Top Magazines for Submitting Microfiction: Where to Share Your Tiny Tales

Are you a writer who loves telling stories in just a few words?

If so, microfiction might be your perfect medium!

This blogpost will explore some great magazines and journals that welcome these super-short stories.

Whether you’re crafting drabbles, dribbles, or other tiny tales, these publications are eager to showcase your talent.

What is Microfiction?

Before we dive into our list of magazines, let’s take a moment to understand what microfiction is and why it’s gaining popularity.

Microfiction refers to extremely short stories, typically under 500 words. These bite-sized narratives pack a punch, telling complete stories in just a few sentences. Some common forms of microfiction include:

• Drabbles: Stories that are exactly 100 words long
• Dribbles: Stories that are exactly 50 words long
• Flash fiction: Very short stories, typically under 1000 words

Microfiction challenges writers to be concise and impactful. Every word must count, and there’s no room for unnecessary details. This form of writing can be a great exercise in storytelling and can help writers hone their skills in creating vivid scenes and characters quickly.

Now, let’s explore some great places where you can submit your tiny tales!

Magazines That Welcome Microfiction

1. 50-Word Stories

If you can tell a complete story in exactly 50 words, this is the place for you!

• They publish one or two new stories every weekday on their website.
• They try to respond within a month, but it might take longer sometimes.
• The best part? The top story each month wins a $10 prize!

50-Word Stories is a great place to start if you’re new to microfiction. The strict word limit forces you to be creative and concise. It’s a fun challenge to see if you can craft a beginning, middle, and end in just 50 words!

2. 100 Word Story

As the name suggests, this magazine wants stories that are exactly 100 words long.

• They accept both fiction and true stories (creative nonfiction).
• They have a special monthly contest based on a photo prompt.
• It costs $2 to submit normally, but contest entries are free.
• They usually respond within four months.

100 Word Story is a well-respected magazine in the microfiction world. Getting published here can be a great addition to your writing resume. The photo prompt contest is an excellent way to spark your creativity if you’re feeling stuck.

3. 101 Words

This magazine likes stories that are exactly 101 words long.

• They publish new stories on their website every weekday.
• Some stories might be chosen for their printed book collection.
• If your story is picked for the book, you get $10!
• They usually respond in 2-3 months.

101 Words offers a unique twist on the standard 100-word story. That extra word can make all the difference! The chance to be published in their print anthology is also an exciting opportunity for writers.

4. Burningword Literary Journal

Burningword accepts slightly longer pieces, up to 500 words.

• They prefer stories in the 300-500 word range.
• They accept fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
• They publish quarterly in print, digital, and online editions.
• They focus on showcasing emerging writers.
• They usually respond within a couple of months.

If you find 100 words too constraining, Burningword might be a good fit. The extra words give you more room to develop your story while still keeping it concise.

5. Citron Review

Citron Review accepts microfiction of 100 words or less.

• They also accept flash fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
• They publish online quarterly.
• They’re open for submissions most of the year (except December/January).
• They usually respond within a couple of months.

Citron Review is known for publishing high-quality short-form writing. Getting published here can be a great boost for your writing career.

6. Martian: The Magazine of Science Fiction Drabbles

If you love science fiction, check out Martian!

• They want stories that are exactly 100 words long.
• They publish stories online every week and in a yearly printed book.
• They pay 8 cents per word for new stories and 4 cents for reprints.
• They have specific times of the year when they accept submissions.
• They try to respond within 2 weeks.

Martian is a great option for science fiction writers. It’s also one of the few magazines on this list that pays for submissions, which is always a plus!

7. Microfiction Monday Magazine

This magazine likes super short stories of 100 words or less.

• They publish stories online every month.
• They ask for 6 weeks to respond but often do it sooner.

Microfiction Monday Magazine is dedicated solely to microfiction, making it a perfect fit for tiny tale enthusiasts.

8. The Drabble

The Drabble is another great place for 100-word stories.

• They accept fiction, true stories, and sometimes poetry.
• They don’t want you to send the same story to other magazines at the same time.
• They try to respond within 2 months, but it might take longer.

The Drabble has been publishing microfiction since 2015 and has a large, engaged readership. Getting published here can help your story reach a wide audience.

Tips for Writing and Submitting Your Microfiction

Now that you know where to submit your tiny tales, here are some tips to help you write and submit your best work:

1. Start with a bang: In microfiction, you don’t have time for a slow build-up. Hook your reader from the first sentence.
2. Focus on a single moment or idea: With so few words, it’s best to zoom in on one specific moment or concept rather than trying to cover too much ground.
3. Imply more than you say: Use suggestion and implication to create a larger story world than your word count allows.
4. Edit ruthlessly: In microfiction, every word must earn its place. If a word doesn’t serve multiple purposes, consider cutting it.
5. Read it aloud: This can help you catch awkward phrasing or rhythm issues.
6. Always check the magazine’s website before submitting: Submission guidelines can change, so make sure you have the most up-to-date information.
7. Follow the word count limits exactly: Many of these magazines are strict about word counts. Don’t give them a reason to reject your story before they’ve even read it.
8. Proofread carefully: In such short stories, even small errors stand out. Proofread multiple times before submitting.
9. Be patient: Some magazines take a while to respond. Use this time to write more stories!
10. Don’t give up if your story isn’t accepted: Rejection is a normal part of the writing process. If one magazine doesn’t accept your story, try submitting to a different one.

Conclusion

Writing microfiction is a fun and challenging way to tell stories. With these magazines, you have many places to share your tiny tales with the world.

Remember, the key to success is practice and persistence. Keep writing, keep submitting, and soon you might see your microfiction published!

Microfiction proves that a story doesn’t need to be long to be powerful. In just a few words, you can create worlds, evoke emotions, and leave lasting impressions on your readers.

So why not give it a try?

Pick a magazine from our list, write a tiny tale, and send it out into the world. Your 50 or 100 words could be the next big thing in the small world of microfiction!

Happy writing, and may your microfiction find big audiences!