July update, here we are. In June, I managed to submit a fresh story to WotF. This story received edits and commentarty from Wulf Moon, and I very grateful for the professional treatment. I took it all to heart, cut around 2000 words or more, strengthened setting and plot, and I think I had a solid story by the end. Fingers crossed for another SHM. 2nd Quarter was a fail, which was a bit of a shock. I revised a former rejection, a fav story of mine, but I suppose it just wasn't a good piece to sub to WotF. I'll keep sending that one out elsewhere. I also finished another fresh flash and fresh short story, as well as some major revision of other stories (revision that was for the best, I think; that's always a risk).
Now I'm trying to get focused on what's next. July is far too busy with the day job teaching gigs mornings and late afternoons, much busier than usual, so maybe I'll finally have a decent pay check at the end of the month. On the downside, not sure how well I'll keep up the writing, but will try. This month is a jungle, gotta keep from going under. Am feeling the press of humidity, even with the chill of the current rainy season here in Japan.
With my writing, I feel like I'm in that frustrating place where I love my stories, have gotten a few personals this year and last, and some people seem to like my style, but I'm not quite over the hump to get some pro sales in the bucket. Not sure what deadlines I'll focus on below, but I know I want to get stories in for the Spirit Machine anthology, Augur Magazine, Constelacion Magazine, and more. I also want to start submitting to Flame Tree flash contests more regularly (been around every other month for me), and I definitely want to get one of my furry stories in for Zooscape now that they're open again. I will probably go for my most recent furry story after a Zoom-based workshop session with it this weekend. That session should be fun--my first critique session with Galloglas and the other mentees). Then who knows what else; I crave my novel worlds at the moment, so maybe I'll do more stories that circle around them, and gradually circle in closer to getting those ready for some beta reading--my novella revised for the Nightfire Horror call was one of those circling closer to my novels). I want to continue the short story grind, but I always wanted to do novel writing at the same time. Maybe that's just not possible. I have the same issue with my DJing hobby. I would love to be making mixes for each story I write, because each of them always have their individual soundtracks playing in my head, but quite a challenge to do just one pursuit well, especially when you got to make the monies on the side doing whatever, and even harder to do multiple pursuits at once.
That said, I've been watching Stranger Things with my kids (thankfully they enjoy dark shows like that--honestly seems on par with what I watched as a kid), and it makes me want to continue working on fiction that aims at the feel of a thriller with tight pacing. I know I have a few flash stories that read like that. I also recently read Something Is Killing the Children, and that especially made me want to tighten up my pacing. What an excellent comic. Waiting on volumes 2 and 3 to arrive later this summer.
Anyway, my submissions are proceeding on par or better than last year, despite feeling I need to do more. They may surpass last year's total before the end of the year, if I can maintain up my submissions energy. Here they are:
Current Submission Stats on my Writing (as of July 2nd, 2021)
Total Submissions in 2021: 91 (2 novellas, 41 novelettes/short stories, 16 flash/drabble, 33 poems)
Accepted (2021): 1 (1 short story w/ request for revision)
Pending (2021): 20 (1 novella, 9 short stories/novelettes, 1 flash/drabble, 9 poems)
Rejections (subs of 2020-202J1): 90 (1 novella, 40 short/novelettes, 19 flash, 27 poetry)
Rejections (subs of 2021): 65 (1 novella, 28 shorts, 12 flash, 24 poetry)
Personal Rejections received in 2021: 2 (1 flash, 2 short stories)
Writers of the Future Results for 2021: Q1 SHM, Q2 Rejection, Q3 submitted, Q4 to be written
Onward to the submission deadlines, open publications, and other opportunities. Updates in both high pay and low pay categories.
Table of Contents (scroll down to each section for clickable links)1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (July 2021 and beyond; 5-20¢/word USD)
2. Publications Open for Submissions (No Specified Deadline; 5-20¢/word USD)
3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (July 2021 and beyond; 1-4¢/word USD)
4. Publications Open for Submission (No Specified Deadline; 1-4¢/word USD)
5. Other Submission Opportunities (Kickstarters, Advance/Royalties, Charities, etc.)
6. Publications Closed
7. Search for More Markets
8. Advice, Motivation, and Workshops
9. More Links
1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (July 2021 and beyond; 5-20¢/word USD)
7/4 (11 PM UTC), Cast of Wonders: Seasonal Holidays/Special Events, ~6000 words (under 5000 preferred), 8¢/word, Genre: any YA speculative, Theme: see website for details ("stories that evoke a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them"), simultaneous OK, reprints OK ($100/short, $20/flash)
7/1-7/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is only open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors
7/1-7/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
7/1-7/7 (limited to BIPOC, trans, or disabled living in/from Canada) & 7/8-7/31 (everyone) Augur, ~5k words, CAD 11 cents/short story (1000+ words), CAD $110/flash story (~1000 words), Genre: speculative (SF/F/literary/dreamy realism/slipstream/fabulism/magical realism), Poetry OK (CAD $60/poem), Simultaneous OK (disclose in cover letter), Multiple OK (~2 stories/submission window; ~5 poems of ~5 pages each to a total of 10 pages/window; if subbing stories and poems then max of 4 pieces total), anonymous subs, will open for Fall/Winter issue & Joyful Imaginations themed issue
7/11, Fireside, ~3000 words, 12.5¢/word, Genre: any, Theme: science and technology ("work loosely themed around science and technology: the joy of discovery, the systemic barriers in place that prevent equal access to advanced knowledge, and how new tools and machines can both empower and disenfranchise marginalized voices"), guest editor Hal Y. Zhang, Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (no word limit; $100/poem), can submit one poem and one short story (strictly one of each)
7/9-7/15, Asian Ghost Stories (Flame Tree Fiction), 2000-4000 words (will accept a little outside this range), 8¢/word, wants stories from writers of East/South/Southeast Asian heritage (living in the region or settled elsewhere in the world), Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK, more info on blog when open
7/15, Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre Prompt: either SF (Unnatural Selection) or Horror (Hungry Cannibals), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
7/15, Inclusive Future Magazine Issue 1, ~3000 words, 8¢/word, Theme: fictional non-fiction (op eds, reviews, ads, advice columns, etc; see info/examples on website), Reprints OK (4¢/word), Simultaneous OK, Collabs welcome, Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 250 lines per contributor; $1/line and 50¢/word for reprints), Art OK ($100/full page; up to $300/project), Email subs to inclusivefuturemag[at]gmail[dot]com, seeking pieces that "reflect how language, culture, science, and day-to-day life could change over the next 50-ish years to be gender-inclusive in various cultures" and "any type of article or other text you’d find in a culture magazine, but of course it’ll all be made up."
7/17, Catapult (Soft Skull Press), 500-4000 words, $200/story, Genre: literary/general, particularly interested in flash fiction ~1000 words (see examples at their site)
7/8-7/31 (everyone) Augur, ~5k words, CAD 11 cents/short story (1000+ words), CAD $110/flash story (~1000 words), Genre: speculative (SF/F/literary/dreamy realism/slipstream/fabulism/magical realism), Poetry OK (CAD $60/poem), Simultaneous OK (disclose in cover letter), Multiple OK (~2 stories/submission window; ~5 poems of ~5 pages each to a total of 10 pages/window; if subbing stories and poems then max of 4 pieces total), anonymous subs, will open for Fall/Winter issue & Joyful Imaginations themed issue
6/1-7/31, Spirit Machine (anthology from Air & Nothingness Press), 1500-3500 words, 8¢/word, Theme: Seance Fiction (mashup of Spirtualism [seances, ouiji boards, kirlian auras, discarnated entities, ghost talking, etc.] and Science Fiction and/or Steampunk genres), Note: Stories must combine elements of both Spiritualism and SF/Steampunk (no fantasy, no ghost stories, no SF w/o Spiritualism), Reading/Review 8/1-9/30, Submit stories by email at info@aanpress.com
7/1-7/31, Mysterion, ~9000, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: speculative w/ Christian themes/characters/cosmology, Reprints OK (4¢/word), Art OK (accepted year-round, $100)
7/31, Pseudopod (Anthologies and Collections), 1500-6000 words (prefer about 4500; also flash under 1500 welcome), 8¢/word (reprints of flash at $20), Genre/Theme: any horror for audio, Simultaneous OK (but with disclosure!), Multiple OK (one original and one reprint), Note for this period they want "to purchase non-exclusive reprints from anthologies and collections released at any point in 2021" and this "does not have to be the final print version, ARCs are great."
7/1-8/1(4AM EST), khoreo, ~5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any speculative, Theme: Food, Note: only open to subs from authors identifying as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms (see their website), Non-Fiction OK, Art OK
7/15-8/1, Constelación Magazine, Original Fiction (~6400 words, 8¢/word), Genre: any speculative in either English or Spanish, Theme: Love Needs No Translation / El Amor no necesita traduccion, Art (BIPOC creators only, send link to portfolio for consideration, $1000 for rights)
7/19-8/2, Things with Feathers: Stories of Hope (anthology from Third Flatiron), 1500-3000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/Fantasy/light horror, Theme: where do you think hope will get us (doesn't need to be exclusively positive; consider old proverb, “Hope deferred maketh the heart sick,” and note title is based on an Emily Dickinson poem), may send a second story within the same reading period if first submission was rejected
8/1-8/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors
8/1-8/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
8/1-8/15 (tentative), Diabolical Plots, ~3500 words, 10¢/word, Genre: SF/F/H (must have speculative element, i.e. even horror must include a speculative element; welcomes mixing in other genres), anonymous submissions, simultaneous OK, only one submission/window (they do not accept multiple anymore), note: especially likes weird/wonder/strong character and plot arcs/worldbuilding/ philosophical food/readable/religion/platonic friendships
8/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
7/1 (8AM UTC) - 8/20 (8AM UTC), Life Beyond Us (anthology), 1000-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF (preferably but not necessarily leaning toward hard SF), Theme: explore the unknown (unfamiliar life forms on Earth and beyond; strange life's discoveries and related ethical question), originals only, translations welcome, link to the successfully funded Kickstarter here
8/23, Friends Journal: Quaker Speculative Fiction Special Issue, 500-2000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any speculative (including SF, Fantasy, Alt History, Horror, Romance), Theme: how would the world and the way Quakers live in it be different if X were true?, Note: anonymous submissions; welcomes submissions from Friends and non-Friends alike
8/10-8/31, PseudoPod (Flash Fiction Contest), ~1500 words (500-1000 best), 8¢/word, Genre: any horror, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (if not an Escape Artists podcast)
8/1-8/31, Origins & Encounters (LeVar Burton Reads in partnership with FIYAH), 2800-5200 words, speculative fiction, 1st place = $500 + read by LeVar on the podcast, 2nd = $250, 3rd = $100
9/1-9/2, Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 8¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-8¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word
9/1-9/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is only open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors
9/1-9/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
9/1-9/13, PseudoPod, ~6000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: horror (dark, weird fiction; spectrum from grim realism or crime drama, to magic-realism, to blatantly supernatural dark fantasy)
9/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
9/30, WotF Q3, ~17000 words (aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications; the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website 10/1-10/2, Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 8¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-8¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word
10/1-10/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
10/1-10/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors
10/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
10/1-10/31, khoreo, ~5000 words, 8¢/word, any speculative, Note: only open to subs from authors identifying as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms (see their website), Non-Fiction OK, Art OK
11/1-11/2, Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 8¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-8¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word
11/1-11/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is only open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors
11/1-11/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
9/7-11/14, One Story, 3k-8k words, $500/story, Genre: any literary, Simultaneous OK, also open to submissions 1/15-5/31
11/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
11/30, ServiceScape Short Story Award 2021, ~5000 words, $1000 for one winner, any genre/theme (see website for previous winning stories)
12/1-12/2, Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 6¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-6¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word
12/1-12/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors
12/1-12/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
12/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
12/30, WotF Q3, ~17000 words (aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications; the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website
9/1/2021-5/31/2022, Escape Pod, 1500-6000 (reprints 1500-18000), 8¢/word (reprints $100), Genre/Theme: any SF (prefer high clarity and pacing to match their audio format; prefer to see a ray of hope even in darker stories)
2. Publications Open for Submissions (No Specified Deadline; 5-20¢/word USD)
Anathema: Spec from the Margins, 1500-6k words (if 1500-2k words pays 5¢/word), $100 CAD/story ($50/poem), Genre: SF/F/H, Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (under 100 lines, Non-Fiction OK (1500-3000 words), Limited demographic: queer/two-spirit person of colour/Indigenous/Aboriginal, Note on Genre/Theme: "We are open to any form of genre or speculative content. We talk about what we do as "SF/F/H, the weird, slipstream, surrealism, fabulism, and more," elsewhere on the site. But we are not limited to those genres. Use them as a starting point and send whatever you want: as long as it's got some kind of speculative content we'll consider it. And we are also interested in seeing work that has been difficult to place because of content or perspective."
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 8¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-8¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word
Cricket, ~6000 words (best = 1200-1800 & 600-900), 25 cents/word, Genre/Theme: middle grade readers (realistic contemporary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, folk tales, myths and legends, and humor), also seeking poetry / nonfiction / puzzles / activities / art, Note: other magazines at the link include Babybug, Ladybug, Spider, Ask, Muse
The Dark, 2000-6000 words, 6¢/word,
Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy/ExperimentalThe Deadlands, ~5000 words (sweet spot = 3-4k), 10¢/word,Genre/Theme: speculative fiction that concerns itself with death–but also everything death may involve, Reprints OK (~5000 words, 1¢/word), Poetry OK during open periods (currently closed since June 14th; when open: 3 poems/submission, $50/poem), Nonfiction OK (1-4k words, $100/essay), Art OK ($100/cover art)
3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (July 2021 and beyond; 1-4¢/word USD)
7/3, Generation X-ed, 3000-6000 words, 1¢/word, Genre/Theme: any horror with elements specific to Gen X, Note: only open to writers of Gen X (born 1965-1980), submit to GenX(at)AMInkPublishing.com (with short bio, word count and genre, summary of story, simultaneous status, social media links)
7/9 (midnight EDST), Dark Dispatch Issue #2 Deadly Love, two-sentence stories ($10/story), flash (300-999 words, $25), short (2000-5000, $50), Genre: dark fantasy/SF/horror/crime, Theme: stories should focus on love gone wrong and include an element of romantic horror, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 2 pieces)
7/17, Stories We Tell After Midnight (anthology from Crone Girls Press), 500-1500 words, 3000-6000 words, 12,000-25,000 words, 2¢/word or $25/story, wants chilling horror (see link for more details), Reprints OK, Multiple OK
7/30, Night Terrors anthology (Scare Street), 3000-7000 words, 1¢/word, wants horror stories that focus on ghosts/supernatural/paranormal/monsters/dark tales
7/1-7/31, Welkin: A Magazine of Fantastic Literature, any word count, 1¢/word (~1500 words unpaid, Reprints OK (flash only but no pay), Art OK ($50/issue), Simultaneous OK, Note: submission periods are March/July/October/January (open to flash fiction year-round)
7/31, Mythic, 2000-6000 words, 4¢/word, SF/F
7/31, AntiFa Splatterpunk (anthology), 2000-4500 words, $100/piece, wants antifacist stories in the splatterpunk/extreme horror genres
8/1, Horror for Halloween (anthology from DreamPunk Press), 8000-10,000 words, $100/story, wants scary stories centered around a Halloween event gone wrong, should be readable by 13-year-olds (not extremely dark; not much gore)
8/1, Urban Legends (anthology), ~6000 words, $50/piece w/ split royalties, wants horror center on urban legends, Simultaneous OK
8/2, The Dead Inside (a Dark Dispatch anthology), flash (300-999 words, $25), short (1000-7499, $50), Poetry ($25/poem), Non-fiction ($50/piece), Genre/Theme: identity horror ("explorations of what happens when our core identities are stripped, altered, suppressed, or denied to us, whether by choice or not," with more info on their website)
8/15-8/30 (9/1-9/7 BIPOC-only), Apparition Literature, 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative, Theme: Wonder, Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem)
9/1, Books and Bikes in Space, 1000-6000 words, profits split between contributors (minimum of $50 each + copies of the book), Genre: any speculative/fantastical, Theme: books and bikes must be elements intrinsic to the story, welcomes ownvoices and first-time writers
9/15-11/15, Lamplight Magazine, ~7000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: Dark/Literary, Reprints (1¢/word), simultaneous OK, Note: they are limited to 300 submissions/month and will close each month after that limit is reached
11/15 (reading period begins on 11/15 and ends when reaches goal of 80,000 words), 2000-6000 words, 2¢/word, Genre/Theme: any PG-13 dealing with the idea of Cthlu FhCon (see story prompt on website)
12/31, We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2021 (Neon Hemlock anthology), ~17,500 words, 1¢/word, speculative exploring queerness/transness, reprints from 2021 only, simultaneous OK, multiple OK
4. Publications Open for Submission (No Specified Deadline; 1-4¢/word USD)
The Common Tongue Magazine, 600-6000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: only high fantasy with a dark tone (dark fantasy, grimdark, sword & sorcery), Languages: English or Spanish (translations also accepted), Poetry OK (up to 40 lines), Note: seeking original stories or stories set in their Arthuruin Shared Universe, Nonfiction OK (~2500 words, 3¢/word), Art OK ($200-400)
5. Other Submission Opportunities (Kickstarters, Advance/Royalties, Charities, Requires fee to enter, etc.)
Novellas/Novels:
Chapbook competition:
4/15-6/15, Outwrite's 2021 Chapbook Competition, 20 pages - 40 pages (not including title page or table of contents), each winner receives 25 copies of chapbook/publication offer from Neon Hemlock Press/opportunity to read their work at OutWrite 2021, three categories for entry (nonfiction, fiction, poetry), collection must be unpublished but individual pieces may be previously published, no fee for entry, one entry per category, simultaneous OK, encourages works exploring LGBTQ culture/identity
6. Publications Closed
Blood Knife, ~1200 words, 9¢/word, Genre: SF/F/H (especially likes dark fantasy, gothic fiction, cosmic horror, and cyberpunk), Theme: "emphasis on tone and style than on strict genre adherence," and "the decadent, the grotesque, the weird, the alienating, and the agonizing," and welcomes political content as well as sex/violence/gore, Simultaneous OK, Non-fiction OK ($60 for 800-word article), working through backlog and will reopen "sometime in the summer"
Deep Magic, 1000-40,000 words, 8¢/word up to 7499 words ($599.92 pay cap above that), Genre: SF and Fantasy, Note: PG-13, Reprints OK (2¢/word up to 10,000 words and capped at $200 for longer), Note: permanently closed to submissions; they have just released their Best Of anthology Vol. 2 and I highly recommend it grabbing yourself a copy, and they will also be releasing a summer issue with a gorgeous cover and great stories), permanently closed (they just released their final issue--what a beautiful choice for the cover; might be one of my favs; sad to say goodbye, especially as I enjoyed doing a little first reading for them)
Hybrid Fiction, 500-5000 words (or serialized novellas), 6¢/word, Genre: speculative hybrid/cross-genre (blend of 2+ genres, such as dark fantasy, steampunk western, historical fantasy, weird western, crime fantasy, etc.), "on hiatus until further notice due to the pandemic"
7. Search for More Markets
Where to Submit Short Stories: 30 Magazines and Websites That Want Your Work, a decent list with a literary focus
28 Themed Submission Calls for August by S. Kalekar, submission possibilities including a few good ones I haven't had time to add to the lists above
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: plenty of updated lists of agents, calls for submission, contests, conferences, recipes, and more
8. Advice, Motivation, and Workshops
Eric Witchey has some excellent workshops this month to check out, all leading up to his year-long intensive year-long fiction fluency series I'd highly recommend based on my experience speaking with him on fiction-related topics and reviewing his work in the past
Wulf Moon's Super Secrets: a ton of great advice on writing short stories that win (he runs a workshop that you can peek in on and learn from as it goes)
Wulf Moon also has great workshops at Fyrecon, and is available as a professional editor and voice actor; check out his website for more info
Cat Rambo's Website: lots of good resources and classes
Submitting Short Fiction: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Genre Edition by Holly Lyn Walrath, a useful guide on playing the submission game written in 2019
9. More Links
Personally, I use ProWritingAid to help revise my writing. It's not always right, but it's another helpful tool for wading through revisions. If you want to try it out, use this link to sign up for a free account:
https://prowritingaid.com/en/Account/Register?rafid=xNnjM. If 10 of my friends use the
link, supposedly I'll get a one-year license. Yay!
Here are grants to apply for with the Speculative Literature Foundation
This is a listing at critter.org that shows general response times of various publications
Publisher's Pick Free Ebook of the Month (Maintained by Arc Manor of Galaxy's Edge)
On writing cover letters for submissions to the short fiction market by Christie
10. Current Submission Stats on my Writing
Total Submissions in 2021: 91 (2 novellas, 41 novelettes/short stories, 16 flash/drabble, 33 poems)
Accepted (2021): 1 (1 short story w/ request for revision)
Pending (2021): 20 (1 novella, 9 short stories/novelettes, 1 flash/drabble, 9 poems)
Rejections (subs of 2020-202J1): 90 (1 novella, 40 short/novelettes, 19 flash, 27 poetry)
Rejections (subs of 2021): 65 (1 novella, 28 shorts, 12 flash, 24 poetry)
Personal Rejections received in 2021: 2 (1 flash, 1 short story)
Writers of the Future Results for 2021: Q1 SHM, Q2 Rejection, Q3 submitted, Q4 to be written
