Events

Deadline: December 31st, 2017 Payment: Contributor's Copy George A. Romero was an inspiration to many people, and the Godfather of the modern zombie sub-genre. As a tribute to him, and his work, we’re putting together a charity anthology, provisionally called WORDS OF THE DEAD, to honour the man who scared us witless when we were younger and inspired us when we got older. The guidelines are: - We’re looking for zombie stories only. - Stories must be either set within the films, or based on the canon he created. So, no runners, but remember that Romero used tool-wielding zombies in Night/Dawn/Day and Land, and the vampire/un-dead crossover in the comic series Empire of the Dead. - One simple rule: as long as he used it, so can you. Show us something different from the films, or wow us with an original story set within one of the time frames or the modern day. - Maximum word count of 6k; standard manuscript formatting. - You’ll get a digital and physical contributor’s copy as a thank you. - This will be published through EyeCue Productions, with Duncan P. Bradshaw, David Owain Hughes, and Jonathan Edward Ondrashek as editors. - No reprints, please. We’re looking for new stories, keen for fresh bodies to feast on. - ALL proceeds will be going to charity; we’re working towards getting that sorted at the moment. - Rights are your own, but we respectfully ask for a six-month period of exclusivity to the anthology from the release date (to be determined). - Deadline: 31st December, 2017. Send your submission or questions to: [email protected] We look forward to seeing what you come up with! David, Duncan and Jonathan Via: Duncan P. Bradshaw.

Deadline: December 31st, 2017 Payment: $15 FORMATTING GUIDELINES This is proving to be a recurring problem, so we're putting it up front. Please, for all our sakes, read this next part carefully. All submissions should be sent by e-mail (no letters or telephone calls please) to [email protected]. Below are some formatting rules to help us process your submission more quickly. Email and Cover Letters Email is accepted in both text and HTML formats. When submitting, please put this in the subject line: Submission: (Title) - (First and Last name) Include the following in the body of the email and in the attached submission: Your name Name to use on the story (byline), if different Your preferred email address Your mailing address The story's title The story's word count You may also include a cover letter in the body of the email. We get a lot of strange stuff in cover letters, so if you're unsure of what goes in them (and especially what doesn't) please refer to these cover letter tips: How to write a cover letter | What not to put in a cover letter by Jed Hartman Submission Formatting We ONLY accept submissions as attachments! All stories submitted as an attachment must follow standard manuscript formatting. We will no longer read any story not properly formatted. (And we much prefer Courier New to Times New Roman) For explanations and tips on what SMF is and how to do it with word processing programs, please see this article. Please send your submission as an attachment in Microsoft Word (DOC, DOCX)or Rich Test Format (RTF) only. Other formats, such as Works, WordPerfect, Open Office, etc., have proven difficult to open. Please note that we no longer accept "inline" submssions - that is: submissions with the stories pasted directly into the body of the email. Fiction Guidelines We're looking for good, solid...

Deadline: December 31st, 2017 Payment: 6 cents per word "Monstrosities"  - Humor (SF/Fantasy/Horror). Things that are just too big or that don't scale. Whether it's the new shopping mall down the street, kaiju attacking Tokyo, flawed utopian ideas, the supposed ultimate weapon, or somebody who's way too big for his britches, we all have had to deal with humongous blunders. Get it off your chest--share with us your favorite monstrosities. (Photo by Juanbobadilla - Own work, commons.wikimedia.org) Reading period: December 1 - December 31, 2017 Writer Deadline: December 31, 2017 Publication Date: March 1, 2018 Third Flatiron Publishing is based in Boulder, Colorado, and Ayr, Scotland. We are looking for submissions to our (approximately) quarterly themed anthologies. Our focus is on science fiction and fantasy and anthropological fiction. We want tightly plotted tales in out-of-the-ordinary scenarios. Light horror is acceptable, provided it fits the theme. Please send us short stories that revolve around age-old questions and have something illuminating to tell us as human beings. Fantastical situations and creatures, exciting dialog, irony, mild horror, and wry humor are all welcome. Stories should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. Inquire if longer. Role models for the type of fiction we want include Kurt Vonnegut, Arthur C. Clarke, Dan Simmons, Connie Willis, Vernor Vinge, and Ken Kesey. We want to showcase some of the best new shorts available today. For each anthology, we will also accept  a few very short humor pieces on the order of the "Shouts and Murmurs" feature in The New Yorker Magazine (600 words or so). These can be written from a first-person perspective or can be mini-essays that tell people what they ought to do, how to do something better, or explain why something is like it is, humorously. An SF/Fantasy bent is preferred. Themes and Schedules Continuing with Third Flatiron's quarterly...

Deadline: January 1st, 2018 Payment: Contributor's Copy Note: Reprints Allowed Thurston Howl Publications is now accepting submissions for volume three of its furry anthology series SPECIES: Tigers. Deadline: January 1, 2018 Word count: 2,500-8,000; a little above and a little below will be acceptable Rating: PG-13 Please put the story title and TIGERS in the subject. Tigers have stalked the landscapes of human creativity as monsters and heroes. Whether it was the "Tiger, tiger burning bright" of William Blake or Rudyard Kipling's Sher Khan, tigers hold a certain place in the human mind as symbols of the wild. For the third volume of SPECIES, we want to see the many faces of anthro tigers. We will be accepting exactly five reprints and five original stories. Tigers have to be the central characters, but they do not have to be the only characters in these stories. While we will accept stories of wolves in pre-modern settings, we will prefer stories of them in 1900s to futuristic settings. You can submit up to three stories, but we will only accept one per author (if any). (Reprints do not count in the total). Reprints are encouraged, but you have to own full permission of the work in order for us to consider it. We will not accept simultaneous submissions. Payment: Authors will receive a free copy of the print book. Send submissions in .doc or .docx format to [email protected]. If you are sending more than one submission, send multiple emails instead of putting them all in one. We will inform all authors regarding decisions within a week or two after the deadline. Book will likely be released in the summer. Via: Thurston Howl Publications.

Deadline: January 15th, 2018 Payment: 6 cents per word Accepting submissions for the anthology Mind Candy. Payment for acceptance will be 6 cents a word. Plan is to accept submission on this until Jan 15th 2018.      I will be looking for original short speculative fiction, up to 5000 words, that in some way address the intricacies of the mind. Mind control, mind augmentation, multiple memories, mental powers, or any other idea where mental oddities are key to the story line. I prefer science fiction, but will consider any speculative fiction that is not too depressing, violent or graphic. Email submissions to [email protected]  I prefer .doc or .rtf, will accept .docx Standard double space formatting. Please include contact information (name, address, email, and phone) on both the email and in the header of the work. No simultaneous submissions.  Depending on submission quantities, reprints may be accepted after October 31st. After the anthology is completed I plan on accepting proposals for completed full length works, (100 to 200 or so pages/ approx. 30,000 to 60,000 words) While I specialize in Science Fiction and Fantasy, and these genres will generally get the fastest attention, I am open to any type of writing. Via: Myriad Paradigm.

Deadline: January 15th, 2018 Payment: $20 per story 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 that has appeared on a website. We pay $20 for each story we publish. We buy first-printing world exclusive rights for four months....

Deadline: January 15th, 2018 Payment: 6c/word Liminal is searching for stories of a particular tone and tenor, regardless of form.  We like stories that are strange and unsettling, sharp-edged and evocative.  Although we will consider any genre, we have a soft spot for weird fiction, magical realism, soft science fiction, and those uncategorizable stories that straddle the line between genres.  Liminal stories should linger in the mind and evoke emotion in the reader. We will consider stories up to 10,000 words, and pay 6c/word on publication. Liminal isn't a market for reprints, or non-fiction. We don't accept simultaneous or multiple submissions of fiction.  However, you may submit a new story as soon as you receive a rejection from us, provided we haven't closed for submissions. Seeking Diverse Voices The editors of Liminal believe that fiction is enriched by diverse voices. We welcome and encourage submissions from writers of every nationality, race, sexual orientation, religion, and gender. How to Submit Send submissions in .DOC or .RTF format to [email protected]. Please use Submission:  as your subject line. Include your story's title and length in your cover letter. Don't stress over what to call us. We'll answer to Editors, Shannon and Kelly, or Ms. Peavey and Ms. Sandoval. Please use Standard Manuscript Format for all Liminal submissions.   Liminal Poetry Guidelines Liminal is currently closed for poetry submissions.  Our next poetry submission window will be from December 15 to January 15. Like its fiction, Liminal is searching for poems of a particular tone.  We like poems with strong imagery and precise language.  Fantastical elements are encouraged, but not required.  Some of the editor's favorite poets include, but are not limited to, Claudia Emerson, Jamaal May, Judy Jordan, Jack Gilbert, Ai, and David Kirby. We will consider poems of any length, and pay $50 per poem on publication. To submit, send 1-3 poems in DOC format with the subject line POETRY SUBMISSION:  to [email protected]. If you include...

Deadline: January 15th, 2018 Payment: 250 to 3000 words - $30. 3001 to 5000 words - $55 PLEASE READ THE SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES BELOW. HINNOM MAGAZINE PAYS $55 FOR ACCEPTED STORIES OVER 3,000 WORDS AND $30 FOR STORIES UNDER 3,000 WORDS.   Greetings from the Valley of Hinnom, With the amazing success of Hinnom Magazine during the year of 2017, we have decided to move onward with this publication and to make several big changes that will not only widen our reach to the darker side of literature, but will also benefit the authors. The issues will release bi-monthly, on the last day of every other month, starting in February 2018. We seek authors who have a unique voice, interesting writing styles, and unparalleled storytelling talents. We also encourage prospective authors to read one of our previous publications to get a feel of the atmosphere and themes we favor. We know a lot of publishers say this, but there is good reason for it. FICTION SUBMISSION DETAILS: Whereas last year’s issues of Hinnom Magazine were a bit more lenient, the 2018 volume is going to be much more specific in our themes since we have found our voice as a publication. Below, you will find the genres and subgenres that we adore. Again, if you read our previous releases, you will likely develop a solid understanding of what Hinnom Magazine represents in dark fiction. We are looking for stories that fit the themes of Weird Fiction and Cosmic Horror. Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy are all welcomed, as long as they fit in the realms of Weird and Cosmic. All stories must also be speculative in some way. What we mean by this is that we don’t want stories based in realism. While many great horror stories are plausible in modern reality, these stories are not for Hinnom Magazine. Thus, all horror MUST BE otherworldly or supernatural in some way. Science Fiction MUST BE dark and speculative....

Deadline: January 15th, 2018 Payment: $30 for stories under 3,000 words, $55 for those over 3,000 words PLEASE READ THE SUBMISSIONS GUIDELINES BELOW. HINNOM MAGAZINE PAYS $55 FOR ACCEPTED STORIES OVER 3,000 WORDS AND $30 FOR STORIES UNDER 3,000 WORDS.   Greetings from the Valley of Hinnom, With the amazing success of Hinnom Magazine during the year of 2017, we have decided to move onward with this publication and to make several big changes that will not only widen our reach to the darker side of literature, but will also benefit the authors. The issues will release bi-monthly, on the last day of every other month, starting in February 2018. We seek authors who have a unique voice, interesting writing styles, and unparalleled storytelling talents. We also encourage prospective authors to read one of our previous publications to get a feel of the atmosphere and themes we favor. We know a lot of publishers say this, but there is good reason for it. FICTION SUBMISSION DETAILS: Whereas last year’s issues of Hinnom Magazine were a bit more lenient, the 2018 volume is going to be much more specific in our themes since we have found our voice as a publication. Below, you will find the genres and subgenres that we adore. Again, if you read our previous releases, you will likely develop a solid understanding of what Hinnom Magazine represents in dark fiction. We are looking for stories that fit the themes of Weird Fiction and Cosmic Horror. Horror, Science Fiction, and Fantasy are all welcomed, as long as they fit in the realms of Weird and Cosmic. All stories must also be speculative in some way. What we mean by this is that we don’t want stories based in realism. While many great horror stories are plausible in modern reality, these stories are not for Hinnom Magazine. Thus, all horror MUST BE otherworldly or supernatural in some way. Science Fiction MUST BE dark and speculative....

Deadline: January 15th, 2018 Payment: 6 cents per word Accepting submissions for the anthology Mind Candy 2.0. Payment for acceptance is 6 cents a word. due to costs, from now on any International payments will be paypal only.  My plan is to accept submissions on this until Jan 15th 2018.      I am looking for original short speculative fiction, up to 5000 words, that in some way address the intricacies of the mind. Mind control, mind augmentation, multiple memories, mental powers, or any other idea where mental oddities are key to the story line. I prefer science fiction, but will consider any speculative fiction that is not too depressing, violent or graphic. Email submissions to [email protected]    I prefer .doc or .rtf, but will accept .docx Standard double space formatting. Please include contact information (name, address, email, and phone) on both the email and in the header of the work. No simultaneous submissions.  I am trying not to be to harsh about submission headers, but I do get them with no contact information at all. Because of the number of emails I receive, I often delete emails after I download the submissions. If there is no contact info on the actual story, you may never hear from me, whether I like the story or not.    I will not be accepting reprints for this anthology. After the anthology is completed, I plan on accepting proposals for completed full length works, (100 to 200 or so pages/ approx. 30,000 to 60,000 words). While I specialize in Science Fiction and Fantasy, and these genres will generally get the fastest attention, I am open to any type of writing.  Electronic version will be released two to three months after pint version. Via: Myriad Paradigm.