21 Paying Markets for Fiction Writers
So you have stories to tell, but you want to get paid to tell them? I don’t blame you. That’s why I compiled this list of markets for fiction writers.
You’ll find publications offering paid opportunities across a range of genres, and for non-genre work. You’ll also find markets for fiction writers at all levels.
Strange Horizons
This publication buys speculative fiction up to 10,000 words. Stories containing diverse perspectives and traditionally under-represented groups, settings, and cultures are encouraged.
Profanity is fine. Sex and violence are accepted if it’s artistically justified but excessive gore is not.
Pay is .10 cents per word with a minimum payment of $60.
The Fiddlehead
This magazine publishes stories from all over the world and in a variety of styles. You can submit experimental genres and excerpts from novels.
The publication encourages submissions from indigenous writers, writers of color, writers with disabilities, LGBTQQIA+ writers, and writers from other intersectional and under-represented communities.
It won’t consider any stories that are ableist, misogynistic, queer-phobic, or racist.
Pay is $60 CAD per page.
The Sun
Remember that Rae Sremmurd song that goes, I ain’t got no type? That’s kinda the vibe this magazine has.
“We often don’t know what we’ll like until we read it,” the guidelines say.
What the publication can say for sure is that it rarely publishes anything over 7,000 words and there’s no minimum length.
Pay is $300 to $2000 per story.
Asimov’s Science Fiction
This magazine publishes “character-oriented” science fiction stories, including borderline fantasy, slipstream, and surreal fiction.
It doesn’t accept sword and sorcery or stories with explicit sex or violence. And seldom are stories under 1,000 words or over 20,000 words published.
Pay is .8 – 10 cents per word.
Fantasy and Science Fiction
This publication considers fantasy, science fiction, horror as well as humor, and accepts completed stories up to 25,000 words.
Your work should contain a surprise delivered by character insights, ideas, plots, or prose, and this is another one of the markets for fiction writers that prefers character-oriented stories.
Payment is .8 – .12 cents per word.
Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Here’s an example of a publication open to working with new writers.
It publishes science fiction and notes that within that broad spectrum there are no hard guidelines. But, some aspect of future science or technology should be so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse.
Pay is .8 – .10 cents for stories up to 20,000 words and .6 cents for serials ranging 40,000 – 80,000 words.
Boulevard
Another pick for fresh blood, this publication says it’s most interested in working with “less experienced or unpublished writers.”
It accepts stories up to 8,000 words, but isn’t interested in science fiction, erotica, westerns, horror, romance or children’s stories.
Pay is $100 – $300.
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores
You can submit new and previously published pieces of science fiction, fantasy, myth, legend, fairy tales and eldritch in written, podcast, video and graphic story form.
Stories range from 1,000 words and up.
Pay is .6 cents per word for new fiction and .2 cents for reprints.
Daily Science Fiction
This publication accepts speculative fiction stories, including science fiction, fantasy and slipstream.
Stories should range from 100 to 1,500 words in length. Flash series are also considered.
Pay is .8 cents per word.
The Southern Review
This publication describes itself as the “literary tastemaker.” The guidelines don’t offer much in the way of we want this, not that. But it’s clear in saying it rarely publishes stories over 8,000 words.
This journal accepts unsolicited submission from September 1 through December 1.
Pay is $50 for the first printed page and $25 for subsequent pages up to a maximum of $200.
Argot
This is a queer website that publishes short stories and comics, and it prefers to work with queer writers.
Pay ranges from $35 – $250.
Flash Fiction Online
Here’s an open-genre publication that buys fiction stories ranging from 500 to 1000 words.
Although it’s open, the publication bars erotica, graphic sex and egregious violence. It also frowns on excessive cussing.
Pay is $80 per story or .2 cents per word for reprints.
BABYBUG
Geared toward kids age 6 months to 3 years old, this magazine accepts stories that are simple and clear. Generally, the accepted submissions end with a gentle or humorous surprise.
Stories are subject to a six sentence maximum.
Pay is up to .25 cents a word.
Cricket
This magazine for children ages 9 -14 publishes stories covering realistic contemporary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, folk tales, myths and legends and humor.
Most stories are 1200 to 1800 words. The publication needs shorter pieces ranging from 600 – 900 words, and occasionally it will serialize compelling longer stories of up to 6,000 words.
Submissions must relate to an issue’s theme.
Pay is up to .25 cents a word.
One Story
This publication buys literary fiction between 3,000 and 8,000 words. It can be any style and explore any subject.
Submissions are accepted from January 15 to May 31 and then from September 8 to November 14.
Pay is $500.
One Teen Story
This is a market for teen writers age 13 – 19.
The publication publishes four short stores per year ranging from 2,000 to 4,500 words. Stories should have teen characters and be about the teen experience.
Pay is $500.
The First Line
For each issue, this magazine requires you to write stories beginning with the first line they provide. You can use it to create a story in any genre, and generally, the work should range between 300 and 5,000 words.
The publication also accepts four-part stories that include the starter sentence for spring, summer, fall and winter.
Pay is $25 – $50 per story.
The Threepenny Review
Here you have a literary journal that publishes stories that are 4,000 words or less.
This publication doesn’t read submissions during the second half of the year, from July through December.
Payment for stories is $400.
Three-lobed Burning Eye
This is a speculative fiction magazine that’s looking for horror, fantasy, and science fiction. Stories range from under 1,000 words to 7,500, although the 2000 to 5000-word range is preferred.
Pay is $30 for flash fiction and $100 for short fiction.
Virginia Quarterly Review
From July 1 – July 31, this journal reads unsolicited fiction submissions ranging from 3,500 to 8,000 words.
It’s not interested in genre fiction such as romance, science fiction, or fantasy.
VQR says it aims to support emerging writers.
The pay for fiction is $1,000 and up.
Vestal Review
Here’s a place you could possibly publish R-rated but not X-rated stories.
This publication specializes in flash fiction (500 words or less) and is open to most genres, other than children’s, syrupy romance or hard science fiction. However, porn, racial slurs, excessive gore, or obscenity are a no-no. And your story must have a plot.
If you get published, you’ll get paid $25 bucks.
Well, there you have it. If you get published in any of the publications from the list of markets for fiction writers, please use the comments section on this page to brag about it.
And if you have any other markets for fiction writers you think we should know about, drop those below too.
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