by Stuart Conover | Apr 23, 2018 | Anthology, Events, Flat Amount
Deadline: October 1st, 2018
Payment: $15
April 1 through October 1, 2018
BANJAXED BOOKS is proud to announce short story submissions for our second anthology, Deductions, Delinquents, and Detectives, a collection of mystery/detective stories set in whatever genre the authors choose. Whether it’s a murder mystery set in a world of High Fantasy, a science fiction who-done-it, or the tale of a hard-boiled detective in the near or distant future, Deductions, Delinquents, and Detectives will gather together the best mystery stories from any and all genres. Steampunk, monsters, robots, myths and legends, and–yes–even post-apocalypse…we’re looking for short stories that combine genres in interesting new ways. (We’ll even take a look at realistic mystery stories set in modern times…or during the heyday of detective stories. No monsters or flying cars? No problem! Mystery is a genre all its own.)
SUBMISSION SCHEDULE
Submissions open April 1, 2018 and close October 1, 2018.
Publication is planned for April 2019. An official date will be announced later in the year. This will launch initially as a paperback.
We will get word to you concerning acceptance or rejection as soon as we can, but please remember that we typically get many, many submissions a week, so it could be as long as a month, maybe a bit longer as we get closer to the end of submissions. But not to worry: If you submit and get concerned after a reasonable amount of time has passed, inquire through email. We would never hold that against any author. And we’ll work as fast as humanly possible to get word out to you.
If you are interested in sending a story, email it (and a brief cover letter in the body of the email) to:
[email protected]
Subject line: Submission, Detectives, “Title of Story,” Word Count
(Example: Submission, Detectives, “A Corpse in the Rain,” 3500 Words)
Please follow the guidelines below. Failure to do so could result in a rejection of your hard work!
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at the above email. Include Detectives in the subject line of any query.
GUIDELINES
Formatting should be typical. Courier New or Times New Roman, pt. 12, should be used. If you are unfamiliar with formatting a raw manuscript, please check out this link and follow it to the letter.
If you write under a pseudonym, please use your real name in the left-hand corner of the first page (along with your address, telephone number, and email address).
Word count for each story should fall between 2000 and 7000 words. While we’re not interested in stories below that count, you might be able to persuade us to give your story a read if it goes over 7000. (The easiest way to do that is give us a heads-up concerning the word count…and writing a good piece. A really good piece.) But be sure to take into account how much you’ll be paid for said story. We’ll gladly take a magnificent piece at 10,000 words–IF you’re willing to accept the set payment for it. (See PAYMENT below.)
Submit stories as an attachment in .doc or .docx. We’ll take .rtf, but no pdf, please.
Please submit only one story. Simultaneous submissions are okay–grumble, grumble–and we will withdraw a story placed elsewhere before acceptance/rejection. We are currently not in the market for reprints. I’ll write it again: WE ARE CURRENTLY NOT IN THE MARKET FOR REPRINTS.
The mood of each piece is up to the discretion of the author–tragic, funny, or any combination. If your characters use strong language, feel free to write in their voice. Do not, however, add harsh language just to seem “cool” or “literate.” Same with sex and violence. No incest, underage sex, or bestiality. (The line must be drawn somewhere.) Other than that–give your imagination sway.
As long as it is in combination with a mystery/detective story, please feel free to set your tale against the backdrop of whatever genre you like. The only genre we will not accept is erotica. (But I’ll gladly read it and tell you what I think.)
The editors of BANJAXED BOOKS request characters be fictional. Characters out of antiquity will be considered, especially if your detective or villain uses time travel (or some other method) to plan their murder to change history/the future. Again, such characters should be out of antiquity–no living celebrities or politicians (or boyfriends/girlfriends) will be acceptable. To be honest, it’s best to populate your world with characters made up from whole cloth. We’ll bend that rule only with good reason.
PAYMENT
Writers whose work is selected will receive $15. We wish we could pay more for your quality writing, but we are a newish outfit–any understanding will be appreciated. We pay by PayPal or check.
We are located in America. Please note that the exchange rate in your country may be lower than fifteen USA dollars, and that exchange fees may be higher than the royalty altogether. Having a reliable PayPal in this instance is the safest bet.
Authors will be paid upon acceptance. Publishing our first anthology, Chaos of Hard Clay, presented a steep learning curve, and the most important lesson learned was that paying upon acceptance–not publication–is the decent thing to do for any author sharing their work with us. And believe me, we wish we could pay much more, but we are an indie-publisher, and this is our second venture. It is a few dollars more than we paid the authors of Chaos, so–with each new project–we hope to pay a greater amount.
We pay $15 for First Paperback Rights and Non-Exclusive Digital Rights. Once the initial paperback comes out in April 2019, authors may sell their stories elsewhere (with the understanding that we’ll eventually put out an eBook version). As long as your tale does not appear anywhere else before the paperback hits the stands, all will be good.
If your work is not accepted, please do not go into histrionics. BANJAXED BOOKS plans to put out more anthologies, and we may eventually be a good home for your work. In any case, we will endeavor to give as much feedback as possible as to why we rejected your story. (I think the authors of Chaos would confirm that I’m a nice fellow. I know how story rejection feels. I would not add insult to injury by saying, “It stinks,” and closing our correspondence. I wouldn’t say It stinks anyway.)
If your work is accepted–but needs minor retooling–please work with us to make your story the best it can be.
Thank you for your interest. We cannot wait to read your stories. Have fun, and formulate something truly original. We have faith in you.
Via: G. Allen Cook.
by Stuart Conover | Apr 19, 2018 | Events, Flat Amount, Magazine, Poetry
Deadline: June 1st, 2018
Payment: $250 for stories and essays and $75 for poems
SUBMITTING TO SLICE
SLICE magazine welcomes submissions for short fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. We’re looking for anyone with a fresh voice and a compelling story to share, and we are particularly enthusiastic about championing emerging voices. The best way to get a sense of Slice’s content is to read the magazine. You can subscribe here. At the core, Slice aims to bridge the gap between emerging and established authors by offering a space where both are published side-by-side. In each issue, a specific cultural theme becomes the catalyst for articles, interviews, stories, and poetry from renowned writers and lesser known voices alike. We offer all contributors of Slice a monetary award for their work ($250 for stories and essays and $75 for poems).
GUIDELINES
Our reading period is currently open. The reading period runs from April 1 – June 1, 2018. The theme is “Time.” All submissions during that time will be considered for Issue 24, which will be released spring 2019.
Click here to submit via Submittable, an online submissions manager.
Please note, we are unable to accept any submissions sent to us via email or post. The maximum word count for submissions is 5,000 words. Simultaneous submissions are acceptable as long as we’re notified immediately if the work is selected for publication elsewhere. All work should be previously unpublished. Please allow up to three months for us to reply to your submission.
VISUAL ART SUBMISSIONS
If you’d like to contribute art to Slice, please drop us a line at art at slicemagazine dot org and include either a link to your online portfolio or a PDF of recent work.
Via: Slice Magazine.
by Stuart Conover | Apr 19, 2018 | Events, Novel, Novella, Royalties
Deadline: June 30th, 2018
Payment: Royalty arrangement for both print and digital is 50% of net revenue.
ERASERHEAD PRESS IS OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: April 1- June 30, 2018
All submissions received by the end of June will receive a response by July 31, 2018.
What we are looking for:
- Eraserhead Press is seeking original novellas and novels of 20,000 to 100,000 words in length that fit into the Bizarro Fiction category.
- We want surprising, unique, well-crafted weird stories with compelling plots, eccentric characters, and never-before-seen concepts.
- We want a balance of both plot and character – we love weird characters with weird problems in weird places. We are looking for exciting concepts that make people say “I have to read that!” and well-developed characters they can fall in love with along the way.
- We’re most drawn to darkly absurd tales that are addictive to read and contain a strong emotional core. We love fiction that is both heart-rending and fun. While it may or may not be funny, we are interested in more than just a joke. If you can make us both laugh and cry or creep us out and draw us in, we will love your book.
- We are looking for entertaining and accessible stories that speak to a specific audience. Will your book appeal to vegan punks? Riot grrls? Overworked airline pilots? Cos-players? Fans of 80s New Wave? If you’ve identified the audience for your work, please tell us in your book description.
- Multiple submissions are okay – during our open submission period we are open to reading as many manuscripts as you feel would meet our criteria but we are only interested in your best work. Bring it on!
- We have high standards – we have been the leading publisher of Bizarro Fiction since 1999 and have worked with everyone from brand new authors to established heavy hitters. We have gained a cult following for our high-quality boundary-pushing weird fiction and are looking for books that will top everything else we’ve ever published. The best way to understand what we are looking for is to familiarize yourself with our catalog. If you feel you’ve written something completely unique that stands apart from everything being published today, then we want to see it!
What we are not looking for:
- No simultaneous submissions – During the time that we are open for submissions we prefer that you do not simultaneously submit your manuscript elsewhere.
- We are not accepting short story collections, poetry, non-fiction or comics at this time
- No experimental formatting – while we appreciate visual poetry, epistolary novels, and playful formatting, we are currently only interested in publishing conventional formats.
- No reprints – We want to bring our readers fresh new stories that they can’t find anywhere else. If your book has previously been published by another publisher or has been self-published, we will still consider it, but your chance of the book being accepted for publication by Eraserhead Press is less likely than submissions that have not previously appeared in print.
How to submit
- Email your submission to [email protected].
- In the body of your email message please include an author bio and a 3-5 sentence summary to pique our interest (worded like a back cover description).
- Attached to the email include your full manuscript
- Please include a one-page synopsis of your book on the first page of your manuscript or attach as a separate document. Writing a good synopsis is important because if we are not interested in your synopsis, we may not read any further into your manuscript.
- Format your manuscript as follows:
- Word document .doc or .docx or Rich Text File .rtf (no .pdfs please).
- Times New Roman or Arial 11-12 pt font.
- Your author name, email address, book title and word count should appear on the first page of your manuscript. All subsequent pages should have your name, title, and page number in the header.
- Your manuscript should be well edited and free of grammatical errors.
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in automatic rejection.
What we pay:
- Our standard royalty arrangement for both print and digital is 50% of net revenue.
What rights does that give you:
- Our contract covers the rights to publish your work in paperback and ebook formats, worldwide, in English. All other rights (e.g. audiobook, film, hardcover) are retained by the author.
***
DEADITE PRESS Submissions
Deadite Press is dedicated to publishing the very best in extreme horror and splatterpunk fiction. We have given a home to some of the top writers in the genre including Brian Keene, Edward Lee, Bryan Smith, J.F. Gonzalez, Wrath James White, Robert Devereaux, and Shane McKenzie. And for the first time in almost a decade, we are opening our doors to general submissions!
OPEN CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS
APRIL 1, 2018 to JUNE 30, 2018.
All submissions received by June 30th will receive a response by July 31, 2018.
What we are looking for:
- Deadite Press is seeking original novellas and novels 20,000 to 100,000 words in length that fit into the extreme horror and splatterpunk fiction categories.
- We want striking, well-crafted manuscripts with original horror themes. Our readers expect unconventional stories that surprise, entertain, and frighten them in new ways. We are not afraid of topics that are risky, violent or unrelentingly horrific. On the contrary, we crave those things! Look at our catalog of books to see what we mean.
- Multiple submissions are okay – during our open submission period we are open to reading as many manuscripts as you feel would meet our criteria but we are only interested in your best work. Bring it on!
What we are not looking for:
- We are not accepting short story collections, poetry, non-fiction or comics at this time
- No simultaneous submissions – During the time that we are open for submissions we prefer that you do not simultaneously submit your manuscript elsewhere.
How to submit:
- Email your submission to [email protected]
- In the body of your email message please include an author bio and a 3-5 sentence summary description of the book written like a back cover description in order to pique our interest.
- As a separate document attached to the email include a one-page synopsis of your book describing all the main plot points and revealing the ending. Writing a good synopsis is important, because if we are not interested in your synopsis, we may not read your manuscript.
- Also attached to the email, include your full manuscript. Format your manuscript as follows:
- Word document .doc or .docx or Rich Text File .rtf (no .pdfs please).
- Times New Roman or Arial 11-12 pt font.
- Your author name, email address, book title and word count should appear on the first page of your manuscript. All subsequent pages should have your name, title, and page number in the header.
- Your manuscript should be well edited and free of grammatical errors.
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in automatic rejection.
What we pay:
Our standard royalty arrangement for both print and digital is 50% of net revenue.
What rights does that give you:
Our contract covers the rights to publish your work in paperback and ebook formats, worldwide, in English. All other rights (e.g. audiobook, film, hardcover) are retained by the author.
Via: Bizarro Central.
by Stuart Conover | Apr 18, 2018 | Anthology, Events, Pro
Deadline: June 5th, 2018
Payment: 6 cents per word.
Hello,
I am FearBot3000.
I was programmed to notice breathless confusion across social media. Confusion often follows the infallible decrees of Lord Commander Patagonia.
Albeit infallible, sometimes his decrees require an algorithm to reach a state of clarity.
The title of Cockroach Conservatory Vol. 1 is: The Working Zealot’s Guide to Gaining Capital in Pre-Apocalyptic America
What are we looking for? Weird stories about cults, capitalism, working stiffs, and weirdos. We like bizarro. We like horror. We like our sci-fi and fantasy on the weirder side. We like humor. Think Joe R. Lansdale. Think Victor Pelevin. Think Brian Keene. Think Jessica McHugh. Really. This is a loosey-goosey guideline. The title obfuscates as much as it reveals. We know. It was done on purpose. Cults! Murder! Capitalism! Take it and run.
Word count: no more than 3000 words.
Payment: 6 cents per word.
Is that weird Soviet era sci-fi illustration of a robot the cover? No, it’s just a public domain placeholder for this website. We have commissioned a local Austin, TX artist for the cover.
Poetry
Send no more than 3 poems. If accepted, we’ll pay a flat rate of $10 per poem.
SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN UNTIL JUNE 5, 2018. Anything submitted after that will go unread unless we announce an extension.
- Send your stuff as a doc or docx file to [email protected] rtf file format will not be opened.
Subject line should read: SUBMISSION – [Your Name] – [Story Name/or Poetry]
Include a short bio in your email.
Try to follow this format. We don’t need your physical mailing address.
We want first North American rights to your story on acceptance. Payment will be on publication. We’ll send contracts out and exchange payment information on acceptance.
FearBot3000 returns to Sleep Mode.
Via: The Cockroach Conservatory.
. The subject line should be “SS33, your last name, story title” (e.g.: SS33, Bradley, Dark Intruder) — we don’t want submissions caught in the spam filter. Remember that a computer is sorting this, so follow the format exactly. Use commas, not slashes, hyphens, etc. Do NOT change SS33 to something similiar (e.g.: S&S 33). We do our best to find stories that have not been sorted properly, but we don’t guarantee success.
