Taking Submissions: Tractor Beam Volume 3
July 21
Deadline: July 21st, 2025
Payment: $1,000
Theme: Speculative Fiction, Soilpunk
YOUR FICTION, OUR FUTURE.
We are looking for original written and graphic works that have actionable soil-based technologies as their premise.
For our upcoming issues, we’re specifically seeking stories celebrating decay and rot, ice and snow (the frozen earth), the ocean and soil under water, fashion and style, soil as tech, soil as the origin of life and anti-apocalyptic futures. Literal or abstract, near term or on distant horizons: worlds can take inspiration from innovations or alternative practices in earth and material science, regenerative agriculture, food, microbiology, and more.
A perfect Tractor Beam story gets readers thinking: “What if this really could happen?” “What’s the soil science behind it?” “What do I need to learn to be a part of a thriving planet?”
Think optimism! Think cross-genre submissions. A soilpunk romance, spy thriller, coming of age story. Interrogate what it would actually mean for us to successfully take on the climate crisis. What would that world look like? What technology would have to exist? We’d love to see people look at the latest soil science and dream.
Deadline to submit for Issue 3 is July 21st.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
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We prefer submissions under 6,000 words for writing or 16 panels for graphic novellas.
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Times New Roman, 12pt, double-spaced
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Word format only
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Include your full name, email, and story title at the top of the document
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Submission file name should follow the following format: “AUTHOR FULL NAME_STORY TITLE”
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Simultaneous submissions are permitted, but please notify us immediately if your piece was accepted elsewhere so we can withdraw it and congratulate you!
To submit, click the Via link below:
