Taking Submissions: Fantastic Detectives
Deadline: December 30th, 2021 Payment: $20, royalties, and a contributor's copy Theme: Detectives in the fantasy genre that will do whatever is needed to solve their case Call for Submissions Fantastic Detectives is a sequel anthology to Fantastic Defenders, which covered fantasy heroes, and has the same editors: Donna Royston and David Keener. This new anthology is targeted at those stubborn individuals who just won’t let crimes go unsolved. They could be members of the CityGuard, soldiers, magicians, or anything else…but they all have one thing in common. They’ll do whatever it takes to find the answers they need. What We Want We’re looking for stories about crimes in fantasy settings, ranging from “second world” settings to urban fantasies (with a slight preference for the former—no more than a third of the anthology will be urban fantasies). Stories can have other elements such as romance, humor, action…but should primarily be about dealing with a crime (a theft, kidnapping, murder, etc.). Since these are fantasy stories, magic should be featured in some fashion. It can be: used in committing the crime, used in solving the crime, the reason for the crime, an intrinsic capability of a character, or you can surprise us with something clever. The fantasy detective sub-genre can obviously lead to some dark stories, which is fine, but there should be at least a little ray of hope somewhere in each tale. Finally, as with any good story, make us care about your characters. What We Don’tWant Erotica Downer Endings (the Bad Guys win, there is no hope, we’re all Doomed). Tired tropes with no unique elements (Conan the Detective, Mary Sue Werewolf, Dashingly Deadly Vampire Hunk, Legolas the Elf Clone, etc.). We love magic, but not as a deus ex machina. Submission Details...
Taking Submissions: For Those Who Deserve to Exist
Deadline: December 30th, 2021 Payment: $30 and a contributor's copy Theme: Reclamation by marginalized individuals. Rising up, overcoming, and righting (and rewriting) transgressions Who Can Submit: Those who identify as a marginalized individual or a person from a marginalized community. This new open call is one that is very special to us here at Inked. The past 10 months have felt like 30 years, and it seems in many ways we are going backwards instead of making progress. So this time, we’re going to grab a spot on the stage, demand the world make room. Our next anthology, aptly titled For Those Who Deserve to Exist, will be about marginalized folk, by marginalized folk. We will be looking for passionate, visceral stories about rising up, overcoming, and righting (and rewriting) transgressions. The general theme is that of reclaiming narratives through the genres of horror, science fiction, and fantasy. In true Inked fashion: no sugar-coating, no watered down characters or situations. No punches pulled. Words have the power to elicit change. Stories dispel stereotypes with insight, combat prejudice with perspective, and narrow the divide so we can see each other for what we all are: human. And we cannot wait to read all your stories! Here are the details you’ve been waiting for: Submission Period: Oct 31st to Dec 30th (Newly extended date!) Theme: Reclamation by marginalized individuals. Rising up, overcoming, and righting (and rewriting) transgressions Who Can Submit: Those who identify as a marginalized individual or a person from a marginalized community. Note: The parameters of marginalization can be fluid. Marginalized populations are defined as groups and communities that experience discrimination and exclusion (social, political and economic) because of unequal power relationships across economic, political, social and cultural dimensions. Marginalized groups include (but are not limited to: BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, Disabled, veterans, persons with a serious...
