Short stories can make bank, too. While your great-aunt Gladys might still believe “writers only do it for the art, not the money,” we’re here to tell you: Some places do put their money where your mouthy little flash fiction is. Whether you write romance gems, dystopian flash about sentient toasters, or spooky shorts that would make Poe proud, there are several publications out there waiting to cash in on your creativity.
Your words deserve more than just views and emoji reactions — they deserve loot. From trendy online journals and famous literary mags to themed anthologies and weird little contests, the short story market is alive and well. Ready to turn your tiny tales into cold, hard currency? In this guide, we’ll walk you through the different types of short stories and the best publications paying for them — and, yes, we’ll even tell you how much. Here are all the things we’ll cover in this blog post:
- The Different Types of Short Stories
- A Shortlist of 7 Paying Markets for Short Stories
The Different Types of Short Stories
Fiction
Short stories come in all shapes and sizes. There’s “flash fiction” (aka the espresso shot of storytelling), delivering plot, punch, and emotional payoff in under 2,000 words. There’s “micro fiction,” even tinier, often wrapping up in just one paragraph — perfect for those who like their narratives at blink-and-you’ll-miss-it pace. On the other end of this measurement, you’ve got your “traditional” short story lengths (typically 7,500 words or less, but it’s up for debate), which can flex a bit more plot muscle and character arc without overstaying their welcome. Think of them as the Goldilocks zone between a quick post and a campfire scare.
Nonfiction
Not all short stories are fiction — the literary world refers to these nonfiction gems as “essays,” where real life gets the narrative treatment, packing emotional punches as powerful as the plots. They are like the memoir’s flirtier cousin: fast, sharp, and always ready to spill the tea. And yes, we’re letting poetry crash the short story party — because sometimes the best messages come dressed in verse.
Worthy Mentions
There are other specialized story shapes that need more room to breathe, like novelettes (stories extending beyond 12,000 words), but be aware that they are not as common for the publications being discussed today. No matter the format, the goal remains the same: Make every word work overtime. Write literary heartbreaks, speculative twists, horrific tales, original meet-cutes, comedic chaos in miniature — Whatever your imagination desires! — and then find the right hungry home for your space-conscious brilliance.
A Shortlist of 7 Paying Markets for Short Stories
The publications listed below — ranging from glossy print mags launching literary careers since before your grandparents were born to trendy online zines and one-off anthology books — do not require an agent to submit your work, just your finest wordsmithing. Each publisher’s heading is a link that leads straight to their current guidelines page, and they update their calls for open submissions seasonally and sporadically, so it’s worth checking in on them often.
1. Brigids Gate Press
Stories: Up to 5,000 Words | $0.10 per Word
Poems: Up to 32 Lines | $50
Drabbles: 100 Words | $50
Established in 2021, Brigids Gate Press is an indie press that seeks “to be a forge where new and underrepresented talents are refined and developed, and their stories shaped and tempered into beautiful, dark, mysterious, and thrilling tales that will delight readers.” Their focus is horror, dark fantasy, poetry, and romance. They love genre mashups and market several themed anthologies every year, comprised of submissions from writers like you. In addition to real hard cash via PayPal, all authors chosen to be published also receive free copies of the book.
2. The Deadlands Magazine
Fiction: Up to 5,000 Words | $0.10 per Word | Reprints: $0.01 per Word
Nonfiction: Essays Between 1,000–4,000 Words | $100 per Essay
Poetry: Up to Three (3) Poems per Open Call | $50 per Poem
If your fiction flirts with the afterlife, The Deadlands is dying to read it. This quarterly speculative fiction magazine explores death in all its forms. They publish short stories, poems, and essays about “the other realms, of the ends we face here, and the beginnings we find elsewhere.” As they are happy to read translations, they encourage authors from all around the world to submit their work. They pay via PayPal, Western Union, World Remit, and Xoom.
3. Flash Fiction Online
Word Count: 500–1,000 Words | $100 per Original Story | Reprints $36
Not all great stories need a long leash. “Bold. Brief. Beautiful. Fiction in Fewer Words.” That’s the Flash Fiction Online motto. Specializing in stories under 1,000 words, this well-paying magazine accepts everything from the speculative to the literary, humorous to heartfelt, and the editors are refreshingly into genre mixing. Submissions for new themed prompts open monthly, making it a regular stop for writers who like a dependable routine. They make their payments via PayPal or a mailed check.
4. The Sun Magazine
Personal Essays, Fiction, and Poetry: Stories Up to 7,000 Words or 5 Poems at Once | $200 and Up, Based on Length
The Sun publishes personal essays, short stories, and poems by established and emerging writers anywhere in the world. They especially encourage submissions from writers whose perspectives are currently underrepresented in or missing from their publication, specifically stating: “We are particularly looking for work by writers of color, queer and trans writers, writers with disabilities, incarcerated writers, and others who are marginalized on the basis of their circumstances or identity.” They offer payment via PayPal or direct deposit.
5. The Dread Machine
Original Fiction: Up to 4,000 Words | $0.05 per Word
Reprints: Up to 7,000 Words | $0.01 per Word
Poetry: Up to 50 Lines | 3 Poems Max | $10 per Poem
Original Translations: $0.05 per Word to the Translator | $0.05 per Word to the Author
Self-described as a neon-soaked community art project, The Dread Machine publishes futuristic fiction: dark, speculative, cyberpunk, slipstream, and science fiction. As you can imagine, they are a community of “tech-obsessed independent creators dedicated to keeping written art alive and evolving.” They also love exploring the depths of human consciousness and the endless possibilities of alternate realities, inspiring them to continuously curate compelling and innovative fiction and poetry. Payments are made through PayPal or Wise.
6. House of Erotica
Short Stories: 3,000–7,000 Words | Upfront Payment + Royalties | Perks
House of Erotica is a full-service pleasure palace for steamy short fiction, which aims to give you “the sweet seduction of someone reading aloud in your ear or the simple pleasure that can be found when combining written words and your imagination.” Along with cash and royalties, they offer perks hotter than a midsummer manuscript: a custom House of Erotica–branded cover design, eBook and audiobook conversion (yes, your words could be read aloud by sultry professionals), and global sales and distribution that gets your work out to readers worldwide. They’re open to a variety of sizzling categories — Vanilla, BDSM, and Multiple Partners, to name a few — so whether your story is sweet, spicy, or straight-up scandalous, there’s probably a place for it here.
7. Bothered Stories
Short Stories: 2,500–5,000 Words | $0.10 per Word
Just the Sex: 869 Word Max | $100 per Piece
Here is a brand-new publication promoting itself as the best place to find high-quality, short-form erotic content. They only accept unparalleled and excellent writing quality, and because of this, your writing must be up to snuff. They want character-driven stories, clear storylines, and sex that’s integral to the plot — bonus points when your characters change over the course of the story.
A Just the Sex piece is exceedingly well-written flash fiction porn, graphic and explicit, that quickly gets readers invested in the characters and scene, turns them on with vivid and sensory body experiences, and then escalates to sex acts and a mind-blowing ending. Bothered Stories publishes every genre of erotic fiction and welcomes the diversity behind all genders, ethnicities, sexualities, relationship types, and sexual activities. Their mission and identity read: “Part tech startup, part publication, we curate content for the reader, inviting diverse and novel audiences to engage with our sexy stories…”
Bought & Paid for Endings
Whether you’re a flash fiction fiend or a connoisseur of compact tales, there is a place ready to turn your prose into profit. Don’t let your brilliant brainchildren languish in the dusty drafts folder — send them off into the world where they can earn their keep. After all, why settle for “Nice story!” when you could get “Nice story! Here’s $200?” Time to write short, submit smart, and cash in on your creativity. Happy writing!
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