Taking Submissions: Ripples in Space
Deadline: February 28th, 2025
Payment: $20
Theme: Science fiction stories that fit snugly within the imagery, concept, and theme of first contact
Samak Press is planning our first science fiction anthology Ripples in Space for publication in 2025.
The anthology’s title, Ripples in Space, alludes to a central theme of first contact between intelligent species and what happens during these encounters. First contact could involve aliens visiting Earth, Explorers from Earth visiting an alien world, or aliens discovering other aliens. All of these scenarios are open territory meant to be explored in this anthology.
What we want
For this anthology, Samak Press seeks original science fiction stories that fit snugly within the imagery, concept, and theme of first contact. Tales submitted to Ripples in Space can encompass more than one science fiction subgenre or blend other speculative genres into the narrative, if the central sci-fi thematic element is present in the story. We want suspenseful stories you can’t put down and thoughtful tales that linger with you long after the final page.
Original compelling stories will grab our attention. Stale retreads of familiar sci-fi cliches will banish you straight to the slush pile, never to return.
Dare to think beyond the usual tropes. Resist the urge to travel down the lazy path and craft a tale that feels like it’s ripped straight from the writer’s room of a Star Trek or Star Wars series or reads like fanfic for a major franchise like Alien or The Terminator. Avoid lazy cliches and tropes like omniscient paternalistic aliens sending Earth a message or space marines battling virtually unstoppable alien monsters. Craft deep, layered characters, paint mind-blowing visuals, and evoke a sense of wonder or dread. Surprise us with your story. Make us think.
Samak Press will automatically reject stories with extreme gore or stories that glorify sexual violence, child abuse, cruelty to animals, or other deviant behavior.
AI Warning
Samak Press does not accept submissions written, developed or assisted by AI tools such as ChatGPT. We want stories created and written by real living human beings. Any attempts to submit AI-assisted work will result in a permanent ban from future submissions to Samak Press.
Submissions
Submit your story using the classic or modern Shunn Standard Manuscript Format via email. Your manuscript must be attached in DOC, DOCX, RTF, or ODT file format. All submissions must be emailed to [email protected] with your story title followed by the words “science fiction anthology submission” written in the email subject line. (Example: STORY TITLE/SCIENCE FICTION ANTHOLOGY SUBMISSION).
Please include a cover letter in the body of your submission email. The cover letter should include your name, mailing address, and contact information. It should also include a short author biography (150 to 200 words) and a brief two to three paragraph summary of what your story is about and why you feel it would be a good fit for the anthology.
Deadline
The window for submissions will remain open until February 28, 2025. Any story submissions after that date will automatically be rejected.
Word count
Stories must be between 1,500 and 7,500 words. No more. No less. Submissions falling outside of either end of this range will be automatically rejected.
Payment
Authors will be paid a flat $20 (USD) via Paypal upon publication if their story is chosen for the anthology. They will also receive a complimentary eBook edition of the anthology.
Rights
Samak Press acquires exclusive first world serial rights, exclusive first electronic rights, and exclusive anthology rights for each story included in the anthology for the duration of one year from publication. We also acquire an option for exclusive worldwide audio rights for the duration of one year from the time the anthology is produced as an audiobook or podcast episode.
All specified rights revert to non-exclusive after the specified one-year window has elapsed. If a story is published elsewhere after this window, we request the author includes a note stating that their story first appeared in the Ripples in Space anthology published by Samak Press.
Simultaneous submissions/reprints
Samak Press will not accept any simultaneous submissions or reprints for this anthology. We seek only original unpublished stories. Stories previously posted on blogs, author websites, Medium, Patreon, Substack, and Beehiv in any form are considered a published work and will be ineligible for inclusion in the anthology.
Multiple submissions
Please limit your submission to one story per anthology. Multiple submissions to the same anthology are not allowed.
Response times
Samak Press will respond to every submission within 90 days after the submission window is closed. Due to the anticipated volume of submissions, we cannot offer personalized feedback on every rejected story. If you have not heard back from us after the specified 90-day period has elapsed, direct your inquires to [email protected].
DO NOT contact our editorial staff through their personal emails or social media accounts.
Privacy
Samak Press will not share author’s personal information (name, address, email, phone, et al) with anyone outside our editorial staff without express written permission from the author.
Via: Samak Press.