From the magazine
The dark end of the short story shelf

The Big Click Mag runs short crime fiction, craft guides for writers, criticism in plain language, and long talks with the authors and small-press editors who work in the dark.
- Craft
- Casefile
- Criticism
- Interviews
Fresh ink
Latest from the mag
Craft guides, stories, criticism and interviews, newest first.
How to Build an Author Platform as a Crime Writer 2026
How to build an author platform as a crime writer in : a practical step-by-step plan for your website, email list, outreach,…
How to Pitch a Crime Novel at a Conference (2026)
Learn how to pitch a crime novel at a conference in . Research organizers, tailor your proposal, deliver the pitch clearly and…
How to Find a Literary Agent for Crime Fiction in 2026
Learn how to find a literary agent for crime fiction in , build a targeted submission list, query effectively, follow up well,…
How to Self Publish a Crime Novel in 2026: A Practical Guide
Learn how to self publish a crime novel in : revising the manuscript, picking a platform, setting price, formatting files and promoting…
What Paying Markets for Short Fiction Look Like (October 2026)
What paying markets for short fiction look like, from real per-word rates and rights terms to a five-step check for finding legitimate,…
Simultaneous Submissions Explained for Fiction Writers 2026
Simultaneous submissions explained for fiction writers: when a story can go to several venues, how to disclose it, and how to withdraw…
How to Read a Magazine Before Submitting: Step-by-Step (2026)
Learn how to read a magazine before submitting, with a practical checklist for researching fit, style, format, and standing submissions. Updated for…
How to Handle Rejection as a Fiction Writer: Simple Guide 2026
Learn how to handle rejection as a fiction writer, sort real feedback from noise, decide between revising and shelving, and keep submitting…
What Editors Look for in a Crime Short Story Guide (2026)
Learn what editors look for in a crime short story in , from a gripping opening and a real voice to pacing,…
From the editors
Pull up a chair. We read for the sentence that turns a room cold, and we publish the craft guides, the reviews and the long interviews that show how the trick is done. If you write this stuff yourself, take this as a table you are welcome to argue across.
The Big Click Mag editors

About the mag
A magazine for the noir shelf
The Big Click Mag is about crime, noir and dark short fiction: craft guides for the people writing it, criticism that says plainly what works, and interviews with the writers and editors keeping the form alive.
It is written for readers in the US who like their fiction with the lights low, and for the people who sit down and make it.








