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Taking Submissions: Enchanted Conversation: 2021 October Issue (Early Listing)
September 3, 2021
Submission Window: September 1st-3rd 2021
Payment: $50
Theme: Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.
Hi there! We’ll no doubt write more about this later in the next year, but for now, what follows below will tell you all you need to know.
And the theme? It’s “Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.”
(No more submissions are being accepted for publication in December of 2020–but we will be publishing stories that have already been accepted.)
The following is relevant to all submissions for 2021, and the first submission window opens Jan. 1. More below.
Writing opportunities for 2021 include:
New Fairy Tales: Fairy tales that are almost or entirely new or are just new takes on old tales are all welcome. Mashups of existing fairy tales are welcome as well. Submissions must follow the theme below to be considered.
Essays: Nonfiction articles about any aspect fairy tales and folklore are being sought. The term “essay” just means you’ll be writing about fairy-tale related matters in a nonfiction article. Creative nonfiction is welcome. You do not have to stick to the theme, but you can.
Poetry: Poetry inspired by fairy tales and that follows the theme is also welcome.
Please read the following in its entirety before submitting.
Want to know what is likely to get published here? There are well over 10 years of stories, essays and art on this current site. It’s the best place to start if you want to be published here.
HERE IS HOW YOU SUBMIT AND FORMAT
Only the kind of submissions outlined below will be accepted at EC in 2021.
* Writers will have a chance to submit fairy-tale inspired stories/essays/poems 11 times this year. Since we will be choosing four works per publishing month, there are 44 slots to be filled in 2021. That’s a lot! And it does not count contests.
* Here are the submission periods for both fiction and non-fiction: Each month (starting in January 2021, and going through November 2021), the submissions window will open for 72 hours to submit for publication the next month. From 12 a.m. on the first of the month to 11:59 p.m. on the third day of the month. Those are Eastern Standard Times. Example: For January, the window will open at 12 a.m. January 1. It will close at 11:59 p.m., EST, on January 3. The submissions received in January will be published in February, etc.
* No submissions will be considered if received outside of the windows stated above.
* You submit through email only. Please use this address only: [email protected]. That’s for submissions only.
* Your last name, the month you are submitting for, and the year should be in the subject line of the email of your submission. Example: If you are submitting for publication in March 2021 and your last name is Smith, you should write Smith, March 2021 in the subject line.
* You must be 18 years old or older, but may be from any country. Only works in English, please. You should try to use American English word forms and punctuation.
* Do not send attachments. They will not be opened or considered. Paste your work in the body of an email.
* You will receive a response telling Kate has received your submission.
* No editorial feedback of any kind will be provided. We will not justify editorial decisions either.
* No fancy spacing or characters, please. Do not indent for new paragraphs. Just do an extra return between them. Please, single space between lines and after sentences.
*For fiction writers: Heavy dialogue is often very hard to format. Resist the urge. When it comes to fiction, remember that classic fairy tales are often not heavy on dialogue. But that doesn’t mean your tales should have no dialogue, just use it judiciously.
* A bio in the third person and no more than 50 words should be in the submission email below the story.
*You should include a word count below the story.
* A Paypal address must be included. Without one, work will not be considered.
* Only previously unpublished work, please. Only one work per writer per submission period.
* First electronic rights are being sought, as are rights to use the work for promoting Enchanted Conversation in perpetuity, although you will retain the right to withdraw consent for using your work in promotional efforts after one year from publication. Once the story or poem or essay is published on the website, Enchanted Conversation, you are free to shop it elsewhere—meaning electronic rights revert to you. EC will keep the work indefinitely on the site unless you request that it should be removed.
*EC only publishes online, at fairytalemagazine.com.
* Your story must come with a title.
* All things being equal, authors who comment and support EC will get greater consideration of their work. But quality takes precedence over all other considerations.
* You may resubmit a poem or story or essay once during the course of this year if your work was not chosen the first time you submitted.
*If you have a work published in EC in 2021, please wait three months before resubmitting.
* All questions, but no submissions, should be sent to [email protected].
THEME
Here’s what Kate wants:
The theme for 2021 is “Healers, Midwives and Cunning Folk.” I’m looking for old fashioned herbal healers who served villages way back in the day, midwives also tended to help with a variety of ailments, and “cunning folk,” who used folk magic as well as potions, salves and poultices, etc. Think of regular herbalists, hedge witches, kitchen witches, regular midwives, etc. I am looking for folklore to merge into fairy tales here.
What does that mean? It means you should submit works that have at least an element of the theme above. You may retell an existing fairy tale or use a story for a jumping off place for your poem or story. You can mashup two or more fairy tales. The theme may figure into your work in subtle or large ways. It’s all up to you.
The stories and poems do not have to be set long ago, but many probably will be.
Remember, stories and poems must have the theme in them, even though it needn’t be a huge part of the story. You do not have to write about magick or witches, but do bear in mind that all fairy tale related fiction and poetry needs an element of the supernatural—as well as transformation.
Your nonfiction can be about any fairy tale subject.
When each upcoming window for submissions is announced, a theme-related post will be published. Please read the relevant post before writing your submission.
WORD COUNT and CONTENT
Poems can be any length, but stories or nonfiction should be between 750 and 1,000 words. Several times in 2021, EC will be open to longer tales, but only when there is a special post alerting you to this. Don’t just send longer work unless it is specifically requested.
The essence of classic fairy tales should be maintained when you write these stories and poems. (I (Kate) tend to prefer things to end happily, but it’s not essential. Please think of the classic fairy tale form when writing stories.)
The nonfiction may explore any aspect of fairy tale culture, as long as it is original. Scattering several links to outside sources throughout the essay is a good idea.
Absolutely none of the following for any submissions: Sci-fi, anti-medicine (as in denigrating modern medical systems, treatments, and professionals), lengthy grossout descriptions of bodily functions or injuries, dystopian, descriptions of people’s bodies through the objectifying eyes of the protagonist, erotica, high fantasy, stage magic, excessive world building, time-travel, futuristic, space travel, western, love triangles. Also, EC is NOT a young children’s publication. Period. It’s essential that you read past EC stories and nonfiction to see what we will publish going forward. EC is a web publication only.
EC prefers “own voices.” Follow this LINK for information on own voices.
NOTIFICATION OF SUCCESS and PAYMENT
*All works: $50. US dollars only. Payment is sent upon publication.
* Again, EC is buying first world electronic rights and the right to use the work in promotional material. So when the work is published here you are free to publish or sell it elsewhere. EC will keep the story or essay indefinitely on the site unless you request that we remove it. We can use the work for promotional purposes for one year, after which the author can request that we stop.
* Payment will be made through PayPal only. No PayPal address, no publication.
* Non-acceptance emails will not be sent out. Instead, the names of those whose works are chosen will be posted on EC about seven days after the window closes. Example: In January, it will likely be on the 10th. If your story is on the published chosen list, EC will contact you at the email address you used to submit. You have 72 hours to respond to Kate’s acceptance email. In other words, do not abandon your submission.
* Once the chosen works are announced on this website, and if yours was not chosen, that’s my way of communicating my editorial decision. Shop the story elsewhere. There are many great publication sites out there. Go for it. I mean that sincerely (KW).
* The chosen works will usually be published on the first through fourth Mondays or Tuesdays of the month.
Via: Enchanted Conversation.
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Stuart Conover is a father, husband, published author, blogger, geek, entrepreneur, horror fanatic, and runs a few websites including Horror Tree!