Expert: Cathy Clamp - 12/18/2007

Question
I BEEN TRYING TO FIND A PUBLISHER FOR MY FICTION SHORT STORY AND I HAVEN'T HAD ANY SUCCESS AS YET. PLEASE HELP ME OUT.
                                           MARIE

Answer
Hi, Marie!

There are quite a few short story markets, but you're right that westerns aren't selling as well as other genres. But there are some markets, depending on the length you've written. A few you might try are:

Prairie Times Magazine - (http://www.prairietimes.com) I've sold a few to this magazine. It's a nice regional publication. Not big money, but it does pay, and on time.

Roundup Magazine (the trade magazine of Western Writers of America) - (http://www.westernwriters.org/roundup.html)

Elbow Creek Magazine (http://www.elbowcreek.com) I don't have experience working with this magazine, but have heard of it.

Some general lists of magazines/ezines (electronic-only magazines) that might accept western fiction can be found at:

Duotrope (http://www.duotrope.com)
Ralan.com (http://www.ralan.com)

These list paying magazines, ezines, upcoming anthologies plus non-paying markets. They come and go as they fill up, so you have to check back often.

Oh, and I spotted an open western fiction contest that you might be interested in.  Here's the data:
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Art Affair Western Short Story Contest Rules

Art Affair’s western fiction contest (maximum: 5,000 words) is open to any writer. Enter your own original work only. Please do not include a SASE: entries will not be returned.

Entries must be postmarked by October 1, 2008 and should be unpublished and/or unaccepted for publication when entered into the contest. Manuscripts must be double-spaced and in 12-point font.

Please type Western and your name, address, telephone number, and title of manuscript on a cover page which will be removed before judging. On your manuscript, type page/word counts in the upper right-hand corner of the first page.

You may enter as many western short stories as you like but each entry requires an entry fee.

Prizes: $50.00, $25.00, $15.00 (Prize money and certificates will be mailed to the winners and a list of winners will be published on the website in December 2008.)

Entry Fee: $5.00 per manuscript (Make check payable to Art Affair) Deadline: October 1, 2008.

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Hope that helps, and good luck!