Most publishers want full-length fiction and non-fiction. Do publishers buy collections of stories or essays? It’s difficult to get a straight answer, because neither article is wrong – not even when they confuse you by listing bestselling collections while explaining how the form makes no money and is near extinction. Muddying the water is that from time to time there’s an article saying ‘short stories are dead and over, no publisher wants to buy them’ or, alternatively, ‘short stories are enjoying a revival, as proof here are some famous writers who have published successful collections’. It’s not like publishing a full-length book – which is hard, but at least the route is clearer. You’re not being gaslit, it’s just that publishing a collection of short stories or essays is not all that straightforward.

So, it’s not like they’re imaginary or something. On the other hand, there clearly are collections of short stories and books of essays being published and sold every year, and you can name some of them because they’ve been a tremendous success. On one hand, there are those who are immediately dismissive, saying many publishers don’t publish short stories at all (true), or short stories don’t sell (often true), or publishers will only buy a collection of stories from a well-known author (not exactly untrue). Publishing a short story collection or a book of essays is a subject that attracts some conflicting advice.

Good short stories to write an essay on