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For an unpublished short story writer, what magazines or online publications offer the best chance of being recognized?

13.06.2025 02:09

For an unpublished short story writer, what magazines or online publications offer the best chance of being recognized?

Go to a bookstore (a large chain bookstore) and go to the magazine section. Find a magazine of the type of story you’re interested in writing, whether mystery, fantasy/sci-fi, horror, etc. Happy writing!

If mystery is your thing, I think Ellery Queen magazine is still around and I assume still takes submissions for contests, etc.

If you’re not shy about that sort of thing, Literotica is a publication specializing in-you guessed it-erotic fiction.

I’m wondering about attachment and transference with the therapist and the idea of escape and fantasy? How much do you think your strong feelings, constant thoughts, desires to be with your therapist are a way to escape from your present life? I wonder if the transference serves another purpose than to show us our wounds and/or past experiences, but is a present coping strategy for managing what we don’t want to face (even if unconsciously) in the present—-current relationships, life circumstances, etc. Can anyone relate to this concept of escape in relation to their therapy relationship? How does this play out for you?

Writer’s Digest (are they even around anymore?) used to have good contests; in 1998 or so, I came in 61st place(!) in the “Literary Short Story” category. I thought that was pretty good; 61st out of hundreds or maybe thousands who entered in that category. Basically my first effort ever in a national competition.