Where can I send a "twilight zone" style short story?

[schroedingersdodo]

I've written a short story (about 1,800 words) that feels a bit "twilight zone" to me - with elements of supernatural, horror, suspense. I want to try to sell it to a magazine, but have no idea where to send it. I don't think it's exactly "horror" as it's more of a "weird unexplained thing happening to normal people" if it makes any sense.

Thanks in advance,

S

[Punkatheart]

Go to the website Duotrope. It is a fantastic resource and has all listings for genre magazines...

[schroedingersdodo]

Hi Punkatheart

I tried duotrope, but how do I classify the story? Horror? Suspense?

Maybe I should just let the story lie a bit longer until I think of a better ending...

Thanks for the help!

[Punkatheart]

Are there elements of horror - is it bloody? Sounds more on the paranormal side? Why not send it to someone - you might get some feedback and advice...

[schroedingersdodo]

Not bloddy, at least not openly bloody. More like "weird and unexplained." I don't know anyone who knows the market well enough to advise me on that. Think it's time to join a writers forum...

[Punkatheart]

No I mean sending it to a magazine. They might say 'Too horror for us.' - so then you will know....

[strawberryjelly]

I'd say you are coming at this from the wrong angle TBH.

Short story writing is a very niche market- and 1800 words is a VERY short story.

It's hard to get short stories published BUT if thisis a genre you want to follow, look around at where they are published.

A range of women's mags do them and there are also several competitions each year .

I write features for mags and the press- I decide which story will fit which publication, then go for it.

I think you need to buy/borrow a whole pile of mags and see who takes short stories and what kind they use.

[Punkatheart]

...good points, strawberry..but it doesn't sound very woman's mag to me.

Some libraries have magazines..

A competition could be a good option - loads of listings and at this time of year, a lot of competitions... Sentinel have one...closes 30th June and is 2,000 words or less...

[strawberryjelly]

No I agree it's not women's mag material- that was just an example.

it sounds very specialist and my advice still holds- write what is publishable- which means jumping through hoops- why waste time and energy writing something horror/fantasy which is going to be hard to get into print?

[Punkatheart]

But some people do not write with the intent to always be published. There are writers out there for whom the story comes first, then they find a publisher. Absolutely nothing wrong with it and I would disagree that writing for pleasure is ever a waste of time.

That said, themed competitions can give a writer a bit of direction. The Guardian one recently was 'Summer.'

I believe that you have to write what comes naturally - being published is not always the primary goal. A friend of mine wanted to write a book with a subject matter that most professionals said was unpublishable. She wrote it anyway and Bloomsbury picked it up. It will be out in November.

I do understand that there are a lot of people out there who write and may never be published - perhap some direction might help. But it is all about how hungry you are to be in print and just sometimes, how much you are prepared to compromise....

[strawberryjelly]

yes punk agreed- but the OP did ask about where she could selll it.

[Punkatheart]

schroed - do you already have a Writers' and Artists' Yearbook? Or the Writers' Handbook? Excellent listings in there...might be both investing in one of those...

[schroedingersdodo]

Spent the day away and just found out the thread has turned into an interesting discussion!

Strawberry, I understand your point, and most of the times I write thinking of a specific market, but this time the idea came from nowhere and I just wrote it down. There are some things I want to write, even if they end up not being published. In the case of this story, since I have it, I thought it would be nice to send it somewhere.

And you mentioned "wasting time and energy" in umpublishable stuff, but at the position I'm in now, I have a feeling that I need to practice as much as I can. So a story impossible to sell would be practice, at least. In fact, I feel I'm technically still quite weak.

Punk, I bought the yearbook a few months ago, but found the list of outlets a bit too general. Will take another, more careful look, though.

[strawberryjelly]

If you can't find a magazine etc maybe you could submit it for a competition where the theme is open?

[schroedingersdodo]

Strawberry, I think that's the only way to go. I'll think about a better ending for it and wait for a competition. Thanks, and thanks punk as well for the help!

[Punkatheart]

Loads of good competition listings - Sally Quilford's Competition Calendar etc.

Good luck!