Many others, however, will consider genre stories if they are done well and appeal to a wide audience. Credits in these magazines are of interest to editors who acquire book-length manuscripts. Online magazines offer a whole new market, and in some cases, less competition for a new writer while the off-line world catches up. A great online magazine for short stories and novel excerpts is St. Rose Press . They publish new writers and pay them.
Most publications offer both regular submission guidelines and contests for specific categories.
Payment is typically in copies of the published magazine, or a token payment, but writing for guidelines before submitting will clear up any confusion. Some small press publications pay well. As in any business, there were a few bad experiences with unpleasant personalities. Overall, I learned a great deal about editing practices related not only to small press but to publishing in general. Don't submit before requesting and reading the publication's guidelines.