First short story - what now?

[funtimewincies]

I've just finished my first short story and I'm now wondering what to do with it.

I know that magazines publish short stories, but they all seem to be ones I've never heard of and could spend a fortune buying, only to find out that my story won't suit. It's just under 2000 words and is a quirky crime (sort of) thing.

Advice needed from more experienced writers needed please! .

take a fact-finding trip to a library to read the magazines there and have a look at the Writers Handbook.

Thanks, I have a feeling that my local library might have to order copies in but I'm in no rush.

Thanks for the tip .

I recently had my first short fiction published in The People's Friend...which is a well established and popular fiction and lifetyle mag...you can buy it in the UK, Canada and Oz.

The most important piece of advice I can give you is that usually it is best to read the magaazines which DO publish short stories and then write one specifically for that publication.

Otherwise you may find yourself with a story which won't "fit" anywhere. I wrote my story for PF and tailored it to their readership...which is women between the ages of 30 and 100 plus who don't like horror, or upstting storlines...so romance and historical or humour.

What kind of story is yours?