Here's a mid-February update, with respects paid to the wonderful Dave Farland.
I just received the hard copy of my semi-finalist certificate for the Writers of the Future contest. This was for the fourth quarter in 2021, and it was for a very new story subbed to one other anthology before submission. The certificate has a nice gold trim to the background and lettering. My first semi-finalist after receiving several honorable mentions and one silver honorable mention. I was really looking forward to receiving Dave Farland's feedback on this one (apparently semi-finalists receive actual feedback from the coordinating judge), but sadly, that won't be happening. Dave suddenly passed away in January. Such a major, shocking blow to the creative community. He's been helping so many writers out there, not to mention the long list of works he himself has published. I did not know him well, but I did take a 3-day workshop from him and was in his Apex community. And of course I often read or listened to his advice. The sadness of loss is cold, but the thought of his wisdom and passion for writing is deeply encouraging. Please read his obituary here and this shorter one Locus Magazine here.
Dave Farland, here's to you and all you've done for the writing community. Much respect. May you be blessed in whatever comes after this life.
So, onward then...my focus has shifted to one of my novels, and I'm submitting fewer stories than last year as a result (still early days though so we'll see). Sent off my first 3000 words and a query letter to Futurescapes for workshopping in March. I'll be taking a class from Dan Wells on writing horror at the end of this month as part of that. The current work under revision has elements of supernatural horror spliced with cyberpunk, so I have to be aware of both genres. In the meantime, I'm doing a new pass on the novel with plans to revise and rework everything in light of the new opening. So fingers crossed that goes well and I start shopping this one around. I'll try to keep up with this blog in the meantime. Generally updated between the 1st and the 9th as usual, but this month, I have not had the focus for it.
Other than that, my reading has included lots of comics (such as Something is Killing the Children, Saga, Monstress), Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging Volume Blue (still working through all the stories; lots of great variety in this anthology; highly recommended and not just because my little story's in it), and Six of Crows (reading this as part of M. Todd Gallowglas' monthly class, Reading as a Contact Sport). I just finished listening to T.R. Napper's debut cyberpunk novel, 36 Streets. So good. I can't wait for my paperback copy to finally arrive on 2/19 so I can read more deeply. Recommended if you've read his anthology (Neon Leviathan), and if you haven't read that, what are you doing with your life?! I'll also be re-reading I Am Not a Serial Killer by Dan Wells (since I'm taking his workshop at the end of the month and I also want to review how he does horror/voice as I revise my own novel).
Where to submit your creative work? I've shifted things a bit, condensing the contents to just seven sections (no more closed publications listed) and any publication paying the equivalent of 5¢/word are now in section 3 or 4, so section 1 and 2 contains only those paying 6¢/word or more. Feel free to let me know if you find any typos, errors, or if you have any suggestions on changing the blog presentation and/or content in the future. I do this to help anyone out there subbing creative work and am welcome to any ideas to help with that.
New additions include the following:
Section 1:
Chicken Soup for the Soul (2/28),
Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine (3/1-3/3),
Tempered Tales: Medusa (3/1-3/15),
Picnic in the Graveyard (5/1),
PARSEC story contest (5/1),
Dangerous Waters: Deadly Women of the Sea (8/1-8/15),
Pseudopod (8/12-8/21)Section 2:
Futures at Nature.com (850-950 words, SF)Section 3:
Disabled Authors SFF Anthology (3/18), Triangulation: Energy (3/31),
SNAFU: Dead or Alive (3/31)Section 4:
Crow Toes Quarterly (dark fiction; ages 8-13),
GigaNotoSaurus (5000-25,000 words; spec)Section 5:
Troubadours and Space Princesses (3/31; an anthology in honor of Dave Wolverton)EDIT: The updated lists are in no way exhaustive. There are many more out there if you browse the links in section 6. As I add more to the lists below, I'll mention the new additions here (up until the new blog post tentatively scheduled to be released around March 9th).
Added to section 1: Uncanny Magazine (3/14-3/21, flash), Nightmare Magazine (3/16-12 BIPOC; 3/13-19 general but not short stories)
Added to section 3: Fusion Fragment (2/13; SF of 2000-15k words)
Table of Contents:
1. Deadlines/Windows (2/15/2022 and beyond; paying 6¢/word or more)
2. Open Publications (no deadline; paying 6¢/word or more)
3. Deadlines/Windows (2/13/2022 and beyond; paying up to 5¢/word)
4. Open Publications (no deadline; paying up to 5¢/word)
5. Deadlines/Windows (2/15/2022 and beyond; advance/royalties or benefit/charity)
6. Search for More Markets Here
7. Browse Links to Advice/Lists/Workshops
1. Deadlines/Windows (2/15/2022 and beyond; paying 6¢/word or more)
2/15, Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: crime/mystery, Theme: Amateur Detectives, must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Maria Tissot, maria@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story
11/15-2/15, Orpheus + Eurydice Unbound (air and nothingness press), 1000-3500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Theme: writers encouraged to write around one of the anthology's sections inspired by the Orpheus and Eurydice tale (The Wedding, The Snake/The Attack/The Death, The Quest, and The Look Back), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Reprints NO, Standard Manuscript format w/ a few changes (Page Size: Letter; Margins: .5”; Font: Calibri 11 point, single spaced), submit with a one paragraph bio, email submissions to info@aanpress.com
2/1-2/21, Flash Fiction Online, open 1st-21st (closed Dec.), 500-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Multiple (only 1 original and 1 reprint story concurrently), Reprints 2¢/word, anonymous submissions, note: closed in December
2/21-2/28, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Halloween Submissions, ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: specifically a Halloween submissions window (also should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to Moksha link
2/1-2/28 (5 PM EST), Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting, $5000 (plus 29-hour workshop and public reading), open to all playwrights, Genre: seeking full-length plays and works for the theater, Theme: Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting, submissions should include 4 parts (anonymous copy of the piece, playwright resume/bio, production history of the piece, 1 page statement of purpose), submit to submission form on website (form available in February)
2/28, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Counting your blessings/attitude of gratitude, ~1200 words, $200, Genre: true stories (stories about handling challenges in your life, finding the silver linings, and counting your blessings, whether the challenges you are facing are COVID-19 related or other kinds), Poetry OK, Reprints NO (only exception to this is if your work has only been published in a small local publication with limited circulation or on your own blog), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit via online portal
3/1-3/3, Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine, 750-1000 words, $50, Genre/Theme: fairy tales which include some element of the "weather" theme (also seeking essays on the theme of weather), Poetry OK, Non-fiction OK (essays on weather), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (only one per submission window), submit to katewolford1@gmail.com with submissions written in the body of the email (no attachments accepted) and brief bio and word count below the story or poem
3/1-3/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors
3/6-3/12 (11 PM PST), Nightmare Magazine (BIPOC only window, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy, Poetry OK (up to 5 poems; $40), Creative Nonfiction OK (~1000 words), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (but can submit one piece for each category during open periods)
3/1-3/14, Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk/SF/F/slipstream/magical realism/urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Translations OK, Simultaneous NO, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside)
2/15-3/15, Human Monsters (Dark Matter Magazine presents a new horror anthology edited by Sadie Hartmann and Ashley Saywers), 2000-4000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: horror, Theme: Human Monsters (just messed-up tales of people doing awful things to one another; they do not want any supernatural/SF), English translations OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple (only after the first submission is rejected), submit stories to the submission portal open from 2/15 in doc/docx/rtf3/1-3/15, Tempered Tales: Medusa, 500-1500 words (also:100-word drabbles; poems of ~350 words), 8¢/word (drabbles/poems=$50), Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Dark fantasy/Mystery (also welcomes genre mash-ups), Theme: Medusa (set in any time period; can rely heavily on her mythology or just give it a nod; should be her story, good or bad), Poetry OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous (not mentioned), Multiple OK (up to 3/author), sub with attached Word doc to submissions@brigidsgatepress.com (with MEDUSA as subject heading; include full name, title, word count, trigger warnings, email address, author bio, and social media handles)
1/1-3/31, WotF Q1, ~17000 words (generally should 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 (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
4/1-4/14, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Banned Books Week 2022, ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: specifically a Banned Books Week submissions window (also should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
5/1, PARSEC 2022 short story contest, ~3500 words, Award (1st=$200 w/ publication; 2nd=$100; 3rd=$50;Best Youth Story=$50), Genre: SF/Fantasy/Horror, Theme: Hearth, Song, and Table (incorporate at least two of the three elements), Reprints NO, Multiple OK (max 2 but sub each story separately), Simultaneous NO, Eligibility: open to non-professional writers (those who have not met eligibility requirements for SFWA or equivalent: sale of a novel or sale of 3 stories to a large-circulation publication) and not open to previous first-place winners and current contest coordinators, submit via Submittable form in standard (doc/docx/rtf)
5/1-5/14, Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk/SF/F/slipstream/magical realism/urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Translations OK, Simultaneous NO, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside)
5/1-5/14, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Special Themed Call TBD, ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: specifically a Special Themed Call that is TBD (generally should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
5/1-5/31, Nashville Review, ~8000 words, a flat $100/story (so about 1-10¢/word), Genre: general/literary, may submit short stories and novel excerpts up to 8000 words or submit three flash pieces in one document up to 1000 words each, Simultaneous OK, Creative Non-fiction OK (~8000 words), Poetry OK (1-3 poems within one document per submission; $25/poem), Art OK (see site for details), three submissions windows (9/1-9/30, 1/1-1/31, 5/1-5/31)
6/15-6/30, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Limited Demographic (only open to authors 19 years or under as of the end of June 2022), ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: generally should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them, Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
4/1-6/30, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should 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 (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
8/1-8/15, Dangerous Waters: Deadly Women of the Sea (guest editor Julia C. Lewis), 500-3000 words (also:100-word drabbles; poems of ~350 words), 8¢/word (drabbles/poems=$50), Genre: Horror/Dark fantasy, Theme: dangerous women of the sea (stories, poems, and drabbles about malevolent mermaids, sinister sirens, scary selkies, and other deadly and dangerous women of the deep blue sea), Poetry OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous (not mentioned), Multiple OK (up to 3/author), sub with attached Word doc to submissions@brigidsgatepress.com (with DANGEROUS WATERS as subject heading; include full name, title, word count, trigger warnings, email address, author bio, and social media handles)
8/1-8/31, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Flash Fiction Contest, ~1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: generally should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them, Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
9/1-9/30 (may close earlier if reach submissions cap), The Cincinnati Review, ~10,000 words, about 10¢/word (specifically $25/page), Genre: general/literary, Poetry OK ($30/page), Simultaneous OK, three submissions windows (opening the 1st of September, December, and May and closing at the end of the month or when they reach a cap on submissions)
7/1-9/30, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should 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 (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
10/1-12/31, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should 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 (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset 2. Open Publications (no deadline; paying 6¢/word or more)
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."
Cathedral Canyon Review, ~5500 words for fiction and nonfiction (~1000 words flash fiction), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: literary, Poetry OK (3-5 submitted in the same document; $20/poem), Art OK ($25/image), Simultaneous OK, email submissions, Limited to an author or artist living in the Southwest (generally California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah) and especially interested in BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers
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 (fair warning: some have found their feedback, editing, and publication process rude or unhelpful, and so, I've left them off the monthly deadlines list. Personally, I'll still be subbing to them but some writers have been, to put it mildly, turned off by their approach, so keep this in mind)
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
Dark Recesses, 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: horror/dark fiction, four submission windows (9/1-11/30, 12/1-2/28 or 29, 3/1-5/31, 6/1-8/31, note variants from standard manuscript format (single-spaced, no indents), Nonfiction OK (but read specifics on their site)
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), opens from 9/1/2021-5/31/2022
Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6), open to BIPOC only at the moment (date of opening to general subs will be announced)
Galaxy's Edge, ~10,000 words (novelettes a harder sale), 7¢/word, Genre: SF/F (subgenres welcome, such as space opera, steampunk, urban fantasy, africanfuturism, magical realism, dark fantasy, dystopian SF, etc.), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit via
the Moksha portalInfinite Horrors, 1500-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Horror, Art OK ($75-$150 for commissioned, $30 for non-commissioned), Comics OK (seeking new, unpublished comic or graphic novel shorts of 4–10 pages at rates negotiated with the artist), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, send submissions to info@infinitehorrorsmagazine.com (note that they may not send a rejection notice; if 90 days have passed, consider the submission rejected)
Infinite Worlds, 1500-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF, Art OK ($75-$150 for commissioned, $30 for non-commissioned), Comics OK (seeking new, unpublished comic or graphic novel shorts of 4–10 pages at rates negotiated with the artist), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, send submissions to submissions@infiniteworldsmagazine.com (note that they may not send a rejection notice; if 90 days have passed, consider the submission rejected)
Nashville Review, ~8000 words, a flat $100/story (so about 1-10¢/word), Genre: general/literary, may submit short stories and novel excerpts up to 8000 words or submit three flash pieces in one document up to 1000 words each, Simultaneous OK, Creative Non-fiction OK (~8000 words), Poetry OK (1-3 poems within one document per submission; $25/poem), Art OK (see site for details), three submissions windows (9/1-9/30, 1/1-1/31, 5/1-5/31)
Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk / SF/F / slipstream / magical realism / urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), (Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Simultaneous OK, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside), Submission window for Issue 1 is 11/1/1-11/14, Note: this window depends on their
September/October Kickstarter success
Split Lip Magazine, ~3000 words, flat rate of $50 for flash/short stories/poetry/memoirs/art (so 5¢/word for ~1000 word stories; longer than that and the rate isn't as good), Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (only send one per sub period), free submissions months include the following: January, March, May, August, September, November
Strange Horizons (; open to poetry), ~10,000 words (~5000 best), 10¢/word, Genre: speculative (broadly defined), Poetry (up to 6 poems at a time, in same file OK, $50/poem), Art OK (email, see website), Nonfiction OK (email, see website), Simultaneous NO, will reopen to fiction subs in 2022
Terraform, ~2000 words, 20¢/word, Genre: SF, Theme: nearer future fiction any form welcome ("classic-style SF short stories, social media posts from beyond the horizon, fictive data dumps, experimental graphic narratives, and so on"), Note: send submissions to terraform.motherboard@gmail.comThe Antihumanist, ~1000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: any genre that fits the theme, Theme: fiction that "challenges human centred narratives" and "forces us to confront our place in the universe," Simultaneous OK
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), closing 12/19/2021-1/19/2022
3. Deadlines/Windows (2/13/2022 and beyond; paying up to 5¢/word)
2/13, Fusion Fragment, 2000-15,000 words, CAD 3.5 cents / word (CAD $300 max), Genre: any SF (tastes lean toward slipstream, cyberpunk, post-apocalypse, and a little bizarre), Reprints OK (low acceptance rate), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, sub stories via their Moksha submissions portal
11/16-2/15, Dark Recesses (window for Spring Issue), 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: horror/dark fiction, note variants from standard manuscript format (single-spaced, no indents), Nonfiction OK (but read specifics on their site)
2/1-2/15, Ironwood edited by Anna Madden (Myriad's 2nd digital zine), ~1000 words, 5$ CAD, Genre: any speculative, Theme: Ironwood as the story seed (especially looking for stories with breathtaking, unique, wondrous worlds), submit doc/docx via submissions form
2/15, filling Station (Issue 79: Play), ~10 pages, CAD $50, Genre: literary/innovative work, Theme: play (also still open for general subs), Poetry OK (up to 6 pages), Nonfiction OK (up to 2 pieces; prefers experimental and up to 10 pages, Art OK (5-7 samples), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, must include a mailing address and short bio (25 - 75 words) with your submission
2/16, Maps & Biomes (Issue 4 of Mythulu Magazine), 500-2800 words, 4¢/word, Theme: innovative settings are the foundation for new genres (Why do readers care about maps and what makes a map legendary? Submit short stories that feature wildly original biomes or bizarre weather. Show us settings fundamentally at war with character needs), Non-fiction OK (200-1200 words, 8¢/word, theme: On the business side, how do you make your map earn an ROI? And most of all, what makes a world good enough to spawn a new genre?), Art OK
2/16, Metaphysical Time, 300-1200 words, 5¢/word, Genre/Theme: stories w/ obvious metaphysical/pagan themes (also: articles on holidays, rituals, practices such as divination, herbalism, crystals, gods & goddesses, magical practices, energy work, shop opening, author interviews, news in the pagan community, archeological finds, reports from festivals and events, reviews of metaphysical and pagan books, analysis of magical texts, etc.), submit via the submissions form here
2/20, Orion's Beau, ~5000 words, $3, Genre/Theme: gay fantasy (open to SF/Fantasy/Paranormal/Dark Fantasy), Poetry OK, Art OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to five shorter pieces or poems in the same document; up to 10 art pieces in one document)
2/28, Nerve Janglers: Thirteen Tales of Terror (Night Terror Novels; edited by J. D. Keown), 2,500-10,000, £25, Genre/Theme: teen-grade YA Horror, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to two submissions at a time), submit to nightterrornovels@gmail.com (see website for details)
2/15-2/28 (all authors) and 3/1-3/7 (BIPOC only), Apparition Literature (Wanderlust theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Wanderlust (upcoming: Omen in May and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
2/28, Mud Season Review, ~6000 words, $50, Genre/Theme: general/literary (wants fully realized stories that remind us of what it means to be human, that take risks, that show us something new, and that stand up over multiple reads, deepening with each encounter), Poetry OK (portfolio 3-5 poems, up to 10 pages), Non-fiction OK (~6000 words), Art OK (1-6 images), submit via online portal
3/18, Disabled Authors SFF Anthology (Forest Avenue), ~5000 words (flash welcome), $100 (reprints $25), Genre: SF/Fantasy/Speculative by disabled writers living in the USA (literary with a touch of genre OK; a story that borders horror might be OK), Reprints OK, submit via online portal
3/31/2022, upstreet, ~5000 words, $50-$250 for short stories or essays (generally 5¢/word for ~1000 words), Genre: general/literary, Simultaneous OK, submissions window is September to March
3/31, Triangulation: Energy, ~5,000 words (sweet spot = 3,000; no poetry limit but over 100 lines a hard sell), 3¢/word (Poetry: 25¢/word), Genre: SF/Fantasy/Horror/Weird (must have a speculative element), Theme: the possibility of creating sustainable energy with alternative technologies or social change, Poetry OK, Reprint NO, Multiple NO (but can sub another story if rejected before end of reading period), Simultaneous NO, sub via Submittable link w/ a short bio in the cover letter
3/31, SNAFU: Dead or Alive (Cohesion Press), 2,000-10,000 words, AU5¢/word, Genre: SF/Fantasy/Horror, Theme: action-based horror in the wild west
5/15-5/31 (all authors) and 6/1-6/7 (BIPOC only), Apparition Literature (Omen theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Omen (upcoming: Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)5/1-5/31, Abyss & Apex (poetry window), prefers "lineated free verse with a limited amount of traditional form poetry with at least 9 lines or prose poems at least 50 words in length but we will publish brilliant shorter work", $5.50/poem, Genre/Theme: any speculative (seeks strong, emotionally resonant, literary-quality poetry with a clear speculative element), dark poetry welcome but not horror 7/1-7/14, Cosmic Horror Monthly edited by Charles Tyra, 1000-7500 words (prefer 3000-5000), 3¢/word (1¢/word reprints), Genre: Cosmic Horror/Lovecraftian/Weird, Theme: strongly favors stories with a contemporary narrative style (Lovecraftian themes and mythos works are welcomed but try to avoid Lovecraft pastiche and styles mimicking that of his writer circle from the early 20th century), Reprints OK (1¢/word), Art OK (interior $10-$20; $100 cover), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, (submit as doc/docx attachment with cover letter including brief background/word count/brief synopsis to submissions@cosmic-horror.net
8/1, Brute: Raunch, Scares, and Rough Trade (Lethe Press; edited by Lambda Literary Award winner Steve Berman), 2500-9000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy/Weirdness, Theme: dark and speculative short stories that address gay sexuality, desire, masculinity, and the aesthetics of "rough trade", Reprints OK (1¢/word), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Note that you must query concept details first before submission
5/16-8/15, Dark Recesses (window for Fall Issue), 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: horror/dark fiction, note variants from standard manuscript format (single-spaced, no indents), Nonfiction OK (but read specifics on their site)
8/15-8/31 (all authors) and 9/1-9/7 (BIPOC only), Apparition Literature (Nostalgia theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Nostalgia, Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
4. Open Publications (no deadline; paying up to 5¢/word or more)
Apparition Literature, 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
Flash Point Science Fiction, 100-1000 words, $15/story, Genre: any speculative (SF, Fantasy, Slipstream, other spec)GigaNotoSaurus, 5,000-25,000 words, $100, Genre: SF/Fantasy (or any combination of the genres), English Translations OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit stories via Moksha submissions portal
Pressfuls, 2000-5000 words (3¢/word), 20,000-45,000 words (35% royalties), Genre: Horror/Fantasy/SF/Crime/Mystery, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Reprints NO, send subs to submissions@pressfuls.com, Editor-in-Chief: Roban Bandojo
Scrawl Place, ~900 words, $35/piece, Genre/Theme: pieces about, connected to, or associated with a specific, physical place that someone could visit (any content/style/form), Seeking fiction, poetry, hybrids, creative nonfiction, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (1-3 pieces at a time), Reprints OK
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)
The Great Void Books, 4,000-15,000 words (website/anthologies), $5 or royalties (whichever is greater; royalties = 40% net profit divided equally among the contributors of that anthology), Genre: Horror/SF/Crime/Mystery/Fantasy/Romance, Themes vary depending on anthology, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), more details on their website, see deadlines for semi-pro for current anthology windows
5. Deadlines/Windows (2/8/2022 and beyond; advance/royalties or benefit/charity)
2/1-4/1, My Dark Library (Cemetery Media Gates), 25,000-40,000 words, Pay: $1,000 advance w/ a royalty share at 60% to author, Genre: horror (interested in: psychological/folk/quiet/supernatural/paranormal/body/found-footage/coming-of-age/spiritual/demonic/occult/cosmic/slasher; not interested in: extreme/science-fiction/bizarro/erotic/apocalyptic/creature/cryptid/zombie/eco/comedy horror), especially love cultural folklore and urban legends from BIPOC/Native American/LGBTQ, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Rights: 5 years exclusive in print and digital formats (worldwide, English language), sub complete and unpublished manuscript (DOC/RTF format) to MyDarkLibrary@gmail.com w/ publishing bio and brief story synopsis in email body
3/31, Troubadours and Space Princesses (an anthology in honor of Dave Wolverton), ~17,500 words, no pay (benefit/charity anthology), Genre: SF/Fantasy, Theme: stories of kindness and courage to honor Dave Wolverton (troubadours, minstrels, and bards teaming up with princesses feisty and bold; save the kingdom or the spaceship, or maybe only the tavern or spaceport bar, or even just the cat; tales of adventure and mischief; should have a warm and happy ending), Reprints OK, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (1-2 stories/author) opening from 5/1 (no deadline), Debut Horror Novel Series (Cemetery Media Gates), 40k+ words (complete, original, and unpublished manuscripts from authors who’ve never published a novel), Pay: $500 signing bonus + $500 advance upon publication and a 60% (author) royalty share on physical and electronic editions, Genre: Horror (in vein of what they’ve previously published; not interested in dystopian SF/dark fantasy/YA), Limited (welcome to submit if you have at least (2) paid horror writing credits and have never published a novel; if you have novellas and short story collections in print, you’re still eligible), submit to cemeterygatesmedia@gmail.com (include a synopsis of your story, your Twitter, author website, two of your writing credits, and a brief bio with your manuscript) 6. Search for More Markets Here
