Literary journals are excellent places. For instance, 'Ploughshares' has a long - standing reputation for publishing top - notch short stories. It is read by many in the literary community. 'Tin House' is also renowned. It often features works from both emerging and established writers. You can also consider submitting to magazines like 'Esquire' or 'Harper's Magazine' if your short story has a more general - interest appeal. They occasionally publish short fiction among other types of content.
One great place is 'The New Yorker'. It has a large readership and a reputation for high - quality literature. Another is 'Literary Hub', which features a wide range of short stories. 'Clarkesworld' is also a good option, especially for science - fiction and fantasy short stories.
Online platforms like Wattpad or Medium can be good options. They offer a large audience and the chance to get feedback from a diverse group of readers. Some also have opportunities for your work to be featured and gain more visibility.
The best places? Well, first, there's 'Uncanny Magazine'. They publish really interesting science fiction short stories and are known for their high - quality content. Then there are the anthologies. For instance, 'The Year's Best Science Fiction' anthology series. If your story gets selected for one of these, it can gain a lot of visibility. And of course, self - publishing on platforms like Smashwords can also be a viable option if you want more control over your work.
Small, independent presses are another option. For example, some local presses might be specifically interested in stories that are set in their urban area. They can offer a more niche and dedicated readership. These presses often have a more hands - on approach to publishing and can give your urban short story the attention it might not get in a larger, more commercial setting.
Websites like Kindle Direct Publishing and Smashwords can be good options. Kindle Direct Publishing is well-known for its reach, while smashwords provides various formatting and distribution options. Both can help you get your short stories out there to a wide audience.
Some popular options include literary magazines like 'Overland' and online platforms such as 'Writers Bloc'. It also depends on the genre of your short story.