Events

Taking Submissions: Again, Hazardous Imaginings

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: 3 cents per word Now that my fundraising campaign on Freedomfy is over with and I know how much capital I have to work with, I’m free to post my submission guidelines for my upcoming open anthology, AGAIN, HAZARDOUS IMAGININGS: More Politically Incorrect Science Fiction. Due to the smaller-than-hoped-for funds available, I’ll be doing this open anthology as a companion volume to my single-author collection on the same theme, HAZARDOUS IMAGININGS: The Mondo Book of Politically Incorrect Science Fiction. My original plan had been to put out a single, really big volume, but since I’ll only be able to purchase about 30,000 words of original fiction from other writers, I figured two volumes would make more sense (otherwise, two-thirds of a sole book would be my fiction, which wasn’t what I intended). Without further ado, here’s what I’m looking for– Science fiction is often called “speculative fiction.” Speculation and extrapolation – asking what if? and why? or how? – is the life’s blood of science fiction. Science fiction writers can’t wrap themselves in yellow CAUTION tape. They need to be free to follow their what ifs? wherever those speculative rabbit-holes may lead… even if they lead to dark, dank, unpleasant places. Recent controversies within the science fiction and pop culture fields illustrate a dramatic and worrisome reversal of what has traditionally been science fiction’s greatest strength: the freedom it has granted its creators to confront, extrapolate, and dissect technological and social trends, from a panoply of viewpoints, using a full arsenal of intellectual and literary tools. Writers who were once lionized as key contributors to the science fiction field are now being drummed out of the community by online zealots who stir up instant outrage mobs in hopes of “canceling” those voices who do not fall in line with the current progressive zeitgeist. Science fiction...

Taking Submissions: Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: original: $0.08USD per word for the first 1,000 words, and $0.01USD above 1,000 words., reprints: $0.01USD per word. $50USD per poem or $15 per reprint poem. Note: Seeking authors and poets from the African continent and the African Diaspora Note: Reprints welcome Dominion: An Anthology of Speculative Fiction from Africa and the African Diaspora seeks speculative fiction that grapples with the question: “What is the legacy and the future of Africa and the African Diaspora?” We want authors and poets from the African continent and the African Diaspora. More specifically, we want horror, science fiction, fantasy, and alternate history in the following sub-genres: Horror Noire, Afrofuturism, Africanfuturism, Sword and Soul, Rococoa, Steamfunk, and Dieselfunk. Submissions are open August 26, 2019, through December 31, 2019. SUBMIT Format using Shunn’s manuscript style. Track your submissions using Duotrope and The Submission Grinder. Submit via email with the subject line “Dominion Anthology: : : ” at subs aurelialeo.com. All of the following information should be in one .doc, .docx (preferred) or .rtf document. A short cover letter is required submitted above the text of your submission in the same document. Please include your legal name, pen name (if relevant), contact information, PayPal email address (if different), recent publications/awards (if any), preferred contributor’s copy (.epup, .mobi for Kindle™ or .pdf), and a third person bio of 50-150 words. A photo may be requested. We take 2-3 weeks to respond to submissions. If you haven’t received a response by then, please query. If you have any questions, email info aurelialeo.com.   POETRY: Any length paid $50USD per poem. REPRINTS: Any length of poetry paid $15USD and 1,000-17,500 words of fiction paid $0.01USD per word. FICTION: 1,000-17,500 words paid $0.08USD per word for the first 1,000 words, and $0.01USD above 1,000 words. RULES Translations are accepted Simultaneous submissions to...

Taking Submissions: Fiyah – Unthemed Issue

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: Short stories (2,000 – 7,000 words): $150 USD, Novelettes (<15,000 words): $300 USD, Poetry: $50 USD FIYAH is a quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories by and about Black people of the African Diaspora. This definition is globally inclusive (Black anywhere in the world) and also applies to mixed/biracial and Afro-appended people regardless of gender identity or orientation. We will be open to unthemed submissions Oct 1 – Dec 31. We will be open for “Joy” themed submissions Spring 2020. Fiction Guidelines We accept submissions of short fiction 2,000 – 7,000 words and novelettes up to 15,000 words. We are looking for brave works of speculative short fiction by authors from the African continent and diaspora that reject regressive ideas of blackness, respectability politics, and stereotype. Please submit your bravest, blackest, most difficult to sell stories to us. We want to read them. We want stories that are well written, of high quality, and generally easy to read on a screen. We are open to receiving stories around many themes, but we will immediately reject stories that feature any of the following: Graphic depictions of rape or sexual assault Needless brutalization of women and children Depictions of brutalization or abuse of people with disabilities Graphic abuse of animals In addition: We only consider unpublished work, and we do not consider reprints (work that has been published in another magazine or on your blog or other social media) or fan fiction. We do not accept multiple submissions, so please wait until you have heard a response to a submission before submitting again. We do not accept simultaneous submissions. Please do not resubmit previously rejected stories in a new submission period. Resubmissions are by editorial solicitation only. We are only accepting submission from authors from the African...

Novel Submissions: Bloodshot Publishing

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: Royalty split and author copies (with the opportunity to buy more author copies at 50% of list price). GET THOSE MANUSCRIPTS READY AND MARK YOUR CALENDARS FOR THE NEXT BLOODSHOT BOOKS OPEN CALL!! What are we looking for? Original unpublished horror novels (or long novellas) for our 2020/2021 schedule. I am looking for 8-10 novels, but I’m only going to choose 2-3 novellas, so the bar will be very high for that format SUBMISSION PERIOD: October 31st – December 31st, 2019. If needed, I will extend the deadline, but don’t expect it. If you try to cut the line and send it early, I will return it and probably remember you as “that annoying person who can’t follow guidelines” Whether you are a first-time author, or you have published dozens of novels already, we are interested in your original manuscripts. DO NOT ASK ME ANY QUESTIONS WITHOUT READING THIS ENTIRE OPEN CALL FIRST. MULTIPLE TIMES, IF NECESSARY. IF YOU ASK ME ANYTHING THAT IS INCLUDED ALREADY, I WILL SIMPLY DIRECT YOU BACK TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT. If your novel/novella is not finished, DO NOT submit it. Length: 25K to 125K (with the sweet spot around 80K-90K). Please query for longer. I do have a soft spot for the fat horror books from the 80s (Think King’s IT or McCammon’s SWAN SONG), so it’s not a hard upper limit. Nothing shorter will be considered, though. Manuscripts in the following subgenres will be favored, but we are willing consider other subjects: • Creature horror (cryptids/multicultural myths especially interest us) • Weird west/other historical horror • Coming of Age Horror • SciFi Horror • Supernatural horror • Apocalyptic TEOTWAWKI scenarios • I will consider YA, but it will have to blow me away for me to choose it. This...

Taking Submissions: Allegory Volume 37/64

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: $15 Volume 37/64 Submission Period: November 1, 2019 - December 31, 2019 Publication Date: May 1, 2020 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...

Taking Submissions: Allegory Volume 37

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 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...

Taking Submissions: Air: Sylphs, Spirits and Swan Maidens – Elemental Anthologies #3

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: $50 CDN flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology for stories. $20 CDN flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology for poems. The most capricious of elements, air is the domain of all winged creatures, but also of tricksters, spirits, elves and fairies. This ethereal element is as difficult to pin down as the wind so for this anthology, especially, I am open to stories whose genres also transcend usual definitions. I want stories which are light as a summer breeze, and also those which rage with the drama of a tornado. I want action, ideas and movement but also whimsy and transformation. Grand, high-adventure and cozy close-to-home conflicts. I want to fit as many airy creatures into this anthology as possible, so in addition to sylphs, spirits and swan maidens I want air dragons, fae, griffins, sirens, rocs, Thunderbird, Pegasus… and because I’m open to combining aether with air in this situation why not also hit me with your angels, phantoms, Yōkai  and nymphs too! Rights and compensation: $50 CDN flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology for stories. $20 CDN flat fee and a paperback copy of the anthology for poems. In exchange we are seeking first world rights in English and exclusive right to publish in print and electronic format for six months after publication date, after which publisher retains nonexclusive right to continue to publish for the life of the anthology. Open submission period: November 1, 2019 — December 31, 2019 Length: Under 7,500 words Publisher: Tyche Books No simultaneous or multiple submissions. No reprints. Canadian spelling please. How to Submit: Use the form here – https://niteblade.submittable.com/submit Via: Rhonda Parrish.

Quantum Corsets Is Open To Novella Submissions

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: Advance and royalties Quantum Corsets, a division of LVP Publications, is opening novella submissions November 15 through December 31 for novellas fitting the theme and cover art. SUBMISSIONS RECEIVED BEFORE NOVEMBER 15 WILL BE DECLINED AND RETURNED UNREAD. THEME: Quantum Corsets is looking for sexy steampunk-ish stories that are both hot and steamy and contain elements of horror (supernatural, paranormal, occult or psychological — see our Writer’s Resource page for details). COVER: For this submission period, we are looking for one novella that perfectly fits the cover art above. However, submissions may be considered for alternative publication as well. WORD COUNT: 17,000 TO 35,000 words FORMATTING: Manuscripts must be formatted using Shunn Manuscript formatting. Templates and information available on our Writer's Resource page. Please submit all documents in .rtf format only. SUBMISSION DETAILS: Include a brief synopsis, character descriptions, brief chapter outline and full manuscript. Brief Synopsis: Included on the Submittable form. This should be similar to what is included on the back cover. File 1: Character Descriptions and Outline -- Include brief descriptions of each character and their main role. Also, include a brief chapter summary of the action and main points. This should be approximately 3-5 sentences each. Save the file as Title_Outline.rtf File 2: Complete Manuscript -- Formatted as above per Shunn formatting. Save the file as Title_Manuscript.rtf Submissions accepted online via Submittable only. WHAT WE DON’T WANT Do not send us straight up adult content—sex is fine but character development and story should be the focus, we don’t want sex just for the sake of sex. No glorified or detailed non-consensual sex or sex involving children or animals. Please note that incomplete submissions will be declined and returned unread. We are looking for complete manuscripts only that fit the theme and cover. Please do not send us unfinished or unedited manuscript drafts or...

Taking Submissions: Short, Vigorous Roots: An Anthology of Immigrant Fiction in the Age of Dissent

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: "a modest honorarium payment, and a print edition of the finished book if they live in the US" Note: I wouldn't usually list an anthology without a specific payment stated but with this being a hot button topic AND there being payment I felt open to including it. We—Mark F. of @Mythic Picnic, Susan O’Neill and Mark Budman of Vestal Review— are putting together an anthology of flash fiction (stories under 1000 words) tentatively titled “Short, Vigorous Roots: An Anthology of Immigrant Fiction in the Age of Dissent.” Our deadline has been extended to December 31, 2019. We also changed the title. 1) The writer must be either an immigrant/migrant or a child of an immigrant/migrant; General Submission Guidelines: 2) Stories must be FICTION (or, if drawn on the writer’s experience, FICTIONALIZED); 3) Stories may not exceed 1000 words, not counting the title; 4) Any fiction genre is acceptable, except for children’s literature, , denigrating and hateful fare, and bad writing. Edgy is good; R-rated (but not X) is acceptable; sad is okay; magic realism is nifty; humor is amazing. A PLOT is essential! 5) To see the quality of stories we publish, check us out on line at www.vestalreview.org; we don’t want you to imitate our Flash, but feel free to be inspired by it; 6) We accept reprints; 7) We will be asking for one-time rights for the original stories; once the book is out, the story’s ownership reverts to you; One submission per author. Please begin your cover letter with a statement like that: “I am a generation immigrant to .” Without such statement your entry will be disqualified. Sorry. We don’t care where you came from, or where you now live; just that the two aren’t the same. What we do care about—passionately—is the quality of your...

Taking Submissions: Year’s Best Hardcore Horror Vol. 5

Deadline: December 31st, 2019 Payment: 1 cent per word Note: Reprints Only Is your story too heavy and hardcore for other “best of” anthologies? Then you’ve come to the right place because Red Room Press is now accepting stories for YEAR’S BEST HARDCORE HORROR VOL. 5, a yearly collection intended to give recognition to the extreme, harder side of horror, stories that break boundaries and trash taboos. Editors: Randy Chandler and Cheryl Mullenax. Requirements: The story was originally (or will be) published in a 2019 anthology, single author collection, magazine, or online magazine. Self-published anthologies and collections are acceptable as well. Deadline: December 31, 2019. Length: Up to 6000 words. Word count is flexible and longer works are always considered but please note the max payment is $60.00. Payment: 1 cent a word for reprint rights. ($60 max) What to Send Authors: In the body of an email: Author name Story title Name of anthology or magazine or online magazine it was (or will be) published in: If the book is available on Amazon and your story credit appears somewhere on the page, send us the link. If not, send a link to the best source with that information (publisher’s page, etc). If the story was in a magazine, send us a web link to the issue TOC where your story appears, or if that’s not available send us a scan of the table of contents (print magazines, etc.). A bio A short description of the story. Attach the entire manuscript in rtf, doc format, or a PDF or mobi of the magazine or book it appears in if available. Note: if sending a doc or rtf, please make sure this is the final version of your story, exactly as it appears in the published version. Important Note: Make sure your contract allows you to publish...