through a book distributor or web site that uses this filter to sort through all the new books; use that bona fide to leverage your next book, ad infinitum.

Are these really all they're cracked up to me, especially now that self-publishing and eBooks have unleashed a torrent of new books and writers? Is the Amazon model of peer reviews the only way to go? Does that work for new, lesser known authors? Are contests really worth the bucks? I'd be interested in hearing from an agent, a book reviewer, a book buyer, and/or a new author who used this technique. Also, hearing from your readers how many this DIDN'T work for.

A: Let's tackle the book contests first. I've never entered a contest, and never felt the need to do so. I don't think any writer needs to in order to get an agent or get published. Unless the prize is a publishing contract, a contest win does not equal a book contract. I always felt it was smarter to submit to agents and editors, who can help achieve the goal of selling a book.

Guest Author Alythia Brown: Silence After the Partial Request—What is the Agent NOT Saying?

By Aly Brown, @AlyConnerBrown

Please help me welcome Aly Brown to the blog today, to chat with us about that scary time between hitting send and hearing back from an agent, and what might be causing that silence.

Aly Brown is a newspaper editor and author represented by BookEnds LLC. She recently inked a deal with Feiwel & Friends / Macmillan for a nonfiction middle grade book on Alvin Submersible called The Last Unexplored Place on Earth. Release date 2023.

Website | Twitter | Grammar Chicken

Take it away Aly...

A Q&A With Nelson Literary Agency's Anita Mumm

I'm extra delighted to welcome Anita Mumm to the blog today. I first met Anita when she joined Nelson Literary Agency several years ago. We got to chat over weekly emails, and she always had something funny or interesting to share (and kept me updated on Denver trivia as well as my business things). Now she's the Submissions & Asian Territory Rights Manager, with quite a few success stories under her belt. She recently launched a blog about writing and publishing at Word Cafe, but she's been offering helpful advice for years as part of the NLA monthly newsletter. She's here to answer some questions about her job and the query/submission process.

Anita joined Nelson Literary Agency in early 2010. As NLA’s talent scout, she screens all incoming submissions and presents and takes pitches at conferences across the country. Anita has picked a number of exciting new authors for the company, including Stefan Bachmann, whose debut novel The Peculiar (September 2012) sold in a major auction to Greenwillow/HarperCollins; Jennifer Shaw Wolf, author of the edgy young adult novels Breaking Beautiful (Walker, April 2012) and Shards of Glass (Walker, 2013); and Monica Trasandes, author of the debut literary novel Broken Like This (Thomas Dunne, November 2012). In addition to her role as submissions manager, Anita is NLA’s foreign rights manager for the Asian territories. She taught English and creative writing to international students in the U.S., China, and France before joining the publishing industry, and she is thrilled to bring her love of language, books, and cultures to her work at NLA.

Now on to Anita's Q&A...

Angela Ackerman Shares The Key To Success (I Promise!)

By Angela Ackerman

Part of the How They Do It Series   

JH: The Amazing Angela Ackerman and I are doing a blog swap today, so you can find her here and me over at The Bookshelf Muse sharing some tips on style (from a prose standpoint of course). When you're done here, pop on over and take a peek there and join in the fun. Angela's blog is a treasure trove of information and her extensive thesaurus posts cover everything from emotions, to character traits to settings.
Angela is one half of The Bookshelf Muse duo, and co-author of The Emotion Thesaurus: A Writer's Guide To Character Expression. This show-don't-tell brainstorming tool contains lists of body language, thoughts and visceral sensations for seventy-five emotions, ensuring writers will find the right description for any emotional moment.

Take it away Angela...

A Journey Through Massive Edits In Ten Easy Steps

By Paul Welch

JH: I'm excited about today's post. A few months ago, Paul Welch wrote me to say thanks for some of my revision posts. He had a huge novel to cut down and my advice helped a lot (which totally made my day). We got to chatting and he told me his amazing story and what he did to turn a massive novel into something he could submit. I was so inspired by his tale, I asked him to guest post and share it with you guys.

Paul is an award-winning professional actor, writer and voice, speech and text specialist living in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is currently seeking representation for his first epic fantasy, IN THE SHADOWS OF THE DAWN. It is the first in a proposed trilogy. Ironically, he had to cut over 700 words from this blog post.

This story is for everyone who says they can't cut that novel. It can be done, and Paul is proof of that.

Take it away Paul...

Taking Control: Revising From Agent or Editor Feedback

By Janice Hardy, @Janice_Hardy

We spend a lot of time and effort on our books, so sometimes the thought of changing a single word can be disheartening. But revisions are a part of publishing, so at some point there will be a lot of fingers in the same literary pie. This can be intimidating, and might even make you feel like you're losing control of your own work.

When an agent or editor asks you for revisions, do you have to sacrifice your vision just to get published?

The answer is a big, huge NO WAY.