Short Fiction

For more information, contact Matty at matty<at>mattydalrymple<dot>com.

Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction

​Based on information shared in her book Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction, which she co-authored with Mark Leslie Lefebvre, Matty discusses the opportunities that short fiction offers writers through the traditional short fiction market; via the ever-expanding pool of non-traditional options, such as audio; and how writers who are willing to act as their own gatekeepers can use the tools of independent publishing to get their work into readers' hands. You can see some of the venues where she has discussed this topic, including Joanna Penn's The Creative Penn Podcast, here: https://www.theindyauthor.com/short-fiction.html

 

Be Your Own Gatekeeper: Indie Publishing Your Short Fiction

The traditional short fiction market simply can’t accommodate the many excellent short stories that deserve to reach readers. But with an indie mindset, you don’t have to rely on gatekeepers. Instead, you can take control of your publishing journey, connecting directly with readers who will love your stories, turning them into fans, and generating income from your work.

Matty Dalrymple, author of Taking the Short Tack: Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction, shares how to unlock the potential of short fiction. Attendees will learn:

  • How to publish short fiction as standalones, collections, and anthologies

  • Cost-effective strategies for editing, proofreading, and cover design

  • How to maximize story value by publishing across multiple platforms and formats

  • Income opportunities like patronage and monetizing short fiction via audio and video

  • Ways to connect with readers using short fiction as reader magnets, funnels, or social media promotions

  • How short fiction can aid market research and foster community engagement

Who should attend?

  • Authors whose short stories have stalled with traditional magazines or anthologies and want a proven indie path to reach readers directly

  • Novelists aiming to add steady revenue by releasing stand-alone shorts or boxed collections between full-length books

  • Writers looking for cost-effective ways to edit, proof, and design covers without sacrificing quality

  • Creators eager to maximize each story’s value across ebooks, print, and even audio platforms

  • Email-list builders who plan to use short fiction as reader magnets, funnels, or social-media giveaways to grow an engaged audience quickly

  • Market-curious authors who see short fiction as a low-risk laboratory for testing new genres, pen names, or tropes before committing to a novel

Walk away with practical strategies to turn short fiction into a powerful tool for building your author brand and income.