The goal of most writers is to see their own writing in print. Other than working hard and having some writing ability there are a few things you can do to help the process along. Getting published takes a lot of time and energy, and this is after you have completed enough material to submit to journals and magazines. Keep in mind that you will be rejected, but if you keep pushing on you will be successful.

1. Have Several Stories Completed. The best way to go about getting published is to submit material on a regular basis. In order to do this you should have several pieces ready to go at all times. They should be proofread and free from any spelling and grammar mistakes.
2. Research the publishing market. Find out which magazines and other markets will work for the type of material you are writing. Make a list of where you want to submit your stories.
3. Check your format. Each short story should have your contact information on it. They should also include the word count on the top of the first page.
4. Have a cover letter ready. Your cover letter should include your biography, any works you have had published. You can have one basic cover letter that you can adapt for different submissions.
5. Keep track of your submissions. The easist way to do this is to use a spread sheet. This will keep you from resending the same story to the same magazine, and keep you from submitting stories to the same place more than twice a year.
6. Know the submission rules. Each magazine and journal has their own rules when it comes to submissions. Some want exclusive stories so if you get accepted at one place you may need to withdraw the story from other journals.