How to Get Your First Short Story Published

I’m far from being a professional writer, but I have had a few stories published online, both for money and for exposure, by various literary websites.* I’ve also read manuscripts for a literary agency and literary magazine, so I know a little bit about what it’s like on the other side of the slush pile, too.

Getting that first story online somewhere can seem almost insurmountable — without having been published, it’s tough to know what to include in your cover letter, how to format your manuscript and whether or not your story is actually ready to send off.

It’s a paradox, but it’s my theory that it’s easier to get published once you’ve already been published, much like how it’s usually easier to get a job while you still have one. It’s kind of like a screening process — they know that someone else deemed your work worthy at one point. But it’s not impossible, especially if you focus on newer literary websites and publications that are actively looking for writers.

Below, I’ll help you figure out how to get that first short story published using what I did as an example. Of course, I can’t help with the most important part: writing that story in the first place. Getting to the point where you’re capable of producing something publishable can take a long time and tons of writing practice. If you think you’re at the point where you know you have something people want to read, then the following advice is for you.

Read more at Medium.