Events

Deadline: June 24th, 2024 Prizes: First place: $3,000, Second place: $2,000, and Third place: $1,000 Theme: Near-future to 2200 stories that are rooted in creative climate solutions and community-centered resilience, showing what can happen as solutions take root, and stories that offer gripping plots with rich characters and settings, making that future come alive. Grist is excited to open submissions for the fourth year of our Imagine 2200: Climate Fiction for Future Ancestors short story contest. Imagine 2200 celebrates stories that envision the next decades to centuries of equitable climate progress, imagining futures of abundance, adaptation, reform, and hope. We are looking for stories that are rooted in creative climate solutions and community-centered resilience, showing what can happen as solutions take root, and stories that offer gripping plots with rich characters and settings, making that future come alive. In 2,500 to 5,000 words, show us the world you dream of building. Your story should be set sometime between the near future and roughly the year 2200. A great Imagine story is not afraid to explore the challenges ahead – the path to climate progress will involve struggle and adaptation, and we invite you to show that – but ultimately offers hope that we can work together to build a more sustainable and just world. We want to see stories that incorporate real world climate solutions and climate science, as well as cultural authenticity (a deep sense of place, customs, cuisine, and more) and characters with fully-fledged identities. We especially want to read – and share – stories that center solutions and voices from the communities most impacted by the climate crisis. If you’re newer to climate or climate fiction, check out our FAQs page for some resources to get you started in finding inspiration from existing solutions, and some past Imagine stories to look...

Submission Window: June 17th - June 24th, 2024 Payment: $25 Theme: Fairy tales that are inspired by classic tales are what we are seeking. Mashups of classic fairy tales are welcome as well. he following is relevant to all submissions for 2024 for The Fairy Tale Magazine. Please read it in its entirety before considering submitting here. ​ Writing opportunities for 2024 include: New Fairy Tales: Fairy tales that are inspired by classic tales are what we are seeking. Mashups of classic fairy tales are welcome as well. Submissions must follow the theme below to be considered. Poetry: Poetry inspired by fairy tales and that follows the theme is also welcome.  We are not seeking art or nonfiction. We are not hiring. Please do not send inquiries. ​ The theme for the year is simply classic fairy tales—more below. HERE IS HOW YOU SUBMIT AND FORMAT AND WHEN Only the kind of submissions outlined below will be accepted at The Fairy Tale Magazine (FTM) in 2024. Here are the submission periods for both stories and poems: ​ We will be opening the submissions window for the SPRING/SUMMER Issue on  Jan. 22, 2024 at 12 AM, EST., and closing it on Jan. 29, 2024  at 11:59 PM., EST.  ​The FALL/WINTER submissions window will be June 17, 2024 at 12 AM, EST., and closing on June 24, 2024 at 11:59 PM, EST. There will be two issues. ​ (There will be one contest this year, during the summer. Details will be announced later in the year.) No submissions will be considered or acknowledged if received outside of the windows stated above. You submit through email only. Please use this address only:  [email protected]. That is for submissions only.  ​ Your last name, the publication month you are submitting for, and the year should be in the subject line of the email of your...

Deadline: June 28th, 2024 Payment: Royalties Theme: Science Fiction or Fantasy coffee stories! The perfect cuppa joe. The nectar of the gods. The safety liquid you hand your partner in the morning. We love the stuff, and can’t get enough. But how did we FIND that amazing bean? We invite our authors to visit our favorite coffee merchant, King Harv’s Coffee, and pick a variety from his amazing list. Then write a fantastical story about the detective work, the journey, the adventure of finding the oh-so-perfect bean. Was there a coffee shop on that asteroid? And where did they get the brew? Don’t limit yourself to this planet! OR SF! Sword and Sorcery works too! From Dave at King Harv’s Coffee: It all began when we took over the dome at the old South Pole station for the use as a coffee greenhouse. As you undoubtedly well know, the coffee was banned from world trade to by that ridiculous Antarctic treaty, and it became clear to us that coffee grown on alternate planets and celestial objects was the only thing that made economic sense. Shockingly this has never been reported on in the main stream media! Opens: 4/8/24 Closes:6/28/24 Contracts: 7/13/24 Publication: 8/9/24 Guidelines for all our anthologies: 5,000 to 8,000 words. Length and genre are negotiable, as long as the story fits the concept, and is entertaining. Any submission must be in Times New Roman, 12PT, double spaced, with your name, title of the story, and your email on it. Please name the file as -— Send in a .docx format. Please attach the file to your email, no links. Please see the submission guideline graphic on the Raconteur Press Facebook page. Raconteur Press will hold the rights for one year after publication, after one year the rights will...

Deadline: June 28th, 2024 Payment: Royalties Theme: Novels and Novellas - All Horror Please read the following guidelines carefully: Submissions are open from June 24th to June 28th, 2024. Submissions outside this window will be deleted unread. We want horror in all its forms—from literary to weird, Gothic to psychological, and (almost) everything in between. We’re looking for amazing stories from amazing authors, regardless of race, gender, religion—if you’ve got something good, we want it. (Please do not submit YA, romance, erotica, or religious fiction; we do not deal in those genres. Also note that anything involving vampires, werewolves, zombies, or serial killers will be a hard sell, currently.) Need a firm idea of what we’re looking for? Check out the JournalStone website. The title of your email subject line and file name should read: “--”. For example: King – Carrie – Novel. This should also be the title of your manuscript document. In the body of your email, please give us the word count, genre, and a brief synopsis (300-500 words) of the plot. Submissions without this information will be deleted unread. Please do not include your synopsis as an attachment. Submissions should be sent to [email protected]. Attach the full manuscript as a .doc, .docx or .rtf file (absolutely no PDFs). Do not paste your manuscript into the body of the email. For proper formatting of your manuscript, please follow the Shunn way, though it’s not necessary to include your address and phone number–we’ll ask for those if your manuscript is accepted. Do please include your email address. Ideal word count for novels and fiction collections: 50,000 – 90,000. Anything over about 120,000 words will be a hard sell unless it’s just outstanding.. Ideal word count for novellas: 20,000 – 30,000. We consider the quality of the editing in our review process. Please fully proofread and edit manuscripts prior to submission. Do not...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Price: $30 Theme: Stories set in the Starship Blunder universe (links to that universe below if you're unfamiliar with the world.) The Starship Blunder is an aging military vessel and part of a small space federation. Please read the Setting Overview, Character Profiles, and Intro story before submitting your story. WHAT WE WANT: Writers must be at least 18-year-old to submit their story. Diverse Storytelling: Humorous tales are our core, but feel free to delve into darker themes, explore romance, or follow whatever path your creativity takes you. Word Count: Ideally, stories should be between 2,000 and 10,000 words. Exceptional stories outside this range will be considered on a case-by-case basis. Originality in the Universe: We welcome your fictional planets and alien species. Expand the Starship Blunder universe with your imagination! Character Diversity: Bring us characters of all shapes, sizes, and species. We love variety and uniqueness in our cosmic cast. Engaging Narratives: Whether it's a light-hearted escapade or a thought-provoking journey, we're looking for stories that captivate and entertain. Ready for Print: Submissions should be well-edited and ready for publication, requiring minimal editorial changes. Multiple Submissions: If you feel sufficiently inspired by the universe, feel free to submit multiple stories! Submission Process: Submissions must be made through this form.  Excessive Gore: While a bit of space skirmish or alien encounter is fine, we prefer gore that serves the plot and isn't gratuitous. Erotica: Romance? Absolutely! But please, no explicit erotica. Child Abuse: Stories involving any form of child abuse will not be considered. Dismantling the Core World: Please don't destroy our beloved Starship Blunder or Neptune. Also, avoid killing off any canonical characters. AI Generated Stories: AI is great, and feel free to use it to brainstorm, outline, and correct grammar, but all of the prose of your story should be your own. More Details Payment: $30 per accepted story. Publishing Details: The Starship Blunder...

Deadline: June 30, 2024 Payment: $15 Theme: Speculative fiction, primarily horror, science fiction, and fantasy. Note: Reprints welcome 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...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: 6 cents per word and a contributor's copy Theme: Cosmic Horror stories set in and around Arkham, Innsmouth, and other mythos related areas that take place in or are associated with Lovecraftian tales AND which feature a public or private institution of some sort Dragon’s Roost Press is please to announce the open call for our next anthology. We have previously published collections of short stories which mix Lovecraftian Mythos with elements of Romance (Eldritch Embraces: Putting the Love Back in Lovecraft) and with Humor (LOLcraft: A Compendium of Eldritch Humor). This time instead of focusing on emotions, we want to look at setting. Specifically, we want to look at how different institutions have to deal with the eldritch abominations of Lovecraftian horror. Arkham Institutions (tentative title) will feature 10 – 15 short stories focusing on the various aspects of government and business and their relationship with the oddness that creeps up in and around that most (in)famous New England Town. What We Are Looking For We want to see Cosmic Horror stories set in and around Arkham, Innsmouth, and other mythos related areas that take place in or are associated with Lovecraftian tales AND which feature a public or private institution of some sort. What does Arkham Elementary teach? What weird cases does law enforcement have to deal with? What kind of people are seen in the Emergency Room? The psych ward? The local library? We are still looking for character driven stories, but make sure that these places are characters in their own rights. Draw us in and make us feel like we are there. NOTE: We are not looking for stories set at Miskatonic University nor the Orne Library. There are plenty of stories with these settings. Give us something new. What We Want Original short stories, 3 – 5K words...

Submission Window: June 1st - 30th, 2024 Payment: $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue Theme: Any genre, short story Mission = Revive the art of the short story, support artists, and produce something wonderful. Payout = Base Pay of $100 for the chosen story + 50% of subscription revenue to be sent by Paypal, Zelle, or check. Wait, you mean if this substack gets thousands of subscribers, the winner would get thousands of dollars? Yes! The New Yorker pays roughly $7,500 per story and I sincerely hope to go way past that. What does the timeline look like? Submit stories by the end of the month, winner to be announced on the 15th. There is ONE story that wins and receives the full payout. Where do I send submissions? [email protected] What are the rules for submitting? 1. No Fees 2. Send in Microsoft Word or Google Doc form 3. Any genre 4. 6- 10,000 words. Yes, just 6 words, like Hemingway's famous 6-word story "For Sale: Baby shoes, never worn." 5. Reprints are ok so long as you still have the rights to distribute. 6. Acknowledge Distribution Rights on this Substack - You can still sell your story elsewhere but we need to be able to save and publish it here. The goal is to create a library for subscribers. 7. Only the winner will be published and rights will only transfer for the winning story. What do I get for subscribing? One beautiful story every month. The complete library. The joy of supporting artists and doing something interesting. What if I can’t pay right now? That’s ok! If you publish a blurb about this site on your website, blog, or social media, I will send you one full story of your choosing. Best of all, it is...

Deadline: June 30th, 2024 Payment: 5 cents per word Theme: Your take on the idea of what "The Earth Bleeds At Night" means, some examples and samples below ​We want you to get creative with this one and use the title for inspiration. Looking for a suggestion? Take the theme 'earth' and write us an eco-horror, go full body horror and run with the 'bleeds', or use "night" and give us your nighttime stalkers, your dark dwelling monsters... Whatever you decide and however you spin the title, remember to give us your best! We are NOT looking for stories that glorify sexual assault, rape, or bestiality. OPEN NOW May 14, 2024 - June 30, 2024 ​ ​ ​ Payment:  Professional rate of ¢5 per word USD after approved edits. ​​Word count: 2000 - 5000  (up to 20% wiggle room. Please don't email us asking if you can submit.) Reprints? No ​Multiple Submission? No 💀 Only one submission per author per theme/quarter.  ​Formatting: Shunn - Follow the details on the link below, please. Proper Manuscript Format for Fiction Writers | William Shunn   How to submit?  We will be using a Google Docs form when the submission window has opened. ​ What we are looking for: Unique, clever, and terrifying stories. Well-written relatable characters with flaws and real dialogue. Take us on a journey and scare the sh*t out of us while doing it.  ​ What we are not looking for: Erotica (some sex is fine, just not all of it), rape, and animal abuse (kill the dog, but don't f* it). ​ Curated by Holley Cornetto and Michelle River SUBMISSION GUIDELINES Remember to read the submission guidelines in full.  Failure to comply could result in your submission being rejected or sent back for correction. At this time we are only accepting manuscripts in English. ...

Submission Window: June 1st - 30th, 2024 Payment: 1 cent per word Theme: Stories of cozy cosmic horror that illuminate the elegance and grace and compassion that persists against the vast background of unrelenting emptiness At the end, when the last star dies and the cold begins to seep in, what will be the totality of our accomplishments? What will have been the point? And will anyone notice that we’re gone?  Probably not.  Well, your cat will notice because who is going to get annoyed when they knock a teacup off the desk? And what’s the point of barfing on the rug in the middle of the night if someone doesn’t step in it the following morning?  If the true terror at the center of cosmic horror is the vast indifference the universe has for us, does that mean the closest thing we have to any sort of compassionate connection is . . . our cats? Ah, we are doomed.  Pay attention to them while you can, then, but not for more than five minutes at a time, and don’t—don’t ever—rub them like that.  This fall, Underland Press is publishing Even Cozier Cosmic, a follow-up anthology to last year’s The Cozy Cosmic. The cosmic indifference of the Universe (and of the dreaded intelligences that swim out there) may be unrelenting, but we still have to go about our days. We’re looking for stories of cozy cosmic horror that illuminate the elegance and grace and compassion that persists against the vast background of unrelenting emptiness. We reject nihilism and rejoice in the comforting weight of a furball in our laps (never mind that its razor-sharp claws will cut us the moment it thinks we’re going to move). We want to teeter along that fine line between big-eyed devotion and stark raving madness. The...