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July 12, 2022When most people think about making money from home as a writer, the first thing that comes to mind is writing a novel. But that is not the only way to earn money from writing.
Besides novels and blog articles, you can also get paid to write short stories. Short stories are easy to write and allow you to make money with your creativity.
Short stories have always been a great way for authors to get paid to write for years. It’s the perfect way to start getting published, get new readers, and some exposure while you make money.
So, here are some great places to sell your fiction online and get paid to write stories, as well as what short stories are and how much you can make.
What are Short Stories?
Like a novel, a short story is a narrative with a fully-developed theme, but it is much shorter and simpler. Short stories are usually fictional and from 500 – 20,000 words long.
But you can write non-fiction stories and publish them online too. A short story takes much less time to write, which means you can create them faster, and they are easier to get published. Since they are easy to reproduce, writing short stories for money is a very popular way for writers to earn money working from home.
There are several popular short story genres to choose from:
- Romance
- Fables and animal tales
- Ghost and horror
- Folktales and fairy tales
- Adventure
- Crime and mystery
- Science fiction and fantasy or sci-fi
- Modern stories with a twist
- Erotica
If you like writing short stories in these genres, there are publications out there that will pay for them. There are thousands of paid writing opportunities to choose from.
How Much Can Story Writers Make?
Honestly, writing short stories can net you six figures a year and more if you build a large, engaged audience. It’s a lucrative career like writing articles for magazines and blogs. Because of the broad range of pay per magazine, it’s hard to put an exact number on what you can earn, but you can definitely make a full-time income.
Places to Get Paid to Write Short Stories
Now we are to the part you’ve been waiting for – all those great websites and places to make money writing short stories by category. Whether it’s fiction or non-fiction short stories, these are some great places to submit your work online.
Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror
- Apex
If you write horror, science fiction, or fantasy short stories, this magazine may be perfect for you. Apex is looking for edgy, speculative fiction (fiction that takes place in the real world with supernatural, imagined, or futuristic elements) that pushes boundaries.
It’s a platform that sells paid eBook editions of their monthly issues and free online access to readers. Pay is around $0.06 for each word.
2. Clarkesworld Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine
Clarkesworld is an award-winning magazine that accepts non-fiction and fiction. It publishes monthly editions as well as collections of stories through its book program.
The submission guidelines say that stories should be between 1,000 to 22,000 words and pay is $0.12 for each word. Clarkesworld accepts a broad range of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror. Check the guidelines on the themes that are hard sells for the publication because they see them too much.
3. East of the Web
East of the Web has a large audience and receives more than 500.000 unique monthly visitors. They are looking for creative fantasy and science fiction stories with compelling characters and robust plots.
The nice thing is you can also submit short stories that have been published previously. Pay is $.05 per word for 7,000+ words.
4. Asimov’s Science Fiction
This sci-fi magazine publishes short stories and poetry. The pay is:
- $1 a line for poems (no more than 40 lines),
- $0.08 to $0.10 per word for stories up to 7,500 words, and $0.08 per word for stories over 7,500 words
They rarely buy short stories under 1,000 words or over 20.000 words.
Asimov’s is looking for stories that are more character-oriented vs. science. Serious yet accessible fiction stories are their most common purchases, but they also publish borderline fantasy, surreal fiction, slipstream, and humorous sci-fi stories.
5. Daily Science Fiction
Daily Science Fiction publishes original science fiction stories daily. This publication is looking for really short stories from 100 to 1,500 words. It is not looking for horror, just sci-fi, so check out their submission guidelines for more information.
They will also consider a series of three or more flash fiction tales. Pay is $0.08 for each word.
6. Flash Fiction Online
Flash Fiction Online also publishes monthly magazines with short stories. They like short horror stories as well as literary, science fiction, and fantasy.
Pay is $60 per accepted submission, from 500 to 1,000 words.
7. Analog
If you love writing science fiction short stories, Analog is the perfect publication to submit your work to. It’s a popular science fiction magazine for short stories based on future technology or science. These two components are so vital that if they were removed, the story would not work.
They give Frankenstein as an example – think of that book without the science aspect.
You can also publish non-fiction fact articles on leading scientific research and poems here. Payment is:
- $0.06 per word for short fiction stories up to 20,000 words
- $0.06 per word for serials (40,000 to 80,000 words)
- $0.09 per word for fact articles
- $1 for each line of poetry
- Giganotosaurus
Giganotosaurus publishes science fiction stories from 5,000 to 25,000 words. It takes all fantasy and sci-fi topics. This publication publishes one new story each month and looks to include stories from a variety of cultural backgrounds, gender, and sexual orientation.
The pay is $100 for each story accepted.
2. Strange Horizons
Strange Horizons is another online magazine that publishes short fiction stories in the following genres:
- Science fiction
- Horror
- Fantastika
- Fantasy
- Slipstream
Strange Horizons also accepts poetry, reviews, art, and non-fiction. Pay ranges from $0.10 per word to $200 for original artwork. See the above submission guidelines for more information on how much money you can make for each category.
Contemporary Literature
3. Agni
Agni accepts memoirs, personal essays, poems, short stories, and thought pieces. However, they do not accept any short stories or essays on science fiction, horror, mystery, or romance.
Pay is $10 per page for each essay or short story and $20 per page for poems.
4. Boulevard
This award-winning journal has been publishing essays, short stories, and poetry since 1985. One feature that sets it apart is that it encourages new writers to submit their work, so it is a great way to make money writing as a beginner.
Boulevard only accepts contemporary literary fiction and no genre fiction. It accepts works up to 8,000 words, and there is a $3 submission fee through Submittable.
Payment is $100 to $300 for prose, $50 to $250 for poetry, and $50 for the Natural Bridge Online publication.
5. Carve
Carve accepts fiction, non-fiction, and poems. They accept free submissions by mail or through Submittable for $3 like Boulevard. They are looking for soul, honesty, and emotional jeopardy in short stories and pay $100. Carve also offers feedback on 5 to 10 percent of the submissions they decline, which is nice.
They accept quiet and expansive poetry and pay $50 per piece. Carve also accepts narrative non-fiction works by writers that focus on personal perspectives.
6. Ploughshares
Ploughshares publishes a paper journal edition three times a year and is one of the most well-known and respected literary journals worldwide. They accept submissions from June 1 through January 15.
Guidelines for journal submission explain their expectations. It accepts non-fiction and fiction short stories less than 7,500 words. However, they also accept longer works (any 7,500 to 20,000-word count) for its Ploughshares Fall Longform issue.
Pay for long-form content is $450 upon publication and short stories are $45 per printed page, $90 minimum per title, or $450 maximum per author.
7. Threepenny Review
The Threepenny Review is a general literary publication that accepts short literary fiction stories, essays, poetry, and other non-fiction pieces. The magazine is published quarterly.
Currently, the Threepenny Review pays writers $400 per article or story and $200 per poem. You can only submit work at certain times of the year, so you’ll have to pay attention to the submission guidelines to learn more.
Romance
8. Shades of Romance
This quarterly magazine publishes digital and print forms on stories about and by people of color. Any romance genre is accepted except erotica. The magazine also publishes pieces on writing tips and tricks and inspirational and motivational non-fiction.
Shades of Romance wants you to send a query letter before submitting and pays $25 per short story.
9. The Lascaux Review
This online literary magazine publishes art, fiction, non-fiction, and poetry by established and new writers. They accept short stories in the following genres:
- Romance
- Mystery
- Sci-Fi
- Horror
And more. The Lascaux Review also has contests for flash fiction, poetry, short fiction, and non-fiction where you can win $1,000. And you can also submit blog posts for the Bistro, their blog.
See The Lascaux Review’s submission guidelines for more information. Payment varies.
Crime and Mystery
- Listverse
Listverse is another great website where you can get paid $100 for each short story in list format with at least 10 items. Their rules are simple. They require one to two paragraphs per list linked to reputable sources; just make sure to check their guidelines.
The most popular lists are novel and off-beat in topics like misconceptions, unsolved mysteries, and astonishing general knowledge. They do not accept personal stories or lists on gaming, self-help, and sports.
2. Cracked
Cracked is another website that features list articles on funny, novel, and interesting topics. They list examples like The Actual Answers to 6 Famously Unsolved Movie/TV Mysteries, 6 Books Everyone (including your English teacher) Got Wrong, etc.
Cracked pays well – $150 for your first four stories and $250 for each story after that. Fans love the stories in Cracked, and the magazine has a large online following.
3. Crimespree
Crimespree Magazine is always looking for new content and new authors that have written short stories on normal non-fiction and fresh takes that don’t go by the book. Their submission guidelines even say that this is the place to get your foot in the door.
Submissions are temporarily closed but check back for this unique opportunity to get paid to write a short mystery story.
Other Places to Publish Short Stories
- The Sun Magazine
This magazine is a reader-supported, ad-free magazine best described as thoughtful, dark, funny, tender, fierce, and celebratory. It accepts essays, poetry, personal stories, and fiction.
If your personal story includes cultural and political issues, it’s welcome, and they strongly encourage writers of color to submit their work. Your work should be 7,000 words or less.
The pay is excellent:
- Personal essays – $300 to $2,000
- Fiction – $300 to $2,000
- Poetry – $100 to $250
2. Vestal Review
If you like to write flash fiction, then the Vestal Review may be the best place to submit your work. The publication accepts stories that are 500 words or less. You can submit every genre except children’s literature and science fiction.
The Vestal Review publishes in print twice a year, so they have two submission periods – August through November and February through May. They do not have an online version.
Pay is not listed on their site, but other research suggests that it is $25 per story, and you get a copy of that magazine.
3. Reader’s Digest
The ever-popular Reader’s Digest takes very short true stories 100 words or less. Payment is $100 if your’s are chosen for the print magazine. They’ll pick a few of their favorite stories to publish online at RD.com.
Reader’s Digest also accepts true stories of life-changing experiences that are 800 to 1,000 words in length, and they pay $400 for them. The magazine also accepts funny stories.
Reader’s Digest is one of the most well-known magazines in the world and a great place to submit your writing and gain exposure.
4. The Green Parent
This unique magazine accepts any story on the following topics:
- Sustainable Fashion
- Pregnancy and Conscious Birth
- Gardening – Particularly growing your own food
- Breastfeeding
- Feeding a Family
- Family Life and Simple Living
- Green Travel
- Alternative Education
- Natural Health and Beauty
They especially like articles written in the first person about any real-life experience.
They are more likely to publish your work if you are a reader of The Green Parent and understand their views on environmental concerns, alternative health, and raising kids.
FAQs
Can I earn money by writing stories?
Yes, you can make money writing stories. It does require a little more work, as pitching to clients and waiting for responses can take time, but it is a great way to get your foot in the door and earn money from your writing. You can also self-publish stories and work on other writing projects that are in demand, like writing blog posts where you can use your storytelling skills to craft brand stories.
Typewriter rewrite – edit and rewrite
What sites pay you to write stories?
Many sites will pay you to write stories. People will always want to be entertained and learn new things, so here are some great websites and publications to submit your stories to:
- Reader’s Digest
- The Sun Magazine
- Cracked
- Listverse
- Shades of Romance
- Crimespree
- Ploughshares
- Agni
- Boulevard
- Strange Horizons
- Analog
- Flash Fiction Online
- The Vestal Review
Which app can I write stories and get paid for?
Payment for short stories varies greatly depending on the publication or website. In research I’ve done, rates can be anywhere from $20 to $2,500 or more. Getting paid for writing short stories is all about finding the right places to write for at a rate you are comfortable with.
How do I get a job writing online?
One of the easiest freelance jobs to break into is freelance writing. It doesn’t require a lot of experience and helps you learn how to write online, which is very different than what you learned in school. You can find writing jobs on websites and job boards like:
- FlexJobs
- Virtual Vocations
- ProBlogger Job Board
- LinkedIn Job Board
- Constant Content
- Contena
- ClearVoice
- Indeed.com
- Contently
- Writers Weekly
- Blogging Pro
Final Thoughts on Getting Paid to Write Stories
Now you know some of the best places to get paid to write stories. Writing short stories is a great way to earn money online.
Many of these publications offer some unique writing opportunities that are great places to show off your writing skills and get paid money to write. With some of these magazines, you can earn more money writing one story than you probably make in one day at your traditional job.
And some of these periodicals are great places for freelance writers to submit their articles too. So, if you’re already getting paid for freelance writing, these are some other options.
Even the magazines that pay less offer a chance to get your foot in the door and start getting published. So, make a list of publications that match the genres you write to start making money from each story.
