Taking the Short Tack (Second Edition): Creating Income and Connecting with Readers Using Short Fiction

TAKING THE SHORT TACK (SECOND EDITION) shows how short fiction can become a powerful—and increasingly vital—tool in your publishing strategy. Authors Matty Dalrymple and Mark Leslie Lefebvre, who have built thriving author businesses through both traditional and indie publishing, share newly expanded insights on how short fiction can generate income, strengthen reader connection, and future-proof your creative career. This extensively updated edition includes:

Deeper guidance on rights licensing—how to protect and profit from your work by reusing it across multiple formats and markets.

New strategies for income creation, including library lending, contests, and global opportunities in translation and audio.

Expanded best practices on evaluating publishing partners, preparing professional submissions, and identifying red flags in anthology and rights agreements.

Updated recommendations for today’s platforms, from serial fiction to AI translation.

Practical insights on connecting with readers, from video storytelling and author readings to leveraging short fiction as a bridge to your longer works.

Smart, practical, and forward-looking, TAKING THE SHORT TACK (SECOND EDITION) is an essential guide for authors who want to create income, connect with readers, and navigate the evolving publishing landscape—one short story at a time.

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EBOOK: ISBN 978-1-959882-28-2

PRINT: 978-1-959882-29-9

"An incredibly well-organized book with everything you need to know about making the most of short fiction. Recommended!" —Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn

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"A fantastically informative short book for writers of all levels. An absolute must read for any author of short fiction wanting to make the best use of their stories. Whether that’s increasing readers, sales or assets. Highly recommended for new authors or seasoned pros alike." —Sacha Black, The Rebel Author Podcast

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"An incredibly well-organized book with everything you need to know about making the most of short fiction. Recommended!" —Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn ~ "A fantastically informative short book for writers of all levels. An absolute must read for any author of short fiction wanting to make the best use of their stories. Whether that’s increasing readers, sales or assets. Highly recommended for new authors or seasoned pros alike." —Sacha Black, The Rebel Author Podcast ~

MATTY DALRYMPLE is the author of the Ann Kinnear Suspense Novels and Suspense Shorts and the Lizzy Ballard Thrillers. She writes, speaks, consults, and podcasts on the writing craft and the publishing voyage as The Indy Author.

Mark Leslie Lefebvre is the author (as Mark Leslie) of numerous horror short stories and curator / editor of horror anthologies. He writes, speaks, consults, and podcasts based on his more than a quarter-century of experience in writing, publishing, and bookselling. He established the Kobo Writing Life author program and is the Director of Business Development at Draft2Digital.

Check out some of the tips I share on YouTube!

What are readers saying?

"An incredibly well-organized book with everything you need to know about making the most of short fiction. Recommended!"

—Joanna Penn, The Creative Penn

"I believe that career authors should be open to all of the opportunities available to them within both independent publishing and traditional publishing. I'm so impressed by Dalrymple and Lefebvre's comprehensive and authoritative list of short fiction options that writers can exploit. If you are serious about upping your short fiction game, then this is the book for you."

—J. Thorn, TheAuthorLife.com

"A fantastically informative short book for writers of all levels. An absolute must read for any author of short fiction wanting to make the best use of their stories. Whether that’s increasing readers, sales or assets. Highly recommended for new authors or seasoned pros alike."

—Sacha Black, The Rebel Author Podcast

"Short fiction can be a major part of an author’s brand and output, but the options for short fiction now extend far beyond traditional markets. This book is a useful, tactical guide to the various ways you can build your author brand, audience, and revenue with short stories."

—Kobo reader Anthony St. Clair