Wednesday, August 4, 2021

August 2021 update

August update.

Hope you all got what you wanted subbed in July. I managed to hit the main subs I wanted to get in, Augur, Spirit Machine, Mysterion, Things with Feathers, and a few others.

I just signed the contract for a short story to be published in the Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging anthology with a tentative publication date of early 2022. Now I need to work on writing edits as requested for another possible publication.

Other than that, I've now hit 104 total submissions in 2021, and have no plans to slow down, unless I give into the desire to put more work into my novels (either the ones I've already finished or come near to finishing, or new ones). I've listed my basic stats at the end of this blog post, so we can get right to the list of deadlines, windows, and publications for us to submit our creative works to. Best of luck in your writing endeavors everyone. I've also tried to note any places that you can submit poetry, art, and nonfiction. I'm submitting fiction and poetry, so those tend to be the most up-to-date, but do hope the list helps anyone submitting art and nonfiction as well.

Some of my recent reads:

Stephen King's new crime novel Billy Summers: just started listening; superb crime build-up so far.

Neon Leviathan by T.R. Napper: just read the first three stories so far, and wow! Definitely my kind of thing. Dark, psychological, immersive, includes a language that is not English, and makes plenty of connections made between every detail. Napper was a 2015 winner of the Writers of the Future with one of the stories in this anthology, Twelve Minutes to Vinh Quang.

Something is Killing the Children Volumes 1-3: just finished the trilogy and it's perfect. Packed with layered characters and worldbuilding, supernatural suspense that doesn't shy away from violent and dark and terrifying. I won't be reading the single issues yet, though my friend and I chattered for a while about what we guess will happen or be revealed next, but I'll wait until volume 4 is released to read any more of this. It felt on the level of Joe Hill's amazing Locke & Key though with a different focus. 

Gardens of the Moon by Steven Erikson: I'm about halfway through and still figuring out what's going on and loving it. So much depth and detail. So many interesting characters and settings. Love the way magic works here, so potent and alive and devastating. The idea of the Warrens! The mix of the moon, the marines, the thieves, the mythology and wars. That detail of the coin helps draw me on through this, but I've definitely been marking many pages and re-reading portions as I move forward. I've been wanting to read this one for quite some time and am not disappointed. 

Four deadlines coming up on 8/7: Cossmass Infinities, Fantasy Magazine, Martian Magazine, and Abyss & Apex. Edit: Cossmass Infinities allows up to 17500-word stories now.

Some new adds to the higher paying list include:

8/1-8/7, Martian Magazine

8/1-8/7, Abyss & Apex

8/4-9/1, Uncanny Magazine (short story window), 750-6000 words, 10¢/word, Genre: SF/F 

7/31-9/15, Silence in the City (anthology)

9/5-9/11 (only open to BIPOC writers), 9/12-9/18 (open to all writers), Nightmare Magazine

8/10-10/11, Dream Foundry Contest

8/30-10/15, MIRROR, MIRROR: Modern Myths (anthology from Kevin J. Andersen)

10/1-2/1 (tentative dates, listing based on last years details), Jim Baen Memorial Award

6/1/2021-4/15/2022, The Mike Resnick Memorial Award for Short Fiction

Strange Horizons is still not open to fiction subs, but they are open to poetry after August, and they are currently open to art and nonfiction.

Some new adds to the lower paying list include:

8/1-8/31, Dark Moments (drabble monthly challenge, Black Hare Press)

10/31, War (Black Hare Press anthology)

Black Hare Press


Table of Contents (scroll down to each section for clickable links)

1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (August 2021 and beyond; 5-20¢/word USD)

2. Publications Open for Submissions (No Specified Deadline; 5-20¢/word USD)

3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (August 2021 and beyond; 1-4¢/word USD)

4. Publications Open for Submission (No Specified Deadline; 1-4¢/word USD)

5. Other Submission Opportunities (Kickstarters, Advance/Royalties, Charities, etc.)

6. Publications Closed 

7. Search for More Markets

8. Advice, Motivation, and Workshops

9. More Links

10. Current Submission Stats on my Writing

1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (August 2021 and beyond; 5-20¢/word USD)

8/1-8/7 (midnight UTC), Cossmass Infinities, 2000-17,500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors

8/1-8/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)

8/1-8/7, Martian Magazine, exactly 100 words (determined by Google Docs), 8¢/word, Genre: SF, wants more cyberpunk/SF horror/tech/starships/holograms/other planets/dark SF/characters making decisions, wants beginning, middle, and end, Reprints OK (4¢/word), Multiple OK (up to 3 submitted in separate emails), Simultaneous OK, include cover letter and short 50-word bio w/ social links in body of email

8/1-8/7, Abyss & Apex, ~1000 words (8¢/word), 1001-10,000 words ($80), Genre: any speculative but no horror, wants good flash fiction of 1250 words or less, Poetry (currently closed)

8/1-8/14, Diabolical Plots, ~3500 words, 10¢/word, Genre: SF/F/H (must have speculative element, i.e. even horror must include a speculative element; welcomes mixing in other genres), anonymous submissions, simultaneous OK, only one submission/window (they do not accept multiple anymore), note: especially likes weird/wonder/strong character and plot arcs/worldbuilding/ philosophical food/readable/religion/platonic friendships

8/16, Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF (Mind Control) or Horror (Memento Mori), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story

7/1 (8AM UTC) - 8/20 (8AM UTC), Life Beyond Us (anthology), 1000-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF (preferably but not necessarily leaning toward hard SF), Theme: explore the unknown (unfamiliar life forms on Earth and beyond; strange life's discoveries and related ethical question), originals only, translations welcome, link to the successfully funded Kickstarter here

8/23, Friends Journal: Quaker Speculative Fiction Special Issue, 500-2000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any speculative (including SF, Fantasy, Alt History, Horror, Romance), Theme: how would the world and the way Quakers live in it be different if X were true?, Note: anonymous submissions; welcomes submissions from Friends and non-Friends alike

8/10-8/31, PseudoPod (Flash Fiction Contest), ~500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any horror, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK (if not an Escape Artists podcast)

8/1-8/31, Origins & Encounters (LeVar Burton Reads in partnership with FIYAH), 2800-5200 words, speculative fiction, 1st place = $500 + read by LeVar on the podcast, 2nd = $250, 3rd = $100 

8/4-9/1, Uncanny Magazine (short story window), 750-6000 words, 10¢/word, Genre: SF/F.

9/1-9/2, 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, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word

9/1-9/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is only open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors

9/1-9/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)

9/1-9/13, PseudoPod, ~6000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: horror (dark, weird fiction; spectrum from grim realism or crime drama, to magic-realism, to blatantly supernatural dark fantasy)

7/31-9/15, Silence in the City (anthology), 2500-5000 words, 6¢/word, Genre/Theme: speculative stories "asking what happens when a city--and all of modern civilization--is plunged into darkness"

9/5-9/11 (only open to BIPOC writers), 9/12-9/18 (open to all writers), Nightmare Magazine, 1500-7500 words (~1000 words for Horror Labs subs), 8 cents/word ($40/poem), Genre: Horror / Dark Fantasy, Multiple Subs: one short story and one sub to Horror Lab (either one flash, one creative essay, or five poems)

9/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story

10/1-10/2, 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, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word

10/1-10/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)

10/1-10/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors

8/10-10/11, Dream Foundry Contest, ~10,000 words, Genre: any speculative, anonymous submissions, writing contest judges are Vajra Chandrasekera and Premee Mohamed, only open to new writers (published less than 4000 words of paid speculative writing, earned less than USD320 from that, never nominated for a major speculative award, not a previous winner of this contest), Art OK (separate contest but same deadline)

8/30-10/15, MIRROR, MIRROR: Modern Myths (anthology from Kevin J. Andersen), ~5000 words, 6¢/word, Genre: F/SF/H/magical/romance, Theme: mirrors, reflections, new and fresh once upon a time stories (no copyrighted characters), PG-13

10/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story

10/7-10/21, Diabolical Pots (themed anthology from Diabolical Plots), ~3500 words), 10¢/word, Genre: speculative, Theme: any speculative centered around food, Editor: Kel Coleman (especially interested in lush descriptions, immersive world-building, sf high on emotional resonance and low on unexamined imperialism, any kind of prose that is intentional and serves the story)

10/1-10/31, khoreo, ~5000 words, 8¢/word, any speculative, Note: only open to subs from authors identifying as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms (see their website), Non-Fiction OK, Art OK

11/1-11/2, 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, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word

11/1-11/7, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is only open to Black, Asian, Latin, LGBTQ+ and other under-represented authors

11/1-11/7, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)

9/7-11/14, One Story, 3k-8k words, $500/story, Genre: any literary, Simultaneous OK, also open to submissions 1/15-5/31

11/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story

11/30, ServiceScape Short Story Award 2021, ~5000 words, $1000 for one winner, any genre/theme (see website for previous winning stories)

12/1-12/2, Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, open 1st-2nd every month, 1000-40000 words (shorter preferred), 6¢/word (reprints 2¢/word), Genre: F/SF, Poetry ($1/line, ~40 lines, reprints 50¢/word), Articles (2-6¢/word, reprints 1-4¢/word), unedited feedback provided if requested in cover letter, note: closed June-August 2021 and reopening in September with pay rates increased (!) to 8¢/word

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, Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6)

12/15 (tentative; see newsletter), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF or Horror (the two specific prompts are listed in newsletter at the beginning of each month), must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Molly Rosevear at molly@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story

12/30, WotF Q3, ~17000 words (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; the forum is very helpful, especially the Super Secrets thread; free workshop available on website

10/1-2/1/2022 (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 

9/1/2021-5/31/2022, Escape Pod, 1500-6000 (reprints 1500-18000), 8¢/word (reprints $100), Genre/Theme: any SF (prefer high clarity and pacing to match their audio format; prefer to see a ray of hope even in darker stories) 



2. Publications Open for Submissions (No Specified Deadline; 5-20¢/word USD)








































3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (August 2021 and beyond; 1-4¢/word USD)

8/15-8/30 (9/1-9/7 BIPOC-only), Apparition Literature, 1000-5100 words, 3¢/word, Genre: any speculative, Theme: Wonder, Poetry OK (~2 pages/poem; sub ~5 poems/submission, $30/poem)

8/1-8/31, Dark Moments (drabble monthly challenge, Black Hare Press), exactly 100 words(excluding title and pen name), 4¢/word, Genre: anything dark, Theme: underwater

9/1, Books and Bikes in Space, 1000-6000 words, profits split between contributors (minimum of $50 each + copies of the book), Genre: any speculative/fantastical, Theme: books and bikes must be elements intrinsic to the story, welcomes ownvoices and first-time writers

10/31, War (Black Hare Press anthology), 5000+ words, $50+digital copy, Genre: any dark speculative, Theme: war/conflict, 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

9/15-11/15, Lamplight Magazine, ~7000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: Dark/Literary, Reprints (1¢/word), simultaneous OK, Note: they are limited to 300 submissions/month and will close each month after that limit is reached

11/15 (reading period begins on 11/15 and ends when reaches goal of 80,000 words), 2000-6000 words, 2¢/word, Genre/Theme: any PG-13 dealing with the idea of Cthlu FhCon (see story prompt on 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

4. Publications Open for Submission (No Specified Deadline; 1-4¢/word USD)















5. Other Submission Opportunities (Kickstarters, Advance/Royalties, Charities, Requires fee to enter, etc.)

Novellas/Novels:

6. Publications Closed



Dark Matter, 1000-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre:SF, scheduled to open in late Q3 of 2021




Strange Horizons, open Mon. 1600 UTC - Tue. 1600 UTC (closed Dec.), ~10,000 words (~5000 best), 10¢/word, Genre: SF/Fantasy/Humor/Literary, Poetry ($50/poem), closed to fiction subs until further notice (catching up on backlog), poetry closed through August, still open to Art and Nonfiction


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

Eric Witchey has some excellent workshops this month to check out, all leading up to his year-long intensive year-long fiction fluency series I'd highly recommend based on my experience speaking with him on fiction-related topics and reviewing his work in the past

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

Personally, I use ProWritingAid to help revise my writing. It's not always right, but it's another helpful tool for wading through revisions. If you want to try it out, use this link to sign up for a free account: https://prowritingaid.com/en/Account/Register?rafid=xNnjM. If 10 of my friends use the link, supposedly I'll get a one-year license. Yay!

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


10. Current Submission Stats on my Writing

Accepted (2021): 2 (1 short, 1 short w/ request for revision)

Pending (2021): 16 (1 novella, 10 novelettes or short stories, 0 flash/drabble, 5 poems)

Rejections (for subs made in 2021): 86 (1 novella, 43 shorts, 15 flash, 27 poetry)

Submissions Total (2021): 104 (2 novella, 85 novelettes/short, 15 flash/drabble, 32 poems)

Writers of the Future Results for 2021: Q1 SHM, Q2 Rejection, Q3 submitted, Q4 to be written