How to publish your fiction in under ONE YEAR

In the past two years I've gone from no publishing credits to over TWENTY published short stories, including winning a contest (which paid $250) and getting published in a major anthology (out this fall) which also paid. You can do it too. It isn't easy, but if you follow these steps, I guarantee that you will publish in the next year.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Computer
• Internet access
• Imagination
• Courage
• Talent
• Hunger
• Sense

1. WRITE A STORY: You have to start someplace. So write a story. There are many places online that can tell you all of the components: beginning, middle and end; drama building to a climax; conflict and resolution; a setting; a protagonist that you can empathize with, whether you love or hate them; etc. Try writing something short, say 500-1000 words. Make sure it starts someplace, something happens, and we get to the end. This is both the easiest thing to do and the hardest thing to do. Just write it.

2. TOSS STORY #1 OUT: Why? It probably sucked. You didn't show it to anybody did you? Pour over it, read it again, and see if it has any merit. Yes? Put it in a drawer and DO NOT READ IT. Rewrite that story. It will be better. Was it bad? Then put it away, and DON'T rewrite it. BUT BEFORE YOU DO - there was maybe that one line? That paragraph that wasn't horrible? Remember that. Do it again next time.

3. READ: Now that you realize that it isn't easy (or maybe you mastered it all) you need to see what else is working. Go read THE NEW YORKER. Go pick up the latest BEST AMERICAN SHORT STORIES. Pick up ESQUIRE, PLAYBOY (yes, PLAYBOY...they do have fiction, hones), any current publisher of fiction. Go online and read at sites like McSWEENEY's, TIN HOUSE, DOGMATIKA, WORD RIOT, 3:AM MAGAZINE. Just start reading. You are way behind. You'll soon see what is working in contemporary fiction.

4. WRITE WHAT YOU KNOW: Whether you've slept with 100 people, done a lot of drugs, been a mommy of twins, traveled the world, or lived in a trailer park in Arkansas, you have a STORY TO TELL. Just write what you know. Obviously, you probably haven't killed somebody or been to Mars. So, do some research.

5. FIND YOUR VOICE: So you've read some fiction. You're gearing up for your second story. What are you writing? There are many, many genres and sub-genres. What do you like to write? No matter what I do, it turns out dark. I'm calling it neo-noir, which just means "new"-"black", or contemporary dark writing. There is literary, romance, mystery, horror, science-fiction, fantasy, etc. Go to wiki and look up these genres and genres. Have you ever heard of slipstream, transgressive, steampunk or cyberpunk? These are all categories that may or may not relate to you. This will help you later when you go to submit. Get comfortable with your voice. You may not know right now, that's okay. You will soon.

6. DUOTROPE: This is THE place for learning about where to submit, what the guidelines are, what genres magazines/journals like, length, etc. Start surfing duotrope.com right now. And give them some money too. This is more research, but it may also excited you to find 400 horror magazines, or 200 small presses. It is essential to your growth, and you can track your stories here too.

7. WRITE #2: If you haven't yet, write #2. Not too long, say 500-1000 words again. Baby steps. Not that bad, huh? Can you stomach it? Probably. Read it. Read it OUT LOUD. Edit it. Spellcheck. You are almost ready to show it to somebody. Good job.

8. WORKSHOP IT: I don't mean show it to mommy, the girlfriend, your brother, or your best friend. FIND a group. They're ALL over the internet. I hang and moderate at www.chuckpalahniuk.net, come pay and join us. Better yet, START a group with 5-10 other writer friends. Do it online. Easier to be kind and harsh online. See what others say. Make some edits. Feeling better?

9. SCHOOL: If you have the time, consider a formal education. I mention this now because it IS NOT MANDATORY. But, you've gotten at least one story written. You feel good. If you want formal training, go for it - high school, college, online intensives, workshops, whatever. If you are still feeling your work is not there, check these options out. But you can still submit.

10. FORMAT: There is a standard format. Google it. Basically, double-spaced, Times New Roman, 1 inch margins, contact info upper left hand corner, include story length, and put your name and the title along the bottom, with the story title in quotes like this "My Story". Most people like a Word .doc, but check out guidelines.

11. COVER LETTER: You'll need one. Keep it short and simple:
    
    John Doe, editor
    Some Magazine
    123 Main Street
    City, State 00000
    
    Dear Mr. Doe,
    
    I am a big fan of Some Magazine. I really enjoyed the recent story by Jimmy Somebody entitlted "My Great Story." I think that my story "My Story" would be a good fit for your publication. It is a dark tale about zombies that is about 1500 words long. I hope you enjoy it.
    
    Sincerely,
    Struggling Writer
    [e-mail]
    
    BIO: (see below)

12. BIO: Ideally, your bio will convey any information that you think the editor or publisher would like to hear. Have you published before, won any contests or awards, gone to school, etc. If you have NO experience at all, either leave it off, or say something snarky that may get a laugh.
    
    Snarky example:
    Richard likes long walks in the rain, drowning kittens, growing tomatoes, and collecting his scabs. (if this was a HORROR submission).
    
    Standard:
    Richard recently won the BLAH BLAH contest, where his story "Best Story Ever" was picked by Bram Stoker Award Winning editor, Squire Smith. He has been published at Catopia, WordTussle, Prison Dance, 2:AM, Fragg, Southwesternly Review, Elite Review, Review Review and Playboy. He has a degree in English from Private University. He is writing his first novel, Kill Them All.
    
    You get the idea. Do what you can with whatever you have. Keep it short and simple. DO read the work (as mentioned in the story above).

13. SUBMIT: You ready? No? Nobody ever is. Do some research. You have a 1500 word story, it is horror. Where do you send it? At Duotrope.com you can search by all kinds of information - online/print, genre, length, payscale, etc. Think about tiers. There are the PROFESSIONAL magazines - very hard to get into, pay pretty well. There are the LITERARY JOURNALS - also very hard to get into, pay next to nothing. Would you be shocked if I told you that MOST of these have an acceptance rate of under 1%? Shocked? Quitting yet? Don't. Start lower. Start with a "cool" place. What does that mean? Once you've found 123 horror magazines, start looking them over, go to the website. Does it look cool or weak? Do you recognize ANY names? Do you want to PUBLISH there? Start saving these names to your "favorites" list at duotrope. Start submitting. Follow the guidelines, and send them out. To the APPROPRIATE places. The New Yorker does NOT want to read your porn or graphic violence.
    
    Send out your story. A lot. To ALL of them that allow simultaneous submissions. It gets easier.

14. KEEP STIMULATING: Keep reading novels and short stories that are appropriate to what you write. Go see GOOD movies. Listen to music. Chase girls (or boys). Travel, go on adventures. It will ALL become material for your writing.

15. TRACK and FOLLOW UP: You should now be tracking EVERY story you send out. Duotrope has a nice, easy way to do that. So do it. If the days out turns to RED, follow up with the publication. The stories get lost. They get delayed. People quit. Sometimes it takes LONGER to run your fantastic story past the first reader, the associate editor, and the managing editor in order to get it approved. Send the e-mail, ask nicely if they are still considering it. State that it has been 120 days. Be polite. This could turn into a good relationship.

16. DON'T GIVE UP: You will find a place for your story. Read it again. Make minor changes. I just added an opening paragraph, and made it all 1st person. That story, which I love, has been rejected 21 times. I have it out at about another 12. KEEP AT IT. The big story I have coming out later this year, it got rejected about 15 times by some BIG NAME publications, but I still kept at it. I'm VERY HAPPY where it is coming out now. Some of the places were not appropriate. Some are just very difficult. DON'T GIVE UP. Go back and do steps 1-15 again. What did you miss? It will get easier. You will break through. If you are STILL HERE, still reading, it means you want it. That matters.
    
    Good luck.

17. FINAL TIPS: Network. Seek out authors, go to the AWP (American Writers and Writer's Programs) conferences. 2008 was NYC. 2009 was Chicago. 2010 is Denver. VERY COOL and VERY INFORMATIVE. Be a sponge. Write, fail, write, succeed, read, write more.
    
    Come talk to me at http://www.whatdoesnotkillme.wordpress.com and if I can help, I will.

Tips & Warnings

• Read
• Duotrope.com
• AWP
• This is not easy.

Resources

• My Personal Site (Richard Thomas Writes)