Taking Submissions: Story Unlikely Magazine 2025 Window

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Deadline: September 29th, 2025
Payment: 8 cents per word, 2 cents per word for reprints
Theme: Action/adventure, general, fiction/narrative nonfiction, humor/comedy/satire, speculate (fantasy, sci fi, horror, magic realism, cyberpunk), memoir, western, romance, alternate history, suspense/thriller, mystery/crime, literary, and any cross/hybrid genres.
Note: Reprints Welcome

Submissions to our magazine run annually from February 2nd through September 29th

Why submit to us?
– WE PAY WRITERS FAIRLY. It’s hard work writing good stories, and you deserve to get paid. Or maybe you don’t and you’re just duping us? Regardless, we pay 8 cents a word (with a $500 cap), and 2 cents a word for reprints.
– NO SUBMISSION FEES. Nobody’s getting rich off $3 per submission, but paying money just for the privilege of receiving a form letter rejection is the worst. (Costs of running an E-zine aside) We’re going to go ahead and coin a phrase right here and now – ‘Write privilege’, get it? Of course, you do.
– GET YOUR WORK IN FRONT OF A LARGE AND GROWING AUDIENCE. Our aim is fixed on telling good stories, period, and because of that we have built a massive readership from all over the globe. Want to get your stories out to more than just dear old nana? Then you’ve come to the right place.
– REASONABLE TURN-AROUND TIME. If you haven’t heard from us within 90 days, then your story was rejected. Rejections stink – we get it – but its better than forever waiting and wondering.

– WORKABILITY. Is that the right term? Well, we’re going with it. Unlike large publishers who view authors as just a number, we actually work with you to help present the story in its best possible light. We do, however, expect reciprocity; Story Unlikely is comprised of volunteers who are by nature team players. If you’re an inflexible my way or the highway type – or even worse, an unbearable ideologue – then consider this a premature breakup. No really, it’s us, not you.
– GET ILLUSTRATED. We illustrate ALL stories we publish, and we think we’re doing a pretty bang-up job with that. You can learn more about our artists at Design Unlikely.
– GET REVIEWED. Although we’re not genre specific, since we’re a professional paying magazine, Tangent Online reviews any SF&F (loosely defined) stories we publish. Your story might even make their Annual Recommended Reading List.
– Still NOT CONVINCED? Then listen to a word from our CFO – who The Office fans may recognize – to our editor-in-chief on every writer’s bane: rejection. Yes, that’s a watchable video below, and you’ll find more of them (with other cheeky celebrities) littered throughout our site.

What to Submit to us?
– STORY LENGTH: Our story limit is 3,500 words

– CONTENT: To put it simply, we’re looking for good stories, measured both by the quality of the writing and the skill in storytelling. We prefer prose that elicits emotion: make us laugh or cry, think or consider, anything on the edge or in between.
– GENRE AND STYLE: Good stories don’t just come in all shapes and sizes, but in all genres, too (fiction and nonfiction). Although some genres naturally lend themselves to certain feelings, by no means do we expect authors to follow preordained paths. We like stories that cross genres, experiment, and push the boundaries of literature while maintaining the utmost quality in literary technique and storytelling, which is why we’re open to just about anything.
– WHAT WE’RE NOT LOOKING FOR: Excessive anything. Think PG-13, R if necessary. We’re not attempting to salt the earth with more cultural dogma couched as mediocre fiction, or writers who are jockeying for the title of Most Woke. There’s enough of that out there already. You want to impress us? Write a good story. You want to get published? Write a great one. What about AI? The stories we publish are for humans by humans. So no, we don’t accept AI written material. If you’re using AI to check spelling or grammar that’s fine, but the actual writing needs to be yours.
– NEW STORIES AND REPRINTS: We accept previously published stories – and oh how we love a good reprint(!), as long as you, dear author, have retained full rights. For reprints, we pay 2 cents per word.
– A NOTE ON PODCASTING: In 2023 we began producing podcast episodes. It’s a ton of fun, and a ton of work, so we’re dialing it back for now and may reboot in the future.
– ONE STORY PER AUTHOR PER 90 DAYS: We do not accept multiple submissions. We DO accept simultaneous submissions (IE, you can send it out somewhere else at the same time. Just inform us immediately if it is accepted.)

-PERSONAL FEEDBACK: Though we don’t respond to rejections, historically we have sent constructive feedback to stories that were close but didn’t quite cut the mustard (what does that even mean?).

How to Submit to us?
– BECOME A READER: Though we don’t charge for submissions, you do need to subscribe to our magazine (free) – this is how we publish our stories, and where you’ll see yours in digital print. Please note that although you’re welcome to unsubscribe at any time, by doing so will count as an automatic withdrawal for any pending or future submissions. DO NOT mark our emails as spam (and we know when this is done) – not only will you forfeit your entry, but you’ll be barred from future submissions. Harsh judgment, sure, but easily avoided on your end. Besides, you want to become the best writer you can be, right? To do that, you need to read the best writers out there, and who’s publishing better stories than Story Unlikely? Click HERE to subscribe.
– SUBMISSION PERIOD: Our standard submission period runs from February 2nd through September 29th.

– BY EMAIL: : Due to our endless quest to dodge overreactive spam blockers, we’ve changed our submission email to: [email protected], the same one we send our monthly issue through. As long as you type the word ‘Submission’ in the title, your story will end up in the right place. And this is important: make sure you type the word ‘submission’ in the title of your email, otherwise it may be lost!

– FORMATTING: Standard manuscript format is fine, but honestly, you’ve spent enough time writing the darn thing to worry about our silly preferences on spaces and underlines and, heaven forbid, a different font. If you’d like an in depth look into modern manuscript formatting, then read this article by Bruce Bethke over at Stupefying Stories, which pretty well sums up how we feel.Copy the sample below (like, not literally. Just follow the formatting (directions in red and blue), and insert the information pertaining to your submission):

If for some reason you can’t see the above picture, then follow the text guidelines below (if you CAN see it, feel free to skip this section:Email Subject line: (SUBMISSION: STORY TITLE, GENRE, REPRINT (if applicable))
Body of email: Include TITLE, (FICTION/NONFICTION,SUB GENRE (if applicable)),WORD COUNT, FIRST 250 words of the story (rounded to the nearest sentence), author bio as you want it to appear along with your published story, your contact info.Please include how you found Story Unlikely. If you’re really feeling chatty, tell us the main reason why you decided to submit a story to us – this feedback really helps us grow the magazine.Attachment: Attach your story as a DOC, DOCX, RTF, or something else if you want to be difficult.For previously PUBLISHED stories (reprints):
Email Subject line: (SUBMISSION, REPRINT, STORY TITLE)Body of email: Include TITLE, FICTION/NONFICTION,SUB GENRE (if applicable),WORD COUNT. FIRST 250 words of the story (rounded to the nearest sentence), author bio as you want it to appear along with your published story. Include your contact info and information on the previous publication (where and when, online or print, and previous payment, if any).Please include how you found Story Unlikely. If you’re really feeling chatty, tell us why you decided to submit a story – this feedback really helps us grow the magazine.Attachment: Attach your story as a DOC or DOCX, or something else if you want to be difficult.(If this is confusing, then just emulate our sample above)One last thing – if you’re an editor of a paying magazine, mention this. We may contact you at some point in the future if an opportunity for collaboration arises.

I submitted a story, now what?
– Seriously, subscribe to our magazine (free): We do NOT consider submissions from anyone who is not one of our readers – sorry, but we’re kind of inbred that way. You’re welcome to unsubscribe at any time, just be aware that doing so automatically withdraws any pending or future submissions. ** DO NOT* mark our emails as spam (and we know when this is done) – not only will you forfeit your entry, but you’ll be placed on our Excrement List, aka lifetime banishment from submitting, where only a generous donation to the human fund can bring you back into our good graces. Ok, we’re joking about the human fund, but not on the ban.
– Wait up to 90 days. If we have not contacted you within three months (or one month for members) from when you submitted your story, then it was not accepted. Remember, we don’t send rejection letters. Our motto: rejections are like bronchitis – ain’t nobody got time fo’ that!
– Tell your friends about us: You want them to see your work, don’t you? We also want word of mouth referrals, so talk us up to your inner circle like we’re Jinko’s circa 1998.
– Cheer up with your favorite carcinogen-filled soda and a little word of encouragement from the Story Unlikely team.
– If you have any additional questions, see our frequently asked questions page.
– And because you’ve made it this far, treat yourself to our very touching submission song…

 

Bonuses if you are a member of Story Unlikely:

  • paying MEMBERS can submit until October 14th
  • All MEMBERS get their stories reviewed within ONE month!
  • MEMBERS can submit up to 12,500 word stories.
  • MEMBERS can submit stories once every 30 days!
  • we will only respond with personal critiques to MEMBERS
  • MEMBERS can skip the complicated email and use our handy SUBMISSION FORM. (Seriously though, if you’re a Member, use the form to submit, otherwise those added perks may fall through the cracks.)

Via: Story Unlikely.

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