DeScribe

Just wondering if anyone knows any good nationally acclaimed perhaps publications for short stories for a story of around 1500 words. Specifically a fictional prose, literary genred.

Really the only ones I know are Verandah and other uni-based literary journals (like Vivid at Melbourne).
There's a sizeable list of publications for flash fiction on the Flasher website but I guess those are usually 1,000 worders, and maybe not so much with the nationally acclaimed.

Rhys oughta know. RHYS. Wake up boy.

...Mum? I don't want to go to school today, Mum, it's Saturday...

Huh? Wazzat?

Ahem.

It's hard to make a list for your friend without reading the work and knowing their publishing history. There are journals that welcome new writers (as long as they're fresh & exciting): Verandah, obviously and Going Down Swinging. There are journals that will tear a new writer's heart out and serve it to them cold, on a bed of rejection letters: Meanjin springs to mind. There are journals that want themed writing, journals that want longer stories than 1,500 words. These demands change regularly with new editors and the seasons.

Idea (1): Go to the Vic Writers' Centre next time you're in the city, and check out the wall of journals in their library (top of the stairs, just walk in, they don't check membership...just look like you belong [and you really should think about becoming a member anyway]). Read some. Get an idea what they print.

Idea (2): Do the same at the Deakin library

Idea (3): Visit the state Writers' Centres (c'mon, google them) like: http://www.liswa.wa.gov.au/austlit.html and then visit the journal links. Also, the AustLit portal through the library website is good.

You need to be familiar with a publication before you submit. At least check their submission guidelines. It only costs time, and if you don't do it, it shows. Some of the submissions we get for Verandah are shockers - and it's not like we're asking people to print only on recycled paper or anything difficult like that.