Have you ever dreamed of writing fiction but have been told that it’s impossible to make money writing short stories?
Not true!
It’s completely possible to earn money writing novels, novellas, poetry, short stories, blog posts, and everything in between.
Have you dreamed of pursuing fiction writing and seem to have a knack for it, but are terrified by the word count? Then writing short stories could be just what you’re looking for.
You may or may not know that to be classified as a short story, the word length is typically between 1,000 and 7,500 words.
Some popular genres for short stories include thrillers, fantasy, and mysteries.
So, let me give you a brief overview of what’s to come as we talk about how to make money writing short stories.
First, we’ll talk about how to get clear on what you’re looking for with writing outlets. Then, we’ll give you options for where to publish your short stories. Finally, we’ll wrap up with how to build an audience as a writer.
First, Get Clear about what You’re Looking For
You might be surprised by how many ways there are to make money writing short stories. For some people, having options is exciting, while for others, too many options might be overwhelming.
To get started writing and publishing as quickly as possible, it helps to know exactly what you’re looking for.
Think about these questions:
- Do you want complete creative control over what you write?
- Would you rather write for an established publication?
- Are you new, or do you have writing experience?
- What genres do you write?
Think about your answers to these questions as we explore the different options below.
1. Medium
On Medium, you can post both fiction and non-fiction. Some posts are only a few hundred words, while others are thousands of words, so you can choose the length that works for you.
A few advantages of Medium include having a lot of autonomy over your content and the ability to publish quickly.
Your pay will depend on how many readers you have and how they engage with your stories.
For full transparency, I’ve written articles on Medium that earned less than a dollar and others that earned hundreds of dollars.
Another option is to find Medium publications that accept short stories, like Short Story Writers.
You can learn more about getting started with Medium here.
2. Substack
Substack is an online publishing and newsletter platform. As a new writer, Substack is an excellent place to publish your work for free as you begin to grow an audience.
Once you grow, you can offer paid content that readers can access for a monthly fee.
Substack recommends charging $8 per month, but some creators charge as little as $5 or as much as $100 per month.
You can learn more about Substack, including its features, benefits, and drawbacks, here.
3. Penpee
Penpee is an online platform for sharing short stories, often referred to as the “Airbnb for writers.”
Anyone can write on Penpee, even if you’re a brand-new writer, and writers are referred to as storytellers. You can join with either a free plan or a paid plan.
Basically, you get paid when people read your stories.
There is a great Q+A page that answers many common questions about getting started, making money, etc.
4. Literary Magazines
Literary magazines, also known as literary journals, feature a wide range of creative writing.
There is usually a specific submission process, so be sure to follow the guidelines carefully.
To find potential journals, you can check out this list of 24 journals that accept short stories and this list of 100 literary magazines.
If you write a specific genre, you could also do a Google search for journals that accept your particular genre.
Payment can vary and can be up to $1,000 or more.
Also, some magazines pay per word or page, while others pay a flat fee for the entire article.
5. Amazon KDP
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, also known as Amazon KDP, is Amazon’s own publishing business for both print books and ebooks.
If you want to be self-published, this is a relatively simple way to do it.
Once you have your short story written in a Word doc or Google Doc, you can use Kindle Create to convert it to an .epub.
You’ll also need to create your cover art, submit some information, and choose a price.
There is also an excellent KDP help page to answer questions you might have.
6. Short Story Contests
With short story contests, you submit your original short stories to be reviewed by a panel of judges.
Contests typically have pretty strict guidelines on genre, word count, etc. Winners often receive cash prizes or are published.
You’ll find that some short story contests do not have an entry fee, while others do.
If this sounds interesting, check out this list of 130 short story contests.
7. Patreon
As a writer, Patreon can be a wonderful platform for engaging with your followers and readers.
You can create both free and paid subscription tiers to post your work.
Learn about the different ways that authors use Patreon to support their writing here.
Ideas could include early releases of your work, a Discord server for your followers, or a behind-the-scenes look at your writing process.
Here you can discover more about the Patreon platform and how to get started.
8. Wattpad
Wattpad is another great platform for publishing your fiction work.
You’ll find a wide range of genres on this platform, including poetry, fanfiction, horror, and mystery, to name a few.
To learn more about making money with Wattpad, you can go to both Wattpad Creators and Programs, and Opportunities.
There’s also info on how to publish your first story.
9. Fiverr and Upwork
Fiverr and Upwork are two websites where you can offer your writing services to clients.
I’ve personally used Upwork to get freelance writing jobs and have had a good experience using the platform.
On Fiverr, you could create a listing stating that you do short-story ghostwriting. Or, on Upwork, you could do a search for “short story writer” or “storyteller.”
On Upwork, some projects pay per project, while others pay per hour.
10. Author Book Club
Even with a very small audience, an author book club can be a fun way to build relationships with your readers.
You could charge a small monthly or quarterly subscription fee of $5 or $10.
Here are some ideas of what you could include in your membership:
- Monthly Q+A sessions
- Advanced chapters or short stories
- Book discussions
- Podcasts or videos of behind-the-scenes as a writer
Consider starting a referral system where readers can receive a month or quarter for free for every person they refer to your book club.
11. Blog or Personal Website
If it’s important to you to have complete control over what you post and when, a blog or personal website is a good choice.
One of the best reasons to have a blog is that it can complement many of the other platforms we’ve discussed.
For example, you could post your short stories on your blog and also post them to a platform like Medium or Substack. Just make sure to confirm that this is allowed on whatever platform you choose.
Other Places to Submit Your Short Stories
You can also check out these 30 places to submit short stories.
Tips to Help You Build an Audience
Unless you are writing for a magazine or other source with a built-in audience, you’ll need to learn how to build an audience.
This can feel overwhelming at first, but having an audience can provide more opportunities to write exactly what you want to write about.
If you already have an audience, using a platform like Medium, Patreon, Substack, or a blog is a great option for posting your content.
Here are a few ways to help build your audience or get subscribers:
- Be a podcast guest or start your own
- Contribute to other blogs or websites
- Do collabs with other creatives
- Post on YouTube or social media
Direct Followers to Your Newsletter
As you work to build a following or fans, make sure to include a sign-up form for your email newsletter.
If you don’t have a newsletter or email list yet, that’s ok. You can choose one of these providers for ideas.
The key is to have a place to collect names and email addresses from people who want to stay in touch with you and your writing.
There are so many ways to start and monetize a newsletter.
Using AI in Your Writing
AI is an amazing tool, but be careful how you use it.
AI can help you with research, brainstorming, and outlining in your writing. But remember that you are the writer.
All in all, just be very thoughtful about your usage and consider that less is often the way to go.
If you are not self-publishing, see if the magazine or publication has any guidelines or restrictions for using AI.
Simple First Steps to Get Started Writing Short Stories
Remember that Rejection is a Rite of Passage
Can you even call yourself a writer if you’ve never been rejected?
While I’m sort of joking, don’t let a few rejections stop you.
If the editor or publication offers feedback, politely thank them, and really reflect on how you can use their feedback to improve in the future.
Consider some of our first steps above, such as attending a workshop or course, or reading a book to improve your craft.
Learning how to respond politely to rejection is a great life skill.
Supplement Your Income With Other Writing Work
Do you dream of making a part-time or even full-time income as a writer?
In addition to options to make money writing short stories, there are so many other opportunities to make money as a writer.
Here are a few to consider:
Make Money Writing Short Stories Conclusion:
If you’re looking for a writing career that allows your creativity to flourish, consider short story writing.
As you can see, there are so many ways to make money writing short stories, even for new writers.
While previous writing experience can be helpful, it’s not essential. The best way to start is to just write, publish, and get feedback.
What about you? What other opportunities have you found to make money writing short stories? Let us know in the comments.
