In France, publishers are reluctant to publish news. But, apart from traditional publishing, the dynamism of magazines and independent publishing keeps short fiction alive...
Except in exceptional cases, if you have not already published a successful novel, your chances of convincing a traditional publisher to publish your short stories are almost zero. He will tell you that in France, news does not sell. That the only ones who read it are precisely… those who write it (not false). But then, where and how to get your news published?
Independent publishers: small, but demanding
Of course, there is self-publishing, now accessible to everyone thanks to the internet. But also independent publishers, dynamic and lovers of brief forms: for example, the Anti-Data editions which launch each year a call for texts on a theme, giving rise to a collective collection, and also publish new authors. Chemins de Fir editions as for them, they do work both graphically and literarily, associating an artist and an author in each of their books… Do not neglect these so-called “small” publishers, even though they do the same work. than the "rap ghostwriters for hire": they put as much seriousness, curiosity and pugnacity into their approach (if not more?) as their well-established elders... Don't forget, before sending them your texts, to leaf through their catalog and to read what they publish to check that your production can fit into their editorial line. On the online edition side, Short Edition offers a platform on which to publish its texts and regularly launches competitions which can pave the way for a paper publication (this publisher is the designer of the short story dispensers that can be found in Sniff stations).
The magazines: dynamic and pugnacious
Literary journals, for their part, often also have a reading committee and do serious and demanding work. Some will even give you reasoned feedback if your texts are refused: among the most active, the magazines Breves (published by Atelier du GU), Rue Saint-Amboise or Decoupage ... Here too, before sending a manuscript, read this that they publish and, if you like their content, subscribe! This will provide them with much-needed support. Don't forget online magazines like Onuphrius or Ampoule which read (and publish if you like) the texts sent by email. You will discover many other magazines at Salon de la Revue which is held every year in Paris, in November, at the Space des Blanks-Manteaux. Finally, certain fairs are entirely devoted to short stories, such as Place aux novellas in Luzerne or the Littér'Halles days in Decide.
Competitions: good training
There are many competitions dedicated to short stories: nearly 200 in France! Themed or not, often with prizes, they give you the opportunity to practice your book writing services and, if your short story is selected, to see it published in a collective collection. In the Center region, the to Conair La Nouvelle association organizes meetings with authors, competitions and workshops. To find out more about the news of all-round competitions, follow the online magazine Nouvelle-Donne.net.
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