posted
Being very new to this whole publishing world, how does one start selling short stories, flash fiction, etc? I don't read any sci-fi magazines or any other literary type stuff. So, point me in the right direction. Where should I start reading?
posted
Ok, first and foremost go to Duotrope's Digest. Its a wonderful free resource that allows you to search for "markets" (that is to say, magazines, anthologies etc) and then proceeds to give you all sorts of detailed information about them. You can use this both to find places to submit your work and also to read some stories from some of the different magazines to get a feel of whats out there.
Duotrope also has a function that lets you track your submissions.
Many places take electronic submissions, some do not. Many want things done up in Standard Manuscript Format, which you can Google to get details on. Some prefer other formats and usually their guidlines will give you details.
Also, fiction markets are divided generally, in terms of pay scale, into 3 tiers. Professional payment is 5 cent/word or more. Semi-pro is anywhere from 1 cent a word up until 5 cents. Then theres token payment markets which give you a flat amount (usually 5-25 dollars a story.) There is crossover though because their are markets like Abyss and Apex or Heroic Fantasy Quarterly that pay flat amounts per story, but generally fall within semi pro or even pro range (A&A pays 80 dollars a story HFQ pays 100 dollars.)
posted
I second M-E. Duotrope is the place to start. (There is also another site, called Ralan, but I find Duotrope easier to use.) It also gives you links to various websites where you can get specific submissions guidelines.
The electronic magazines are often free to read online, others require a subscription, but either way it's best to read some issues before you try to sub to them (just to make sure you're subbing the kind of story they take).
posted
I admit I myself don't do as much field reading as I should, but many places do have very clear submission guidlines that will give you a lot to go on as well.
If you wish you could also tell us a bit about what sort of stuff you write or what your style is like. I (and many of the others) have done LOTS of submissions and some times even gotten some actually feedback from editors so we may be able to help you that much more in that area. Some publications are relatively specific, like Beneath Ceasless Skies, some are much more open (at least in theory) like Clarksworld.
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