Happy New Year! Here's some brief blog chatter on a rather brisk January in Japan, then straight on to the deadlines I managed to add here. I hope the year's starting off well for all of you. I've had a relaxing start to it, though a bit too lazy, so it's been a slow climb back towards productive--almost there. I'm going to try and focus on having more fun with the writing this year, which likely means making fewer submissions, but we'll see. It might also mean the opposite? Or it might mean lots of noveling.
I was excited to have a box of paperbacks delivered to my apartment a few days ago. My copies of Dark Cheer: Cryptids Emerging (Volume Blue) in which you can find my short story "Stone Shaper Tanukis Estranged" have arrived, with a few hardbacks soon to follow. The anthology was published on December 13th, 2021, and this is my first story sale made at HWA pro rates. It is a near future fantastical piece that speaks to my love of protagonists who are not human; it also speaks directly to the major issues with parent-child estrangement and lack of co-parenting agreements that help to create an awful living environment in Japan. Plenty of fantasy, but also paired with real world darkness. Order from me (I'll sign it; copies limited), from Improbable Press here, or from Amazon here. Also check out the promo for my story on the YouTube channel of Improbable Press. I loved making that promo as Unbroken Bond (a rock band from South Africa) added clips from one of their songs to my reading. Many of the other authors did readings of their stories for this anthology. You can find them on that channel.
As mentioned before, I also made another story sale at the end of 2021 to a beautiful magazine which I will share closer to publication time later this year. 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.
SUBMISSIONS STATS for 2022, 2021, and 2020
I only tracked accepted, pending, rejections, and result for submissions at Writers of the Future. I really should track new stories written and other such. We'll see how this year goes for more tracking stats...
Stats for 2022:
Accepted: 0
Pending: 22 (6 drabble/flash, 10 short stories/novelettes, 1 novella, 5 poems)
Rejections: 1 (flash/drabble, short stories/novelettes, 1 novella, poetry, pitch)
Total Subs: (flash/drabble, short stories/novelettes, 1 novella, poetry, pitch)
Stats for 2021
Accepted: 3 (2 short stories, 1 flash as scholarship for Fyrecon 2021)
Pending: 21 (2 novella, 10 novelettes/short stories, 4 flash/drabble, 5 poems)
Rejections (total received in 2021): 156 (78 short stories, 33 flash, 43 poetry, 1 novella, 1 pitch)
Rejections (for subs made in 2021): 138 (70 short stories, 26 flash, 40 poetry, 1 novella, 1 pitch)
Rejections (for subs made in 2020): 18 (8 short stories, 7 flash, 3 poetry)
Submissions Total (2021): 162 (31 flash/drabble, 82 short story/novelette, 3 novella, 45 poetry, 1 pitch)
Writers of the Future Results: Q1 Silver Honorable Mention, Q2-R, Q3-R, Q4-Semi-Finalist
Stats for 2005-2021
2021 Submissions: 162 Acceptances: 3 Rejections: 138 WotF: S-F x1, SHMx1, Rx2
2020 Submissions: 142 Acceptances: 2 Rejections: 117 WotF: HMx2, Rx2
2019 Submissions: 5 Rejections: 5 (4 short, 1 flash) WotF: Rx4
2018 Submissions: 0 (but survived dramatic life trouble and created some DJ mixes yay)
2017 Submissions: 8 Rejections: 8 short stories WotF: HMx2, Rx2
2016 Submissions: 7 Rejections: 7 short stories WotF: HMx2, Rx2
2015 Submissions: 5 Rejections: 5 (2 short stories, 3 flash) WotF: Rx1
2006-2014 the void (though I may update this later after double checking my folders)
2005 Submissions: 1 Acceptances: 1 (3rd place KIDD Award at University of Oregon)
On to the deadlines! So, I very much rushed this one out. In no way did I cover everything, but I want this out before the 9th. There are several I'm excited about but I might not make it into many of these. Mainly just struggling with my one anthology invite as it is.
I focused on updating only section 1 and a bit of section 2 for now (deadlines/windows and publications for pro rates), though there are several semi-pro calls that look interesting. I will add more as time allows and post mention of any updates below under "EDIT".
Chat to you all more on Discord or elsewhere. Good luck with your creative work, everyone! Positive thoughts and much hope for everything else this year.
R.J.K.
Table of Contents (scroll down to each section for clickable links)
1. Submission Deadlines/Windows (1/8/2022 and beyond; pro rates)
3. Submission Deadlines/Windows (1/8/2022 and beyond; semi-pro or token)
2. Publications Open for Submission (no specified deadline; pro rates)
4. Publications Open for Submission (no specified deadline; semi-pro or token)
5. Submission Deadlines/Windows (1/8/2022 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 (1/8/2022 and beyond; pro rates)
12/17-1/9 (GMT?), Compelling Science Fiction (a Gothic Fantasy short story collection from Flame Tree), 2000-4000 words (will read slightly outside this range), 8¢/word (6¢/word for reprints), 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 OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK
12/17-1/9 (GMT?), The Christmas Gothic (a Gothic Fantasy short story collection from Flame Tree), 2000-4000 words (will read slightly outside this range), 8¢/word (6¢/word for reprints), 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
1/1-1/14 (11:59 PM PST), 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)
11/15-1/15 (11:59 PM EST), 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 (closed until 1/15), Zooscape reopens for subs, ~10,000 words, 8¢/word (flash and $80 for longer), Genre/Theme: anything furry/anthropomorphic animal figure, Multiple query
1/16/2022 (GMT?), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: SF prompt of Bioengineering, must subscribe to their newsletter, submit entry to Newsletter Editor Maria Tissot at maria@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, subscribe to newsletter for monthly contest prompts and monthly stories
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
1/21, Tall Tales Short Stories Competition, ~500 words, £200 for first prize winner (four additional prizes of £150 in each category; all winners published with royalties donated to Make-A-Wish International), Genre/Theme: stories about a mythical creature of the author's choosing, entries judged on three points (character, plot, imagination), open to children in two categories (7-9 years old and 10-12 years old), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, submit entries via website form (make sure you have parent approval with their information to be filled out in the form)
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 (BIPOC only window), Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6), general subs opening from February
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
12/1-1/31, Horror That Represents You (CatStone Books), 1000-7000 words, 11¢/word, Genre: Horror (mashed with SF, F, etc. okay as long as element of horror), Theme: horror that represents you (open to author interpretation), Poetry OK (only if narrative poetry), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous OK, Limited Demographic: marginalized writers (open to author interpretation), send subs using form
1/31, Alpennia: The Lesbian Historic Motif Podcast, ~5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: historic fiction (fanastic allowed as appropriate to setting; romance allowed if includes other significant plot element, but not erotica), Theme: must have lesbian themes and be set in an actual historic culture before 1900 (more details on website), open to authors of all genders/orientations, send subs to alpennia@heatherrosejones.com
1/31, Luminescent Machinations--Queer Tales of Monumental Invention (edited by Rhiannon Rasmussen and dave ring; Neon Hemlock Press), ~6000 words (prefer 1000-4000), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F/Horror, Theme: "queerness in the darker side of science-fiction, fantasy and horror: mechs, mecha and cybernetics as both extensions and perversions of humanity", Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous OK, open to all authors (particularly interested in queer stories and authors), submit via Submittable form
1/31, Mysterion, ~9000, 8 cents/word, Genre: SF/F/Horror, Theme: speculative fictions that engages w/ Christian themes/characters/cosmology, Reprints OK (4¢/word), Art OK (accepted year-round, $100), Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, submit via Moksha form
1/31 Good Story Grant, $1500, two grants available (one open to all writers and one open to writers who identify as BIPOC, must write a 500-word essay, establish a timeline for funds, establish a deliverable goal, get a letter of recommendation, be available to write an essay or join an interview once you've achieved your goal, submit via website form
1/1-1/31, A. C. Bose Grant for South Asian Speculative Literature (SLF and DesiLit), $1000, open to South Asian and South Asian diaspora writers, must include a writing sample (~5000 words of fiction) and cover letter including an autobiographical statements (~500 words), submit via website form
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)
2/1, Jim Baen Memorial Short Story Award, 8¢/word publication as feature story for grand prize winner (and an engraved award, free entry into the 2022 International Space Development Conference and a year's membership in the National Space Society; no prize money for 2nd and 3rd place but do receive the free entry and membership), ~8000 words, Genre: SF, Theme: near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration (Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, adventure), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, open to all writers, submit entry as an .RTF attachment to baen.nss.contest@gmail.com
2/1, Fit for the Gods, 5000-10,000 words, $1500, Genre/Theme: seeking adult stories that shine a new light on Greco-Roman mythology, Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO
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
2/1-2/28 (5 PM EST), Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting, $5000 (plus 29-hour workshop and public reading), open to all playwrights, Genre: seeking full-length plays and works for the theater, Theme: Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award for Playwriting, submissions should include 4 parts (anonymous copy of the piece, playwright resume/bio, production history of the piece, 1 page statement of purpose), submit to submission form on website (form available in February)
2/1-2/4, Cossmass Infinities, 2000-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Simultaneous OK, Note: this window is open to all authors (closing early due to overload of submissions)
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)
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), opens from 9/1/2021-5/31/2022
Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6), open to BIPOC only in January 2022 and opening to general subs from February 2022
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
Infinite Horrors, 1500-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Horror, Art OK ($75-$150 for commissioned, $30 for non-commissioned), Comics OK (seeking new, unpublished comic or graphic novel shorts of 4–10 pages at rates negotiated with the artist), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, send submissions to info@infinitehorrorsmagazine.com (note that they may not send a rejection notice; if 90 days have passed, consider the submission rejected)
Infinite Worlds, 1500-5000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF, Art OK ($75-$150 for commissioned, $30 for non-commissioned), Comics OK (seeking new, unpublished comic or graphic novel shorts of 4–10 pages at rates negotiated with the artist), Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous NO, send submissions to submissions@infiniteworldsmagazine.com (note that they may not send a rejection notice; if 90 days have passed, consider the submission rejected)
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 (1/8/2021 and beyond; semi-pro or token)
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 (1/8/2021 and beyond; advance and/or royalties)
1/9, Berkley Open Submission Program, seeking full-length adult novels from all authors in various genres (romance, women's fiction, mystery, suspense, thrillers, horror, science fiction, and fantasy), send 1-page synopsis with first 10 pages of manuscript, author bio, and a query letter with links to social media platforms and any other applicable info, they do plan to open at regular intervals and will announce the next window once this one closes, submit via website submissions form
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
Publishing ... and Other Forms of Insanity: plenty of updated lists of agents, calls for submission, contests, conferences, recipes, and more
S. Kalekar usually writes up a good list of places to submit to every month on Authors Publish and here is the list for Janauary 2022
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
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