---where might one submit short stories, ranging from 3000 to 13000 words?

---How short is "Short"?

---Do short stories have to have morals, or is that just some dirty lie I once heard?

---Would it be harder to accept longer short stories? (around 10-15,000 words...-ish)

---Does it help your career if you have short stories published first? (I've heard various answers on this, and would like to know your personal experienc and/or opinion)

---um...more to come later

Chris

I don't know what the rule is for this board but, it's posted somewhere. I think It's 300 words but, not sure.

Short stories definately don't NEED a moral.

Yes. The 'longer' ones can only be posted in a specific personal writer's group on this board.

It depends on what kind of story, Chris.

There are several markets for science fiction and fantasy stories, as well as for horror stories.

There are also markets for mainstream stories, but perhaps not as many.

In science fiction and fantasy, book editors pay attention to the stories published in professional markets, and will often contact a writer whose short stories are published therein and ask if that writer has any novels ready to be submitted to book publishers.

So, yes, in some cases, short story publication will help with novel publication.

Also, I wrote a very similar post yesterday, but because my password was wrong, I lost it. Grrr...

Q. Where might one submit short stories, ranging from 3000 to 13000 words?

A. There are all sorts of fiction magazines in the world. Simply find one that matches your genre and style, and submit your story.

Q. How short is "Short"?

A. There's a thread about this somewhere--the difference between short, novella, novelette, and novel. Can't remember off the top of my head, and I'm too lazy to look (sorry).

Q. Do short stories have to have morals, or is that just some dirty lie I once heard?

A. I can't imagine you writing something without saying anything. On the other hand, we publish stuff that's simply interesting or fun all the time (do comedic shorts have morals?). I'd say it was a dirty lie, but make sure your story has a conflict and a point (duh, says you...).

Q. Would it be harder to accept longer short stories? (around 10-15,000 words...-ish)

A. Probably. For any given mag, there is usually one long short story and several shorter ones. But proportionally less people write good long short stories, so maybe not...

Q. Does it help your career if you have short stories published first? (I've heard various answers on this, and would like to know your personal experienc and/or opinion)

A. When you submit anything anywhere, your manuscript is placed in a pile (or filing cabinet). These are usually read in the order they are received, unless a cover letter impresses the editor so much they decide to read it ahead of schedule. If you have some prior publishing to brag about, it may increase your chances of getting read early. I do know that some publishers (children's fiction, especially) are simply so overloaded with submissions that they can't read them all. Thus the unimpressive or unknown sumbittors are sent back without a read. So yeah, probably publishing a few shorts would help you.