Blog Chatter for December! First off, welcome to any new followers! I know there will be at least a few or more this month, as I know several joined a writer's group I'm in after Fyrecon wrapped up. I hope this blog will help you with your creative endeavors. Fingers crossed and wishing us all much success.
What a blast Fyrecon was! I really enjoyed having my first experience on a roundtable, two roundtables in fact. It was really nerve-wracking at first, but everyone was friendly, and there was not much of a crowd (most were attending other classes), so it was a good way for me to experience that for the first time. Plenty of great classes, but I have to say, my favorite aspect of the con this year was chatting with lots of people. The discussions inspired me, even in small matters.
In other news, there is a story anthology on Kickstarter right now that I think everyone should consider backing. Go support 4th and Starlight, an anthology of nineteen fantasy and science fiction stories edited and illustrated by M. Elizbeth Ticknor. They have five more days on their Kickstarter. Should be a great read. I have some of my writer friends in there, and I know they produce high quality stories. Enjoy the reads if you do get yourself a copy.
Next, let's take a look at my stats for 2021 as we move closer to the end of the year. I continued with last year's goal of collecting one hundred rejections or more. I know some might think that's pessimistic, but it's not. This mindset makes my rejections less of a downer, and more of a 'this is just part of the process of furthering my fledgling career'. This rejections as goal, paired with tracking of said goal, also pushes me to submit more stories and poetry with the hopes they will one day find their readers.
Stats for 2021 (edited further on 12/5/2021)
Accepted: 3 (2 short stories, 1 flash as scholarship for Fyrecon 2021)
Pending: 25 (1 novella, 12 novelettes/short stories, 4 flash/drabble, 8 poems)
Rejections: 128 (63 short stories, 24 flash, 36 poetry, 1 novella, 1 pitch)
Total Subs: 156 (2 novella, 77 novelette/short, 31 flash/drabble, 44 poetry, 1 pitch)
Rejections (total received in 2021, including for those submissions made in 2020 but rejected this year): 146 (71 short stories, 31 flash, 39 poetry, 1 novella, 1 pitch)
Writers of the Future Results: Q1 Silver Honorable Mention, Q2-R, Q3-R, Q4-Pending
If you'd like to read my first story sale made at pro rates (according to HWA), then pre-order now. My story "Stone Shaper Tanukis Estranged" will be in
Volume Blue of Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging, scheduled for publication on the 13th of this month. That's in a little over a week! OMG!
Order from Improbable Press here, or from Amazon here.
Check out the promo for my story on the YouTube channel of Improbable Press. A rock band from South Africa added clips from one of their songs to my reading of the opening pages. Oh, and many of the other authors did readings of their stories for this anthology. You can find them on that channel.
As for my other short story acceptance, I have just signed the contract, but it's too soon to tell you any details. All I can say for now is that it will be my second pro sale and will be published in 2022. In the meantime, I now have an official Goodreads author profile, so if you use that, you can follow me and add Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging to your TBR pile. And whatever comes next.
The flash acceptance I decided to add to the acceptances stats is one used to attend two master workshops at Fyrecon. They may or may not publish it in the future, so we'll see how that one pans out.
For comparison's sake, I decided to show you my final stats for 2020 as well:
Final Stats for 2020
Accepted: 2 (1 flash at Weird Christmas, 1 flash scholarship for Fyrecon 2020)
Pending: 23 (13 novelettes/short stories, 7 flash, 3 poems)
Rejections: 115 (74 novelettes/short stories, 36 flash, 4 poems, 1 grant application)
Total Subs: 140 (87 novelettes/short stories, 44 flash, 7 poems, 1 grant application, 1 flash scholarship)
Writers of the Future Results: Q1-R, Q2-R, Q3-HM, Q4-HM
Currently reading: Just finished up Abercrombie's Wisdom of Crowds and now I'm in the middle of listening to Leviathan Falls, the last book in James S.A. Corey's Expanse series. Very sad to finish this series. I love how they show the emotions and growth of the characters. I had wanted to read back through all of The Expanse this year, but I think I will try to do that in 2022. If anyone's interested, let me know. I would be reading it and taking writerly notes. Probably in the summer, as I'm considering dark fiction study sessions with Writing in the Dark by Tim Waggoner (possibly with others if there's any interest). This month, I'll also be finishing up Black Feathers edited by Ellen Datlow and The All-Consuming World by Cassandra Khaw. Black feathers was supposed to inspire the short story I'm writing for a January deadline, though it wasn't quite a perfect fit.
Currently gaming: finally grabbed The Last of Us 2 for cheap and am slowly playing through it on my old PS4. Loving it so far. Very brutal, grim, and sad as expected but the central character relationship is lovely. I've also gotten into playing League of Legends a bit, after enjoying the impressive Arcane on Netflix. I do recommend watching that show to see how they crafted their characters and world. I'll be using it for inspiration in my own craft. Such a high-quality production all around. If you do play League, I can give you some solid support as a Vi jungler.
On to the deadlines: I've updated sections 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6. I'll be updating everything again over the week, in case I missed anything. I might add more to the semi-token categories at that point, but we'll see how much time I have. Feel free to tell if there is anything I missed.
Good luck with your writing and submissions. Positive thoughts and much hope for everything else.
R.J.K.
Table of Contents (scroll down to each section for clickable links)
1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (12/5/2021 and beyond; pro rates)
2. Publications Open for Submission (no specified deadline; pro rates)
3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (12/5/2021 and beyond; semi-pro or token)
4. Publications Open for Submission (no specified deadline; semi-pro or token)
5. Submission Deadlines/Windows (12/5/2021 and beyond; advance and/or royalties)
6. Closed Publications
7. Search for More Markets
8. Advice, Motivation, and Workshops
9. More Links
1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (12/5/2021 and beyond; pro rates)
11/29-12/5, Augur Magazine Issue 5.1 Joyful Imaginations (limited window: BIPOC/Disabled/Trans who are Canadian or living in Canada), ~5000 words, 11¢CAD/word ($110CAD/flash), Genre: any speculative (likes dream-touched realism, slipstream, fabulism, magical realism, and literary spec; not interested in pandemic fiction or hard scifi, mostly wants human/character-driven narratives; best submission defies categories; something too spec or not spec enough for other magazines), Theme: Joy and Joyful Imaginations for this issue (full spectrum, see website for more details), Poetry (up to 5 pages/poem; up to 5 poems and 10 pages total; $60CAD/word), Simultaneous OK (disclose in cover letter), Multiple OK (up to 2 short stories/window, up to 5 poems, or up to 3 graphic fiction shorts; if mixed types then up to 4 pieces total/window), Art (closed to general subs but email portfolios and will file for reference), Anonymous submissions, use Moksha portal for submissions
12/1-12/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors
12/1-12/7, Micro Madness (Cosmic Horror Monthly), ~500 words, three winners/month ($100 for 1st, $50 for 2nd, $25 for 3rd), Genre: cosmic horror/dark SF/weird, submit with cover letter to flashfiction@cosmic-horror.net
11/1-12/8, Cemetery Gates Society Monthly Contest: Nov/Dec "Creepypasta" Issue, 1000-3000 words, $100 prize (multiple winners; 2000 words or less equals 5¢/word or better), Genre: horror, Theme: creepypasta (tends to read better in first-person narrative, though not essential), Multiple: NO, Simultaneous: probably NO (but doesn't state either way), email subs to cemeterygatesmedia@gmail.com and in the subject line of your email state the theme, your wordcount, and story title
12/9, Three Time Travelers Walk Into, around 4000 words, 5¢/word (5000 word cap), Theme: toss together any three famous people from history and have an adventure, Reprints NO, Simultaneous No, Multiple NO, sub RTF files in Times New Roman font to Michael.Ventrella@gmail.com
12/16, Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Horror, Theme Prompt: Shadow Lurkers, must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Maria Pia Tissot, maria@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, note: every month will be a different genre with a new prompt
12/6-12/19, Augur Magazine Issue 5.1 Joyful Imaginations (window for all authors), ~5000 words, 11¢CAD/word ($110CAD/flash), Genre: any speculative (likes dream-touched realism, slipstream, fabulism, magical realism, and literary spec; not interested in pandemic fiction or hard scifi, mostly wants human/character-driven narratives; best submission defies categories; something too spec or not spec enough for other magazines), Theme: Joy and Joyful Imaginations for this issue (full spectrum, see website for more details), Poetry (up to 5 pages/poem; up to 5 poems and 10 pages total; $60CAD/word), Simultaneous OK (disclose in cover letter), Multiple OK (up to 2 short stories/window, up to 5 poems, or up to 3 graphic fiction shorts; if mixed types then up to 4 pieces total/window), Art (closed to general subs but email portfolios and will file for reference), Anonymous submissions, identify as Canadian or International in submission form, use Moksha portal for submissions
12/6-12/20, Baffling Magazine (Issues 9 and 10), ~1200 words (wants more stories under 500 words), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/Fantasy/Horror (welcomes indefinable, weird, slipstream, and interstitial) with queer bent (wants queer/trans/aro/ace stories), Theme: for this window seeking food themed stories and unthemed stories, note: submissions open to all (though particularly interested in queer stories and authors), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, Reprints NO, submit stories in .doc/.docx in Standard Manuscript Format (one editor likes Georgia font and dislikes Courier) with cover letter stating title, length, and a brief bio
11/15-12/20, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast), ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: YA (12-17 age range) of any genre (SF/Fantasy/Horror/Comedy/Supernatural Romance/Superheroes and others) that matches core theme (wants stories to evoke a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to Moksha link
10/1-12/31, WotF Q4, ~17000 words (generally should aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
12/1-12/31 (may close earlier if reach submissions cap), The Cincinnati Review, ~10,000 words, about 10¢/word (specifically $25/page), Genre: general/literary, Poetry OK ($30/page), Simultaneous OK, three submissions windows (opening the 1st of September, December, and May and closing at the end of the month or when they reach a cap on submissions)
8/27-12/31, Noir, ~7500 words, Genre/Theme: SF/Fantasy/Urban Fantasy with a detective/private investigator set-up and a noir atmosphere, 8¢/word, submit story to contact@zombiesneedbrains.com
8/27-12/31, Shattering the Glass Slipper, ~7500 words, Genre/Theme: fairy tales that have been upended, gender-bent, or twisted around (especially like non-European; also avoid doing same as anchor authors, see link on site), 8¢/word, submit story to contact@zombiesneedbrains.com
8/27-12/31, Brave New Worlds, ~7500 words, Genre/Theme: SF set along the pathway of us leaving Earth for the stars, 8¢/word, submit story to contact@zombiesneedbrains.com
9/28-12/31, Into the Forest (a women-in-horror anthology), 1000-5000 words, 6¢/word, Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror, Theme: stories inspired by and featuring the Baba Yaga, Limited Demographic: all writers who identify as women are welcome to submit
1/1/2022-1/7/2022 (tentative date; states on website that they plan reopen in January 2022), Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)
1/1-1/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors
12/17-1/9, Compelling Science Fiction (a Gothic Fantasy short story collection from Flame Tree), details forthcoming in blog post on 12/17 but based on their last two it is likely to be as follows: 2000-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: SF (new tales which are scientifically plausible and accurate; time can be stretched, other worlds discovered, aliens can be present and quantum realms can be explored, but preferably all with a strong spine of identifiable logic), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK, note: will update when more details provided
12/17-1/9, The Christmas Gothic (a Gothic Fantasy short story collection from Flame Tree), details forthcoming in blog post on 12/17 but based on their last two it is likely to be as follows: 2000-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: fantasy/supernatural (seasonal celebration of the dark and moody, the ghastly, the ghostly and the magical Christmas short story; looking for new submissions to join the classic tales of Algernon Blackwood, James Joyce, E.F. Benson and Elizabeth Gaskill), Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK, note: will update when more details provided
1/1-1/14, Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk/SF/F/slipstream/magical realism/urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Translations OK, Simultaneous NO, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside)
1/15/2022 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: varies (the newsletter at the start of every month will provide the new prompt and new genre, previously Horror and SF), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Maria Tissot, maria@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, note: every month will be a different genre and there will only be one prompt
11/15-1/15, Reinvented Detective (Book 2 in the Reinvented Anthology Series), an anthology edited by Jennifer Brozek and Cat Rambo, 1500-5000 words (5k is a tough sell), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/Crime (seeks stories that experiment, astonish, and entertain), Theme: how does crime and detection change as we progress through the age of information (see more details on website), Multiple NO, Simultaneous OK, to be published in 2023, find Book 1 in the series here
1/15~beyond, Zooscape reopens for subs, ~10,000 words, 8¢/word (flash and $80 for longer), Genre/Theme: anything furry/anthropomorphic animal figure, Multiple query
1/1-1/21, Flash Fiction Online, open 1st-21st (closed Dec.), 500-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Multiple (only 1 original and 1 reprint story concurrently), Reprints 2¢/word, anonymous submissions, note: closed in December
10/1-1/31, Nothing Without Us Too (anthology), 500-3500 words, 0.08CAD/word, Genre: any genre fiction (romance, SF/F, paranormal, mystery, etc.) and realistic/literary fiction (but no erotica, no fanfic), Theme: the protagonist must be disabled, blind, deaf, neurodivergent, and/or managing a mental illness or chronic illness, Limited to writers across the disability, mental illnesss, developmental disabilities, neurodiversity, blind, and deaf spectrums (however, no works from authors included in the first anthology Nothing Without Us), Note that due to the grant received for the anthology submissions from Canadian authors are given priority (submissions from anywhere in the world are welcome though), Simultaneous OK, Multiple No (can send a new story if first submission is rejected), send submissions to nwuanthology@gmail.com
1/1-1/31, Nashville Review, ~8000 words, a flat $100/story (so about 1-10¢/word), Genre: general/literary, may submit short stories and novel excerpts up to 8000 words or submit three flash pieces in one document up to 1000 words each, Simultaneous OK, Creative Non-fiction OK (~8000 words), Poetry OK (1-3 poems within one document per submission; $25/poem), Art OK (see site for details), three submissions windows (9/1-9/30, 1/1-1/31, 5/1-5/31)
1/1-1/31, Split Lip Magazine (free submission month; may close early), ~3000 words, flat rate of $50 for flash/short stories/poetry/memoirs/art (so 5¢/word for ~1000 word stories; longer than that and the rate isn't as good), Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (only send one per sub period), free submissions months include the following: January, March, May, August, September, November
2/1, CatsCast (an Escape Artists Podcast), ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: fun speculative cat stories (happy, or at least hopeful, endings for all featured cats; humor is strongly encouraged but not required), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint; don’t submit here and to another Escape Artists podcast at the same time), Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to Moksha link, use Standard Manuscript Format, don’t submit a story that has appeared in any of the other Escape Artists podcasts (Escape Pod, PodCastle, PseudoPod, or Cast of Wonders)
10/1-2/1 (tentative dates, listing based on last years details), Jim Baen Memorial Award, ~8000 words, grand prize (published at 8¢/word, engraved trophy, entry into International Space Development Conference, year membership in National Space Society, books and merchandise), 2nd and 3rd place (entry into International Space Development Conference, year membership in National Space Society, books and merchandise), Genre: SF, Theme: the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration
2/1-2/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors
2/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: varies (the newsletter at the start of every month will provide the new prompt and new genre, previously Horror and SF), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Maria Tissot, maria@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, note: every month will be a different genre and there will only be one prompt
11/15-2/15, Orpheus + Eurydice Unbound (air and nothingness press), 1000-3500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Theme: writers encouraged to write around one of the anthology's sections inspired by the Orpheus and Eurydice tale (The Wedding, The Snake/The Attack/The Death, The Quest, and The Look Back), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Reprints NO, Standard Manuscript format w/ a few changes (Page Size: Letter; Margins: .5”; Font: Calibri 11 point, single spaced), submit with a one paragraph bio, email submissions to info@aanpress.com
11/16-2/15, Dark Recesses (window for Spring Issue), 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: horror/dark fiction, note variants from standard manuscript format (single-spaced, no indents), Nonfiction OK (but read specifics on their site)
2/1-2/21, Flash Fiction Online, open 1st-21st (closed Dec.), 500-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Multiple (only 1 original and 1 reprint story concurrently), Reprints 2¢/word, anonymous submissions, note: closed in December
2/21-2/28, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Halloween Submissions, ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: specifically a Halloween submissions window (also should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to Moksha link
2/29 (my tentative assumption), Pseudopod (general submissions), 1500-6000 words (prefer about 4500; also flash under 1500 welcome), 8¢/word (reprints of flash at $20), Genre/Theme: any horror for audio, Simultaneous OK (but with disclosure!), Multiple OK (one original and one reprint)
3/1-3/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window limited to BIPOC, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors
3/1-3/14, Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk/SF/F/slipstream/magical realism/urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Translations OK, Simultaneous NO, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside)
1/1-3/31, WotF Q1, ~17000 words (generally should aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
4/1-4/14, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Banned Books Week 2022, ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: specifically a Banned Books Week submissions window (also should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
5/1-5/14, Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk/SF/F/slipstream/magical realism/urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Translations OK, Simultaneous NO, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside)
5/1-5/14, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Special Themed Call TBD, ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: specifically a Special Themed Call that is TBD (generally should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them), Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
5/1-5/31, Nashville Review, ~8000 words, a flat $100/story (so about 1-10¢/word), Genre: general/literary, may submit short stories and novel excerpts up to 8000 words or submit three flash pieces in one document up to 1000 words each, Simultaneous OK, Creative Non-fiction OK (~8000 words), Poetry OK (1-3 poems within one document per submission; $25/poem), Art OK (see site for details), three submissions windows (9/1-9/30, 1/1-1/31, 5/1-5/31)
6/15-6/30, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Limited Demographic (only open to authors 19 years or under as of the end of June 2022), ~6000 words (query for longer; best fit is 3000-4500 or flash <1000), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: generally should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them, Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
4/1-6/30, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
8/1-8/31, Cast of Wonders (an Escape Artists Podcast): Flash Fiction Contest, ~1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: generally should be YA, 12-17 age range, include a sense of wonder, have deep emotional resonance, and have something unreal about them, Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (notify if accepted elsewhere and may consider as reprint), Multiple NO, Editor: Katherine Inskip, send submissions to
Moksha link
9/1-9/30 (may close earlier if reach submissions cap), The Cincinnati Review, ~10,000 words, about 10¢/word (specifically $25/page), Genre: general/literary, Poetry OK ($30/page), Simultaneous OK, three submissions windows (opening the 1st of September, December, and May and closing at the end of the month or when they reach a cap on submissions)
7/1-9/30, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset
10/1-12/31, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1st $1000, 2nd $750, 3rd $500, annual grand $5000, plus Hollywood workshop; semi-finalists get feedback), Genre: F/SF, Note: contest for new writers w/o 4+ pro-level publications (8¢/word pro rates); the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website, also check out Wulf Moon's workshops for extra help on crafting winning stories and mindset 2. Publications Open for Submission (no specified deadline; pro rates)
Anathema: Spec from the Margins, 1500-6k words (if 1500-2k words pays 5¢/word), $100 CAD/story ($50/poem), Genre: SF/F/H, Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (under 100 lines, Non-Fiction OK (1500-3000 words), Limited demographic: queer/two-spirit person of colour/Indigenous/Aboriginal, Note on Genre/Theme: "We are open to any form of genre or speculative content. We talk about what we do as "SF/F/H, the weird, slipstream, surrealism, fabulism, and more," elsewhere on the site. But we are not limited to those genres. Use them as a starting point and send whatever you want: as long as it's got some kind of speculative content we'll consider it. And we are also interested in seeing work that has been difficult to place because of content or perspective."
Cathedral Canyon Review, ~5500 words for fiction and nonfiction (~1000 words flash fiction), 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: literary, Poetry OK (3-5 submitted in the same document; $20/poem), Art OK ($25/image), Simultaneous OK, email submissions, Limited to an author or artist living in the Southwest (generally California, Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, and Utah) and especially interested in BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ writers
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 8¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-8¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter (fair warning: some have found their feedback, editing, and publication process rude or unhelpful, and so, I've left them off the monthly deadlines list. Personally, I'll still be subbing to them but some writers have been, to put it mildly, turned off by their approach, so keep this in mind)
Cricket, ~6000 words (best = 1200-1800 & 600-900), 25 cents/word, Genre/Theme: middle grade readers (realistic contemporary fiction, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, folk tales, myths and legends, and humor), also seeking poetry / nonfiction / puzzles / activities / art, Note: other magazines at the link include Babybug, Ladybug, Spider, Ask, Muse
Dark Recesses, 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: horror/dark fiction, four submission windows (9/1-11/30, 12/1-2/28 or 29, 3/1-5/31, 6/1-8/31, note variants from standard manuscript format (single-spaced, no indents), Nonfiction OK (but read specifics on their site)
Galaxy's Edge, ~10,000 words (novelettes a harder sale), 7¢/word, Genre: SF/F (subgenres welcome, such as space opera, steampunk, urban fantasy, africanfuturism, magical realism, dark fantasy, dystopian SF, etc.), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit via
the Moksha portal
Nashville Review, ~8000 words, a flat $100/story (so about 1-10¢/word), Genre: general/literary, may submit short stories and novel excerpts up to 8000 words or submit three flash pieces in one document up to 1000 words each, Simultaneous OK, Creative Non-fiction OK (~8000 words), Poetry OK (1-3 poems within one document per submission; $25/poem), Art OK (see site for details), three submissions windows (9/1-9/30, 1/1-1/31, 5/1-5/31)
Solarpunk Magazine, 500-7500 words, 8¢/word ($80 min), Genre: any (prefers solarpunk / SF/F / slipstream / magical realism / urban fantasy; not strict about genre), Theme: solarpunk (specifically any work that "speculates about a better world in an equitable future where humanity and technology have either achieved a healthy balance with nature, or have adapted to climate change in creative ways"), (Poetry OK (up to 5 poems or 5 pages of poems, whichever is shorter; $40/poem), Simultaneous OK, Multiple (one submission per category of flash, short story, and poetry), Nonfiction OK (1000-1500 words, $75/piece), Art OK ($100/reprint cover, $300 original cover, $50 reprint inside, $150 original inside), Submission window for Issue 1 is 11/1/1-11/14, Note: this window depends on their
September/October Kickstarter success
Split Lip Magazine, ~3000 words, flat rate of $50 for flash/short stories/poetry/memoirs/art (so 5¢/word for ~1000 word stories; longer than that and the rate isn't as good), Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (only send one per sub period), free submissions months include the following: January, March, May, August, September, November
Strange Horizons (; open to poetry), ~10,000 words (~5000 best), 10¢/word, Genre: speculative (broadly defined), Poetry (up to 6 poems at a time, in same file OK, $50/poem), Art OK (email, see website), Nonfiction OK (email, see website), Simultaneous NO, will reopen to fiction subs in 2022
Terraform, ~2000 words, 20¢/word, Genre: SF, Theme: nearer future fiction any form welcome ("classic-style SF short stories, social media posts from beyond the horizon, fictive data dumps, experimental graphic narratives, and so on"), Note: send submissions to terraform.motherboard@gmail.comThe Antihumanist, ~1000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: any genre that fits the theme, Theme: fiction that "challenges human centred narratives" and "forces us to confront our place in the universe," Simultaneous OK
The Dark, 2000-6000 words, 6¢/word,
Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy/ExperimentalThe Deadlands, ~5000 words (sweet spot = 3-4k), 10¢/word,Genre/Theme: speculative fiction that concerns itself with death–but also everything death may involve, Reprints OK (~5000 words, 1¢/word), Poetry OK during open periods (currently closed since June 14th; when open: 3 poems/submission, $50/poem), Nonfiction OK (1-4k words, $100/essay), Art OK ($100/cover art), closing 12/19/2021-1/19/2022
3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (12/5/2021 and beyond; semi-pro or token)
12/5, Fall Into the Abyss (The Great Void Books), 4,000-15,000 words, $5 or royalties (whichever is greater; royalties = 40% net profit divided equally among the contributors of that anthology), Theme: Weird Fiction and Cosmic Horror, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), more details on their website
12/1-12/7 (BIPOC only), Apparition Literature (Charm theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
12/15, Taming Space (The Great Void Books), 4,000-15,000 words, $5 or royalties (whichever is greater; royalties = 40% net profit divided equally among the contributors of that anthology), Theme: Space Opera, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), more details on their website
12/31, We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2021 (Neon Hemlock anthology), ~17,500 words, 1¢/word, speculative exploring queerness/transness, reprints from 2021 only, simultaneous OK, multiple OK
12/31, Felis Futura: An Anthology of Future Cats (Manawaker Studio, edited by CB Droege), no word limit on fiction (but novellas or above are a hard sell; 1¢/word, $5 min, $15/page of graphic narrative fiction), Genre/Theme: any genre as long as presents a world noticeably in the future (doesn't have to fit into these genres but examples given include SF/post-apocalyptic/solarpunk/slipstream/fantasy/magical realism/alt-history/supernatural/retro-futurism; also aiming at being accessible to YA so gore horror and erotic romance are not accepted), Theme: must prominently feature at least one cat (no necessarily of the genus Felis), Poetry OK ($10/poem; send no more than 5 at a time; past in email or attach as RTF if require special formatting), Art OK ($20 for internal B&W art, $100 negotiable for color cover art), send submissions to submissions@manawaker.com with ‘Felis Futura Submission’ and last name in subject line, include cover letter and bio
1/5, Extraordinary (The Great Void Books), 4,000-15,000 words, $5 or royalties (whichever is greater; royalties = 40% net profit divided equally among the contributors of that anthology), Theme: Mythology, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), more details on their website
1/1/2022-1/14, Cosmic Horror Monthly edited by Charles Tyra, 1000-7500 words, 3¢/word, Genre: cosmic horror/dark SF/weird, submit with cover letter to flashfiction@cosmic-horror.net
2/16, Maps & Biomes (Issue 4 of Mythulu Magazine), 500-2800 words, 4¢/word, Theme: innovative settings are the foundation for new genres (Why do readers care about maps and what makes a map legendary? Submit short stories that feature wildly original biomes or bizarre weather. Show us settings fundamentally at war with character needs), Non-fiction OK (200-1200 words, 8¢/word, theme: On the business side, how do you make your map earn an ROI? And most of all, what makes a world good enough to spawn a new genre?), Art OK
2/15-2/28 (all authors), Apparition Literature (Wanderlust theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
3/1-3/7 (BIPOC only), Apparition Literature (Wanderlust theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
5/15-5/31 (all authors), Apparition Literature (Omen theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
6/1-6/7 (BIPOC only), Apparition Literature (Omen theme), 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
5/1-5/31, Abyss & Apex (poetry window), prefers "lineated free verse with a limited amount of traditional form poetry with at least 9 lines or prose poems at least 50 words in length but we will publish brilliant shorter work", $5.50/poem, Genre/Theme: any speculative (seeks strong, emotionally resonant, literary-quality poetry with a clear speculative element), dark poetry welcome but not horror
4. Publications Open for Submission (no specified deadline; semi-pro or token)
Apparition Literature, 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative (F/SF/Horror/Literary; wants strange, heart-breaking emotion, pro-active characters, and style; see more details on website), Theme: Charm theme open to BIPOC until 12/7/2021 (upcoming themes are Wanderlust in February 2022, Omen in May, and Nostalgia in August), Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem), submission windows include February 15-28 (March 1-7 BIPOC creators only), May 15-31 (June 1-7 BIPOC creators only), August 15-31 (September 1-7 BIPOC creators only), November 15-30, (December 1-7 BIPOC creators only), submit stories to submissions@apparitionlit.com (use Shunn manuscript format, Times New Roman or Arial font, title file using story title and last name, attach to email as RTF file, email subject line of SUBMISSION: title of story)
Black Hare Press, 5000-17,000 words, $25 (5k-10k), $50 (10k-17k), Genre: anything dark, anonymous submissions, wants British spellings, anthology in print and digital formats, include in email real name, pseudonym, ~100 word bio w/ ~4 social links, 40-word blurb, ~500-word synopsis
Pressfuls, 2000-5000 words (3¢/word), 20,000-45,000 words (35% royalties), Genre: Horror/Fantasy/SF/Crime/Mystery, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Reprints NO, send subs to submissions@pressfuls.com, Editor-in-Chief: Roban Bandojo
Scrawl Place, ~900 words, $35/piece, Genre/Theme: pieces about, connected to, or associated with a specific, physical place that someone could visit (any content/style/form), Seeking fiction, poetry, hybrids, creative nonfiction, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (1-3 pieces at a time), Reprints OK
The Common Tongue Magazine, 600-6000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: only high fantasy with a dark tone (dark fantasy, grimdark, sword & sorcery), Languages: English or Spanish (translations also accepted), Poetry OK (up to 40 lines), Note: seeking original stories or stories set in their Arthuruin Shared Universe, Nonfiction OK (~2500 words, 3¢/word), Art OK ($200-400)
The Great Void Books, 4,000-15,000 words (website/anthologies), $5 or royalties (whichever is greater; royalties = 40% net profit divided equally among the contributors of that anthology), Genre: Horror/SF/Crime/Mystery/Fantasy/Romance, Themes vary depending on anthology, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), more details on their website, see deadlines for semi-pro for current anthology windows
5. Submission Deadlines/Windows (12/5/2021 and beyond; advance and/or royalties)
12/31, Opposites Attract (JMS Books), 12,000 words or more, Pay: 50% net royalties from all channels, paid quarterly, Genre: LGBTQ romance (any subgenre: contemporary, SF/F, historical, paranormal, western, etc.; must have HEA/HFN ending; adult stories only), Theme: opposites attract (characters who are complete opposites but fall in love anyway), also open to Jolly Holidays theme (New Year's and Valentine's Day stories have strict deadline of 10/31; stories set during winter holidays such as Hanukkah, Yule, Kwanzaa, Boxing Day, Chinese New Year, Diwali; state the holiday in your submission)
6. Publications Closed
Blood Knife, ~1200 words, 9¢/word, Genre: SF/F/H (especially likes dark fantasy, gothic fiction, cosmic horror, and cyberpunk), Theme: "emphasis on tone and style than on strict genre adherence," and "the decadent, the grotesque, the weird, the alienating, and the agonizing," and welcomes political content as well as sex/violence/gore, Simultaneous OK, Non-fiction OK ($60 for 800-word article), working through backlog and will reopen "sometime in the summer" but still no update since
Deep Magic, 1000-40,000 words, 8¢/word up to 7499 words ($599.92 pay cap above that), Genre: SF and Fantasy, Note: PG-13, Reprints OK (2¢/word up to 10,000 words and capped at $200 for longer), Note: permanently closed to submissions; they have just released their Best Of anthology Vol. 2 and I highly recommend it grabbing yourself a copy, and they will also be releasing a summer issue with a gorgeous cover and great stories), permanently closed (they just released their final issue--what a beautiful choice for the cover; might be one of my favs; sad to say goodbye, especially as I enjoyed doing a little first reading for them)
Hybrid Fiction, 500-5000 words (or serialized novellas), 6¢/word, Genre: speculative hybrid/cross-genre (blend of 2+ genres, such as dark fantasy, steampunk western, historical fantasy, weird western, crime fantasy, etc.), "on hiatus until further notice due to the pandemic," website expired which likely means they have closed for good
Strange Horizons (; open to poetry), ~10,000 words (~5000 best), 10¢/word, Genre: speculative (broadly defined), Poetry (up to 6 poems at a time, in same file OK, $50/poem), Art OK (email, see website), Nonfiction OK (email, see website), Simultaneous NO, will reopen to fiction subs in 2022
7. Search for More Markets
Where to Submit Short Stories: 30 Magazines and Websites That Want Your Work, a decent list with a literary focus
28 Themed Submission Calls for August by S. Kalekar, submission possibilities including a few good ones I haven't had time to add to the lists above
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: plenty of updated lists of agents, calls for submission, contests, conferences, recipes, and more
8. Advice, Motivation, and Workshops
Shadowspinners often has a wonderful assortment of blog posts from various writers, such as Eric M. Witchey.
M. Todd Gallowglas does some fun and engaging classes that really inspire you to produce meaningful new work; check out his shows on Twitch or his workshops
Wulf Moon's Super Secrets: a ton of great advice on writing short stories that win (he runs a workshop that you can peek in on and learn from as it goes)
Wulf Moon also has great workshops at Fyrecon, and is available as a professional editor and voice actor; check out his website for more info
Cat Rambo's Website: lots of good resources and classes
Submitting Short Fiction: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Genre Edition by Holly Lyn Walrath, a useful guide on playing the submission game written in 2019
9. More Links
Here are grants to apply for with the Speculative Literature Foundation
This is a listing at critter.org that shows general response times of various publications
Publisher's Pick Free Ebook of the Month (Maintained by Arc Manor of Galaxy's Edge)
On writing cover letters for submissions to the short fiction market by Christie
