Events

Taking Submissions: Rakehell Magazine May 2022 Window

Submission Window: May 8th-14th, 2022. Payment: $0.01 (one cent) per word Theme: Swashbuckling action in all genres Rakehell buys First Worldwide Serial Rights to swashbuckling tales from 3,000 to 8,000 words long. We currently pay $0.01 (one cent) per word. We know that’s not much, and we hope to increase our rate as soon as possible. Rakehell Accepts All Genres We’re looking for stories of swashbuckling action in all genres. We love fantasy, steampunk, and historical fiction, but we’ll read anything that fits the Rakehell vibe. We’re looking for small-scale conflicts with personal motivations. We’re less interested in epic quests and straight military fiction. Think Robin Hood, Fafhrd & the Gray Mouser, the Three Musketeers, Horatio Hornblower, Felimid mac Fal, Flashman, Khlit the Cossack, the Gentleman Bastards, Captain Blood, the Greatcoats, Inigo Montoya, Indiana Jones, Rudolf Rassendyll, Richard St. Vier… Feel free to draw on other genres, like mystery, comedy, and romance. No erotica. “Swashbuckling” implies a sense of fun and excitement. Don’t sugarcoat the realities of violence, but don’t dwell in the darkness. Readers should come away from your story exhilarated, not depressed. Stories will probably have a pre-modern technology level. Swords stopped being quite so useful once firearms advanced past the black powder stage. (Flintlock-era technology is welcome.) If your story has a reason why guns/grenades/missiles/lasers/phasers/blasters aren’t an option, we’ll consider it. For sci-fi, think Star Wars or Dune. If your story captures the Rakehell attitude, we can be flexible. Put another way: a duel at dawn between two libertines with flintlock pistols is a yes. A showdown at noon between two cowboys with revolvers is a maybe. A shoot-out between a mobster and the cops is a no. Magic is fine, but will probably be low. Worlds where battle magic is common and/or powerful tend to have the same problems as worlds with modern firearms. Rakehell is at...

Taking Submissions: Kolchak: The Night Stalker

Deadline: May 15th, 2022 Payment: $50 flat fee Theme: stories from throughout Kolchak’s life A Kolchak: The Night Stalker graphic novel anthology for the show’s 50th anniversary next year. Moonstone Books is the publisher. ​ A Kickstarter is coming soon. Sign up for the email alert here https://bit.ly/Kolchak50 ​ As part of the campaign, we're also looking for PROSE short stories. This call is NOT for comic scripts. ​ GUIDELINES FOR KOLCHAK 50TH ANNIVERSARY PROSE ANTHOLOGY ​ Payment: $50 flat fee (This will increase when we hit certain stretch goals through the Kickstarter) Length: 1500 to 5000 words Submission Period: Immediately following the Kolchak 50 Kickstarter campaign (probably some in February or March) until May 15, 2022 or filled Expected Release Date: Late 2022 No multiple submissions ​ WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR Here’s your chance to write a classic Kolchak story. Like the theme for the 50th anniversary graphic novel, the prose anthology will consist of stories from throughout Kolchak’s life, from the late 1930s to the late ’90s. Please, be familiar with Kolchak before writing your story and watch the TV movies and series! Here's a bio for the character. While we’re looking for writers to submit full stories, you can send a story pitch to the editor before you write the story. But, please, don’t send stories before the submissions period opens. ​ Don't get hung up on the personal details of Kolchak's life. Like the TV shows, keep the focus on the investigation. You're best off not adding a wife or long-lost cousin to Kolchak's biography.  ​ SUBMISSIONS A Kickstarter campaign for the graphic novel and prose anthology will launch early in 2022, after which we’ll open to submissions. Since this is a licensed character, you cannot retain rights to the story. Use classic Shunn formatting. Send as an...

Taking Submissions: Urban Fantasy Digest 2022: The Wizard Must Be Stopped!

Deadline: May 15th, 2022 Payment: Royalties Theme: Novelettes with the theme "The Wizard Must Be Stopped!" Edited by Tracy Cooper-Posey Stories Rule Press (SRP) is now seeking submissions for Urban Fantasy Digest 2022: The Wizard Must Be Stopped!, the third anthology in this series.  The anthology will be published on July 28, 2022. Deadline: May 15, 2022 Length: 7,500 to 10,000 words Payment: Revenue share Genre This is an anthology of urban fantasy novelettes. Theme The theme is “The Wizard Must Be Stopped!” – which can be interpreted by the author in any way that provides a story featuring a wizard in some shape or form.  The wizard does not have to be the antagonist, nor does she have to be strictly human. Stretch the theme as far as your imagination allows.  We’re looking for twelve unique takes on the idea of what a wizard might be up to that requires halting them. Please see the retail book description, below, for more on this. The story should conform to urban fantasy genre expectations.  Epic fantasy, fantasy set in secondary worlds, non-contemporary city settings, or remote settings do not fit the genre. The retail book description This is the description that will appear on the back of the book, and on retail sites. (Please note: the actual number of stories to be included in the anthology is to be finalized during the reading period.) ========Retail Book Description============ Wayward wizards are among us. Stories Rule Press presents Urban Fantasy Digest 2022: The Wizard Must Be Stopped! Of all the fantasy and paranormal species who inhabit our urban fantasy worlds, wizards are the epitome of magical persons.  Dark or good, powerful or not, enemy or friend, a wizard has vast influence over people and stories…and can change the fortunes of all. Discover twelve very different wizards in twelve spellbinding...

Taking Submissions: Dark Recesses Summer 2022 Issue

Deadline: May 15th, 2022 Payment: 5 cents per word Theme: horror/dark fiction QUARTERLY PRINT MAGAZINE   Breakdown of content:   8 fiction pieces (approximate word lengths) – 1x 5000, 1x 3000, 1x 2500, 2x 1500, 3x 500 3-5 non-fiction pieces – 1 article, 1-2 briefs, 1 interview and/or review – Fiction:   We are looking for horror/dark fiction pieces between 500-5000 words firm. Common sense when submitting please. We do not accept stories that involve the sexual abuse/exploitation of minors direct or implied. We are not looking for pure shock value. All components of your story should have merit. Gore for gore’s sake is not what we are looking for. Our pay rates 5 cents per word All payments are made in US funds via PayPal.   We accept submissions during the following reading periods , with an expected response time of up to 16 weeks. This way we are able to accommodate all the submissions we receive. If you have not heard back from us after 16 weeks, please feel free to send us an update query.   WINTER ISSUE: August 15 – November 15   SPRING ISSUE: November 16 – February 15   SUMMER ISSUE: February 16 – May 15   FALL ISSUE: May 16 – August 15   While not a requirement, we strongly suggest you pick up a copy of the digital magazine to help better understand the types of work we’re looking for. All submissions must be sent via e-mail to: [email protected] as an attached word document or .rtf with the word “Fiction Submission – STORY TITLE” in the subject line. In the body of the email include a word count. A short bio is welcome, but not mandatory. Please also include if you wish your story considered for both the quarterly print and the website publication. Note compensation rates are different for website so be certain....

Taking Submissions: Taking Submissions: Hawaii Speculative Short Story Anthology

Deadline: May 15th, 2022 Payment: $50 Theme: Speculative fiction (horror, science fiction, fantasy) that takes place in Hawaii. Note: The author must have 'some' connection to Hawaii. Note: Reprints welcome, though might be a hard sell if enough quality original work comes in Theme: Short stories in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, or any mixture thereof, taking place on the Hawaiian Islands. Authors may not currently live in Hawaiʻi but must have some significant connection to the islands. Bonus points if your story draws from traditional folklore, but more bonus points if your story reflects authentic experience. Word count: 2,000 – 5,000 (wiggle room allowed) Payment: Flat rate payment of $50 dollars per story. Reprints: May be considered. Multiple and/or simultaneous submissions: Allowed. Please contact us immediately if your story was accepted elsewhere. Formatting: We accept standard manuscript format, 12-point Times New Roman. (shunn.net/format/classic/) Submissions: Please submit your manuscript as a .docx attachment to [email protected] as well as a brief cover letter mentioning any relevant experiences or publication history and your connection to the Hawaiian Islands. Response Time: Please reach out if you haven’t heard a response within 90 days of submission. Established in 1974 with the publication of Hawaii Planner, A Travel Diary, Mutual Publishing is proud to offer one of the largest selections of Hawaiiana titles found in the Islands. We publish books about everything from Hawaiian, history, and natural sciences to fiction, and local arts and crafts. Mutual Publishing draws from a diverse group of dynamic authors, artists, photographers, and experts to be Hawaiʻi’s largest trade publishing house. Mutual Publishing also offers a full range of private label products and services. Although Mutual Publishing’s product lines have grown considerably, our goal has remained simple: “To be Hawaiʻi’s premier provider of Hawaiiana books and private label merchandise.” Via: Fletcher Stories.

Taking Submissions: The Other Stories #84: Faeries

The Other Stories

Deadline: May 15th, 2022 Payment: 15GBP Theme: If you think you’ve got what it takes to terrify, scar and haunt our audience of 10,000 daily listeners, then we want your stories! If accepted, we'll get our fantastic narration team to lend their voices, our editor will sprinkle some magic pixie dust on the track, and you could have your story heard by thousands of listeners each week. (Vol 84.) Faeries; deadline 15th May 2022 !!!NEW SUBMISSION PROCESS!!! SUBMIT YOUR STORIES USING THIS FORM If, this form isn’t working, then please email your submission to [email protected] as a last resort. But please let us know why as we’re hoping to use the form going forward. Title your email with the following syntax: SUBMISSION | STORY TITLE | THEME | WORDCOUNT (e.g. SUBMISSION | THE MARTIAN | SPACE | 1,982) It is important that your story complies with our Submission Guidelines. Any stories found not to be in compliance will be immediately discarded. Click HERE for details If you think you’ve got what it takes to terrify, scar and haunt our audience of 10,000 daily listeners, then we want your stories! If accepted, we'll get our fantastic narration team to lend their voices, our editor will sprinkle some magic pixie dust on the track, and you could have your story heard by thousands of listeners each week. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO DO: • Stories must be 2,000 (10% tolerance +/-) • Save stories in a Word document - Times New Roman font, size 12 • Include a 1-2 sentence log line for your story at the end of the document • Ensure that your name and an email address are somewhere on the document • Stories must fit an upcoming theme • By submitting your story to us, you are confirming...

Taking Submissions: For a Friend

Deadline: May 15th, 2022 Payment: £100 and a free contributor copy Theme: Writing that is a source of comfort, inspiration, learning and escape. Note: All genres are acceptable but keep the theme in mind, not overly looking for horror unless it really fits. Note: Apologies for the short window, this hit my inbox this morning. We are looking for prose and poetry to publish in our For a Friend anthology, a giftable collection of writing for oneself or a friend. We are open to a wide range of genres and styles that fit the theme. As a guide, we think we are looking for pieces that range from words of encouragement to life advice-styled poetry and prose, to love letters you might send to a friend, i.e. writing that is a source of comfort, inspiration, learning and escape. We are looking especially for work from writers of colour and working class writers living in the UK. The submission window for the anthology is open until May 15th. We encourage you to read our previous publications to get a feel for the style of writing we enjoy and give you the best chance. If you do not have access to a copy of Lucent Dreaming via your library, and have no or very low income, please email [email protected] to receive a free copy. Word Limit: 400-3,999 words for prose Line Limit: 72 lines for poetry Pay Rate: Fixed £100 and a free contributor copy. Language: English We enjoy beautifully written prose and poetry, especially writing that embraces and explores inner-lives.  We do not publish the following: Fan fiction based on copyright texts Gratuitous gore/torture and other violence for the sake of violence Erotica     Submissions Process: Please use our submission form to upload your submission. You may need to create a Gmail address....

Taking Submissions: The Mods (Opens Sunday)

Submission Window: May 1st-15th, 2022 Payment: 02 per word, .01 per word for reprints Theme: Cyberpunk Note: Reprints Welcome This anthology is open May 1st-15th. Pease do not submit beforehand. Wordcount: Up to 2,000 words. Genre: Cyberpunk Formats: eBook and Print on Demand Rights: Nonexclusive with no exclusivity outlined in a contract. Compensation: .02 per word, .01 per word for reprints, and an eBook copy of finished product. Reprints: Yes! Just let us know where it was pubbed so we can credit original publication. Multiple Subs: Yes! Just no more than three at a given time. Simultaneous subs: Yes! Please let us know if it gets accepted elsewhere. Submit each story with the subject line “The Mods Submission: Story Title by Author Name” to [email protected]. Send stories attached as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf. If submitting more than one story send each in a separate email. Please include a bio in third person of no more than 20 words. Via: Shacklebound Books.

Taking Submissions: Mithila Review: Hope Punk issue

Deadline: May 20th, 2022 Payment: USD $0.08 cents per word for the first 5000 words. $10 per poem. Theme: Hopeful science fiction and fantasy (see below!) Mithila Review is inviting submissions for a special global Hopepunk issue of science fiction (and fantasy) devoted to positive and powerful character-driven stories that imagine an open and inclusive tech-empowered democratic future for all people, species and countries on Earth. Who we are Mithila Review is a readers-supported international journal of science fiction and fantasy established in 2015. We have published the best of speculative fiction, poetry, non-fiction and conversations with new, emerging, and Hugo-winning authors over the years. You can read all our issues for free here on our website or on your favorite reading device. Why Hopepunk? With funding support from the National Democratic Institute (NDI), a US-based NGO that works to strengthen democracy, we are collaborating with our sci-fi friends at Mafagafo + A Taverna (Brazil) and Omenana (Nigeria) to re-imagine positive visions for a high-tech democracy that can out-inspire and out-govern digital tyranny, censorship, surveillance, and authoritarianism.  The final stories from all three journals will be collected and published in a global anthology edited by Dr. Amy Johnson (editor: Drones & Dreams, 2019) in 2022. What do we want? For this special issue of Mithila Review, we want excellent, hopeful and memorable stories. Your story and characters should make us think, turn us into believers, and make us want to fight for and be part of a truly democratic future. What positive interventions do you think could bring us closer to the future you want for all of us? Here are a few questions to help you get started: Governance: What does a high-tech democracy look like? What does it mean for you, your family, community, or our planet? How can we reform elections, their mechanisms and instruments, for equal...

Taking Submissions: Orion’s Beau 2022 Summer Issue

Deadline: May 20th, 2022 Payment: $3 Theme: Mischief, trouble, and challenging the status quo in LGBTQ+ science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and dark fantasy Thank you for your interest in submitting work to our gay fantasy arts & literary journal! ​ No entry fee is required, and all rights in the story remain the property of the author or artist. All types of science fiction, fantasy, paranormal, and dark fantasy are welcome. ​ We accept submissions on a rolling basis. We are a quarterly publication publishing 4 times a year; Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. For our summer publication, please submit your works by May 20th, 2022. The theme for our summer issue will be mischief, trouble, and challenging the status quo. ​ Before submitting to us please keep in mind that we are devoted to LGBTQ+ fantasy. Your work should strongly reflect that. We are interested in work that elevates dreams and fairy tales in the gay community and its supporters. We're looking for original works of magic and fantasy. Even in darkness, hope can exist. We want to be transported to new worlds or fascinating new versions of our own! When considering submitting to us please ensure the work meets the above criteria. ​ All entries must be in English and original works. Plagiarism, which includes the use of third-party poetry, song lyrics, characters or another person’s universe, without written permission, will not be accepted. Submissions may not have been previously published in professional media or anywhere accessible online without a friend request or password. This includes personal blogs. ​ Fiction: We welcome fiction, 5,000 words or less. If you have a longer piece and your interested in publishing the work in separate issues, you can send those along as well. Submit as a Word document only. No PDFs. For flash fiction...