Events

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: $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: 0.03/word and a contributor's copy CRYPTOZOOLOGY:  the study of and search for animals and especially legendary animals (such as Sasquatch) usually in order to evaluate the possibility of their existence CRYTPID: an animal whose existence or survival to the present day is disputed or unsubstantiated; any animal of interest to a cryptozoologist We’ve explored loneliness, isolation, and solitude in our first anthology. We Put the Love Back in Lovecraft in our second anthology. Now we are looking for stories involving the creatures which hide in the shadows -- the monsters of cryptozoology. Bigfoot, Nessie, el Chupacabra, The Jersey Devil -- cryptids so well known that they have become part of the cultural zeitgeist. For our new anthology, tentatively entitled Hidden Animals: A Collection of Cryptids, we are looking for lesser known cryptids, creatures of the dark corners of cryptozoology. They can be the antagonist, the protagonist, the creeping dread which drives the story, but they must be present. What We Want: Finely crafted works of Dark Speculative fiction which feature one (or more) of the lesser known, but established cryptids. Authors are encouraged to put their own spin on the classic creature. Make them terrifying. Make them sympathetic. Make them humorous. Above all, make them feel real. What We Don’t Want: Non-fiction. We want fictional stories with a plot and a well defined story arc. While we are interested in hearing about your own personal experience, or that of your friend or family member, this is not the book for that. New Monsters. While we appreciate your creativity, we are looking for stories which feature creatures that readers will have at least a passing knowledge of. Give us your giant cats, dogboys, and lake creatures, but please do not create your own creature. Stories where...

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: $10 and a contributor's copy Release the monster within. Nothing is quite so deliciously freeing as caving to your instincts. For centuries, shapeshifters have personified our impulse to bow to our animalistic nature. From lycans to skin-walkers and everything in between, shapeshifters give us a chance to connect with our inner-selves and celebrate our intriguing differences, our passions, and ultimately our humanity through their necessity of striking a balance between their human selves and supernatural selves. We are seeking romantic and heated stories that delve into the different challenges all shifters face while navigating the mysterious paths of love and forbidden attraction. Transformed will be an exploration of our dark side through characters that challenge the human experience by simply being different. We would love to follow the tale of a misunderstood lycan just trying to find his true place beside the woman he loves. We want to experience the angst of a pair of shapeshifting lovers who must fight against their curse to shift into predator and prey every lunar cycle. We would love for you to explore the endless undercurrents of romance, intrigue, and passion that bubble under the surface of not only human and shapeshifter relationships but also those of star-crossed shapeshifting partners. Give us your misunderstood werewolves and gentle fawn-folk. Build us a world where anything goes and the term “humanity” is a loose distinction. We would love for you to write with passion and energy, but please keep violence to a respectful and tasteful level. All heat levels accepted, but strong emphasis on plot is a must if you wish to succeed. The details: Stories between 1,000 – 15,000 words long (query for longer) Reprints accepted but not preferred. When submitting a reprint include information about its original publication in your...

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: August 31st, 2017 Payment: Royalties No, we are not looking for Twilight fan fiction. We are looking for short stories that deal with the grey area between night and day, between sanity and madness, good and evil, monster and hero … you get the point. Any genre will be considered. Submission length: 1,000-15,000 words. This is a loose guideline. Don’t self reject if you are a little longer or shorter. If in doubt, send us a note with the word count and we’ll let you know if it’s something we’d consider. We require at least 5 stories to publish. We’d like to reach 10. If by some miracle of the internet we get tons of high quality stories we’ll publish two volumes. Please submit using the contact form on the blog – copy and paste your story into the comment/contact box. If your story is accepted we will request a .doc file. As stated in our submission guidelines authors will be paid a royalty split which will be paid out 6 months after the release date and on the anniversary of the release date yearly. We pay via paypal. Authors will also be sent a copy of the book in the digital format of their choice with the understanding that it is for personal use only. We request first digital, or reprint, rights. All the details will be provided in a contract sent out in September. SUBMISSION DEADLINE: August 31, 2017 Authors will be notified before September 10, 2017 Authors may submit more than one story though only one will be selected per volume. We accept simultaneous submissions and reprints (so long as the rights have reverted back to you). Any questions? Just ask! Via: Schreyer Ink Publishing.

Deadline: September 1st, 2017 Payment: $20 per piece Timeless Tales exclusively publishes retellings of fairy tales and myths. We only accept submissions that are retellings of the fairytale or myth listed as our theme. We don't accept original fairy tales or stories outside of our current theme. These are the known upcoming themes: #9. Rumpelstiltskin - Submission window Aug. 18 - Sept. 1, 2017. #10. TBD (But definitely one of the BIG famous fairy tales for our anniversary edition) Subscribe to our newsletter to vote on the theme and to receive notice when we decide on dates Additional Rules:  Length: Up to 2,000 words. Under 1,500 preferred. (For poems, you may technically send us multiple pieces up to 1,500 words total, but please be considerate of our editor and only send your best and most polished work). Genres:  As of 2016, we are now accepting poetry! In general, please think outside the box! We love to see modernizations, sci-fi retellings, prequels, continuations, mash-ups, etc. Just no eroticism, please (see Content section). Formatting: Please put your story's title and the author's name in the file name of your submission. Example: "Pandora's Choice by Zeus Smith.doc". Too often, we'll get a ton of submissions all labeled "Pandoras Box.doc" and it makes it harder to keep track of them.  Want to know what makes an A+ fairy tale retelling?, HERE is my blog post about it. Content: While Timeless Tales is not targeted specifically at children, it is a fairly conservative magazine, especially when it comes to language and sexual content, so I intend to keep the stories in the PG-13 range or below. However, I have a deep appreciation for the darker side of many original fairy tales, so don’t assume I only want “happy” stories. Pay Rate: As of 2016, we have slightly raised our rates. We now pay a flat rate of $20 per piece accepted--both poetry and fiction. You'll also get a free year...

Deadline: September 1st, 2017 Payment: Royalties I’m looking for stories for the 5th TALES OF FORTANNIS anthology.  About the collection: The TALES OF FORTANNIS series is published by Double Dragon and is available in paperback, ebook, kindle, ibook, and nook. Double Dragon is perhaps the largest science fiction and fantasy e-book publisher out there, and has been around for about fifteen years. They have a good reputation, pay royalties on time, and make sure the book is available everywhere (Amazon, Barnes and Nobles, all e-book distributors). Previously unpublished authors are encouraged to submit, but should be aware that we ask for at least two years of exclusivity which can limit your ability to resell or republish the story later. (You can negotiate the exact terms of exclusivity with Double Dragon.) Once your story appears in TALES OF FORTANNIS, it will severely limit its future possibilities, including a future pay rate. Note as well that while the book will be promoted in a number of ways, sales will not be huge. Don’t give up your day job. You should be submitting mostly for the exposure. As a standard warning that applies in all similar cases, you need to decide if publishing your work in e-formats and/or on the web, giving up your First Publishing Right for a token payment, is really what you want to do. About Fortannis: Fortannis is the fantasy land where my novels ARCH ENEMIES and THE AXES OF EVIL take place as well as Derek Beebe’s recent novel IT’S A WONDERFUL DEATH. Your story does not have to take place in the same kingdom as these stories, and you can create your own kingdom and characters; however, the more you can tie your story in with previous stories, the better. Fortannis is a high fantasy world with elves, dwarves, the mysterious...

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...

Deadline: September 5th, 2017. Payment: 1 cent per word. Note: Yes, it is erotica but it is also the apocalypse and as I know many of you write both... We are in search of erotic stories centered around the theme of apocalypse. How you execute this theme is up to you—a multitude of interpretations are possible, from both the figurative to the literal end of civilization. Apocalypse. The complete final destruction of the world (definition 1). An event involving destruction or damage on an awesome or catastrophic scale (definition 2). We are interested in stories that explore either definition. Stories can be set before, during, or after the eponymous apocalypse. Show us passion, annihilation, rebirth, despair, and/or hope. How would you screw if the world were ending? The sex needs to be raw, passionate, hot, and at the story’s centre. Four-letter words are neither required nor discouraged, although we have a preference for graphic lust conveyed through beautiful prose. No hard requirements in terms of secondary genres. This theme, however, lends itself well to dystopian fiction. Please read our general submission guidelines prior to submitting. We prefer the erotic to adult content and have an extreme prejudice for stories with a literary style—however, hot, passionate sex must be at each story’s core. It may help to familiarize yourself with some of our other titles prior to submitting—particularly our short story anthologies and stand-alone shorts. 1,000-5,000 words, although we’ll consider pieces that fall outside those parameters on a case-by-case basis. Multiple and simultaneous submissions ok. No reprints. If accepted, pay is 1 cent per word. The deadline for submissions is September 5, 2017.   Submit here. Via: Mug Wump Press.

Deadline: September 5th, 2017 Payment: One half-cent per word, with a minimum payment of $5.00 and a maximum of $15.00. Note: Reprints Welcome. Payment for reprints is a maximum of $10. Estimated to come out in December.   Word Count:    500-10,500 Theme:    Creatures of myth and fantasy have long been a fascination in cultures throughout the the world. Did they ever exist? Do they still exist now? Imagine a time where these creatures were plentiful. Or perhaps, when they once were but now there is only one or two left. We are looking for stories centered on such creatures, be they unicorns, dragons, griffins, chimeras, or something unknown. We will consider any sub-genre, but the story must focus on a mythical creature. ALWAYS READ THE FULL THEMES AND GUIDELINES WHEN SUBMITTING. PIECES THAT FAIL TO MEET THE GUIDELINES/THEME WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY REJECTED. Response Time:  Please allow up to one month. After that, if you don't hear from us then feel free to give us a little nudge.   Payment: Payment will be one half-cent per word, with a minimum payment of $5.00 and a maximum of $15.00. Payments will be made by PayPal in USD. Payments will go out no later than four months after the publication date. Editing: Yes, your story will be edited if we decide to accept it. After we go through and edit your story, it will then be sent back to you for final approval. In some cases, we may ask for revisions to be made.  Reprints, Multiple & Simultaneous Submissions: Yes. Payment for reprints is a maximum of $10. SEND A SEPARATE EMAIL FOR EACH SUBMISSION. MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS SENT IN ONE EMAIL MAY BE DISCARDED WITHOUT BEING READ. Guidelines for Submissions:   All submissions are to be sent to [email protected]. In the subject line please type MYTHICAL ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSION: . In the body...

Deadline: September 8th, 2017 Payment: $0.01 per word Typewriter Emergencies is seeking works featuring furry characters. We're looking for stories, book reviews, articles, and any other form of furry material. The journal accepts work that is considered rated R or Less. You can throw in the word "f*ck" around a few times, but no excessive sex, blood, and guts pretty much. Typewriter Emergencies publishes under the philosophy of degenerate literature. We're not here to be proper, we're here to make art. We don't have a specific theme for our issues, therefore it's free reign. Themes may be implemented in the future. ​ We plan on publishing at least twice a year. If we feel we can take on a heavier load, we'll open up for more issues. Our Schedule is as follows: ​ Issue 2 release - December 2017 - Submissions must be received by September 8, 2017. Payment is $0.01 per word. ​ All rights revert back to the author. We simply ask for the right to publish the story for the period this journal is active. ​ Simultaneous submissions are fine. It is your responsibility to notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere. ​ Story Guidelines: ​ Max word count is 2500 words. Anything over this will not be accepted. Reprints will be reviewed, but we will prefer previously unpublished work. Each issue is expected to have a small amount of material, 3-5 stories at most. ​ Articles & Reviews ​ Max word count 1000 words. Anything considered a book review or article that is over 1000 words will not be considered. Articles/Book reviews must be predominantly furry in nature. Reviews must not contain spoilers. We will not accept reviews that are overly negative. As for articles, familiarize yourself with  or Dogpatch Press, and related furry websites. ​ ​...

Deadline: September 8th, 2017 Payment: $0.01 per word. Typewriter Emergencies is seeking works featuring furry characters. We're looking for stories, book reviews, articles, and any other form of furry material. The journal accepts work that is considered rated R or Less. You can throw in the word "f*ck" around a few times, but no excessive sex, blood, and guts pretty much. Typewriter Emergencies publishes under the philosophy of degenerate literature. We're not here to be proper, we're here to make art. We don't have a specific theme for our issues, therefore it's free reign. Themes may be implemented in the future.  We plan on publishing at least twice a year. If we feel we can take on a heavier load, we'll open up for more issues. Our Schedule is as follows: Issue 1 release - May 2017 - Submissions must be received by February 10, 2017. Issue 2 release - December 2017 - Submissions must be received by September 8, 2017. Payment is $0.01 per word. All rights revert back to the author. We simply ask for the right to publish the story for the period this journal is active.  Simultaneous submissions are fine. It is your responsibility to notify us if your work is accepted elsewhere.  Story Guidelines: Max word count is 2500 words. Anything over this will not be accepted.  Reprints will be reviewed, but we will prefer previously unpublished work.  Each issue is expected to have a small amount of material, 3-5 stories at most.  Articles & Reviews Max word count 1000 words. Anything considered a book review or article that is over 1000 words will not be considered.  Articles/Book reviews must be predominantly furry in nature. Reviews must not contain spoilers. We will not accept reviews that are overly negative. As for articles, familiarize yourself with  or Dogpatch...

Deadline: royalties 60% divided amongst authors evenly. Payment: September 11th, 2017 We’re looking for short stories no more than 5k that reflect real stories and urban legends found in America. No reprints. Payment: royalties 60% divided amongst authors evenly. We’re also looking for raw real stories of America’s underworld, real stories from real people that are going through real life horrors. For example, stories of suffering from addiction, living in the slums of Chicago, or life as victim of sex trafficking. All names will be confidential, unless you state otherwise. No payment at this time. Exposure and be in a magazine that reaches a wide audience and invitation to a podcast that reaches an even wider audience. Real American Horror is a horror anthology designed to evoke strong emotions from readers as they look into stories of Real horror. Deadline: September 11th Send submissions to [email protected] With real American horror in subject, otherwise I’ll miss it. Via: Deadman's Tome.

Deadline: September 15th, 2017 (Opens Sept 1st!) Payment: $0.005 cents per word with a minimum payment of $5.00 and a maximum cap of $25.00 Greetings from the Valley of Hinnom, Hinnom Magazine is a bi-monthly e-zine that publishes high quality science fiction, fantasy, and horror on the last day of every other month, starting in February.  We seek authors who have a unique voice, interesting writing styles, and unparalleled storytelling talents.  We do not shy from topics or concepts of a darker nature and, actually, encourage it. READING PERIODS: January 1-15th March 1-15th May 1-15th July 1-15th September 1-15th November 1-15th PUBLICATION DATES: February 28th April 30th June 30th August 31st October 31st December 31st Please submit stories during first fifteen days of the months selected as reading periods.  Stories received after this will not be read.  Artists can submit year round. (Inaugural Issue will be Published on June 30th) FICTION SUBMISSION DETAILS: List of Genres Accepted in Alphabetical Order: Body Horror Cosmicism/Cosmic Horror Cthulhu Mythos/ Lovecraftian Horror Cyberpunk Dark Fantasy Dieselpunk Dystopian Fiction Fantasy Gothic Horror Grimdark Fantasy Hard SF Hardcore Horror High Fantasy Horror Macabre horror Occult Fiction Post-Human/Trans-Human SF Psychological Horror Science Fiction Space Opera Steampunk Sword and Sorcery Weird Fiction Any blending of these genres is also fine.  We encourage creative takes on classic themes.  In fact, combining these concepts will likely increase your chance of publication. Science Fiction is meant to beg the question, “What if?” Horror is meant to entice the very emotions that define our species: fear, terror, and dread. Fantasy focuses on imaginative detachment from reality, forging worlds and universes unseen and unheard. These genres require the utmost levels of creativity and we want to read your most macabre, disgusting, imaginative, fantastical, morose, colorful, and prophetic tales. RIGHTS SOUGHT FOR ORIGINAL ART ...

Deadline: September 15th, 2017 Payment: $0.01 per word Ends on September 15, 2017 IMPORTANT REMINDER: In addition to the anthology-specific guidelines here, please review our General Guidelines on our main Submittable page as they pertain to all anthologies unless otherwise noted. Thank you.  https://lycanvalleypress.submittable.com/submit With the first book in this series, you'll be meeting Darkling, our horror host. She's dark, she's cute, she's sassy, she's dead ... and we can't wait to introduce you to her! Darkling takes us on a horrifying tour of strange, dark landmarks and creature encounters in a collection of horror stories set in Canada. We are looking for 13 stories, one for each province or territory of the great Lumberjack Country. The stories in this anthology will be interwoven by the ghostly narrator, Darkling, who has her own story to tell and a dark, sassy personality to keep readers coming back for more. Submissions must be self-contained stories with no mention or reference to Darkling (stories that reference Darkling or her role in any way will be rejected). Your story must be set in one of Canada's 13 provinces or territories and include it's culture and historical landmarks in a way that prevents the story from being told anywhere else: Alberta (AB) British Columbia (BC) Manitoba (MB) New Brunswick (NB) Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) Northwest Territories (NT) Nova Scotia (NS) CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS Nunavut (NU) Ontario (ON) Prince Edward Island (PE) Quebec (QC) CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS Saskatchewan (SK) Yukon (YT) We are specifically looking for horror stories or dark fiction. Crossovers with other genres are fine (science fiction, fantasy, etc.) but there must be a horror element or dark tone and fit the overall theme. Anything goes – vampires, werewolves, zombies, ghosts, yetis, wendigos, demon possessions, haunted houses, serial killers and other well-used tropes – but be original in how you interpret these staples of horror and make sure these creatures of or in...

Deadline: September 15th, 2017 Payment: $60 USD for fiction and $30 USD for poetry Our reading periods are as follows: February 1–March 15 for our Spring (April) issue; May 1–June 15 for our Summer (July) issue; August 1–September 15 for our Autumn (October) issue; and November 1–December 15 for our Winter (January) issue. Feel free to record your submissions at Duotrope and/or the Submissions Grinder. We are also listed on Ralan. Fiction and Poetry Guidelines Arsenika is looking for previously unpublished original fiction and poetry up to 1,000 words long. Payment is $60 USD for fiction and $30 USD for poetry for first world electronic rights and non-exclusive audio rights. We hope to raise the poetry rate to $60 as well in the future—please support us on Patreon if you’d like to help us reach our goal. Submit no more than two flash fiction pieces and five poems at a time, and please make sure you fill out the form again for each piece you send, unless the pieces are meant to be read together (e.g. a triptych of poems). All work should be in Standard Manuscript Format (fiction format/poetry format). Format poetry exactly as you would like to see it online—use italics for italics, underlines for underlines, boldface for boldface, etc. Send only TXT, RTF, DOC, and DOCX files. Please do not send simultaneous submissions (pieces that are submitted to Arsenikaand another market at the same time). Multiple submissions are accepted, but please have no more than two flash fiction pieces and five poems in the submissions queue at a time. We try to respond to all submissions within 14 days. If you haven’t heard from us in 30 days, please send us a query at [email protected]. Remember: Don’t self-reject. Reprints Arsenika does not accept unsolicited reprints. Payment is $10 upon acceptance. Art Arsenika pays $100 for reprint art. Please feel free to query us...

Deadline: September 17th, 2017 Payment: $0.25 USD (twenty-five cents) per line (excluding spaces and title) with a minimum payment of $1.00 for Haiku and a maximum cut-off at $20 for longer pieces. LVP Publications is introducing Darkling, Lycan Valley's Horror Host, in this special poetry anthology -- Darkling's Beasts and Brews -- just in time for Halloween! You provide the poetry and Darkling will provide the drinks. We are looking for beast and/or creature related poetry only -- vampires, werewolves, banshees, wendigos, chimeras, hellhounds, ghost riders, witches, goblins, fairies, trolls, yetis, sasquatches, skinwalkers, spiritwalkers, shapeshifters, and other paranormal beings that live here in the Valley. They don't have to be evil (fun and charming are okay too), but there must be a horror or dark element to the poem. Each poem selected will have a corresponding drink recipe added by Darkling from her private collection. (Do not submit poetry related to drinks or drink recipes.) LINE COUNT: We will accept poetry in a variety of styles between 5 and 100 lines (with the exception of properly formatted Haiku of 3 lines). Poems less than 5 lines (with the exception of Haiku) or longer than 100 lines will be returned unread. Exclude spaces and title from line count. PAYMENT: $0.25 USD (twenty-five cents) per line (excluding spaces and title) with a minimum payment of $1.00 for Haiku and a maximum cut-off at $20 for longer pieces. FORMATTING: Attach .rtf files only. Single spaced with line breaks in appropriate places. Left justified, no strange or unusual formatting. Use 12pt Times or similar font only. No bold or fancy fonts. No single word lines (with the exception of proper Haiku) Remove contact information and all identifying information including headings and byline from the document. We do not accept simultaneous submissions. If you submit to us, please wait until you receive a response before...

Deadline: September 22nd, 2017 Payment: six cents a word for prose, twenty dollars a page for poetry If you want to know what we’re looking for, try reading Reckoning 1, the interviews, the Reckoning twitter, LCRW 33, or any of these. The short version: fiction preferably at least a tiny bit speculative, nonfiction preferably more creative than journalistic, poetry tending towards the narrative and preferably with some thematic heft, art your guess is as good as mine. But the heart of what I want is your searingly personal, visceral, idiosyncratic understanding of the world and the people in itas it has been, as it is, as it will be, as it could be, as a consequence of humanity’s relationship with the earth. I am actively seeking work from Indigenous writers and artists, writers and artists of color, queer and transgender writers and artists, and anyone who has suffered the consequences, intended or otherwise, of dominant society’s systemic disconnect with and mistreatment of the natural world. And I am actively seeking new ways to reach all of the above. Seriously, if you know of a way I can do that, please share. Simultaneous submissions are ok. Multiple short poetry submissions is ok; with longer submissions, please send just one at a time. Feel free to submit again after you hear back. Length: 0 – 45,000 words, inclusive. Response time has ranged from one to three months. Payment is six cents a word for prose, twenty dollars a page for poetry, art minimum twenty-five dollars per piece. Arbitrary cutoff point for the second issue will be the autumn equinox, Friday, September 22nd, 2017. Submit original fiction, nonfiction or poetry as an RTF or DOC attachment (or art in any compact, web-ready format) to [email protected]. Please use an email subject like “ Submission: ” or we’re likely to take a lot longer getting to...

Deadline: September 29th, 2017 Payment: 6 cents per word Note: A 2-for-1! I just found out about these listings and as the deadline is coming up I wanted to do a bonus post to get them before your eyes ASAP! Continuing the success of our previous call for submissions, we’re looking for around twenty to thirty short stories by contemporary writers to complement a selection of classic tales in two new anthologies. We are keen to encourage new writers, without prejudice to age, background or previous publication history. It’s the story that matters, and the quality of writing. Submit by email to [email protected]  The Two New Volumes Alien Invasion: Visitors from other planets have long obsessed us. H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds spawned a huge wave of speculative fiction but the roots of such fears run deep in our literature, where the mysteries of other cultures have long threatened the familiar and the comfortable. Did aliens build the ancient pyramids? Do they live amongst us today? What happens when they invade? Would it be an inevitable act of aggression, one of assistance and care, or simply a reminder of our paltry existence in a crowded universe? Endless Apocalypse: Stories of the end of civilized life have always fascinated us, from the mythological world endings – Armageddon and Ragnarok – to the flood stories from across the Ancient world. They make us wonder what we would do if all around us came to an end – no transport, no fuel, no communications, a retreat into the desperation, the onslaught of disease – how would we survive? Formal Call for Submissions (2017) We are looking for new and recent short stories. We do not require exclusivity. You hold copyright, licensing us just for this publication. We don’t mind if your story has been previously published online...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: 0.06 per word and a contributor's copy Tales of Ruma is an anthology of stories inspired by Greek and Roman mythology. Some of the stories are set in the world of the Ruma: Dawn of Empire tabletop role playing game, while others are in worlds of their own, perhaps even alternate versions of Earth. The anthology will be released in paperback and electronic (epub and mobi) format, with potentially a hardcover limited edition. Submission Window: August 15 – September 30, 2017. Length: 500-5000 words. What We Want: Original stories set in the world of Ruma, Earth, or another world, which build upon the themes (such as heroism, the gods, and the arcane) and imagery of Greek and Roman mythology. Please see below for additional details on the world of Ruma. Stories set in the world of Ruma do not have to meet any exact criteria as the world is fluid so anything can fit somewhere. What We Don’t Want: We would rather not see anything overly sexual or with excessive violence/swearing. The audience level is teen and above. Format: RTF or DOC/DOCX in Standard Manuscript Format, or as close as possible. Send Submissions To: Please send submissions to seneschal at azurekeep dot com, with “Tales of Ruma Submission” in the subject line. Limit of 1 submission per author. Payment: $0.06 per word + contributor copy (paperback and electronic). Payment upon acceptance via PayPal. Rights Sought: First Worldwide print and electronic English language rights. Exclusivity for 90 days from date of release. Non-exclusive print, ebook, and audio rights afterward. Copyrights for stories set in the world of Ruma remain with the author. About the world of Ruma: Ruma is an alternate Roman Empire set on an alternate version of Earth where the gods and magic are real. The RPG is...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: Flash 500-2,000: New:$10.00 Reprint: $5.00 - Short 2,001-8,000: New:$20.00 Reprint: $10.00 What We Want We are OPEN to regular submissions until September 30, 2017. Unless specified otherwise, we’re looking for stories that are: 500-8,000 words long. First person. Arguably mad science related. The mad science is negotiable. The rest is not. We are strongly biased towards science fiction, fantasy, and horror. We are also committed to publishing work by authors belonging to marginalized groups. If you are LGBTQ, a person of color, or belong to some other group that is underrepresented in the genre, we really want to hear from you. When it comes to “first person,” this can includes fictional newspaper articles, press releases, brochures, etc. We’re also happy to consider reprints and more than one submission at a time. Do not send us poetry, screenplays, stories that are being considered by another market (also known as simultaneous submissions), or long winded ramblings from disgruntled mad scientists without any plot. Stories should be submitted in Standard Manuscript Format. Here’s a an explanation of what that means. We currently only open for submissions one month at a time. Sometimes we will hold a story until the end of that period before deciding. If you haven’t heard from us within a month of our submission period closing, send us an email. If Accepted Stories will require a fictional identity for the narrator, with a bio. Authors will still be credited under their own name as follows: Title of Your Story An essay by , as provided by . We will send a contract for esignature. For new stories, we will ask for exclusive first worldwide electronic and print rights for one year and nonexclusive rights afterwards. For reprints, we will ask for nonexclusive reprinting rights. Payment is based on story...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: Royalty Split Announcing NOIRVILLE an exciting new competition for crime fiction authors. We get hundreds of submissions every week and in among all the novels we've noticed an increasing number of writers pitching short stories to us - at Fahrenheit we're passionate about giving new talent a chance to break through so we thought what better way to kill two birds with one stone? So how is it gonna work? Simple. The best 12 stories (as chosen by our panel of judges) will be published in Fahrenheit's first short story collection NOIRVILLE which will be published in both eBook & paperback towards the end of 2017. Who are the judges? Rather than the usual publishing industry suspects we've compiled a panel of judges made up of four of the very best book bloggers around. As an added bonus, Jo Perry, Fahrenheit's very own High Priestess Of Noir, has agreed to chair the judging panel. Jo Perry (Author) Kate Moloney (Bibliophile Book Club) Gordon McGhie (Grab This Book) Janet Emson (From First To Last Page) Verity Wilde (Verity Reads Books) What does it cost to enter? Unlike most short story competiions this one is FREE TO ENTER and winning authors will be paid royalties on their stories. The Rules You know we hate rules so we've tried to keep this simple.... 1} Stories must be LESS THAN 7500 words in length 2) Stories must NOT have been previously published. 3) Stories must be set firmly in the Crime/Thriller genre. 4) Existing Fahrenheit authors are very welcome to submit entries but the judges will be voting blind so there will be zero chance of preferential treatment. 5) This is meant to fun so use your common sense, stick to the rules, and don't be a dick. 6) ALL our decisions are...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: $50 for stories up to 1,500 words, rising to a maximum of $150 for stories up to 5,000 words. Does a train whistle in the distance make you excited, wistful, or afraid? Trains have fired the imaginations of many people, especially writers. Anna Karenina, Night on the Galactic Railroad, The Signal Man, Strangers on a Train, The Lady Vanishes, Murder on the Orient Express all use trains as their main setting, not to mention the trains in children’s books—like Thomas the Tank Engine, The Little Engine that Could, and The Polar Express. As travelers, we’ve been spurred to go farther because of trains, see new things, take chances. Trains have also, sometimes, pushed us too far, sliced the wilderness, inserted us into places to draw out resources, assisted in invasion. Trains, in a sense, even created Time as we know it. Trains altered our perceptions of identity, place, even of destiny. Suddenly, people could travel far away quickly, leave their families and homes for a better life, or opportunity—or people could escape the destiny of location. Step on a train, and you never know what you might find, or with whom you might cross paths. In essence, trains are Change. We’re looking for your stories of trains—fantasy, steampunk, science fiction, horror, slipstream, urban fantasy, apocalyptic, set in any time, any place,—we’ll buy a ticket on all of them. We’d like to see what you can do with a train. A good part of your story should take place on a train—or most, if you can do it. We don’t care what era, what planet, or how the train might look differently there (it might even be alive!) or even if the train is moving. We just want that train—what you do with it is your magic. This book will be...

Deadline: September 30, 2017 Payment: $200 for stories under 5,000 words and $500 for stories 5,000 words and longer. Contributors also receive a paper copy of the book. Note: I HIGHLY suggest reading the linked to pages here to see exactly what they're looking for. The Binge-Watching Cure II, our all horror edition is open for submissions. We want to see your most terrifying prose. We’re interested in the full range of horror fiction genres and topics: dark fantasy, vampires, zombies, werewolves, Cthulhu Mythos, pure horror, psychological horror, ghost stories, East European myths, kind fairies gone rogue, Japanese monsters, apocalyptic horror, gothic, and plain scary monsters. If your imagination can conjure it, we want to read it. The same general word length categories apply; we’re paying the same as we did for the first edition of The Binge-Watching Cure (which will be available later in 2017.)  Please see our submissions page for details on how to submit your story, and our FAQ for answers to your most pressing questions. For submissions, the only difference between the first edition and the horror edition is that you need to include the words “Horror Edition” in the subject line of your email. The deadline for submissions is June 30, 2017. We are not interested in fan fiction or stories with graphic or sexual violence against children, graphic incest, necrophilia, animal torture, or gore for gore’s sake. If you have a question, use our contact form or ping us in Twitter. Please don’t use the submissions email address for queries. Via: The Binge Watching Cure.

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: $5.00 flat rate plus equal share of 50% of the anthology’s royalties. Welcome to the Fluffy Bunny The Fluffy Bunny? You say? What kind of name is that for an adventurer’s bar? Well, it’s not only the name of the bar it’s also the name of that blade you see hanging over the bar. The blade I used to slay the ancient dragon Thorenoak. All adventurers are welcome here. But I have found the ones who are truly the bravest are not those who give themselves or their weapons grandiose names. They are the ones who are reluctant to tell their stories. However, the best stories come from the ones who have silly nicknames – like The Fluffy Bunny. So pull up a chair and tell us how your weapon earned its name. First drink is on the house. And depending on the quality of the tale another may follow as well. -- What we are looking for are Fantasy stories that feature your main character telling a tale about how they or their weapon earned their name. Humor is a plus. All stories need to start with: “This is my tale…” Please note the editor will be adding a frame to each story to maintain the illusion the story is taking place in The Fluffy Bunny and is being told to the bartender/patrons therein. You do not need to add any elements/breaks in the story – just tell the story about your hero and/or their weapon’s silly nickname. Break the story-writing rules if you want. If you use a tried and true plotline, twist it in an original and interesting way. Original stories are preferred. Query for reprints. ALL writers are encouraged to submit. Doesn’t matter if you’re a pro with years of credits,...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: 75% of net profit from each unit sold will be split between the accepted authors, with each author earning an equal split. Restrictions No Erotica Sex, profanity, gore, and adult themes are allowed, but any submission that relies too heavily on any of these will not be accepted. Word Count- 7,500-10,000 Genre: Horror Compensation-Royalties Accepting between 12 and 17 submissions. The goal is to showcase the talent of budding Independent Authors.  The Horror Anthology will be around 500 pages.  The final amount of accepted submissions will depend on the length of each accepted submission.  Indie Shelves Publishing will retain 25% of the net profits of each unit sold.  The remaining 75% of net profit from each unit sold will be split between the accepted authors, with each author earning an equal split.  5% of Indie Shelves Publishing’s 25% royalty will go to the chosen editor/s.  5% of Indie Shelves Publishing’s 25% royalty will go to the chosen cover designer/s. Each chosen author will be allowed a marketing page, immediately following their submission.  They will be able to list any other works, upcoming works, social media accounts, blog sites, or websites.  The goal is to help get you exposure. Indie Shelves Publishing values the success of the individual author, over its own financial gain.  If, at any time, the author is offered a more beneficial arrangement, or no longer feels that the inclusion of their work, in this anthology, is in their best interest, they may request the removal of their work from the anthology.  The request must be in writing. Once the written request is received, Indie Shelves Publishing will, within 30 days, remove the authors story from the published anthology.  Any/all distribution rights, with Indie Shelves Publishing, for works featured in this anthology, have...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: 1 cent per word Afrocentric Books is taking submissions for a futurism anthology. Futurism is a broad umbrella, encompassing many elements of science fiction and fantasy. For this anthology, we are most interested in science fiction. Time travel, space travel, cultures far advanced from our own. This world, other worlds, space stations, the setting doesn’t matter. We want adult science fiction stories in diverse settings, featuring diverse people. The “in the future all people are a uniform color of café au lait” trope does not interest us. While it is not necessary for you to describe the physical features of all your characters, we do want to know that one of your main characters is of indigenous African descent. Please read our general submission guidelines prior to submitting. 1,000-7,500 words, although we’ll consider pieces that fall outside those parameters on a case-by-case basis. Multiple and simultaneous submissions ok. No reprints. If accepted, pay is 1 cent per word. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2017.   Submit here. Via: Afrocentric Books.

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: $50 and a contributor's copy Books & Boos Press is now accepting short story submissions for an upcoming anthology of darkly funny stories, edited by award-winning writer and editor Rob Smales, tentatively titled A Sharp Stick in the Eye (and Other Funny Stories). What we’re looking for: Original stories that are both entertaining and fall firmly in the horror genre. Think Jeff Strand, Joe Lansdale, Shaun of the Dead, Zombieland. Make us die laughing. Books & Boos Press is committed to publishing well-written horror. We are less concerned with how well known or established you are, and more concerned with the quality of the writing submitted. Write your story, polish it up, and see if you can make us laugh. Please note: submissions will be read blind, meaning all author information will be stripped from the story before the editor receives it. To maintain objectivity, we request that when submitting, you refrain from posting your story title on social media. Submission guidelines: ● Length: 4,000–8,000 words. ● Format: Times New Roman, 12-point font, double line spacing. Use indents, NOT tabs. Only one space after each period. Use italics, not underlines. Please include your name, contact information, and word count at the top of the title page. No headers or footers. ● Submit your manuscript as a .docx, .doc, or .rtf attachment to [email protected]. The body of the email should be a brief (one page max) cover letter giving a summary of the story, who you are, and any recent publications. Manuscripts submitted in the body of the email instead of as an attachment will be automatically rejected. ● No simultaneous or multiple submissions allowed. We will reject as we go, so writers will have an opportunity to submit another story if the first one doesn’t...

Deadline: September 30th, 2017 Payment: $30 per story, $10 per poem Please read the following in its entirety before submitting. The rules are needed, and EC will not consider your work if they have not been followed. It's important to read samples of published work on EC. You can find just a few examples here. HERE IS HOW YOU SUBMIT: No unsolicited work of any kind is being accepted. Only the kind of submissions outlined below will be accepted at EC. -- Six times a year, writers and poets will have a chance to submit fairy-tale inspired stories and poems. No non-fiction of any kind. -- Here are the submission periods: Months--January, March, May, July, September, November.      -- Days of those months--the first through the 30th. That's starting at 12 a.m. on the first day of a submission month. That's ending at 11:59 p.m. of the 30th of a submission month (28th for February). Those are Eastern Standard Times.      -- No stories or poems will be accepted in the following months, so please do not send any: February, April, June, August, October, December.      -- You submit through email only. Please use this address only: [email protected]. That's for submissions only.      -- All questions, but no submissions, should be sent to [email protected].      -- Your last name, the month and the year should be in the subject line of the email.      -- You must be 18 years old or older, but may be from any country.      -- You should try to use American English word forms and punctuation.      -- Do not send attachments. They will not be opened or considered. Paste your work in the body of an email.      -- You will receive a response telling you I have received your...

Deadline: October 1st, 2017 Payment: $20.00 - $40.00 and a contributor's copy Fiction: All stories must end with the last line provided. The line cannot be altered in any way, unless otherwise noted by the editors. The story should be between 300 and 5,000 words (this is more like a guideline and not a hard-and-fast rule; going over or under the word count won't get your story tossed from the slush pile). Also, we understand that writers may add our last line to a story that they are currently working on or have already completed, and that's cool. But please do not add our last 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 last lines. All Stories: Writers should include a two- to three-sentence biography of themselves that will appear in the magazine should their story run. Multiple Submissions: We don't mind if you want to submit multiple stories for the same issue. However, it is unlikely we will use more than one of your stories in the same issue. Submissions: We prefer you send manuscripts via e-mail to submission (@) thelastlinejournal (dot) com. We accept stories in MS Word or Word Perfect format (we prefer attachments). Please do not send .pdf versions of your story. Make sure your name and contact information, as well as your bio, are part of the attachment. Stories also can be sent to The Last Line's post office box (PO Box 250382, Plano, TX, 75025-0382). No manuscripts will be returned without an accompanying SASE with sufficient return postage. Here is the last line for 2017: Benjamin was a man of his word. Due date: October 1, 2017 Notification: We don't make decisions about stories until after...