Events

Deadline: December 1st, 2018 Prizes: A first prize of $10,000 and second prize of $5,000 will be awarded. Runners up and other prizes will also be awarded Children born today will likely welcome in the next century. The care they receive and health they enjoy throughout their lives will be radically different than what we experience today. But how? We invite you to help us explore the question: What could health and care look like in the U.S. in the year 2100? Science fiction writing asks a central “what if...?” question that challenges us to imagine what could be. It gives us a sense of possibility, ignites innovation, exercises the imagination, and fosters a more active relationship with the future. What if we took these principles and applied them to the future of health care? Well, that’s exactly what we’re doing. Thomas Jefferson University is partnering with Kaleidoscope Health & Care to spark discussion about where health and health care in the U.S. is going through 2100: A Health Odyssey – an international science fiction short story competition on how health and health care will impact lives in the year 2100. Your job: give us your best 3,000-word short story that challenges today’s assumptions about the future of health care in the U.S. We’re offering a first prize of $10,000, second prize of $5,000 and other prizes for runners up and current employees, students and alumni of Jefferson. With Jefferson’s passion for creative expression through writing, we will use your science fiction contribution as the lens through which we explore creativity in health and health care -- in novel and impactful ways -- to propel innovation and inform future perspectives. Remember: 2100 is sooner than we all think … and the submission deadline, even sooner: December 1, 2018 Our elite...

Deadline: December 1st, 2018 Payment: 6 cents/word (1 cent/word for reprints) Note: Reprints Welcome At Compelling Science Fiction, we have two main goals: to find, publish, and promote the best science fiction stories, and to support and encourage the authors who write them. We currently pay 6 cents/word for accepted stories (we are considered a SFWA Qualifying Market). Pay rate: 6 cents/word (1 cent/word for reprints) Length: 1,000-10,000 words per work Rights: We purchase first world electronic print rights and audio rights (for podcasts). Our contract follows the lead of SFWA's Model Magazine Contract. Submission window: submissions are open from Oct 1 to Dec 1. Fiction Guidelines   The stories we accept almost always: illustrate at least one interesting concept, are engaging, and clearly explain the science/technology in the story. The ‘concept’ referenced in point (1) can be anything from new engineering ideas to novel social constructs to abstractions that help illustrate basic properties of reality. Point (2) is far more subjective, although as long as your story consistently moves forward it will probably be engaging. Point (3) is hard to attain without some knowledge of basic science/engineering; we encourage you to learn as much as you can about your subject matter. If your story is very strong in one of the above areas, we will sometimes accept weakness in the other two. Ultimately we are looking for science fiction that is entertaining, scientifically plausible, self-consistent, and technically detailed when appropriate. We have a preference for positive stories, to act as a counterweight to the currently popular post-apocalyptic genre. We certainly won't dismiss a well-written dystopian future, but we have a bias toward stories that depict technological advancement rather than decay. We do not publish fantasy stories (although we enjoy them!). For more information about what we look for, please...

Deadline: December 1st, 2018 Payment: $10 Token payment via Paypal and 60% of net earnings divided evenly among the authors. Announcing call for submissions for PSYCHO HOLIDAY (tentative title) All Submissions should meet this criteria: Works: short stories and flash fiction Genre and theme: Horror and dark fiction about demented psychopathic killers with a winter holiday setting Deadline: October Dec 1st Format: Attach the .RTF, .DOC, or .DOCX Word Count 5k – 7k words approx. for short stories, no limit for flash. Payment: $10 Token payment via Paypal and 60% of net earnings divided evenly among the authors. Multiple Submissions okay. Submit a brief bio, we don’t care if you have no work history, give us a brief bio of yourself. Send submission to [email protected] Via: Deadman's Tome.

Deadline: December 1st, 2018 Payment: $0.07 CAD/word What is Moonlight? This anthology is a small collection of comics and short stories about queer werewolves. What Are We Looking For? Whether your werewolves are in space, school, or ruffing it in the outdoors, it doesn’t matter to us! We are looking for stories that span genres and tones. Your werewolves may be moody or the life of the party. All that matters is that they are openly queer and that there is an engaging story around them to be told. Content creators do not need to identify as queer and/or LGBT+, however preference will be given to own voices and/or LGBT+ creators. For a better sense of what we want, here are things we DO NOT WANT: Sexual Assault (this includes allegories) Gratuitous Violence Smut Alpha mind control If you’re concerned, please send an ask or email [email protected]. Short Story Guidelines Short stories must be completed before submission. 1,000-2,000 words is the preferred length and we will not accept any piece over 3,250 words. Submit Short Stories Here Comic Guidelines Comic pitches require a 1-3 paragraph synopsis, creator bio, and links to the artist’s portfolio (if applicable). Comics may be a maximum of 8 pages long. Creators can submit up to 3 pitches. Submit Comic Pitches Here Artists that would like to be paired with a writer may apply here. Submission Deadline All submissions are due by November 30, 2018 at 11:59pm EST. Payment Base Rates: Comic Script - $10 CAD/page Comic Art - $50 CAD/page Short Stories - $0.07 CAD/word Rates may increase depending on Kickstarter funding. Payment Schedule: Comic creators will receive 50% payment upon acceptance into the anthology. The remainder will be paid out 2 weeks after the completion of the project’s Kickstarter (scheduled for October 2019). Comic...

Deadline: December 1st, 2018 Payment: $25 Black Rabbit is now accepting submissions for Issue No. 7 through December 1st. For this issue, the Editors are looking for fiction, poetry, and visual art pieces, as well works including but not limited to installations, public art, GIFs, bathroom graffiti, and other forms that cross disciplines. In literature, the Editors enjoy Salvador Plascencia, Jay McInerney, Mavis Gallant, Anton Chekhov, Elena Kochina, Daniil Kharms, Isaac Babel, Donald Barthelme, and Gary Shteyngart, at least when he writes nonfiction. They are unapologetic Russophiles. They dislike Chuck Palahniuk, Bret Easton Ellis, Gary Shteyngart’s novels, and Gabriel Garcia Marquez, though they are assured that this last is only because they have not read enough Marquez yet, and they feel slightly guilty about it. In poetry, the Editors are reading the works of Morgan Parker, Ocean Vuong, Teebs Pico, and Laura Broadbent. In art, the Editors trend strongly towards the non-representational, distorted, and abstract. Recently, the Editors have been looking at Ann Gale, Philip Guston, Anselm Kiefer, Marlene Dumas, Kerry James Marshall, Balthus, R H Quaytman, Francis Bacon, and Georg Baselitz. For further ideas, please see previous issues and check out our Instagram @blackrabbitquarterly As a reminder, please keep all fiction and non-fiction to 3000 words. Novel excerpts are encouraged, as long as they can stand narratively on their own. Submit up to three poems, for a total of no more than six pages. Generally, the shorter the better. Simultaneous submissions are encouraged, although be sure to let us know promptly if your work is accepted elsewhere. As always, Black Rabbit offers all artists and authors twenty five dollars for their work. Additionally, Black Rabbit is constantly looking for abstract paintings to go on covers. Whether a submission call is up or not please send us your abstract expressionist...

Deadline: December 1st, 2018 Payment: £0.08/word Rosalind’s Siblings is an anthology of speculative stories about people of marginalized genders/sexes who are scientists: scientists doing good, changing the world, or just getting on with their work of expanding human knowledge in a speculative context, presented in a positive light. This anthology is named for Rosalind Franklin, the so-called Dark Lady of DNA, one of the most famously erased female scientists in history, and a direct relation of the founder of Galli Books. The anthology is being edited by Bogi Takács. The stories do not need to problematize gender/sex, though this is also welcome, and we would like to publish a mix of approaches. We are generally interested in positive portrayals of science and the protagonists doing research, but this can include a critical reappraisal. (E.g., we would very much like to see stories in which science is decolonized and/or Indigenized, or in some other ways incorporates approaches beyond Western neo-positivism.) We are not interested in “mad scientist” tropes or “evil science.” We are also not interested in disability cure narratives and related tropes, unless they are actively subverted / deconstructed. Stories must contain a speculative element. We are happy to read works from any speculative subgenre: science fiction, fantasy, horror, alternate history, magical realism, fabulism, mythic work, Weird fiction and so on. Any amount of science detail is welcome with thoughtful engagement. Protagonists can be trans and/or nonbinary people, women, intersex people, genderqueer or gender-nonconforming people, people of culturally specific genders/sexes, and any combinations thereof. They do not need to identify as women, feminine or femme specifically, but those stories are particularly welcome; as are stories with trans, nonbinary and/or intersex men or masculine protagonists. Protagonists can have any sexual orientation. You do not need to belong to any marginalized group...

Deadline: December 10, 2018 Payment: $5 for flash fiction (100-1,000 words); $10 for short fiction (1,001-10,000 words). Note: Reprints Welcome Note from the editor: While the anthology doesn't fit squarely in the horror genre, we accept (and encourage) dark fantasy, and based on the 3 stories we've already accepted, there will definitely be a lot of horror elements sprinkled throughout. I'd love to have more horror authors submit! Neon Druid: An Anthology of Urban Celtic Fantasy Neon Druid is a forthcoming collection of fantastical tales set in cities of the past, present, and future, where the mischievous gods, goddesses, and monsters of Celtic mythology intermingle with unsuspecting mortals. Deadline: December 10th, 2018 Payment: short stories = $10, flash stories = $5 Reprints welcome. Please read the submission guidelines below very carefully before submitting. This anthology is open for submissions until December 10th, 2018. All stories must be between 100 and 10,000 words. (Story title not included in word count.) Writers will be paid a token, flat payment of $10 US for short stories (1,001 – 10,000 words) and $5 US for flash stories (100 – 1,000 words). Writers may submit 1 short story OR up to 2 flash stories. Stories must meet ALL of the following theme/genre criteria: Urban. Stories must take place in an urban setting, whether that’s 18th-century Boston, modern-day Dublin, or 28th-century Edinburgh. The time period is irrelevant. The important thing is that the city (or town) has a presence in your story and influences the behaviors of your characters. Celtic. Stories must take place in a world where Celtic* mythology is woven into the fabric of reality. Think Percy Jackson, but instead of Zeus, Poseidon, Aphrodite, Hades, and Heracles kicking about, you’ve got Lugh, Lir, Balor of the Evil Eye, Brigid, and Fionn mac Cumhail. Instead...

Deadline: December 15th, 2018 Payment: $0.06/word and 2 contributor's copies This anthology offers new, vividly futuristic adventures featuring diverse characters, including humans from all over Earth as well as ET kids from other planets. One of the qualities that makes this yearly anthology such a treat to read is the wide range of futuristic possibilities that planet Earth and its occupants may encounter, realities that will keep readers wondering long after the book is closed. ~ Starred Kirkus Review for the 2018 Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide WE’RE LOOKING FOR STORIES THAT: Have a main character that a middle grade reader (ages 8-12) can identify with; Show a diverse set of real characters; Are well written, fun to read, and encourage a love of reading science fiction; Tell of adventure, space, science.  Give us rockets, robots and alien encounters, and we’re pretty happy; Steampunk, time travel, weird west and alternate history are all fine; Are between 3,000 and 6,000 words. To be super clear – we’re looking science fiction, in all its variants. While we love fantasy as well, please don’t submit fantasy stories for this anthology. We’re especially looking for stories: Of adventure!  We love a good dystopia as much as the next robot, but remember – this is the Young Explorer’s Adventure Guide; Where the main character is of a population that has traditionally been under-represented in science fiction, e.g. girls, people of color, differently abled people; Where the main character has agency, exercises it, and isn’t just along for the ride. We are strong supporters of both the #weneeddiversebooks and #ownvoices movements.   We’re not interested in: Stories where the female characters primarily exist to be rescued or as a prize for the males; Stories where the primary plot or subplot is romantic in nature; Stories with graphic violence or any...

Deadline: December 15th, 2018 Payment: Kickstarter and Royalty Split Like Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of H.G. Wells, this collection will feature all new traditional Sherlock Holmes adventures with a science-fiction edge. Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of Steampunk will feature Holmes in a futuristic Victorian setting.  See him deal with airship pirates and steam powered robots. Maybe he’ll even deal with a time traveler or with alien invaders. Belanger Books is calling for submissions from writers, new or established, which are between 5,000 - 10,000 words (it is okay to be over or under some). Requirements: The stories must feel like traditional Holmes just with a futuristic, steampunk bent. For example, the stories should have the traditional Holmes and Watson even if you have altered them slightly (i.e. even if they are cyborgs, they still call each other Holmes and Watson, not John and Sherlock). The stories may use public domain characters, but you must make certain you are not using anything copyrighted (for example, you can use Holmes and Watson, but you can't use some aspects of the final Holmes stories such as his life as a retired beekeeper. That aspect of Holmes is still under copyright in America. You can use mechanical men, but you can't use a copyrighted character like the female robot from Metropolis). Payment: Authors will receive a portion of net sales (most likely between 2 - 5% depending on number of stories) from the Kickstarter campaign and from the first year of book sales. Authors retain the rights to their work. Due Date: All submissions must be received by December 15th. Please send entries to [email protected] or to [email protected]. Make sure to include your name (first and last), title of your story, story length, and attach your story as a word document. Via: Belanger Books.

Deadline: December 15th, 2018 Payment: $25 plus one contributor’s copy, $10 for a reprint Note: 1-2 reprints allowed The Concept – Still On Patrol There is a tradition in the United States Navy that no submarine is ever truly lost at sea. Those boats and the crews who don’t return to port are considered “still on patrol” in perpetuity. Active duty sailors would never dream of leaving their still on patrol shipmates behind, so every year, usually at the Christmas holiday, sailors manning communications hubs ashore and at sea send out a message. They send holiday wishes for health and happiness to those they know will receive it, and the same wishes to those listed as still on patrol. What if those submariners who never returned are still out there? What if it’s the energy of the yearly good wishes that keeps them going on their eternal patrol? And what if their eternal patrol protects the living against threats more otherworldly than mundane wars between nation states? What about other military men and women, disappeared or lost at sea, in the air, or on land? Is there a Roman Legion still manning Hadrian’s Wall? Are there ghostly flight crews who herd hapless aircraft away from the Bermuda Triangle? Tell us stories about military men and women who continue to protect humanity long after they’ve taken their last breath. Tell us what happens when they take the oath to protect their people not just from threats foreign and domestic, but supernatural as well. What we don’t want to see: Disrespect for the military – our intention with this anthology is to honor the best in the military forces, the ones dedicated enough to continue to protect humanity from beyond the grave. On page sexual assault, child abuse, or animal abuse –...