Events

Deadline: October 15th, 2020 Payment: $20 per story Theme: Electric Spec prefers science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre, but we're willing to push the limits of traditional forms of these genres. Please don't query us about your story submission. We don't have the manpower to answer such queries. An editor will email you back as soon as possible with the decision about your story. This can take a few days, or, up to three months. We make every effort to get back to authors in a timely manner but we get a lot of submissions so sometimes it's not possible. A note on our editorial policy: before publication we may edit the story for length or readability. However, we always remain true to the spirit of the story. Issues are published at the end of February, May, August, and November. We reserve the right to shift publication date slightly, as necessary. We have reading periods for each issue, though we never close to submissions. February closes January 15 May closes April 15 August closes July 15 November closes October 15 Please do not submit the same story more than once, and please submit only one story at a time. We consider any story between 250 and 7000 words with speculative fiction elements. We prefer science fiction, fantasy, and the macabre, but we're willing to push the limits of traditional forms of these genres. We do not consider poetry, stories with over-the-top sex or violence, serials, novels, fan fiction, or non-fiction. We don't accept multiple submissions; in other words, only submit one story at a time and wait for a response before submitting another. We accept simultaneous submissions as long as you let us know up front and tell us as soon as it's accepted elsewhere. We do not publish reprints, including anything...

Deadline: October 15th, 2020 Payment: $200 per poem and a complimentary print subscription Theme: Neurodiversity #71 – Spring 2021 – Neurodiversity Poetry: Our Spring 2021 issue will feature a tribute to neurodiversity. Neurodiversity is a concept that respects neurological differences as variations of the human brain and seeks to redefine these variations in a positive way, rather than stigmatizing them. ADHD, Dyslexia, Autistic Spectrum, and Tourette Syndrome fall under the umbrella of neurodiversity, to name a few. For the purpose of this issue, we encourage submissions from people with neurological differences who support, and/or identify with, the idea of neurodiversity. Poems may be written on any subject, in any style or length, but the poet must be a person with neurological differences. Our intention is to highlight a diverse and powerful community of writers that is often marginalized and mischaracterized. Please be sure to select the Tribute to Neurodiversity category. Artwork: We still need cover art for this issue and would like to use work by an artist who identifies as neurodiverse. To submit something relevant to the theme, use the artwork category on Submittable. Deadline: October 15, 2020 Via: Rattle.

Deadline: October 15th, 2020 Payment: 6 cents per word Theme: Secret identities and beyond UnMasked: Stories of Risk and Revelation   When the mask comes off, can you handle what’s underneath? When your secret identity is revealed ... When the hero comes out to play ... When the monster is unleashed ... Masks have existed throughout history, from the tribal masks of gods, to the iconic masks of tragedy and comedy, to the iron masks of prisoners. Villains wear masks to commit crimes, heroes wear masks to protect those they love, others wear masks to block disease. Some masks confer power; others rein it in. Does the true face hide beneath the mask, or is it the mask itself? What happens when the mask comes off? We want you to tell us. Perhaps your character is a mask collector who buys a mask that is more than he bargained for, or a coroner wearing a protective mask to perform an alien autopsy. The plague mask she inherited from her great-uncle seduces her to evil whenever she puts it on. We seek stories that explore the masks we wear, the mysteries they conceal, and the price we pay when they’re stripped away. Unmasking, whether literal or figurative, must be integral to the story. Funny or grim, unsettling or cozy, we expect the unexpected. Pull back the mask and reveal your insights, your character-driven tales, and stories that will make us think. Genre: Original short stories of unmasking, to include a mix of science fiction, fantasy, horror, alien, magical, witchcraft, AI, and romance elements. Must be appropriate for a “PG-13” audience. Please, no copyrighted characters.  Length: up to 5000 words Rate: 6¢/word on acceptance. Rights: First Anthology Rights and audio rights; exclusive publication rights revert to author one month after publication; publisher retains non-exclusive right to include in the anthology...

Deadline: October 15th, 2020 Payment: $10 for fiction $5 for poetry Theme: Regional legends and tall-tales from around the World. War Monkey Publications, LLC, is pleased to announce open submissions for our upcoming anthology: FROM THE YONDER Volume II A horror, short-story collection of regional legends and tall-tales from around the World. Our Staff so loved working on the first volume, we've decided to keep doing it.   We are seeking short story submissions (1000-7500 words) for this anthology. The stories must be based upon a regional/cultural legend or tall-tale from any location or culture in the World. “Regional” can be a specific place (Loch Ness) or a larger region (Bigfoot in the Pacific Northwest). We are seeking stories in the horror genre. Inclusion of elements of other genres is welcome, so long as, overall, the story is an horror story. The subject of the story can be based on any legend, so long as it has a horrific flavor. Ghosts, hauntings, alien abductions, monsters, demons, spirits, witches, etc, all are acceptable, as long as the subject is based on an actual legend or tall-tale. We want an original story involving the legend. Don’t rehash the legend itself or write an essay on the tall-tale. Instead, for example, WOW us with a new fable of some poor unfortunate who finds out that legends are sometimes all too real. For more examples; read FROM THE YONDER; Volume I (published in February 2020) Please DO NOT: ~Extrapolate relationships that do not exist in the actual legends. Nessie can be a horrific monster, but she is not a servant of the Elder Gods (no matter how much we love Eldritch horror). ~Attribute characteristics or powers that do not exist in the actual legends. Jack-a-Lopes are cool, but they aren’t going to eat you...

Deadline: October 15th,2020 Payment: Contributor's Copy Theme: Fill in the blank for your story title and the story HAS to be about it! Note: Reprints welcome Thurston Howl Publications is now accepting submissions for its sixth volume of its HOWLERS series, Attack of the Killer____. ​ Deadline: October 15,2020 Word count: 2,500-8,000; a little above and a little below will be acceptable. ​ If Stephen King has taught us anything over the past several decades, it's that we shouldn't trust anything in the world around us. Clowns, car, chattery teeth, disembodied fingers, St. Bernards, little girls, old people in their RVs, antique cameras, antique stores, and Kindles all have the potential for evil. This anthology challenges you to fill in the titular blank yourself! We welcome all flavor of horror stories: sci fi, erotic, campy, serious, body horror, Lovecraftian, Poe, King, etc. BUT the title of your story has to be what goes in the blank. For example, you could name your story "Sex Machine," implying your story could be read as "Attack of the Killer Sex Machine." We will take preference with stories that are unique. Don't just write another killer doll story or another killer dog story, unless your story genuinely has a unique take on the that trope. ​ We will NOT accept: Racism, sexism, or discrimination presented in a positive light. Pedophilia or sex with characters under the age of 18 presented in a positive light. Rape, torture, dubious consent, forced seduction presented in a positive light. Snuff or necrophilia presented in a positive light. ​ If you are in doubt, ASK. Better to ask then to get a straight up rejection! If you are unsure, just me an email at [email protected] (restrictions borrowed from Voice: https://t.co/MWykJ6RY36) ​ Submit stories via Submittable at https://weaselpress.submittable.com/submit/163952/attack-of-the-killer ​ You can submit up to...