For an unpublished short story writer, what magazines or online publications offer the best chance of being recognized?
Last Updated: 22.06.2025 14:59
If mystery is your thing, I think Ellery Queen magazine is still around and I assume still takes submissions for contests, etc.
If you’re not shy about that sort of thing, Literotica is a publication specializing in-you guessed it-erotic fiction.
Writer’s Digest (are they even around anymore?) used to have good contests; in 1998 or so, I came in 61st place(!) in the “Literary Short Story” category. I thought that was pretty good; 61st out of hundreds or maybe thousands who entered in that category. Basically my first effort ever in a national competition.
Go to a bookstore (a large chain bookstore) and go to the magazine section. Find a magazine of the type of story you’re interested in writing, whether mystery, fantasy/sci-fi, horror, etc. Happy writing!