Most literary journals are only interested in publishing short stories that are up to 3,000 words or so in length. So it can be harder for someone who wrote a longer short story to place it in a good home, unless they are publishing a collection of short stories.
The following literary journals are all open to publishing longer short stories, although the specific lengths the journals are looking for do vary. So if you have written one or several short stories exceeding 3,000 words in length, here are some good options for you.
Some of these publishers open and close to submissions, so if one of the literary journals you are most interested in submitting to is not currently accepting submissions, make sure to monitor their website. The journals are listed in no particular order.
This print literary journal is based in the US. Authors living in the US must submit by mail, and those outside can submit via email. They accept longer work according to Duotrope, but on their website they do not go into the details regarding word limitations.
The Conium Review publishes fiction of all lengths, from flash fiction (which must be shorter than 1,000 words) to novellas (that start at 15,000 words and can go up to 40,000). They are an annual print journal; although they have an online compendium, it has different requirements. Contributors receive copies of the issue their work appears in.
The Seattle Review
They only publish long work. They won’t even consider prose that is less than 40 (double spaced) pages in length, which is unusual. They also like longer poems and linked poems.
The Collagist is a respected online literary journal that is published by Dzanc Books. They are open to publishing fiction up to 8,000 words in length.
Dodging the Rain is a new blogazine publishing all genres of literature and artwork. Helmed in Galway, Ireland, Dodging the Rain is founded and edited by a multinational group of graduate students based at the National University of Ireland: Galway’s Masters in Writing Programme and the university’s Creative Process Masters of the Arts. They are open to longer submissions, and writers interested in submitting longer work may query the editors to pitch the piece.
A Public Space
A Public Space publishes fiction, essays, poetry, as well as multi-genre work. They accept novellas and novel excerpts. No word or page limit is mentioned. They try to respond to all submissions within four months, although they mention that it is often a little longer than that.
Alaska Quarterly Review (AQR)
AQR is a literary journal devoted to contemporary literary art, publishing fiction, short plays, poetry, photo essays, and literary nonfiction in traditional and experimental styles. They accept short stories and novel excerpts up to 50 pages in length.
Cecile’s Writers
They only publish work by intercultural writers, a term they define on their website in great length. They publish fiction up to 21,000 words in length. They also publish novel excerpts.
Fiction
This established print magazine publishes longer work, including novelettes and novellas.
An online Canadian literary journal that is open to fiction up to 5,000 words in length. They ask that all fiction have Canadian sensibilities, although the author need not be Canadian or reside in Canada.
