Writing fiction may be something you love doing, but you never thought you could get paid for. Whether you prefer to write shorter stories or you want to write long novels, you can earn money writing fiction online with the right websites.
When you know where to submit short stories for money (and longer novels), you have the ability to earn money writing online. While some of the online sites you can submit your fiction writing to are actually magazines, most publish online (some also in print).
If you’ve dreamed of becoming a fiction writer and getting paid to write fiction stories, the list below will help you do just that. I have put my research skills to good use and found XX sites willing to help you get paid to write about anything in the fiction genres. Some of the sites will also accept poetry, non-fiction, flash fiction (super short stories), and more!
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Earn Money Writing Fiction Online With These 23 Sites!
Every site is a bit different, and you will notice not all will allow you to submit your fiction writing anytime you want. Pay attention to the guidelines and the submission dates before you just start sending your story off to these sites.
In addition, it’s important to note, some of these sites will allow you to submit your work to them and other sites at the same time. This is known as simultaneous submission. Make sure this is accepted by the site you plan to submit to before submitting the same story to multiple sites.
The Sun
A unique choice, The Sun is a reader-supported magazine offering opportunities for many writers in different fiction genres. They accept more than just fiction, so you will see this magazine repeated in a few other categories on my list.
The Sun will publish fiction and nonfiction, and they tend to favor personal writing. They also like pieces on cultural and political issues, but accept many different types of writing.
Pay Range: $300 to $2,000 per story
ClarkesWorld Magazine
A science fiction magazine accepting World Fantasy, British Fantasy, and Hugo, ClarkesWorld publishes short stories, articles, interviews, and audio fiction. They publish monthly and have open submission times regularly.
You’ll find a long list of topics for Fiction writers to consider from ClarkesWorld Magazine. These include zombies, vampires, talking cats, FTL travel, Christian mythology, and so much more.
Pay Range: $0.10 per word for the first 7,000 words and $0.08 per word after 7,000 words
The New Yorker
Could you imagine if your story was published in The New Yorker? For many writers, this is a dream come true and it’s very possible if you submit your fiction to The New Yorker.
Pay Range: Varies
Asimov’s Science Fiction
A great place to submit your fiction, Asimov’s prefers character-oriented stories. They cater to the Science Fiction genre, but they do not want stories about violence or sex. They also don’t accept stories about Sorcery, but they will consider a good interview.
They rarely buy short stories with less than 1,000 words or longer stories with more than 20,000 words.
Pay Range: 8 to 10 cents per word for stories up to 7,500 words and 8 cents for every word over 7,500 words
Harper’s Magazine
If you have a fiction or non-fiction story you want to submit for publication, Harper’s Magazine is interested. They do consider unsolicited fiction, but they do not consider unsolicited non-fiction.
Pay Range: Varies
Fantasy & Science Fiction
There is no formula for fiction with Fantasy & Science Fiction. Instead, they accept all kinds of fiction, including science fiction and fantasy as this is the audience they cater to, with a preference for character-oriented stories.
Your stork can be up to 25,000 words in length, and they ask that you submit the entire manuscript instead of submitting a query first.
Pay Range: 7 to 12 cents per word
Black Warrior Review
Submitting general fiction to Black Warrior Review may just get you published. They also accept some non-fiction. While submissions are not open year-round, Black Warrior Review does have submissions open at different times of the year.
They prefer stories under 5,000 words but will accept up to 7,000. They also accept flash fiction stories under 1,000 words.
Pay Range: Varies with a $3 submission fee
Carve Magazine
Accepting short stories and non-fiction, you can submit your work to Carve Magazine year-round. They look for honest fiction in short story format with emotional honesty, soul, and emotional jeopardy.
Carve offers feedback on some declined submissions.
Pay Range: $100 per story with a $3 submission fee online. Mail submissions are free
Iowa Review
Accepting fiction and non-fiction during some times of the year, the Iowa Review is another place to get published. They have a page limit of 25 double-spaced pages.
Pay Range: $0.08 per word with a $100 minimum and a $4 submission fee
PloughShares at Emerson College
You can submit your work to several publications through PloughShares, including the Journal, Solos Series, Look2, and the Writer’s Content. Each is a bit different, and they don’t accept submissions year-round.
Fiction should be between 7,500 and 20,000 words for the Solos series, while Journal submissions should be less than 6,000 words.
Pay Range: $45 per printed page with a $90 minimum and a $450 maximum per author
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The Missouri Review
Submit your fiction and non-fiction work to The Missouri Review, and you might just become a published author. Unlike many other sites on this list, they allow simultaneous submissions.
Fiction has no length restrictions, but they do expect shorter pieces to be incredible.
Pay Range: $40 per printed page + $1,000 for the best fiction piece of the year
Analog Science Fiction And Fact
Submit any type of story falling under the general category of Science Fiction to Analog for consideration to Analog Science Fiction And Fact. They accept stories with all types of science, including physical, psychological, and sociological. They will also accept fact articles.
Pay Range: 8 to 10 cents per word for short fiction up to 20,000 words, 6 cents per word for longer fiction from 40,000 to 80,000 words, and 9 cents per word for fact articles.
APEX Magazine
A Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror magazine from APEX Book Company, APEX Magazine doesn’t always accept submissions. When they do, the maximum word count is 7,500 words. They may even turn your story into a podcast.
Pay Range: $0.06 per word with a $60 minimum and $0.01 per word if you’re story is turned into a podcast
GigaNotoSaurus
They only publish one story per month, and they accept Science Fiction or Fantasy from 5,000 to 25,000 words. GigaNotoSaurus is open to all kinds of stories from a diverse range of backgrounds.
Pay Range: $100 per story
East of the Web
You can submit your short story to East of the Web in the fiction genre. They do not accept novels or extracts from novels, but they also don’t put a word limit on your submission.
Pay Range: Varies
Vestal Review
Every year, Vestal Review accepts submissions between February and May, along with August and November. Sometimes, they have special calls for submissions, as well. They do accept flash fiction up to 500 words, but they do not accept porn, excessive gore, obscenity, or racial slurs. They are also not long for preachy stories or children’s stories. Rated R content is fine, but not Rated X.
Pay Range: $25 Honorarium
Flash Fiction Online
While they don’t accept submissions year-round, when Flash Fiction Online does accept submissions, they may be for one or all of their categories. However, they don’t accept graphic sex, erotica, or egregious violence at any time.
As the name states, they accept flash fiction, which should be short. They also accept Reprints.
Pay Range: $60 per story and $0.02 per word for Reprints
Cricket Media
Those looking to submit children’s stories will love Cricket Media. They provide the option to submit all kinds of children’s stories to several publications. Submit funny stories, stories about nature, art stories, music stories, and much more.
Publications include:
- BabyBug Magazine (6 months to 3 years of age) – Stories with a six-sentence maximum
- LadyBug Magazine (Ages 3 to 6) – Stories up to 800 words
- Spider Magazine (Ages 6 to 9) – Stories from 300 to 1,000 words
- Cricket Magazine (Ages 9 to 14) – Stories from 1,200 to 1,800 words
- Ask Magazine (Ages 7 to 10) – Science and Non-fiction stories only from 200 to 1,200 words
- Muse Magazine (Ages 9 to 14) Science and Non-fiction stores only from 500 to 2,000 words
Pay Range: 25 cents per word and $75 for activities and recipes
Fireside Magazine
Fireside Magazine offers submissions for several categories, including short stories, non-fiction, novels, novellas, and more. They accept stories in both English and Spanish with short stories going up to 2,500 words and other categories catering to longer stories.
Pay Range: 12.5 cents per word
One Story Inc.
Submission periods for One Story Inc. are from January 15th to May 31st and from September 3rd to November 14th each year. They look for literary fiction from 3,000 to 8,000 words only. They want stories leaving readers satisfied at the end.
Pay Range: $500 per story
Cohesion Press
With Cohesion Press, you have to check often as they don’t always accept submissions. They do submission calls for different types of fiction at different times of the year. As of writing this guide, for example. They had a Submission Call for military action-based, last-stand horror stories from 2,000 to 10,000 words.
Pay Range: AU 5 cents per word
Crazyhorse
A magazine accepting submissions from September 1st to May 31st every year, Crazyhorse takes both fiction and non-fiction. They accept stories between 2,500 and 8,500 words and they hold an annual short-short fiction contest called Crazyshots!
They do allow simultaneous submissions and accept all types of fiction and non-fiction.
Pay Range: $20 per page with a maximum of $200 per story
Alaska Quarterly Review
Accepting fiction stories, short plays, and literary non-fiction stories, Alaska Quarterly Review offers plenty of options for writers. They also accept photo essays and contemporary literary art.
Fiction and non-fiction should not exceed 50 pages in length. They do accept simultaneous submissions.
Pay Range: Varies
Now you have 23 sites you can submit your short stories, novels, articles, flash fiction, and other works for possible publishing and payment. Some pay better than others, and it will be up to you to choose where you submit your work.
My Expert Advice for Anybody Looking to Earn Money Writing Fiction Online
Making money from any type of writing online means you need to spend plenty of time reading the submission guidelines. The same is true when you want to earn money writing fiction online.
If you want to send your story off to a specific publication, make sure they are looking for what you’re providing. Read their guidelines and reread them to ensure you’re following their rules. The last thing you want to do is burn a bridge before they even see your work.
Maybe the fiction niche is just one of the niches you want to earn money writing online with. I’ve compiled a MASSIVE list of websites ready to pay you to write for them.
Of course, you can also find a niche you love, such as travel, finance, business, marketing, or one of many other great niches for freelance writers, and get my COMPLETE list of 100+ Websites that Pay Writers by clicking here.
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