Low Pay Mags:

What is a low pay magazine? I suppose everyone has their own ideas, but as for me it seems to be thus: I consider anything less than $50 per short story (500 - 7,500 words) to be average or low for most genre magazine's standards. This can go all the way down to just $1!

You may ask, why would I want to send my story in for just $1 pay, right? Well if you are a new or first time writer, that may very well be your only choice, if you'd like to see your story in print. However, even established writer's get paid such low prices. Why? Love of the magazine, maybe? The desire to get your name into a more specialized group of readers? Just for the hell of it? Everyone has a reason. My reason. I just have a soft spot for the little magazines and the small presses that print them. It takes real guts to go out there are start small press that has to compete against the giants. I admire that in them, and am proud to be a part of that, to be able to say "I knew them when..."

Well, since most magazines pay per word, I feel that this site should thus judge them, on a pay per word basis as well. By most standards, anything below .03¢ per word is considered to average or low. Most pay .01¢ per word. There are a few markets that pay as low as ¼¢ per word. How much is ¼¢ per word in total pay? On the low end . ¼¢ per word translates to $1.25 for a 500 word story all the way up to $25 for a 10,000 word story. So in the average low paying magazine market, you can expect to earn the following:

 

 ¼¢ per word:

500 words = $1.25

750 words = $1.87

1,000 words = $2.50

2,500 words = $6.50

5,000 words = $12.50

7,500 words = $18.75

10,000 words = $25

12,000 words = $30

15,000 words = $37.50

 

Another thing to consider is that 9 times out of 10 the small press magazines pay per story rather than per word. Common payments are: $1, $5, $10, $12, $15, $25, or $35 per story. In other words, they may pay $5 for any work of short fiction regardless of wither it has 500 words or 15,000.

 

 

low pay mags

Low Pay Mags: The List

Albedo One:

All authors receive a complimentary copy of the issue their story appears in. Our payment consists of a best-of-issue-award. The story voted best in issue by the readers is paid one hunderd euro.

Amazing Journeys Magazine:

Short story payments will be made at the rate of 1/4 cent per word. One lead story each issue will receive our Editor's Choice award and payment of 1/2 cent per word.  We will pay $5.00 for each poem. 

Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine:

Short Fiction: 1.25c/Word(Australian), with a $20 minimum per piece. Poetry and Flash Fiction: A$10 per piece.

Aoife's Kiss:

Original short stories of any length up to 6000 words.  Payment is 1/4 cent per word, with a $5.00 minimum.

Between Kisses:

Payment is $5.00 per original story.  No reprints.

Beyond Centauri:

Payment is $5.00 per story [$3.00 for reprints], paid on  publication, plus one contributor's copy. Loose maximum of 2000 words.  We'd like it themed to science fiction, fantasy, or ewww-gross.  If in doubt, send it in.

Blood Rose:

Limit: 1500 to 8000 words. Query if longer.
Payment: $20 US per story, $10 for reprints

Challenging Destiny:

Currently pay authors 1 cent (Canadian) per word plus a copy of the magazine upon publication.

Champagne Shivers:

All stories must be between 500 and 2,000 words and you must include a word count. $5 (unpublished); $3 (previously published)

Crimewave:

Unknown/No payment guidelines listed on website.

Dragons, Knights, & Angels:

$10 for short stories. $5 for poems.

Dreams and Nightmares:

Payment is $5 on acceptance + 2 contributor's copies. (You can request 3 extra copies instead of cash.) I print primarily poetry, but also publish short short fiction.

The Fifth Di... :

Looking for stories up to 7,500 words, although I will consider queries for longer stories. Payment will be $7 per story, on publication, buying first rights. (EK's NOTE: I'm includeing this ezine only because it is published by: Sam's Dot Publishing , who also prints several magazines which I like.)

Flytrap:

Will consider work up to 5,000 words Payment: We pay $10 per piece, on publication, and a couple of copies.

From the Asylum Books and Press:

Payment will be $10 for flash fiction, $10 for poetry, and $25 for short fiction.  In addition, each author will receive 1copy of the yearly paperback anthology that contains their work.

Full Unit Hook-Up:

Science fiction, dark/urban fantasy, magic realism, slipstream, humor, and mainstream stories between 500 and 5,000 words. Because of space limitations, stories longer than 5,000 words will be a hard sell to FUHU, but PLEASE nothing over 10,000 words. No horror, high fantasy, or S&S stories. $10 (ten) U.S. dollars per short story + one contributor's copy. $5 (five) U.S. dollars per poem + one contributor's copy. $5 (five) U.S. dollars per article + one contributor's copy.

Hungur Magazine:

You will be paid $10.00 for your accepted story; $4.00 for your accepted poem; $5.00 for your accepted illustration; and $12.50 for your accepted cover illustration.

Interzone:

Unknown/No payment guidelines listed on website.

low pay mags

KidVisions:

KidVisions will pay $2.00 for each accepted original submission, $1.00 for reprints, and $5.00 for the door art. 

Killer Tales:

 Payment is $5.00 per story.

Leading Edge:

Fiction payment is 1 (one) cent per word, $10.00 minimum, plus two contributor copies.

The Martian Wave:

Payment for first rights will be $10. Payment for reprints will be $5 paid on publication.

Mount Zion:

We pay one dollar and one contributor copy for stories, art, and poems. Sometimes we publish more than one item per contributor per issue. The usual guideline is up to three poems, one poem and one story, or one poem or story and up to three pieces of art. For each additional item published we only pay one additional dollar (one contributor copy per contributor, regardless of how many items published). Mount Zion purchases first print rights. We are also interested in reprinting previously solicited materials for which the author still has rights, and welcome simultaneous submissions.

Neo-opsis Science Fiction Magazine:

Payment: 2.5¢ (canadian) per word, to a maximum of $125 and one copy of the  issue your contribution appears in. Black & white illustration, the artist will receive one copy of the issue and $30 (Canadian). Four color piece for the cover recives two copies of that issue and $100 (Canadian).

Not One of Us:

The ideal story length is 2000 to 5000 words, but shorter and longer works will also be considered. Poetry can come in any length within reason. We assume first North American serial rights, with rights reverting to the author/poet upon publication. Payment is ¼¢ per word ($5 minimum), payable upon publication, plus one contributor’s copy for stories; $2 plus one copy for poems.

The Shantytown Anomaly:

Payment is $1 per accepted piece (includes art, reviews, and articles) plus contributor's copies, on publication. We buy First English Language Serial Rights, rights revert to the author on publication.

Sybil's Garage:

The payment breakdown is as follows: For all works of fiction, 2000-5000 words, $10, plus 1 copy print & electronic. For all works of fiction, 1-1999 words, $5, plus 1 copy print & electronic. Payment for artwork & poetry is negotiable.  Payments are made prior to publication.

Talebones:

Manuscripts should be no longer that 6,000 words. If you have something longer that you would like us to consider, please query first. Vignettes and Short-shorts also considered. Payment is 1-2 cents per word, USA funds, by contract. We purchase 1st North American Serial Rights and sometimes 1st Electronic Rights. All subsidiary rights released upon publication. We respond on most submissions in 4-8 weeks.

Tales of the Talisman:

We pay $10.00 per published story and $4.00 per published poem or the equivalent. Contributors also receive one copy of the issue in which their work appears.

The 3rd Alternative:

Unknown/No payment guidelines listed on website.

Wicked Hollow:

Wicked Hollow pays 1/4 cent per word upon acceptance for fiction (with a minimum of $5) and $2 upon acceptance for poetry.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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