Events

Deadline: August 31, 2017 Payment: 50% of royalties go to the story contributors, prorated to each author by word count. There are stairs in the woods - as if you cut and pasted stairs from a house. The stairs are usually in good shape - strong and sturdy and not rotted. Sometimes they are in immaculate condition, as if somebody is maintaining them. ​They're locations don't follow any understood pattern. ​You might or might not be able to find the same stairs twice (up to the individual author). ​Approaching and/or climbing the stairs gives a sense of foreboding and weirdness. ​Sometimes really bad things happen if you approach or climb the stairs. ​The authorities (notably the park service) is keeping quiet about the stairs. Officially, they don't exist. The authorities do not talk about them - even among themselves. ​You can explain the stairs or leave them unexplained - up to you. Science fiction, fantasy, and horror are most likely - but your story can be in any genre. One author I contacted told me I wasn't likely to get many Romantic Comedies - but if you've got a good one, submit it! ​You can submit as many stories as you like, but we'll only publish one story per author in this anthology. ​Submissions should be in the 3000-20,000 word range. ​Submissions should be never before published, and we're asking for exclusive rights on this one. ​Submissions should be in Microsoft Word format (doc or docx) and should be in a legible font and size. EMail Submissions to [email protected] and must include contact information (name, e-mail, etc). Submissions are due by August 31, 2017. Payment will be the Silver Empire anthology standard: 50% of royalties go to the story contributors, prorated to each author by word count. Via: Silver Empire.

Deadline: August 31st, 2017 Payment: $50 AUD Callout for Submissions for a new anthology of short stories, 'Below the Stairs – Tales from the Cellar'   Featuring stories by Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, HP Lovecraft, and edited by Oz Horror Con's Steve Dillon, this is the second anthology in our 'Things in the Well' series. The first was published in May 2017, titled 'Between the Tracks – Tales from the Ghost Train'. This also featured stories by Clive Barker, Ramsey Campbell, and Mark Allan Gunnells, as well as Christopher Golden, Charles Dickens, M.R. James, G.M. Hague, Steve Vernon, Lee Murray, & more.     We’re now reaching out to unearth more best-of-breed tales. We're after new or – if memorable enough – reprints of short supernatural tales, psychological thrillers or creature features involving cellars, basements, dungeons or other subterranean chambers below the stairs (!) Word count isn’t too important providing the story is complete and memorable, although the length will typically be expected to be in the region of 6-10,000 words. We’re paying a flat rate of $50 (AUD) for this anthology. You will retain rights. More details on request.   For more details, go to the Oz Horror Con web site www.OZHorrorCon.com Via: OZ Horror Con.

Deadline: August 31, 2017 Payment: Contributor's Copy *SUBMISSION PERIOD: June 1, 2017-August 31, 2017* The fourth round of the Asterisk Anthology will feature Nautical Nightmares, so send us your most bone-chilling tales of the sea. We welcome sea monsters of all sorts, ghost ships, creepy coastal towns, mysterious islands, and more. Anything that evokes the terror and awesome majesty of the sea is welcome. Note: No freshwater—saltwater only. Short stories (3,000 to 9,000 words) will be accepted until AUGUST 31, 2017. *We will choose two winners. The first place winner will receive $10 and e-publication of their story on Nosetouchpress.com. The runner-up will also have e-publication on the website. The stories will remain online until the next round of winners is announced. Winning stories will be part of the upcoming ASTERISK ANTHOLOGY, to be published in October 2017. No reprints, please. Prose only. A paperback contributor’s copy will be provided to the winning contributors once the book is published. A signed contract will be required *for publication* online and in the anthology. * *Email entries to [email protected] <[email protected]> .doc or .rtf format • Please state “Asterisk ANTHO-Round 4” in your subject line. One entry per person. * Via: Nose Touch Press.

Deadline: August 31st, 2017 Payment: US$0.06 per word. Mother of Invention will feature diverse, challenging stories about gender as it relates to the creation of artificial intelligence and robotics. This ambitious anthology from award-winning Australian publishing house Twelfth Planet Press will be edited by Tansy Rayner Roberts and Rivqa Rafael. From Pygmalion and Galatea to Frankenstein, Ex Machina and Person of Interest, the fictional landscape so often frames cisgender men as the creators of artificial life, leading to the same kinds of stories being told over and over. We want to bring some genuine revolution to the way that artificial intelligence stories are told, and how they intersect with gender identity, parenthood, sexuality, war, and the future of our species. How can we interrogate the gendered assumptions around the making of robots compared with the making of babies? Can computers learn to speak in a code beyond the (gender) binary? If necessity is the mother of invention, what exciting AI might come to exist in the hands of a more diverse range of innovators? What we want We want to cover a variety of AI tropes, from the virtuous to the dangerous, from the purely computerised to the freshly built physical body. We want robots and programs and disembodied voices and steampunk and nanotech. We want stories that unpick the erroneous gendered assumptions around biological reproduction that so often underpin AI stories (do people who can gestate still want to make robots? We think so!). We’ll even accept sexbots and Stepford spouses if the story is good enough. It became pretty clear during our crowdfunding campaign that the notion of “feminist robot stories” struck a chord with our readership, so keep that in mind. We anticipate that some stories will tackle gender issues (broadly defined) directly; others indirectly. Both approaches are OK! The only hard-and-fast rule...

Deadline: August 31st, 2017 Payment: 6 cents a word, plus electronic and print contributor copies Take high school. It’s weird, confusing, complicated, and frustrating. It’s a time of growth and change, when teens start discovering what they’re made of and who they want to be. Now throw in magic. What happens? That’s the premise of this new YA anthology. Schoolbooks & Sorcery is what happens when you take all the normal ups and downs of high school, inject a healthy dose of magic, shake, stir, and serve. Editor Michael M. Jones (Scheherazade’s Façade) is looking for YA urban fantasy stories which incorporate the themes of sorcery, magic, and enchantment. The magic can come from within, as an intrinsic ability or a family trait, or from without, in the form of talismans, training, or teaching. Protagonists can be wizards, witches, sorcerers, magicians, shamans, apprentices, or practitioners of more esoteric traditions. Whether they pick it up on their own (accidentally or on purpose), learn from a master, or go to school for institutionalized training, they’ll be involved with magic to some degree. Or, of course, the protagonist could be without magic, and stumble into a world beyond their immediate knowledge. If authors wish to set something in a magical school of their own devising, or in a previously-established setting, that’s perfectly fine. But it doesn’t necessarily need to be set at a school, magical or otherwise, so long as the main characters are of the right age set. Just about every culture has some sort of tradition involving people who dabble in the supernatural to one end or another, and there’s a vast amount of potential left to be tapped in this genre, especially with teenage protagonists. Whether they’re wizards-in-training, voodoo princesses, the last descendant of an infamous historical figure, the newest apprentice in...

Deadline: August 31st, 2017 Payment: Up to 25¢ per word SPIDER, a literary magazine for children, features fresh and engaging literature, poems, articles, and activities for newly independent readers. Editors seek energetic, beautifully crafted submissions with strong “kid appeal” (an elusive yet recognizable quality, often tied to high-interest elements such as humor, adventure, and suspense). We have particular interests in stories that explore themes of identity (gender, race and ethnicity, neighborhoods, beliefs and traditions); citizenship and global cultures; scientific and technological exploration; and the creative spirit. SPIDER (for ages 6-9) is looking for fiction, poetry, activities, crafts, and recipes for the theme Spaceships and Superheroes. We’re interested in science-fiction and superhero stories about protagonists that save the day with help from super suits, super powers, or self-made gadgets. We’re especially interested in future technology like flying cars, interplanetary travel, holograms, robots, and teleporters. Take us on a time traveling mission or to the heart of a city that could use some saving. Especially welcome: twists on familiar comic book or sci-fi tropes, and female, people of color, and kid protagonists. Guidelines Before submitting, be sure to familiarize yourself with our magazines. (Sample copies are available for viewing at the Cricket Media Store, or you can order a current issue by calling 800-821-0115.)  Issues are also available at many local libraries.   Fiction Whether a fictional setting is long-ago or here-and-now, or the protagonist is the class clown or a talking tiger, characters and the worlds they inhabit should be complex and believable. Length: 300–1000 words   Poetry Poems should be succinct, imaginative, and accessible; we tend to avoid long narrative poems. Length: Up to 20 lines   Nonfiction For nonfiction, SPIDER readers enjoy well-researched articles about animals, kids their own age doing amazing things, and cool scientific discoveries (such as wetsuits for penguins and real-life invisibility...

Deadline: August 31st, 2017 Payment: $5 or $10 depending on length and a contributor's copy. Unfading Daydream is looking for unique and exceptional fiction to be showcased in our quarterly literary magazine. We strive to feature stories within the genres that have inspired us (sci-fi, fantasy, horror, etc) as well as stories that feature LGBTQ+ themes. We are brand new and looking for submissions for our debut issue. We are also currently seeking submissions for cover art. Basic Details We are open to established and new, emerging authors. In terms of length, we’re looking for stories between 1000 and 7000 words. Shorter or longer stories will be evaluated on a case by case basis. No previously published works. Reading periods are May, August, November, and February.  All submissions must be in by 11:59pm CST on the last day of the reading period (May, August, November, or February) Expect a decision within four weeks See full guidelines below Payment Stories that are between 1000-3000 words will receive $5. Stories that are longer than that will receive $10.  All contributors receive a hard copy of the magazine. Submissions We accept submissions only by email. Free to submit! Please send your submission to submit  unfadingdaydream com with the title of ‘Unfading Daydream Submission’. Full Guidelines We want to see your unique sci-fi, fantasy, horror, etc. We prefer stories that are between 1000-7000 words, but if you feel that your 8000 word story or your 700 word story is brilliant, we’d love to see it. The Submission Piece One submission per author per reading period please. Contributors are allowed to include up to three stories in one submission. Please attach the stories individually to the submission email. Unless there is a theme stated for a particular reading period, there is no theme. Previously unpublished works only. No erotica please. Romance is fine and dandy though! We...

Deadline: September 1st, 2017 Payment: $100usd Independent Legions Publishing is seeking original horror stories in English for the new anthology THE BEAUTY OF DEATH 2 - DEATH BY WATER, edited by Alessandro Manzetti and Jodi Renée Lester, to be published October 2017 in print and digital editions. We’re looking for stories that fit the theme: Death by Water. All types of horror are welcome. Sex or violence in a story should be artistically justified; no excessive gore. No stories about child abuse of any kind. We welcome all subgenres and forms of speculative fiction. Word Count: We are open to stories of 4000-5000 words. Deadline: September 1, 2017 Pay Rate: We pay (via PayPal) $100 for each original story. We buy first exclusive English-language rights for three years. We do not accept multiple or simultaneous submissions, nor do we accept unsolicited reprints. Submissions should follow standard manuscript format (12 pt Times New Roman or Courier fonts, 1” margins all around, line spacing 1½ or 2 spaces). It must be in .doc or .docx format or it will not be considered. Your name and contact information must be at the top of the first page of the story. Page numbers with author’s last name and/or partial story name on subsequent pages would be appreciated. Cover letter is optional, but if you do include one, please add a short bio (up to 200 words). Response time is currently within four weeks. After that, if you haven’t heard from us, please query. We will not be sending confirmations of receipt. ​ To submit a story, go to our story submission form below. To submit your story via email, put “SUBMISSION - TBOD2” in the subject line and send to: [email protected] SUBMIT Via: Independent Legions.

Deadline: September 1st, 2017 Payment: Unlisted but “will always meet or exceed SFWA minimum compensation guidelines” Retro Future is a quarterly pulp magazine that searches for diverse, surprising, and progressive science fiction in art, prose, essay, and comics. Issue Submission Themes Issue #4: Resistance to oppression. Submissions Guidelines We welcome submissions of art and writing that approaches retrofuturism through a progressive lens. Essays and flash fiction of approximately 250-500 words is especially welcome; longer works may be serialized. Comic submissions should be 1-8 pages of finished work. Anything longer may get serialized across multiple issues. Please note that inside art should be in grayscale (please refer to art and comic templates for details.) Galileo Books acquires first serial rights; upon publication, these rights revert back to you, the author. We ask that you acknowledge Retro Future (Galileo Books) as the venue of original publication when the work appears in your book or is otherwise collected. If a work becomes unavailable while under our review, please contact us via email. Submitted work for specific issues may be considered for other issues if themes fit. Please include your name and contact information (at least an email) at the top of your submission. Art and comic templates are located here. Please make sure that art finals are high resolution (at least 300 DPI), in the RGB or Grayscale color space, and native Photoshop or TIFF files. No JPG or GIF. (Dropbox will ask you to join, you can ignore that and click the 'continue to download' link) Written material should be attached to the email in TXT, RTF or Word formats. Retro Future is a progressive publication. Subjects such as sexual violence, un-examined racism, and other potentially offensive material are often used as fodder for exposition in genre stories–this is not appropriate for...

Deadline: September 1st, 2017 Payment: Between $25 and $100 Tannhauser Press is looking for the short stories for the WHISPERS of the APOC anthology. Here is a set of common items all the submissions must include: The stories will be set after the Zombie Apocalypse has occurred. It could be the day it hit or a year later. The stories are from various locations around the country. No one knows why or how it happened. None of the stories will solve that mystery. Anyone that dies for any reason will become a zombie. The dead will turn Two to Ten minutes after they die, even if they were not bit. Zombies can only be killed with the destruction of the brain. The zombies dry out and mummify the older they get. Zombies hear and see and smell to find prey. It’s all they do. They will eat any mammal they can catch. Cats, dogs, rats, cows, horses, deer. Zombies get slower the older they get. Fresh ones can run and fight hard. Old zombies are shamblers. Zombie bites will not kill you outright. You die in 24 to 48 hours. Symptoms include sweating, extreme thirst, eventually fear of water (like rabies: Hydrophobia). These stories should be character driven and about survival. Stories will take place in a variety of places: Urban, suburban and rural. Even desolate places. The focus is on survival. Stories should be 5,000 to 20,000 words. Authors will be paid between $25 and $100 per story if accepted, with signed agreement. All submissions are to be delivered in MSWord format. Basic Italics and Bold are the only additional formatting used. Garamond 12 will be used. Scene changes will be separated by “ *** ”. WHISPERS of the APOC will be Rated R. The target soft deadline for...