Where to Publish Short Stories Online: Free and Paid Options

You've written a short story. Now what?

Short fiction has unique publishing opportunities — from prestigious literary magazines to self-publishing platforms to emerging digital venues. Here's where to publish your short stories online.

Traditional Online Literary Magazines

Paying Markets

Many online magazines pay for short fiction:

• Clarkesworld (sci-fi/fantasy)
• Lightspeed Magazine (sci-fi/fantasy)
• Strange Horizons (speculative)
• Tor.com (sci-fi/fantasy)
• The Dark (horror)

• Daily Science Fiction
• Flash Fiction Online
• Fireside Fiction
• Cast of Wonders
• Escape Pod

• Many smaller literary magazines
• Check submission guidelines

Non-Paying Literary Magazines

Prestige without payment:

• Many university-affiliated journals
• Emerging literary magazines
• Themed anthologies (sometimes)

Value: Publication credits, exposure, literary community

Finding Markets

Resources for discovering short story markets:

• Duotrope (paid subscription)
• The Submission Grinder (free)
• Ralan.com (speculative fiction)
• NewPages (literary magazines)

Self-Publishing Platforms

Amazon Kindle

Publish short story collections or singles:

• Massive marketplace
• 70% royalty possible
• Kindle Unlimited access

• Short stories harder to price competitively
• Collections often outperform singles

Best approach: Bundle into collections

Smashwords/Draft2Digital

Wide distribution for short fiction:

• Reach multiple retailers
• Good for collections
• No exclusivity required

• Short stories face same pricing challenges

Direct Sales

Sell through your own website:

Options: Gumroad, Payhip, Shopify

• Keep 95%+ of sales
• Direct reader relationship
• Bundle flexibility

• Must drive your own traffic

Fiction Platforms

bibli

Author-first platform welcoming short fiction:

• Quality-focused discovery
• Flexible format options
• No minimum length requirements
• Author control

Wattpad

Massive platform, though novel-focused:

• Large readership
• Social features

• Readers expect longer works
• Short stories may struggle for attention

Medium

Writing platform with Partner Program:

• Built-in audience
• Payment through Partner Program
• Clean reading experience

• Not fiction-specific
• Algorithm favors non-fiction
• Variable income

Anthologies and Collections

Anthology Submissions

Themed collections seeking submissions:

• Horror Tree
• Ralan.com
• Publisher websites
• Social media (#SubmissionCall)

• Payment (usually)
• Publication credit
• Shared audience

Self-Published Collections

Bundle your short stories:

• 5-10 stories per collection
• Themed or variety
• Price competitively ($2.99-4.99)

Free Publishing Options

Personal Blog/Website

Complete control:

• Total ownership
• No gatekeepers
• Build email list

• No built-in audience
• Must drive traffic

Archive of Our Own

Primarily fanfiction but accepts original work:

• Engaged reader community
• Strong tagging system
• No ads or monetization pressure

• Primarily fanfiction audience
• No monetization

Scribble Hub

Web fiction platform:

• Community focused
• Accepts short fiction
• No gatekeepers

• Smaller audience
• No monetization

Strategy by Goal

Building Publication Credits

Focus on literary magazines: 1. Start with smaller markets 2. Build acceptance history 3. Gradually submit to higher-tier markets 4. Track with spreadsheet or Submission Grinder

Building Audience

Focus on platforms: 1. Publish on bibli, Wattpad, or Medium 2. Build email list 3. Engage with readers 4. Cross-promote

Earning Income

Focus on paid markets + collections: 1. Submit to paying magazines first 2. After rejections/rights revert, self-publish 3. Bundle into collections 4. Sell direct for highest margin

Building Writing Career

Combine approaches: 1. Literary magazine credits for prestige 2. Platform presence for audience 3. Collections for passive income 4. Newsletter for direct connection

Short Story Submission Tips

Before submitting: - Read the magazine/platform guidelines carefully - Read recent issues to understand their taste - Follow formatting requirements exactly - Write a professional cover letter

Submission best practices: - Submit simultaneously (unless prohibited) - Track all submissions - Be patient (response times vary) - Accept rejections gracefully - Revise and resubmit elsewhere

After publication: - Promote on social media - Add to your publication credits - Link from your website - Note when rights revert (for reprints)

The Short Story Writer's Path

Short fiction offers unique opportunities:

1. Learn craft: Short stories teach economy and precision 2. Build credits: Publication history opens doors 3. Find readers: Platform publishing builds audience 4. Generate income: Collections and direct sales 5. Support novels: Short stories can introduce readers to your longer work

Your short stories have many potential homes. The best strategy often combines multiple approaches — prestigious publications for craft validation, platforms for audience building, and self-publishing for income.

Start submitting. Start publishing. Your stories deserve readers.