Most freelance writing gigs are of a nonfiction nature, but if you're looking to flex your creative muscles, freelance writers' markets also exist for short fiction. If you'd like to submit short stories or flash fiction to freelance markets, you'll find publications you can pitch below.
If you're coming from a more traditional freelance background, it's important to understand fiction tends to pay significantly less than nonfiction freelance writing jobs. Keep that in mind as you find your ideal project balance for your freelance writing business.
What Kinds of Publications Pay for Short Fiction?
If you're wondering what kinds of markets you can submit short stories and flash fiction to, there are plenty of options to consider even beyond the list of markets below. For example, you might write short stories or flash fiction for:
- Literary magazines
- Children's magazines
- Literary websites
- Anthologies
- Women's magazines
- General interest magazines
- Genre-specific magazines
- Podcasts / "audio magazines"
Who Pays for Short Stories and Flash Fiction?
Here's a preview of who pays writers for short fiction on a freelance basis. Browse further below for a summary of each market and a link to their official writers' guidelines.
- Abyss & Apex
- AGNI
- Analog
- Asimov's Science Fiction
- Aurealis
- Beneath Ceaseless Skies
- Cadet Quest
- Clarkesworld Magazine
- Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores
- Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
- Flash Fiction Online
- Lightspeed
- Ninth Letter
- One Story
- Pressfuls
- Pseudopod
- Story Unlikely
- The Fiddlehead
- The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
- The Offing
- The Sun Magazine
- The Worcester Journal
- Three-lobed Burning Eye
Paying Writers' Markets Where You Can Submit Short Stories and Flash Fiction
Here are short fiction markets to consider pitching.
Abyss & Apex
Abyss & Apex is a magazine specializing in speculative fiction. They accept submissions quarterly -- normal reading periods are in February, May, August, and November. They accept flash fiction (up to 1000 words) and short stories (up to 10,000 words). The publication pays $.08 per word for up to 1000 words and an $80 flat payment for longer works. The magazine also accepts poetry.
AGNI
AGNI accepts stories, essays, and poems that are previously-unpublished. There are no word limits "though space is at a premium and length sometimes affects decisions." They do not publish romance, horror, mystery, or science fiction but are open to fiction borrowing elements of them. They don't publish academic essays or purely journalistic pieces, and they pay $30 per printed page for accepted prose and $50 per page for accepted poetry, up to a maximum of $300. Submissions are considered for both print and online publication. Free submissions may be made via mail.
Analog
This magazine features science fiction stories, art and poetry as well as some fact based articles. Pay is 8-10 cents per word for short stories up to 20,000 words, 6 cents per word for serials of 40,000-80,000 words, and 9 cents per word for "fact articles" of around 4000 words. Payment is $1 per line for poetry.
Asimov's Science Fiction
Asimov's is a magazine for science fiction writers. They pay 8-10 cents per word for stories up to 7500 words and 8 cents per word for for each word over 7500 words (though they rarely buy stories over 20,000 words or shorter than 1000 words). Poems up to 40 lines are also accepted and pay is $1 per line.
Aurealis
Aurealis is an Australian science fiction, horror and fantasy magazine. They look for short stories between 2000 and 8000 words that are preferably tied to Australia in some way. They pay between AUD $20-60 per 1000 words.
Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Beneath Ceaseless Skies seeks short stories under 15,000 words. They publish "literary adventure fantasy" with secondary-world settings. They pay 8 cents per word.
Cadet Quest
Cadet Quest is a "Christian-oriented magazine for boys ages 9 - 14." They accept fiction of 1000-1300 words and nonfiction features up to 1500 words. Pay starts at $.08 per word.
Clarkesworld Magazine
This magazine is devoted to science fiction, fantasy, and horror. They purchase both fiction and nonfiction writing. Payment for nonfiction is 10 cents per word up to their 2500 word limit. Payment for fiction (1000-22,000 words) is 14 cents per word.
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores is an online publication of science fiction, fantasy, myths, legends, fairy tales, eldritch stories and art, as well as interviews, articles, and podcasts. We pay 8¢/word for new fiction, 2¢/word for reprints and articles. Stories should be 1000 words minimum. We have no upper limit, but all else being equal, we prefer shorter works. The submission schedule is the 1st and 2nd of every month.
Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine publishes all types of mystery short stories. They prefer stories in the 2500-8000 word range but sometimes publish longer works. They pay $.05 - $.08 per word for original stories, $25-50 for poetry, and $.07 per word for original nonfiction.
Flash Fiction Online
Flash Fiction Online publishes both literary and genre flash fiction of 500 to 1000 words. They accept multiple submissions, but not simultaneous submissions.
Lightspeed
This monthly magazine features science fiction and fantasy stories. They pay $0.08/word for original fiction (it should be between 1,500 and 10,000 words; stories under 5000 words are preferred).
Ninth Letter
Ninth Letter accepts one essay or other creative nonfiction piece up to 8,000 words for print submissions, with flash prose allowed in shorter grouped submissions up to 4000 words combined. The publication pays $25 per poem and $100 for prose upon publication.
One Story
One Story publishes literary fiction. They pay $500 and 25 contributor copies for stories between 3000 and 8000 words. Submissions are only open at certain times of the year. Bookmark the submissions guidelines page for updates on open submission windows.
Pressfuls
Digital publisher and magazine of horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and mystery / crime fiction. Minimal dialogue or none at all. 1000-1500 words. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions. Pay is $.05 per word.
Pseudopod
Pseudopod is an "audio magazine" in the horror genre. Writers can submit their stories to have them read and recorded by voice actors. They pay $20 for flash fiction reprints and $100 for short story reprints, or $.08 per word for original fiction.
Story Unlikely
We publish both fiction and narrative nonfiction (memoir) short stories, up to a limit of 7,500 words. We publish a wide array of styles and genres, and are more concerned with the quality of the story than the genre itself. A monthly e-zine, Story Unlikely pays 8 cents a word with a $350 cap ($700 cap for members at the Writer Level). We welcome and accept reprints, and pay 1 cent per word for reprints. Open submission windows run from February 14th - October 14th.
The Fiddlehead
The Fiddlehead accepts unsolicited works of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry (including translations into English). They also publish reviews and some other creative works such as excerpts of plays. Submissions are accepted at any time via mail or during two Submittable reading periods, with an acceptance rate of around 1-2%. Short fiction and creative nonfiction should be a maximum of 6000 words. Flash fiction should be under 1000 words. Up to 6 poems may be submitted at one time, up to 12 pages total. Pay is $65CAD per page, with reviews paid at $40 per page.
The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction
This magazine is published six times a year and feature fiction that appeals to fans of fantasy and science fiction. The pay is $0.08-0.12/word and the length can be up to 25,000 words.
The Offing
The Offing is an online literary magazine that accepts essays, fiction, and poems. For 2026, guidelines state there are no submission fees, and contributors are paid $25 to $100 depending on department and length.
The Sun Magazine
The Sun publishes essays, fiction, and poetry. Payment for all submission types are $200+.
The Worcester Journal
Online quarterly magazine for new writers. Previously unpublished writers preferred, though each issue includes at least one featured writer who is already published and agrees to allow their contact information to be shared for new writers to connect with for advice. Fiction and poetry accepted though strong preference for creative nonfiction. Average word count 500-1500. Pay rate varies based on length and quality of piece between $15-$80.
Three-lobed Burning Eye
This online magazine focusing on horror and dark fantasy is published three times per year. Every year they also release a print anthology. They accept short stories of 1500-7499 words and flash fiction of 500-1499 words. They pay $0.08 per word. They have three open submission periods each year.
Remember, these market list posts at All Freelance Writing are automatically updated when market listings change or new markets are added to the broader writers' market database. So bookmark this page and check it periodically for new places to submit short stories and flash fiction.
If you come across a market with a dead link or changed information in the published writers' guidelines, you can click "report link" below that market to create a pre-populated email to report it for review.
Also note that I do not pull markets just because their reading periods are temporarily closed. Many publications only accept submissions seasonally, so if a publication you want to pitch below is not currently accepting submissions, check their planned re-opening schedule and add those pitches to your calendar.
Submit Your Short Fiction Writers' Market
Do you run a writers' market that accepts, and pays for, short fiction? If so, and if you'd like to see your market included here and in All Freelance Writing's larger writers' market directory, you can submit your market for consideration.
I notice a large call for science fiction. I didn’t realize it was so popular.