Events

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Prizes: The top three winners will receive cash prizes of $75, $50, and $25 respectively, runner-ups will be printed in the collected anthology Theme: Ink Note: There are 4 criteria to follow: Is there at least one queer character and/or obvious queer content? How well does the work incorporate speculative fiction (sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror) tropes and concepts? Is the work well-crafted, with a plot, a beginning, a middle, and an end? How well/cleverly is the theme used in the work? Every year, QSF holds a flash fiction contest to create an amazing new anthology of queer speculative fiction stories. We ask authors to do the nearly-impossible – to submit a sci fi, fantasy, paranormal or horror LGBTIQA story that has no more than 300 words. Our 2021 contest launches on March 1st, and closes on April 30th, but we do accept early entries. The theme for 2021 is “Ink”: 1) A colored fluid used for writing 2) The action of signing a deal 3) A black liquid ejected by squid 4) Publicity in the written media 5) A slang word for tattoos Ink is everywhere. Liquid ink the books and magazines and newspapers we read. Virtual ink in our devices. Tattoos have moved decorative body art ink into the mainstream, and our politicians and celebrities often get more ink in the press than they can handle. And ink can leave an indelible stain. Tell us about ink (and the stain it leaves) on your characters, the culture, and the world, for better or worse. We’ll be accepting works from across the queer spectrum, and would love to see more entries including lesbian, trans, bi, intersex and ace protagonists, as well as gay men. We also welcome diversity in ability (physical and mental) and...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: 6 cents per word Theme: original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe. There’s life out there… and it’s coming for you! With the success of our first two MIDNIGHT anthologies, MIDNIGHT IN THE GRAVEYARD and MIDNIGHT IN THE PENTAGRAM, it’s time to roll out the 3rd in our ever growing series - MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS! Silver Shamrock Publishing is announcing its Open Call for the MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS anthology. We are looking for original alien horror stories with a The Thing/Alien/The Blob/Critters/Night of the Creeps kind of vibe. Specific submission guidelines: The deadline for receiving submissions is April 30th, 2021. (anything received outside of this window will not be considered). Submit by email to: [email protected] Length: 2,500 - 6,000 words. Format: preferred format is Doc or Docx, double-spaced with author email at the top of the first page. - please use the anthology title, MIDNIGHT FROM BEYOND THE STARS, in the subject heading of your email. - A writer’s CV with a summary of previous publications, awards, recognition, influences, hometown and social media links. - The word count. - Acknowledgement of receipt of your manuscript will be emailed within 3 business days. - Successful authors will receive a contract upon acceptance. Once we have a signed contract by the author and Silver Shamrock Publishing, payment will be made within 30 days via PayPal. Payment: Professional rate of $ 0.06/word. Note: This is an invitation AND open-submission anthology (approx. 75% invitation/25% open-submission). With the All-Star cast of horror writers we assemble, this will prove to be a very competitive open-submission, with us only taking the very best entries. Via: Silver Shamrock Publishing.

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: 1/2 cent per word and two contributor’s copies Theme: General audience furry stories that involve the ocean, an ocean dwelling creature, or ocean life in some way. All stories should be PG-13 at most. Note: Reprints welcome The editor is Ian Madison Keller who previously co-edited The Daily Grind and Tales from the Guild: World Tour. Publisher is Rainbow Dog Books. This will be our first anthology publication. CURRENTLY OPEN to Submissions The submission period is 1/1/2021 – 4/30/2021 We’re looking for excellent general audience furry stories that involve the ocean, an ocean dwelling creature, or ocean life in some way. All stories should be PG-13 at most. All stories must be furry. That means an anthropomorphic animal figure should be significantly featured in your story — it could be anthropomorphic in body or only intelligence. We’ll consider any type of furry fiction from secret life of animals to fox in Starbucks — as long as it’s excellent. Though, the editor does have a preference for stories where the animal nature of the characters matters — if the reader can’t even remember the species of the characters by the end of the story, then that’s not a good sign. Some examples of this theme in popular media would be Spongebob Squarepants, Finding Nemo, the “Fish Out of Water” episode of Bojack Horseman, Mary E Lowd’s story “An Otter’s Mermaid” from Furry Trash, or Frances Pauli’s “Seed of Doubt” from Passing Through. Other takes on the theme could be an octopus band mistakenly booking a gig on dry land, a cross-species romance between an octopus and a dog, or a literal loan shark trying to collect on a loan. We are interested in underrepresented voices. We welcome and will be looking for diverse voices. We are not interested in stories that give...

Deadline: April 30, 2021 Payment: Up to 3000 words $10.00, Up to 5000 words $15.00, Above 5001 words $20.00 Theme: Portals - Doorways - Cracks in reality ​ Submission Open: March 1, 2021 Submission Close: April 30, 2021 - End of day, last place on earth Publishing timeline: 2021 HORROR - May have elements of Dark Fantasy, Dark Fiction and Cosmic horror. But must have the intention to scare the readers. ​ Theme: HORROR -  Portals - Doorways - Cracks in reality ​ Give me your nightmares. Think rips in dimensions, portals to another universe, a forgotten or forbidden land, being pulled into something unknown. This is going to be a ride, and I want you on it. Submission date and Call out will be announced in 2020 ​ Word count: 2000 - 8000 Some wiggle room allowed. ​ Compensation: Flat rate per story (after approved edits)     - Up to 3000 words $10.00     - Up to 5000 words $15.00     - Above 5001 words $20.00 We are also hoping to be able to offer a bonus payment should the sales reach a specific target profit after expenses. This detail will be outlined within the contract ​ Formatting guidelines: Please read carefully ​ We are reading these stories blind, so please refrain from adding your name or any identifying information on the story itself. All fiction manuscripts should be in a standard manuscript format with 12 pt Times New Roman, 1.5 line spacing, set auto-indent new paragraphs. Please make sure the title is on the first page, but no other identifying details in the manuscript itself. ​ Title your manuscript with the story title and doors " (the actual story title) - Doors" - again no identifying names on the title of the document. The form you fill out will have your...

Deadline: April 30, 2021 Payment: $0.015 USD per word. Theme: Short stories that highlight a magical or haunting Victorian setting. About the project In late 2021, Bronzewood Books is releasing a Gaslamp Fantasy Anthology, filled with short stories that highlight a magical or haunting Victorian setting. The tentative plan is to release in time for Halloween, so the more spooky you can make the story, the better. If you’re curious about what Gaslamp Fantasy entails, think about Steampunk but less about tech and more focus on magic. Goodreads defines gaslamp fantasy as: a sub-genre of both fantasy and historical fiction. Generally speaking, this particular realm of fantasy employs either a Victorian or Edwardian setting. The gaslamp fantasy genre is not to be confused with steampunk, which usually has more of a super-science edge and uchronic tone. Gaslamp fantasy also differs from classical Victorian/Edwardian faerie or pure fantasy in the J.R.R. Tolkien or Lewis Carroll style or from historical crime-novels in the Anne Perry or June Thomson style by the supernatural elements, themes, and subjects it features. Many of its tropes, themes, and stock characters derive from Gothic literature — a long-established genre composed of both romantic and horrific traits and motivated by the desire to rouse fear, apprehension, and other intense emotions within the reader — and could be described as an attempt to modernize literary Gothicism. Here is a fantastic article about the subgenre with lists of books: Best Fantasy Books: Gaslamp Fantasy Notes & Answers to questions already asked:   Question: Can it be a story I’ve already published? Answer: This should be an original short story (not previously published). Question: Can I publish the short story elsewhere? Answer: Exclusivity will be required for a short period of time, then individual story rights will revert back to the author....

Submission Window: April 1st-April 30th, 2021 Payment: 8 cents per word Theme: Fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. Note: You must identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or whose heritage has been erased due to colonialism/imperialism, and anyone whose heritage and history includes ‘here and elsewhere’. khōréō is a quarterly publication of stories, essays, and art: fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and any genre in between or around it, as long as there’s a speculative element. We’re especially interested in writing and art that explore some aspect of migration, whether explicitly (themes of immigration, colonialism, etc.), metaphorically, or with a sly nod and a wink. Most importantly, we’re a new magazine and we’re still finding our identity: therefore, please don’t self-reject because you’re not sure if your work is a good fit. We won’t know until we see it, so please give us a chance to look! See submission requirements & how to submit at the following pages: Fiction Non-fiction Art Voice actors Who can submit? khōréō is dedicated to diversity and amplifying the voices of immigrant and diaspora authors and artists. We welcome, but do not require, a brief description of the author’s/artist’s identity in their cover letter. We invite you to submit if you identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. This includes, but is not limited to, first- and second-generation immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, undocumented migrants, persons who identify with one or more diaspora communities, persons who have been displaced or...

Deadline: April 30th, 2021 Payment: A copy of the book and £50 Theme: Poems that pay tribute to the women who’ve changed our lives Note: My apologies for the short turnaround, this JUST hit my inbox. Submissions are OPEN for our 2021 anthology, The Book of Bad Betties. Deadline: 30th April Editors: VANESSA KISUULE and ANJA KONIG We’re looking for poems that pay tribute to the women who’ve changed our lives—whether yours personally, or the wider world’s. From your mum to Marsha P Johnson, Enheduanna to Joan of Arc, Maya Angelou to Marlene Dietrich. We want to hear about the baddasses, the queens, the upstarts, the legends, the bosses, the matriarchs, the hellraisers, the darlings, the dames. We aim to represent a broad range of poetic styles and approaches, so roam wild and take this wherever you want. If your work’s chosen, you’ll receive a copy of the book and a £50 fee, and be invited to perform at an online launch in September.   Submission guidelines Please send 1-3 poems (in a single PDF or Word doc) to [email protected] Please use 2021 Anthology as your email subject We’re looking for work that has not been previously published (in a book, magazine or on social media – screenshare during online events is fine) There’s no line limit or requirements for font or contact details Submissions are welcome from anywhere in the world The deadline is Midnight, 30th April — poems sent after this won’t be read The best way to get an idea of the kind of work we like is to read our books. (We don’t require any purchase and it won’t affect your chances of selection, but it will help to keep us in business and support indie publishing.) After sending work, you’ll get an immediate response confirming that we’ve received your submission. We’re aiming to make decisions and respond to...

Deadline: May 1st, 2021 Payment: 0.05¢ American per word Theme: A cryptid from legend or make one up, we want a strange, spooky, alluring, sweet, and/or funny story of emerging. Whether that's your cryptid coming out of hiding, a human being true to themselves, or a cryptid/human pairing falling in love, the heart of your tale is about rising, changing, growing. Cryptids Emerging: Tales of Dark Cheer Cryptids: they're sea monsters and tooth fairies, jackalopes and bigfoot. Cultures worldwide have stories of their own, from Ireland's fae to Puerto Rico's chupacabras, Scotland's Nessie to the Congo's Mokele-mbembe, cryptids are creatures from folklore, they're rumours, or in the case of this anthology…real. That's what our call for submissions is for: contemporary supernatural or historical fantasy about cryptids living with humans, or just at the edge of our vision, stories of what the world would look like if cryptids were real. What We Want Pick a cryptid from legend or make one up, we want a strange, spooky, alluring, sweet, and/or funny story of emerging. Whether that's your cryptid coming out of hiding, a human being true to themselves, or a cryptid/human pairing falling in love, the heart of your tale is about rising, changing, growing. We'd especially love LGBTQIA+, disabled, Black, Asian, neurodiverse, and other minority characters, as well as Own Voices, so if you're Latinx, for example, we'd adore a story set in Latin America. What We Don't Want Violence, pain, and misery. Yes there can be a whiff and whisper of those in your tale, but we don't want that front-and-center. We want just what the title says, dark cheer, which means creepy but kind, eerie but elegant, it means generally-positive stories of weird beings coming into their own. So we don't get four stories about Nessie, look at the links below for something...

Deadline: May 1st, 2021 Payment: Royalties Themes: Horror where "The key for us is suspension of disbelief. We want to be able to read your work, put it down and go “Did that just happen?”" Note: Only open to: Authors of Color, Authors who Identify as LGBTQ+, Authors with Disabilities, Current and Former Sex Workers Sinister Stoat Press is an imprint of Weasel Press. We’re the sly dogs of horror, unafraid to embrace the strange, the daunting, and mostly, the downright messed up world that encircles us. We’re a gang of strange travelers seeking out poets, fiction writers, and artists to help us form our new collective.  We look for stories that suspend disbelief. We want your unexplained phenomena, your aliens, your unknown creatures, blood-filled Halloween nights, and everything in between that keeps you up at night. We love things related to furry writing, secret government experiments gone wrong, found documentation of lost ghost adventurers, and much more!  We’re still gathering ourselves, and we have some submission calls listed below. In the meantime, check out our two publications we put out. The Haunted Traveler, and Dread: A Furry Horror Magazine. These projects will give you an idea of how twisted we are and how we started down this insidious journey of the unknown. Submission Guidelines Check our Facebook, Twitter for our updates.  Currently OPEN for submissions. We strongly recommend reading a Sinister Stoat book to get a better feel of what we want and look for in our authors. As of May 2020, Sinister Stoat Press is only seeking work from: Authors of Color Authors who Identify as LGBTQ+ Authors with Disabilities Current and Former Sex Workers In your submission, include a cover letter that addresses the following: The goal of your book Your target audience for your book A brief synopsis Possible...

Deadline: May 1st, 2021 Payment: $25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry Theme: Story must begin with: "Lena was raised on violin lessons and minimal parental supervision." We love that writers around the world are inspired by our first lines, and we know that not every story will be sent to us. However, we ask that you do not submit stories starting with our first lines to other journals (or post them online on public sites) until we've notified you as to our decision (usually three to four weeks after the deadline). When the entire premise of the publication revolves around one sentence, we don't want it to look as if we stole that sentence from another writer. If you have questions, feel free to drop us a line. Also, we understand that writers may add our first line to a story they are currently working on or have already completed, and that's cool. But please do not add our first line to a previously published story and submit it to us. We do not accept previously published stories, even if they have been repurposed for our first lines. And, just to be clear, we do not accept simultaneous submissions. One more thing while I've got you here: Writers compete against one another for magazine space, so, technically, every literary magazine is running a contest. There are, however, literary magazines that run traditional contests, where they charge entry fees and rank the winners. We do not - nor will we ever - charge a submission fee, nor do we rank our stories in order of importance. Occasionally, we run contests to help come up with new first lines, or we run fun, gimmicky competitions for free stuff, but the actual journal is not a contest in the traditional...