Publishing A short story collection

A collection of short stories contains many different stories in a single book. The best example is bedtime stories for kids. A short story writing is generally fiction work, which is written in descriptive prose. Frequently, portraying a few characters and focusing on the same mood or effect. Short story writing is challenging work, as you need to put everything, background, present and ending of the story, yet it should not be very comprehensive and long. It requires different techniques, which are different than writing extensive novels.

A writer requires good imagination and creative skills. Generally, short stories are for kids. Therefore, you need to be very careful on how and what you are writing. Many novelists start their careers as short story writers and then they go for more extensive types like memoirs or novels.

Today short stories are much in demand. The stories are short. People can read and finish them in less time. Kids love to hear the stories before going to bed, and short stories are best suitable for them.

Publishing a short story collection is not that easy and there are no fixed standards that will get the collection published. Still you can try a few tips given below to increase your chances to get the short story collection published

Magazines and Journals:

You can begin by submitting the stories to magazines and literary journals. If your story gets published in the magazines, then agents will consider your work more seriously. You can publish a few of your stories from your collection in the magazines. In this way, they will get noticed. You can show the story to the agent, which could be one of the stories from your collection. Websites are available online for free publishing and also you can go for paid ones.

Contests:

You can participate in short-story contests. This will increase your credits in the publication world. Competitions and contests will help to draw the attention of a literary agent towards your work. Participation itself will help you get noticed, but if you win an award, this will give you good encouragement and many editors and agents will take you seriously. An agent is here to publish your work and gain some commission from it. Therefore, if you win a contest, this can help to get your collection published more easily.

Story Grouping:

You must group your story into a specific form of collection. The theme and central character must complement each other. This is very important for marketing. The consistent setting and single theme will be helpful for an agent to market your work more effectively. You must arrange the stories into specific categories before presenting it to the agent. This will make a good impression and an agent will know how to market your product.

Small Press:

You can try in small presses initially. Small presses are often well established in local markets as compared to big agencies and therefore, they can take a chance of publishing your work, and be happy to gain small profits initially. This also can be a good break, and you can still show your work to agents.

Novel Formation:

The short story market is very much in demand today, but getting your work published is very difficult. If you have a good collection of short stories, which are cohesively and consistently outlined, you can think of converting your work into a novel. A long and complex story with different plots is more appealing for a literary agent. If your agent likes the novel, you can even show the short story collection. You can get the work published in both forms.

Self Publishing:

Self publishing can be a good option. You can create your book bound collection and pass it to your friends, relatives. You can request the book shops to keep your books on the shelves, and this way you can find the right company for your growth.

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