Publishing short work with book-deal intention:

Toward a greater goal

Authors often wonder if pursuing publications of short work is a good way to build to a book deal. After all, it’s a whole ‘nother ferris wheel of submission and rejection to undertake. Mostly rejection. That said, I did experience the dream-come-true: a big-wig agent read one of my essays in a tip-top magazine and contacted me to see if I had a collection, I did not, and there went that opportunity.

When I was trying to place my first novel, for years I got the painful “Not enough platform.” Once I began publishing short stories — in more and more impressive journals — I received agent feedback such as: “Your literary credentials are impressive.”

Did I receive an offer of representation? Nope — but amidst the continual rejections, one sentence along those lines can make your whole day.

Whether to publish short work all depends on your goals and approach, but I found it worth the extensive time I put into submissions — though I was paid (usually) nothing for a publication. At the top of my scale, $250 for 5,000 words. More often, about $40 for the piece.

Here’s one of my favorites, adapted from a chapter of my novel, As Far as You Can Go Before You have to Come Back.

One example: Onions in the Tea Garden: Another Chicago Magazine published this in conjunction with the release of As Far as You Can Go Before You Have to Come Back.