Comments on: How much money can I make if i write a short story?

By: Maryn Bittner

Maryn Bittner — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 21:22:36 +0000

You can’t get paid for it unless you sell it, right? The buyer is likely to be a publisher or website which expects to make money from it (and the magazine’s or site’s other content), or perhaps a short story anthology which will profit the publisher. You don’t publish it, just sell it.

Payment for unknown writers ranges from nothing at all to one or two free copies of the magazine to five or ten bucks to several hundred. The competition for the magazines that pay well is just what you’d expect, fierce, and many of the stories rejected are very good. Lots of very good magazines pay a pittance. However, it’s a good way to find out if you enjoy writing and if you’re any good at it, without investing the time and effort a novel might take.

By: cedilicious08

cedilicious08 — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 03:07:28 +0000

idk not a lot though…

By: MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING

MOM KNOWS EVERYTHING — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:44:20 +0000

Short stories are sometimes bought by magazines that publish them, and they pay for good ones. The price varies from magazine to magazine. Many colleges and universities have literary journals in which they publish short stories, but usually they do not pay for them. Writing short stories is not a path to making much money.

By: David L

David L — Sat, 28 Mar 2009 02:41:29 +0000

First know your subject, then target your magazines. Send a sample with a return mailer. Some companies will not accept unsolicited material. Try getting published on the local level first such as newspapers etc. A good writer wont be appreciated until youve been dead for 20-30 years. The pay isnt that great either,but its interesting work to do.ask yourself “Would anybody pay $ to read what I think?”

By: scott.townson@rocketmail.com

scott.townson@rocketmail.com — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 07:34:26 +0000

to make money, you need it published. because they will distribute it for you. google for publishers and send them a draft to look at. you can publish and sell privately but it is very hard work and the money will be less, because they will distribute all over the country (or world)

hope it helps

By: BaconDoubleCheeseburger

BaconDoubleCheeseburger — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 05:14:19 +0000

Really, it depends on how good the story is and how much it is recognized. I don’t know exactly how much you could make if you wrote a good story but I think you could make some good money if it gets published.

By: retiredroadie

retiredroadie — Sat, 21 Mar 2009 06:50:39 +0000

NO COMPLETE UNKNOWN is going to get money to write a short story.. and you would need a literary agent to sell it, anyway. Most magazines don’t take unsolicited manuscripts because they are sick and tired of the 1000 or so unsolicited manuscrips they get every week from people who think they are goin to get rich by writing an article.

By: Archangel

Archangel — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:12:18 +0000

Unless you’re a famous writer, probably none. I write short stories too, but yes, you’d have to publish it, and that’s really unlikely. I just end up writing mine for fun.

However, you can enter short story contests and win money, sometimes up to a thousand dollars. Just type up “short story contest” in google or yahoo, and see what pops up. If you’re not ready to do national contests, find local contests first

By: cathrl69

cathrl69 — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 17:14:06 +0000

Huh? How do you think you are going to make money if it isn’t published?

Almost certainly nothing. Most short stories aren’t even finished let alone edited or sold to a publisher. Don’t bother unless you actually want to write – not just to get fame or money.

By: Allyson♥

Allyson♥ — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:49:51 +0000

you would have to write it…have an editor and then if it is good enough go publish it and when people bought it you would make a little profit..but it really all depends on how good the book is.