Events

Submission Window: September 1st - 30th, 2023 Payment: 1 cent per word for fiction, $5 for poetry, 1 cent per word for non-fiction, $35 for cover art Theme: Speculative fiction It's our goal to publish diverse voices from around the world, and to do that, we are actively seeking stories, poems, and non-fiction pieces by authors from backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in the science fiction and fantasy canon. Our submission cycle is therefore split into two categories, where every other month is explicitly reserved for submissions by authors of color, members of the LGBTQIA+ community, and other underrepresented groups. The interposing six months remain open to everyone. Guidelines for Fiction We are seeking stories in the English language up to 6,000 words by writers from around the world. We favor submisions that have not been published before (including on your own website), though we do accept a limited number of reprints not currently appearing anywhere online. For our two issues focused on the climate crisis, we're particularly interested in publishing stories from people displaced by or threatened by the climate emergency (see our themes below). For our other four issues, we're open to a wide variety of stories across the SFF and weird spectra. We pay 1¢ per word for fiction, and we try to respond to all submissions within ten weeks. We will also accept a limited number of previously published stories, so please indicate on the form if your submission is a reprint. All submissions must use the Shunn manuscript format (we prefer Courier New) and be either .rtf, .doc, or .docx. We like stories that are subtle in their telling and stick with us long after we've finished. We're more likely to buy stories that balance a sense of wonder with a bold plot and...

Deadline: September 30th, 2023 Payment: Royalties Theme: New Crystal Lake Entertainment imprint looking for Pulp and Extreme Horror novels and novellas. Torrid Waters is an imprint of Crystal Lake Entertainment, focused on Pulp and Extreme Horror books. Novel and Novella submissions The submission window will remain open from midnight EST August 1st, 2023 to midnight EST September 30th, 2023. Only one submission per author at a time. Simultaneous subs (to other publishers) are allowed, but please inform us of that upon submission. Be sure to let us know if and when your book is accepted for publication elsewhere. No previously published works (this includes self-published titles). Your novel/novella needs to 100% written when you submit your first three chapters, in case we ask to see the entire manuscript. Do not resubmit the same title once it’s been rejected. The submission window will remain open from midnight EST August 1st, 2023 to midnight EST September 30th, 2023. Only one submission per author at a time. Simultaneous subs (to other publishers) are allowed, but please inform us of that upon submission. Be sure to let us know if and when your book is accepted for publication elsewhere. No previously published works (this includes self-published titles). Your novel/novella needs to 100% written when you submit your first three chapters, in case we ask to see the entire manuscript. Do not resubmit the same title once it’s been rejected. Email your submissions to [email protected] with the subject of “Torrid Waters Submission 2023.” In the body of the email, be sure to mention: • The title of your book and the total word count of the finished manuscript. • A one-sentence tagline that encapsulates your main plot. • An author bio • Optional: your writer’s CV, if you want to give a detailed summary of...

Submission Window: September 1-30, Early submission period for equity-deserving groups August 24-31 Payment: $0.08 CAD per word Theme: short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships in any genre (though they prefer uplifting so probably better for Scifi/Fantasy.) Note: Looking for at least 50% Canadian authors We're looking for short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships: platonic, romantic, or familial. We don't want the blaze of new love or the obsession of a new friend. We want pieces that show that comfort that develops when people know each other for years. Give us deep space, dusty frontiers, or dreamy fantasy. We want stories and poetry with strong, confident relationships amid all the sci-fi/fantasy. While we are primarily looking for stories with happy endings (yeah, yeah), we also want endings that are earned. If things get a little teary or gory, that's ok. We are especially interested in stories featuring queer platonic relationships, ace/aro love stories, and polycules. Payment Payment is $0.08 CAD per word for short fiction (1,000-3,500 words) and $60 CAD flat per poem. We are purchasing first publication rights, to revert back to the author after one year. Canadian Writers Since Heartlines Spec is primarily a Canadian magazine, we're looking to feature writers identifying as being from Canada/Turtle Island. This includes expats, refugees and displaced people living in Canada, new immigrants, and people who refuse/resist Canadian Identity. Heartlines welcomes submissions from writers of all identities. If you are comfortable, we encourage writers to indicate their intersections in their cover letter. Disclosure is not a requirement to submit, and we recognize that not all people are safe to disclose their identities. We are committed to addressing barriers and systemic discrimination faced by equity-deserving groups, which includes (but is not limited to): Racialized people People with disabilities LGBTQIA+ people Indigenous people...

Submission Window: September 1st - 30th, 2023 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: September 30th, 2023 Payment: $.02/word for flash fiction 300 – 1,000 words. $30 flat rate for short stories 1,500 – 2,500 words. Theme: Short stories that feature The fighters, the curious, those who win against the odds. The intrepid. Thank you for considering Intrepidus Ink as a publisher of your work. Our process is challenging. Competitive. At least two editors give a story the “thumbs up” for publication. A story must speak to us, exemplify our aesthetic, and potentially delight readers. A tall order. Give Us The fighters, the curious, those who win against the odds. The intrepid. That’s what we want. Emotion. Write stories just for us. We explore intrepid culture: our stories feature danger elements, struggle, emotion, and OVERCOMING. Our stories are intrepid first and not subordinated to other themes. We accept many genres and writing styles, including literary, speculative fiction (science fiction and fantasy), literary speculative fiction, action and adventure, romance, magic realism, historical fiction, and others. We love odd, quirky, experimental stories, and humor. We don’t take erotica, poetry, children’s fiction, nonfiction, or horror. We love a good, scary story, but we promote FEARLESSNESS, not FEAR or tragedies. Repackaging horror stories as speculative fiction will still earn a rejection (sorry!). Read and heed submission guidelines, especially for word counts. Click on “The Rules” below. A tip: if we’ve declined your submissions multiple times, please don’t give up! Keep trying.  But also, read our published stories to clarify what we mean by intrepid culture. What are you waiting for?  Go for the Gutsy! Submit a flash fiction or short story now.  New! Submit amazing, excellent stories showcasing narrators engaging in FEARLESS CONFLICT & overcoming. Now through September 30. Submission Guidelines for Flash Fiction and Short Stories: Flash Fiction 300 – 1,000 words; Short Stories 1,500 – 2,500 words (firm).  Unpublished Work Only: Story cannot be published anywhere online or publicly, including social media, community writing sites, or personal blogs, nor may work be retitled from said...

Submission Window: September 1st - 30th, 2023 Payment: $10 Theme: Stories of any genre by writers who identify with and as any of the following descriptors: trans, two-spirit, disabled, neurodivergent, Mad, queer, crip, nonbinary, genderqueer, intersex. Who: We welcome submissions by those who identify with and as any of the following descriptors: trans, two-spirit, disabled, neurodivergent, Mad, queer, crip, nonbinary, genderqueer, intersex. This is a space for the words, works, and worlds of and by those whose bodyminds defy social expectations and invite new ways of thinking and knowing. We do not need to know the specifics of your identity/diagnosis/experience unless you want us to. We invite closeted and questioning people to share their work, as well as those whose experiences fall outside the confines of the language we used above. We welcome submissions from creators of all ages. We particularly encourage unpublished/emerging/young creators to submit. If you know an incarcerated/institutionalized creator who would like to submit, email us for information as to where to mail the submission, or clearly indicate in your message that you are submitting on their behalf. What: We take submissions of all/no forms and genres. Please do not label your submission by genre. Submissions that are text-based should number no more than three <1,000-word pieces, or five total pages. If your spacing is funky (we encourage funky spacing) use your best judgement. Submissions that are primarily image-, audio, or video-based should number no more than three still images, one audio recording of five minutes or fewer, or one video of five minutes or fewer. All audio content must be accompanied by a transcription at the time of submission. All visual content must be accompanied by an image description at the time of submission. This magazine is english language-based, and we enthusiastically welcome translations (along the...

Deadline: October 1st, 2023 Payment: Contributor's Copies Theme: Six calls set in different decades with different themes that all have 4 requirements that you can see below Most people would agree that technical advancements have made our lives easier or, at the very least, more entertaining. But, what about the flip side? What horrors were unleashed for the sake of creation? What monsters emerged as technology evolved? We invite you to travel back in time with us as we discover the dark side of six decades. Get creative with the themes. Bring us thrills and chills. Just remember to adhere to the basic guidelines. We can’t wait to experience it. Series Submissions Guidelines Applies to all individual calls for submissions listed below Word/Entry Limits: Only 1 story per person, per book (Feel free to submit one for each book in the series!) Short stories (English only) between 1,500 words and 5,000 words Original works only - no reprints Submit your story in the official entry forms (links below). Opens: June 1, 2023 Final Submission Deadline: October 1, 2023 (or until full) Reprints: No Multiple Submissions: No Simultaneous Submissions: Yes, but please alert us and/or withdraw your submission if accepted elsewhere. While it will not affect an entrant’s chances of acceptance, those entrants who tip will receive a digital copy of each of the Dark Decades anthologies that they submitted to when it is released. (Example: If someone tipped when submitting to Listen and Capture, but didn’t tip when they submitted to Lurk, they would receive digital copies of Listen and Capture, but not Lurk. And each submission would be weighted/considered for publication equally, irrespective of tip status.) A word on response times: Having been on the receiving end of things, we know what it’s like to eagerly await word about...

Deadline: October 1st, 2023 Payment: 8 Cents per word Theme: Science fiction that feature and empower large gay/bi/queer men John Bear was a mesh of wire and silicone, of nanobot lace and rare gems unearthed from mines in foreign lands. He stepped out of the cryo-chamber, his large body pulsating with a green bio- luminescence, his head throbbing with a constant data stream being jacked into his frontal lobe. The lone light, a faint, dim sliver of faded yellow from a computer monitor a room away seemed blinding, seemed to radiate the force of a violent sun. John stumbled towards what looked like a door, banged his round belly on the control panel before sliding down the wall in a convulsing lump. The door swished open and standing before him was an onyx robot with dancing dreads that looked like guitar wires. “Kiss me,” the robot said with metallic timbre. John raised his head and admired the robot’s physique — round, carbon faced, barrel-chested, and a slick, smooth belly larger than his own. “Kiss me, remember me, understand me — and then we can both be free.” After a pause, the door closed — sssswiissshh — leaving John Bear alone in the dark, leaking fluid, drifting into the blackness of sleep. We here at the Afterverse have always wondered what a queer empowered sci-fi anthology would look like. We also wondered what would happen if those stories took place in the bear and chub communities, if they featured characters that could be our friends, partners, boyfriends, and lovers and if they featured larger bodies, fat bodies, chubby, hairy bodies! We are often left wondering what queer genre fiction — from fantasy to romance to even slice of life, would look like if we found the lead characters desirable and/or reflective...

Submission Window: August 15th - October 1st, 2023 Payment: $25 Theme: NIRVANA-inspired horror Celbrate 35 years with a collection of NIRVANA-Inspired Horror! For decades, our lives have been touched by the music. We’ve cried, screamed, laughed to the punk riffs and unique vocals. NIRVANA shaped us during our formative years and it shows. For that, we honor the mark they’ve made.    Now we sing dark, twisted covers of our favorite songs.     From Book Slayer Press and Roxie Voorhees, co-editor of MINE and READER BEWARE, comes a collection of NIRVANA-inspired horror.     Forming the ultimate playlist, the stories within showcase NIRVANA’s discography with a fear inducing twist.    NEGATIVE CREEP: A NIRVANA-Inspired Horror Anthology    GUIDELINES:  Please read carefully. Submissions that don’t meet the guidelines will be rejected.    Submissions will be accepted from August 15 through the end of September 30. Deadline is October 1st, 2023, at midnight IDLW time zone. Please submit to [email protected]. Open to any and all writers, both new and established.     What we are looking for:  20-30 stories inspired by NIRVANA songs, ranging their entire discography. All horror tropes are welcome. Genre-blending is highly encouraged. Queer retellings and gender swaps, historical horror, sci-fi horror, cults, and cannibalism are a few of our favorites. Writers should have a diverse representation of BIPOC, LGBTQ+, gender identities, disability, fat positivity, and neurodivergence. **Please note: Only one story per song will be accepted**    What we are NOT looking for:  Please, do not submit stories about Kurt Cobain, Courtney Love, Kurt’s suicide (mentioning is fine), anything that has to do with band members’ personal lives and not related to NIRVANA or its music.  Submissions cannot contain sexualization of minors (under 18, yes that includes “17 almost 18”).     Trigger warnings are encouraged and will be included in...

Submission Window: October 1st, 2023 Payment: One cent U.S. per word ($2 minimum) Theme: Fantastic Fiction You really NEED to read the description below. The Cafe Irreal is a quarterly webzine that presents a kind of fantastic fiction infrequently published in English. This fiction, which we would describe as irreal, resembles the work of writers such as Franz Kafka, Kobo Abe, Clarice Lispector and Jorge Luis Borges. As a type of fiction it rejects the tendency to portray people and places realistically and the need for a full resolution to the story; instead, it shows us a reality constantly being undermined. Therefore, we're interested in stories by writers who write about what they don't know, take us places we couldn't possibly go, and don't try to make us care about the characters. We would also suggest you take a look at the current issue, archives, and theory (especially the essay, "What is irrealism?") pages on this web site. We accept unsolicited fiction up to 2,000 words in length. Translations are welcome. There is no minimum length. We accept only electronic submissions via e-mail at [email protected]. We cannot, due to the various computer viruses and worms, accept attachments anymore, so please paste your story into the body of the e-mail. Also include your name, address, e-mail address, and a short bio in the text of the submission; please put the word "submission" in the subject heading of the e-mail to ensure that your submission doesn't get lost among all the spam. We pay an honorarium of one cent U.S. per word ($2 minimum) to buy first-time internet rights (the story will then be archived). Payment is made upon publication. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE DON'T ACCEPT SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS and are only interested in reprints in unusual cases (e.g., the story has appeared in print...