Book Review: "Dark Spaces: Wildfire"

Dark Spaces: Wildfire

Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Publication: IDW Publishing - May 9, 2023

Recommended for readers of crime thrillers and horror.
Warnings: language, violence

The combination of Scott Snyder and Hayden Sherman in this first entry in the Dark Spaces crime/horror series is fantastic, perhaps better than the Dungeon follow-up. Female inmates working as firefighters with a variety of trauma pushed together to survive. Amazing coloring and design from the artist that takes us on a deeper dive into splinters of backstory mashed with present-day struggles. A must-read for fans of graphic novels that grapple with trauma, crime, and horror. Especially recommended for how the writer and artist work together to present complicated characters.

Scott Snyder on Substack: https://bestjackettpress.substack.com/

Hayden Sherman's website: https://www.haydenshermanart.com/

Book listing on Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/719617/dark-spaces-wildfire-by-scott-snyder-hayden-sherman/

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6690866806

My review of Dark Spaces: Dungeons: https://www.rjklee.com/2024/07/book-review-dark-spaces-dungeons.html

Book Review: "Dark Spaces: Dungeons"

Dark Spaces: Dungeons
Writer: Scott Snyder
Artist: Hayden Sherman
Publication: IDW Publishing - August 27, 2024

Recommended for readers of crime thrillers and horror.

Warnings: kidnapping, torture, violence

I loved the previous Dark Spaces series about inmate firefighters, Dark Spaces: Wildfire, so I had high expectations for this one, as I often do for Scott Snyder works.

Thankfully, I was not disappointed. While it is a much different crime focus than Wildfire, Dungeons hooks on every page. Terrifying in so many ways but serves that horror carefully and with impressive focus on character. The use of a sidekick is excellent. Transitions between scenes are impressive (use of narrative connections, design of presentation, the coloring). Little pieces of dialogue are cut off and picked up again in a natural, immersive manner. I count this among my favorite crime horror stories, alongside the movie, Seven.

The artist, Hayden Sherman, does an amazing job on presenting nature as a force of weight that threads in with the desperate emotions of the story, such as when the two main characters meet a dead-end and the entire cafe is bearing down on them, and the characters hands are scrunching up his forehead, and the narrative boxes break up the next page into the photos from the villain pressing on the reader and character then snap, breakthrough, and the next page serves a freeing moment of epiphany. Then the boxes are broken up into slivers for hyper focus when they’re investigating the new lead. Every page adds such immense energy that you’ll be hard pressed to step away from this read.

There’s a scene near the climax with the characters surrounded by nature with stark shadows and lighting that had me cheering at the presentation of the raw tension. Avoiding spoilers but that had me pumped with so much terror and hope, when it hit the end, I found it hard to breathe. That lighting on the woods and the house was a godsend moment of relaxation and brief joy, and the shadow on the house as they chat hint at the haunting left behind by the story.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to NetGalley and Scott Snyder for allowing me the opportunity to be horrified by Dark Spaces again.

Scott Snyder on Substack: https://bestjackettpress.substack.com/

Hayden Sherman's website: https://www.haydenshermanart.com/

Interview with Scott Snyder on horror in comics and Dark Spaces: Dungeon, March 2024 (before Issue 4 was released so possible spoilers): https://aiptcomics.com/2024/03/05/scott-snyder-dungeon-qa-2/

Listing on Penguin Random House: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/746770/dark-spaces-dungeon-by-scott-snyder-hayden-sherman/

Listing at Forbidden Planet: https://forbiddenplanet.com/426037-dark-spaces-dungeon/

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6690842379

My review of Dark Spaces: Wildfire: https://www.rjklee.com/2024/07/book-review-dark-spaces-wildfire.html

Book Review: Queen Hazel and Beloved Beverly

Queen Hazel and Beloved Beverly by Mary E Lowd

Published by Deep Sky Anchor Press on December 8th, 2023.

A cozy portal fantasy with special attention to family bonds and childhood memories and letting go. I could see this being okay for any age group but feels directed at an adult who misses reading piles of middle grade portal fantasy books, who grew up expecting to be transported into some other world but never had that quite happen yet...

Recommended. Easy read with a good pace. The metaphors are excellent, especially the extended one about threads and memories. The story hooks surprisingly well, perhaps due to careful balance between emotion and more grounding emotion. A bunch of nostalgic tie-ins to the 80s-90s.

The opening was pretty bland for me, but the story quickly moved past that into the story itself. After that, the story dropped us into the fantastical without letting up, which was great. The raccoon and her wolf companion were awesome, and I wanted more of them. I would love to read more in that realm, or wherever those two go, whether Beverly joins them or not...

Once we got into the fantasy, I wanted the author to slow down more and give us more description of these fantastical characters and locations that we rush through. It's fitting due to the protagonist's distrust of their reality, but still, it was often frustrating at how quickly I was pulled through the reading experience. I'm one of those readers that always complain about a lack of deeper language and description, so this is an inevitable comment I'd make on many stories out there. But essential moments, like meeting the queen and saying farewell, and other such, rush by so fast, that I can't help but feel there was more depth and story I needed there to be fully satisfied.

That criticism aside, I was curled up on my couch, glued to this read, and pumped up on nostalgia for 80s-90s life and longing for fantasies come real. Such a primary mesh of emotions driving the story that I loved it by the end. This was such a light read but had me begging for more.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to Book Sirens and Mary E. Lowd for allowing me the opportunity to get drawn into this novella's portal.

Author's website: https://marylowd.com/books/

Buy the book from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Hazel-Beloved-Beverly-Mary-ebook/dp/B0CKV2X8PB/

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6278327681

Book Review: Idolatry

Idolatry by Aditya Sudarshan
Published by Flame Tree Press on January 9th, 2024 

Idolatry is an SF social commentary novel set in India and following how Shrine Tech influences society to gradually increasing levels of domination. As with my previous review, I'll give the good, neutral, and bad. I did have pretty mixed reactions to the novel, even though it was a good read and recommended.

There are a ton of observations about job loss, awful economies, poverty, etc. -- very welcome in our current era, and the protagonist's service of the central product of Shrine Tech takes us readers through all that to greater or lesser success. A quote without spoilers from early in the book that expresses how this pressure of money affects the protagonist:  "Suddenly, an immense weariness came upon Saionton, like rocks being rolled over him. Money, you need the money. The thought pressed home, implacably, along with the tremor of the contrast between his impoverishment (and that of so many others, not that he had time to care for any others), and the fantastic, soaring riches of the Company and its bosses. He forced a smile and opened his eyes wider."

Good:
-Fascinating look at how the shrine tech brings self-love and religious love and love of money together in mostly horrifying ways. Serves as a dark mirror of the various idols that entangle in people's lives and lead them about for better or worse.
-The commentary on advertising is spot on.
- Drops us into some beautiful observations and ugly commentary and unsettling moments of horror.
-Some lovely comparisons, metaphors, observations made by the central characters that make it worth reading. Like the kitten one at the end

Neutral:
-3rd person omniscient with limited jumping around. Basically, uses that POV to serve the first character, Saionton, and his job's encounter with various people, which for the purposes of the story each are introduced from their own viewpoints then jumped into at later random points of the story to overall success, though sometimes to eyerolls from this reader.

Bad:
-The ending just didn't work for me; sometimes felt like the story leaned too much on plot to get through certain spots…
-Frustrating central character, partially because of his inability to make his own decisions, but also just his ugliness in how he views others, though of course that fits the context. He does grow toward the end, but still, ugh, that guy.
-Overall, I wanted the story to move past tropes and social commentary more. I felt like I was trying to reach for more as a reader here…because my favorite parts were where the characters really settle into these moments connecting to the world, where the story releases control briefly…but those moments didn't keep going enough to be mind-blowing.

Again, I do recommend giving it a read. It's a pretty fast one with an interesting central social SF object in question, Shrine Tech. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thanks to Book Sirens and the author for giving me the opportunity to dip into Shrine Tech.

Buy the book from the publisher's website: https://www.flametreepublishing.com/idolatry-isbn-9781787588516.html

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6246269597

Book review: a quick, fun fantasy with dragons and queer relationships

The Chase Begins: Catastrophe Incoming Volume 1

by Aimee Donnellan

Published by Aimee Donnellan on June 24, 2023

The good:

-Character tensions.

-Grounding of the city the whole story is set in.

-The select details for major characters that help them stand out.

-The protagonist's identity and complicated relationship was greatly appreciated

-Fun, fast read; easy to read along with weightier tomes.


The not so good:

-Description and language too sparse for my taste (that may just be me though; I've found most writing that the fiction market wants is too sparse for my taste).

-Book one is short and limited to one place, which was just too simple overall. There seemed so much more there to explore. Still, a chase through the one city provided just enough complications to work, if not enough to send us into deeper exploration.


The promising:

-The teaser for Book Two was great and makes me excited to read it. Hoping the chaos promised within brings deeper explorations than Book One. The range of characters introduced was exciting to see, especially getting the two main characters from another angle.

I'll definitely be checking out Book Two. The book was a fun read, and number two looks to be even more fun.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. Thank you to Aimee Donnellan and Book Sirens for the opportunity.


Aimee Donnellan's website: https://www.aimeedonnellan.com/

Buy the book: https://books2read.com/u/mdX2ME

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/6012280256

My Stories Published in 2023

Happy New Year!

It's been a very slow start for me. I certainly enjoyed the brief break. Could use more...hah. Regardless, I'm trying to play catch-up now and pick up the pace for whatever awaits me this year.

First off, my stories published in 2023. Go give them a read, if you haven't yet, and let me know what you think. Would love any feedback. Really enjoyed what I heard from some readers so far. And if you want anything signed or whatnot, just ask.

If anyone is reading for any awards out there, stories 1 and 2 below are free to read online, and for stories 3 and 4, I can send you a review copy if requested.

1) The Healing Moment Assigned by HR Central Stacks, universe-traveling librarian just wants a long vacay with her wife but first must handle baggage from the past and tentacular patrons. SF, aliens, queer-positive, fantasy adventurers. DreamForge Anvil Issue 14, December 2023, read the story here, the entire issue here, buy in paperback, too.

2) Choose a Star to Mend the Heart, space narwhal and friendship, SF, Tales and Feathers Magazine, November 2023, read the story here.

3) Memo from the Jolly Overlords, reprint (first time in physical print), a dark fantasy horror flash fiction about how brutal work is for the holiday elves, Cursed & Creepy (The Horror Lite Anthologies) by Angelique Fawns, November 2023, purchase a copy from Amazon

4) Puff a Golem Up for Drudgery, a fantasy short story about the application of golems among royalty and their overworked lasses and lads available in the anthology Triangulation: Seven-Day Weekend, July 2023 (order from Amazon)

Final Statistics Report on Submissions during 2023

Hi there. I'd like to share my final statistics for work submitted in 2023. For comparison's sake, the total submissions for 2022 came to 129. This year was a bit more...

Total times work was submitted in 2023: 477 (108 flash/drabble, 248 short/novelettes, 3 novella, 102 poem, 10 reprint, 2 pitch, 4 acceptance)

Accepted pieces: 4 (2 short stories, 1 poem, 1 reprint)

Writers of the Future results: Q1 R, Q2 R, Q3 HM, Q4 SHM 

Pending submissions at end of 2023: 100 (23 drabble/flash, 57 short story/novelette, 0 novella, 20 poem, 0 reprint, 0 pitch)

Rejections (total received in 2023): 392 (85 drabbles or flash, 204 short stories or novelettes, 3 novella, 87 poems, 10 reprints, 2 pitches)

Rejections (for subs made in 2023): 374 (85 drabbles or flash, 191 short stories or novelettes, 3 novella, 82 poems, 10 reprints, 2 pitches)

Rejected (for subs made in 2022): 18 (13 short stories or novelettes, 5 poems)

I don't track new stories and poems written each year, nor the time spent brainstorming, researching, reading, writing fragments, revising or expanding stories started in previous years. But I took a glance at my folders to check and the stats for new work written and finished (as much as a piece is ever finished) appears to be about as follows:

New work (written and finished in 2023): 22 (11 drabble/flash, 9 short stories/novelettes, 2 poems)

As you can see, submissions have become an addiction, a habit I hope to continue while getting more work done. Here's to more publications forthcoming.

R.J.K. Lee

Two great horror books I reviewed in October 2023

The Only Safe Place Left is the Dark

by Warren Wagner

Published by Ghoulish Books on August 29, 2023

Cover Art by Aidan Mayner

Adult, gay, intense, zombie apocalypse, gore, 5/5.

A fairly short, emotional rollercoaster. The story at novella-length made me crave longer exploration of the content, but it is a solid and complete read that doesn’t leave you hanging, though it might leave you in shreds. It tears the protagonist down, frustratingly so considering the journey they just went through, but in the end there's a solid push at hope that worked to bring the story full circle. Another glimmer somewhere in the middle when lovers get together was especially touching, too, and a necessary breather between wading neck-deep through death. Plays on the zombie trope with zombies that are more vocal about wanting to die, and an interesting mirror to the protagonist longing for what he lost and his inability to really engage with life as is beyond mere survival and hiding, not thriving.

Bloody and grotesque, heart-wrenching and hard, this is a must-read novella I highly recommend.

I thank the author, publisher, and BookSirens for the advance review copy I received for free, and I am voluntarily providing this review.

Links

Warren Wagner's website: https://linktr.ee/warrenwagner

Purchase at the Ghoulish website: https://ghoulish.rip/product/the-only-safe-place-left-is-the-dark/

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5876615840

~AND~

Frost Bite

by Angela Sylvaine

Published by Dark Matter INK on October 10, 2023
Cover Art by Eric Hibbeler

Comic b-grade horror, gore, prairie dogs, fast fun read, 3/5.

Fast-paced comedy horror chock-full of references to 80s-90s movies, music and culture. The nostalgia lover in me was fully appeased. This even had a solid freaking radio playlist at the end: We're All Gonna Die HOT-25.

I did love the friendship of the main characters, as well as the quick flow of the story. Easy popcorn read. Highly recommend it for that.

On the other hand, while the pace is great, this is really straightforward prose, which I personally found wanting. I am generally a lover of prose that goes deeper, so this sometimes felt too generic for me overall. Many readers will likely love it though, and certainly serves the forward momentum.

And for one more bit of criticism, I will say that sometimes the humor fell flat for me, and I went c'mon, really, ugh… but then, I mean that was part of the B-movie cheese that this glorifies so you kind of have to just roll with that.

Still, a good deal of the over-the top horror and silliness did grab me and kept me loving the ride, so I am totally on board for the next installment.

Oh, and isn't that cover art just awesome!

My thanks to the author, publisher, and Book Sirens, for the advance review copy I received for free, and I am voluntarily providing this review.

Links

Angela Sylvaine's website: https://angelasylvaine.com/

Purchase at the Dark Matter INK website: https://darkmattermagazine.shop/products/frost-bite

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5876615403

Eric Hibbeler's website: https://erichibbeler.com/

Intense collection of eco-fiction both terrifying and wonderfully inspiring

I just read an intense collection of eco-fiction stories and wrote up a review. I gave a 5 out of 5 because it was freaking brilliant.

You Are My Sunshine and Other Stories

by Octavia Cade

Published by Stelliform Press on September 21, 2023

Short story collection, Eco-fiction (both really dark and really positive)

Adult (contains lots of death and graphic depictions of violence, including loss of limbs)

* Highly recommended for the range of stories dealing with our environment and how we can better adapt to and connect with the world we live in. *

18 stories by Octavia Cade collected in here. According to the story credits in the back of the book, at least 15 of them were previously published in various magazines and anthologies between 2013 to 2022. I'd experienced a few before, so I knew I was in for a real treat reading this one through.

I really enjoyed how the stories were organized. The themes and interests of the stories flowed beautifully together. Some of the stories spoke to each other well, dancing along the ideas of sunshine, environment having its revenge, and adapting to the world to create something deeply beautiful and sustainable.

Everything within is climate fiction of some sort, though it certainly shows Cade's range in considering the topic. Readers are presented an interesting mash-up of dark and frightening with hopeful and wonderfully alive. Do be warned, a few of the opening stories are not afraid to dip into horror, while others, especially towards the second half of the book are overjoyed to be more well-adjusted solarpunk, hopepunk, and/or completely joyous. You have stories with a constant barrage of death and sadness, limbs being cut off, bears devouring us, lots of death. The title story of course, which matches well with this book's excellent cover, opens with a severed arm in a mailbox with a brief apology note. Among the most intense of stories presented herein. And the first story is all about the bears and fears in an apocalyptic future: "We feed them pieces of ourselves. Sacrificial offerings, to make them go away. Sometimes it even works."

But then you have these stories full of so much love and brilliant adaptation to a world that's been broken, Gregor Samsa's sister making up for her disgust by helping children prepare to not be disgusted by all the insects we need to live closely with; a relationship breaking finds rejuvenation through the restoration of underwater passages and fish and eels; the unreal and fantastic treatment of making rivers people, after we have giving corporations recognition as a person, and considering what that leads to; the wonderful search for a species the protagonist adores.

"And if I spend most of my time underground, now, with the eels and with the fish… it's because things seem more hopeful here. Witnessing the restoration of a species in real time rejuvenates my faith in the restoration of other things." This story surprised me by how touched I felt by the end.

"A river was never just water; a mountain never just rocks and snow. They were systems as much as we were. So we made our landmarks people, and then we made ourselves--all of ourselves--believe it." This kind of idea is returned to in several stories, and done so well. An idea that needs to be applied by our governments and communities more.

Even the treatment of death can be rather refreshing, sometimes with the most simple of lines that punch you in the gut after what you've read:

"The kids asked if the grief was worth it.

I told them that it was."

I honestly could not pick out a favorite story. By the end, I adored every single one. But I am the kind of reader that dives in for both the darkness and the light. Perfect for me.

I'll be reading these again. And I hope you do, too. There's so much substance. There's so much to think about. There's so much our communities need to consider in adapting to the world around us.

Thank you Stelliform Press and BookSirens for providing me an advance review copy for free. I am happy to provide this honest review voluntarily. I’ll keep my eyes open for more from this publisher.

Final rating: 5/5 stars. So much depth. So much beautiful writing. So intense.

*The cover art for this is absolutely gorgeous. It's by Rachel Yu Lobbenberg who also won the Best Cover Art from the Aurora Awards for her work on Arboreality (also published by Stelliform Press). 


Links

Octavia Cade's website: https://ojcade.com/

Purchase at the Stelliform Press website: https://www.stelliform.press/index.php/product/you-are-my-sunshine-and-other-stories-by-octavia-cade/

Purchase at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/You-Are-Sunshine-Other-Stories/dp/1778092640/

Purchase at Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/you-are-my-sunshine-and-other-stories-octavia-cade/1143428706

My review on Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5858671076

Book Review: Nocean by Efa

Nocean
Vol. 1. Atari and Tika
by Efa

Hello! I just read a fun eco-friendly positive dystopian graphic novel that I wrote up a review on. I gave a 3 out of 5, not a bad read, though not super deep. I'd give it a try if you like the sound of it from my review below:

Nocean by Efa
Published by Europe Books on February 22, 2023 by Europe Books

Graphic Novel, Eco-fiction, Dystopia
Young Adult (probably suits 10-15 year old best)
* Recommend for the positive friendship between the two young female main characters, and the grandmother's restaurant. *

Loved the colors used for the artwork. The details of her home interior and Iaia’s restaurant were especially nice. The positive friendship and motivation to make change engaged me, though overall left me wanting more. I would’ve liked more time spent on character development than with the plot, though I understand the need to keep a forward momentum for pacing purposes. Even so, Atari and Tika are great characters.

For those who enjoy dystopian stories, this was a decent read. Nothing that new in terms of plot and worldbuilding: dystopian city/government, oceans destroyed, and terrorists groups fighting the evil government while some common kids who have lost parents are stuck in the middle. That’s all pretty cliche and doesn’t move much past it. That said, the main character has some tech skills and the friend she makes is pretty awesome, nice design there, so that pulled me along.

I’ll likely purchase a copy for my daughters (around late elementary school to junior high school age), and would recommend it for around that age on into high school. Fun Robin Hood sister duo. The story overall lands with a pretty decent messaging in terms of doing the right thing and being wary of negative influences. While, thankfully, this volume was satisfying on its own, I am interested to see what the author does with volume 2.

Thank you Europe Comics and NetGalley for providing me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review. I’ll keep my eyes open for more.

Final rating: 3/5 stars. Loved the Atari and Tika friendship and the colors; wanted more character depth and less of the basic plot.

Links

Purchase on Amazon: https://amzn.to/41M5faI

Efa (Author/Illustrator) on Europe Comics Website: https://www.europecomics.com/author/efa/

My review on Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3IRkkPt

My review on NetGalley: https://www.netgalley.com/book/281740/review/390962

Revisiting my NaNoWriMo Approaches from 2015

Hello my fellow creatives!

I'll aim to update the list of deadlines further this weekend. For now, a NaNoWriMo focus. Plus, some related images I've put together with the likes of midjourney, canva, gimp, krita, etc. Enjoy.

October Deadlines

October! The month of wonderful wind and spirits and costumes. Plenty of deadlines it looks like. Hope this helps. Also take a look at the bottom of the list for more resources.

Quick self-promo: I have two stories coming out in November! One story in Clamour and Mischief available for pre-order now. Includes a bunch of great stories about corvids; my story's another entry into my near future fantastical world (Japan's displaced and humans are only one of many other animals doing alive and well and with plenty of odd powers to boot). Main characters are cyberpunk azure-winged magpies, so enjoy that.

I also have a story coming out in Tales and Feathers Issue 1. They already have three stories out for Issue 1. Go take look!

And now on to the updated lists for October 2022 and beyond. Updates I add to the list will be noted here for those who check back throughout the month.
Strange Horizons already closed after reaching their 1000-story cap (opened 10/3-10/5)

Thanks for reading and good luck with your creative work. Enjoy the season!
RJK LEE

Table of Contents

1. Deadlines/Windows after 10/1/2022 paying 5¢/word or more
2. Open Publications with no deadline paying 5¢/word or more
3. Deadlines/Windows after 10/1/2022 paying up to 4¢/word
4. Open Publications with no deadline paying up to 4¢/word
5. Publications paying royalties/advance only
6. Search for More Markets Here
7. Browse Links to Advice/Lists/Workshops

1. Deadlines/Windows after 10/1/2022 paying 5¢/word or more

10/1 (opened w/ no specified closing date), Uncanny Magazine, 750-10,000 words, 10¢/word, Genre: speculative, Reprints NO, Poetry OK (any length), $40/poem), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Link: https://uncannymagazine.com/submissions/

8/31-10/7, Merciless Mermaids: Tails from the Deep (Ed. by Kevin J. Anderson and Allyson Longueira), ~5000 words, 6 cents/word, Genre: F/SF/H / Humor / Romance (PG-13 audience), Theme: “dark mermaids” (mermaids must be integral to the story), Poetry OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submission guidelines here: https://wordfirewestern.moksha.io/publication/merciless-mermaids-tails-from-the-deep/guidelines

8/8-10/8, Dream Foundry Contest, ~10,000 words, prize money (1st = $1000, 2nd = $500, 3rd = $100), Genre: any speculative, Limited to new writers (published less than 4000 words of paid speculative writing, earned less than USD320, never nominated for a major speculative award, not a previous winner of this contest), anonymous submissions, writing contest judges are Vajra Chandrasekera and Premee Mohamed, Simultaneous OK (and winning stories are not published in any form), Art OK (separate contest but same deadline), Writers Contest Details: https://dreamfoundry.org/writing-contest/, Artists Contest Details: https://dreamfoundry.org/art-contest/

9/26-10/8 (11:59 PM PST), Nightmare Magazine (general window), 1500-7500 words (not open to flash at this time), 8¢/word, Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy, Poetry OK (up to 5 poems; $40), Creative Nonfiction OK (~1000 words), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (but can submit one piece for each category during open periods), Link: https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/

10/1-10/14 (under-represented authors) and 10/8-10/14 (all authors), Cossmass Infinities, 1000-7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, Link:  https://www.cossmass.com/submit/

9/22-10/15, DreamForge Anvil, 200-4,500 words, 7¢/word, Genre: SF/F (no horror/dark outcomes), Theme: especially interested in more solarpunk and hopepunk stories this submission period, Reprints OK (3¢/word), Poetry OK (up to 900 words, $25-100), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, Link: https://dreamforgemagazine.com/call-for-submissions/

10/16, Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Horror & Supernatural, Theme: Haunted Circus, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit entry to the Newsletter Editor Zoë Seabourne at zoe.seabourne@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, must subscribe to newsletter which states the new month's genre/prompt (https://www.flametreepress.com/reader-exclusives/), Link:  https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/

9/19-10/19 (11:59 PM PST), Nightmare Magazine (BIPOC-only window), 1500-7500 words (not open to flash at this time), 8¢/word, Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy, Poetry OK (up to 5 poems; $40), Creative Nonfiction OK (~1000 words), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (but can submit one piece for each category during open periods), Link: https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/

10/1-10/21 (midnight EDT), Flash Fiction Online, 500-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK (2¢/word), Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (only one original and one reprint concurrently), open 1st-21st almost every month (closed in December; may close earlier if reaches submissions limit), details at the link: http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/

10/21, Endless Ink Publishing House Short Story Horror Comedy Contest, 5000-8000 words, prize money (1st: $750, 2nd-4th: $150), Genre: horror comedy, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit to nextpagejulian@yahoo.com, Link: https://www.endlessinkbooks.com/blogs/news/short-story-contest-2022-horror-comedy

10/22, Drabblecast, 500-4000 words (also: 100-word & 100-character), 6¢/word ($300 cap), Genre: weird speculative (range of SF/F/H that includes humorous, bizarre, gross, disturbing, badass, interesting, and original; stories that work well in audio format), Reprints OK (3¢/word), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit stories to submissions@drabblecast.org with name and title in subject, Link:  https://www.drabblecast.org/submissions/

10/21-10/26 (general submissions), Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6), anonymous submissions, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (only one in each category of short, flash, and poetry), Note: open to BIPOC authors throughout all of 2022 (also the general submissions windows is tentative; check their website and Twitter @fantasymagazine for updates), Link: https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/fantasy

10/28, Nowhere Fast (anthology, edited by Janine Pipe with Clash Books), 3000-5000 words, 6¢/word, Genre: Horror, Theme: coming of age with a horror twist (think tribute to classics of 80s-90s like The Goonies, Stand By Me, ET, Jurassic Park, etc. with plenty of horror), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK,  sub to Nowherefastcoa@gmail.com with subject line of NowherefastCOA – Story title – author name, Link: https://www.clashbooks.com/clash/2021/10/29/nowhere-fast

10/30 (11 PM AEDT), Our Ocean’d Earth (Stormbird Press), 1,000-3,000 words, paying €200, Genre/Theme: nonfiction or fiction on how important it is to fight for our oceans, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, send submissions to editor@stormbirdpress.com (attach essay/story; include an author bio of 300 words or less, contact details with mailing address and phone number, and in subject line write: ‘Ocean Anthology Submission’, the title of the submission and the country in which your story is set), More details at the link: https://www.stormbirdpress.com/news/our-oceand-earth/

7/1-10/31 (extended), There’s No Place (Renaissance Press), 500-3500 words, CAD8¢/word, Genre: any, Theme: Home (not limited to physical spaces; home can be a person, an item, a memory, a sensation), Limited: those who experienced homelessness, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, details at the link:  https://pressesrenaissancepress.ca/2022/06/29/call-for-submissions/

10/31, Elegant Literature, 500-2000 words, 10¢/word, Genre: any, Theme: haunted hideaway (theme changes each month), Reprints NO, Art OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK, also hosts a monthly contest ($10 monthly to join as member and submit to contest, but can submit to magazine without  membership fee), must be a new or unpublished author to submit (considered a new author if you have not a) traditionally published a novel of greater than 40,000 words, b) self-published a novel of greater than 40,000 words and sold 100+ copies, c) sold four or more works of short fiction to markets paying 8c/word or greater, d) self-published short fiction work totalling 10,000 words or more, with profits in excess of $500, e) won a fiction contest with a prize greater than $2,500), Link:  https://www.elegantliterature.com/submission-guidelines/

10/31, Metastellar, under 1200 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F/H, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, use submission form on website (asks for bio, story image, and author photo), Link: https://www.metastellar.com/write-for-us/flash-fiction-story-submission/

10/31, Apex Magazine Asian and Pacific Islanders, open to writers of any Asian or Pacific Islander heritage regardless of location/origin, ~7500 words, 8 cents/word, Genre: F/SF/H, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, guest editor Iori Kusano, Link: https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/apex-magazine-asian-and-pacific-islanders

11/1 (tentative opening date; closing date unknown), The Maul (Issue One), 100-3000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Horror (prefer horror mixed with other speculative; accepts literary horror though it's a harder sell), Theme/Audience: stories that initiate new readers to horror and enjoys pulp fiction (encourages over-the-top and "exaggeration, melodrama, impossibly imaginative settings, and vivid imagery"; skews toward a younger audience but doesn't want to dumb language down and accepts swear words), Art OK ($100, color or black and white, especially monsters--grotesque, minimalist, large, small, gothic, modern, etc.), Comics OK ($100, three-panel horror, black and white okay), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (but accepts 2-3 microfiction pieces of around 400 words or less each), submit stories to themaulmagazine@gmail.com with subject line including "Query" and Shunn Format, cover letter in the body of your email, do not attach story to email (paste story below the cover letter in the body of your email), Link: https://themaulmag.com/?page_id=31

9/15-11/14 (11:59 PM EDT), Mighty: An Anthology of Disable Superheroes, 500-3500 words, 8¢CAD, Limited: seeking stories written by and about people who can identify as disabled, Genre: any speculative (SF is good, but also welcomes cross-genre and encourages telling superhero stories in other settings such as fantasy or weird west), Theme: Disabled characters being empowered and living full lives while still being disabled (welcomes stories that play around with tired cliches/tropes about disability, humor, stories about and by people at the intersection of disability and other identities that have been traditionally excluded from publishing including but not limited to people of color, LGBTQ+ folks, religious minorities, women, older adults), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (but if your story is rejected before the deadline, you are welcome to submit another), anonymous submissions, prefers receiving submissions via this Google form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScUSO4eL3wsN0c64IDxFm34zivtCX-qE8lVQDVbtD6G1dDFtg/viewform, more details at the link:  https://pressesrenaissancepress.ca/2022/06/29/call-for-submissions-mighty/

11/15 (tentative), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: to be announced in newsletter, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit entry to the Newsletter Editor Zoë Seabourne at zoe.seabourne@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, must subscribe to newsletter (https://www.flametreepress.com/reader-exclusives/), the monthly newsletter states the new month's genre and prompt, More details at the link: https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/

8/15-11/15, Dark Recesses (Winter Issue), 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: horror/dark fiction, four submission windows (8/15-11/15, 11/16-2/15, 2/16-5/15, 5/16-8/15), differs from standard manuscript format (single-spaced, no indents), Nonfiction OK (specifics on their site), details at the link:  http://darkrecessespress.com/submissions/

11/1-11/21 (midnight EDT), Flash Fiction Online, 500-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Anonymous submissions, Reprints OK (2¢/word), Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (only one original and one reprint concurrently), open 1st-21st almost every month (closed in December; may close earlier if reaches submissions limit), details at the link: http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/

11/1-11/30, Podcastle, ~6000 words at 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy / Dark Fantasy, Reprints OK ($100 for over 1,500 words & $20 for under; may accept reprints at longer lengths up to 17,000 but must query first), Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (1 original & 1 reprint), Editors: Eleanor R. Wood and Shingai Njeri Kagunda, submit via submissions portal at website, Standard Manuscript Format (except without street address & telephone number at the top of the file), Does not require anonymous submissions, details at the link: https://podcastle.org/guidelines/

11/1-11/30, Dark Void Magazine (Spring Issue), 3000-4000 words, 5¢/word, Genre/Theme: SF Horror stories that do not take place on Earth, send stories to darkvoidmagazine@gmail.com, also opens to subs in May, details at the link: https://darkvoidmagazine.com/submissionguidelines

11/30, Fable: An Anthology of Horror, Suspense & the Supernatural, 1000-39,999 words, 8¢/word for the first 1,000 words (1¢/word thereafter), Genre: horror / mystery / crime / thriller / suspense (supernatural elements encouraged but not required), Reprints OK (1¢/word), Translations OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (only one original story and one reprint), more at the link: https://pridebookcafe.com/fable-an-anthology-of-horror-suspense-the-supernatural/?v=24d22e03afb2

11/30, This World Belongs to Us: An Anthology of Horror Stories about Bugs, 500-5000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: Horror, Theme: stories about bugs ("terrify us with your best stories about the creepy-crawlies that outnumber us, outweigh us, and scare the bejesus out of us"; a little humor is okay but should primarily frighten readers), Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, currently running a Kickstarter, send stories to submit@frombeyondpress.com with a short ~50-word bio, Link:  http://frombeyondpress.com/submissions/

12/15 (tentative), Flame Tree (Monthly Flash Fiction Contest), 700-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: to be announced in newsletter, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit entry to the Newsletter Editor Zoë Seabourne at zoe.seabourne@flametreepublishing.com w/ theme as subject heading and author details/bio at end of story, must subscribe to newsletter (https://www.flametreepress.com/reader-exclusives/), the monthly newsletter states the new month's genre and prompt, More details at the link: https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/

12/15~ (re-opens), Zooscape, ~5,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: any furry SF/F (must feature an anthropomorphic animal figure), Reprints OK (~10,000 words, $20), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (query), submit to zooscape.zine@gmail.com with subject line of “SUBMISSION:  Title, Word Count", currently closed 4/1/2022-8/14/2022, more details at the link: https://zooscape-zine.com/guidelines/

12/1-12/15, Baffling Magazine, ~1200 words (especially wants under 500), 8¢/word, Genre: speculative (SF/F/Horror, especially wants stories with a queer bent; also wants indefinable stories, weird/slipstream/interstitial welcome), Theme: performance (but also accepts unthemed), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit via website form, Link:  https://www.bafflingmag.com/submissions

10/1-12/31, WotF Q2, ~17000 words (generally should aim for 3000-10,000), 8¢/word, prize money (1^st $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, details at the link: https://www.writersofthefuture.com/enter-writer-contest/

12/1-1/31, Gargantua (air and nothingness press), exactly 1000 words, Genre: any (may typically fall into hard SF but welcomes any genre), Theme: stories of massive engineering megastructures that reshape stellar systems (Shellworlds, Alderson disks, Dyson spheres and swarms, O'Neill cylinders, Matrioshka brains, wormhole networks - these megastructures reshape stellar systems, are evidence of the engineering prowess of advanced civilizations, and are just darn cool concepts; tales of advanced civilizations, personal stories of the people who live in these spaces, the mythology that is created as these projects are born, to the time they crumble to stellar dust), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, email your submission to info@aanpress.com with a one paragraph bio, wants standard manuscript format in doc/docx/rtf (and prefers Page Size: Letter; Margins: .5”; Font: Calibri 11 point, single spaced), Website Details: http://aanpress.com/submissions.html, PDF Submission Details: http://aanpress.com/Gargantua_2023_submission.pdf

9/14-12/31, Artifice & Craft (Zombies Need Brains), ~7500 words (average of 6000 words/story), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Theme: magical arts and crafts (stories that revolve around some type of artistic object that has been enchanted, cursed, hexed, or imbued with magical properties; wants a wide variety of genre settings, not just secondary world fantasy, and wants a range of tones, humorous to dark), Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to 3, submitted separately), info on website here: http://www.zombiesneedbrains.com/, submit stories here: https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/

9/14-12/31, Dragonesque (Zombies Need Brains), ~7500 words (average of 6000 words/story), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Theme: dragon POV (stories where a significant portion of the story is written from the dragon’s point of view; wants a wide variety of genre settings, not just secondary world fantasy, and wants a range of tones, humorous to dark), Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to 3, submitted separately), info on website here: http://www.zombiesneedbrains.com/, submit stories here: https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/

9/14-12/31, Game On! (Zombies Need Brains), ~7500 words (average of 6000 words/story), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Theme: games (stories where the story revolves around some type of game--be it board game, video game, or RPG; they do not want sports-related stories; they do want a wide variety of genre settings, not just secondary world fantasy, and wants a range of tones, humorous to dark), Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to 3, submitted separately), info on website here: http://www.zombiesneedbrains.com/, submit stories here: https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/

9/14-12/31, Solar Flare (Zombies Need Brains),~7500 words (average of 6000 words/story), 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Theme: solarpunk (stories that satisfy the "solar punk" subgenre ideals; wants a wide variety of genre settings, not just secondary world fantasy, and wants a range of tones, humorous to dark), Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to 3, submitted separately), info on website here: http://www.zombiesneedbrains.com/, submit stories here: https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/

12/1-12/31 (may close early so sub early), 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), details at the link:  https://www.cincinnatireview.com/submission-guidelines-2021/

12/31, Path of Absolute Power (anthology), 3000-7000 words, 5-12¢/word, Genre: superhero, Theme: stories set in the Absolute Power tabletop roleplaying game, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, email stories to info@dyskami.ca, Link: http://dyskami.ca/news.html

1/1-1/14, Cosmic Horror Monthly, 1000-6000 (3000-5000 preferred), 6¢/word, Genre/Theme: SF/F/H (seeks Cosmic Horror, Lovecraftian, Weird), Art OK ($50 interior art; $200 cover art), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit work to submissions@cosmic-horror.net, include word count and brief synopsis (see more on website), opens for submissions in July and January only, details at the link: https://cosmic-horror.net/submissions/

12/1-2/28 (11:59 GMT), The Welkin Writing Prize, ~400 words, prize money (1st: £100, 2nd: £50, 3rd: £25, several additional prizes of £25). Genre: any form of narrative prose aimed at adults (welcomes narrative prose fiction and non-fiction, including flash fiction, short-short, vignette, haibun, hermit crab, prose poem etc.; the following forms are unlikely to be successful: traditional poems, stories aimed at children, and essays), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, must be anonymous submissions (no personal info), Times New Roman/12pt font/single-spaced, filename: first five words of title, Link: https://www.mattkendrick.co.uk/welkin-prize

9/15 (12:01am ET)-5/31/2023, Escape Pod, 1500-6000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: any SF (prefers high clarity/pacing to match their audio format; prefers a ray of hope even in darker stories), Reprints OK (1500-7500 words, $100), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Anonymous Submissions, submit via moksha (https://escapeartists.moksha.io/publication/escape-pod), details at the link: https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/?fbclid=IwAR1Ma0nS3KVh9Y2IJCjFFaKfaqcd0Qm5HfEhkbFA_LnHVc4D4LzO-UNHf1c

2. Open Publications with no deadline paying 5¢/word or more

Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine, ~12k words, 5-8¢/word, Genre: Mystery/Crime/Suspense /Thriller, details at the link: https://www.alfredhitchcockmysterymagazine.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/

Amazing Stories, 1k-10k words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF, details at the link:  https://submission.amazingstoriesmag.com/guidelines/

Analog Science Fiction and Fact, ~20k (8-10 cents/word), 40k-80k serials (6 cents/word), poetry ($1/line), 4k-word fact articles (9¢/word), Genre: SF, Multiple OK, details at the link:  https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/

Anathema: Spec from the Margins, 1500-6k words (if 1500-2k words pays 5¢/word), $100 CAD/story ($50/poem), Genre/Theme: any speculative (encourages SF/F/H/weird/slipstream/surrealism/fabulism but not limited to those genres; also interested in work that's been difficult to place because of content or perspective), Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (under 100 lines), Non-Fiction OK (1500-3000 words), Limited: queer/two-spirit person of colour/Indigenous/Aboriginal, details at the link:  https://www.anathemamag.com/submissions/

Apparition Literature, 1000-5000 words, 5¢/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, $50/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), details at the link:  https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/

Apex Magazine, ~7500 words, 8 cents/word, Genre: F/SF/H, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple No, Link: https://apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/

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 welcome but has a different submissions window (Nov and May, listed under semi-pro), details at the link:  https://www.abyssapexzine.com/submissions/?fbclid=IwAR2He4p0eHWu1HVWy-vlIZ8q0YSedpLcljxbRbGcnQnowL-cUZrY07H-V8k -->Closed for all of 2022

Assemble Artifacts Magazine, ~40,000 words (prefers 5000 words or more), 8-10¢/words, Genre/Theme: wonder and suspense, Poetry NO, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, will no respond in the case of rejections (assumed rejected after 3 months), submit via form with a 1-3 sentence pitch of the story and author bio, note that the contract is aimed at allowing them to produce film adaptations ("license exclusive worldwide all language first print/electronic publication, audio and media adaptation shopping rights for a term"), details at the link:  https://www.assemblemedia.com/artifacts

Asimov's, 1k-20k words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F, details at the link: https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/

Baffling Magazine, ~1200 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F/Horror (especially interested in queer/trans/aro/ace; welcomes weird/slipstream/interstitial), Simultaneous OK, details at the link:  https://www.bafflingmag.com/submissions

Beneath Ceaseless Skies, ~15k words, 8¢/word, Genre: literary adventure fantasy (no urban fantasy and nothing modern), details at the link: http://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/

Boneyard Soup Magazine, 2k-6k words, 5¢/word, Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy, Reprints OK, Non-Fiction OK, Art OK, details at the link: https://www.boneyardsoup.com/submit

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, details at the link: https://www.cclitmag.org/submissions 

Clarkesworld Magazine, 1k-22k words, 12¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Reprints NO, Nonfiction OK (~2500 words, 10¢/word), Art OK ($350), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Link:  http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/

Cloud Lake Literary, ~3500 words, $50 CAD/per page to a maximum of $150 CAD, Genre: fiction/creative nonfiction/poetry/child lit/YA, Limited: Canadian Writers only, details at the link:  https://www.cloudlakeliterary.ca/submit

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 before submitting here: some authors have found the feedback, editing, and publication process very rude and disrespectful, and so, I've left them off the monthly deadlines list), details at the link:  https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/submissions/

Craft Literary, ~1000 word flash ($100), ~6000 word short fiction or nonfiction ($200), Genre: general/literary, Simultaneous OK, details at the link: https://www.craftliterary.com/submit/

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, details at the link:  https://cricketmag.submittable.com/submit?inf_contact_key=d1cd58e4d992d4364eefcbb9541418ff680f8914173f9191b1c0223e68310bb1

Closed :-( Daily Science Fiction, 100-1500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF/F/slipstream, will consider flash series, details at the link: http://dailysciencefiction.com/submit/story/guidelines

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), details at the link:  http://darkrecessespress.com/submissions/

Decoded, ~7500 words, 1-5¢/word ($25/flash, $100/short, $200/long, $75/comic, Genre/Theme: any queer SF/Fantasy/Horror, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (submit up to two pieces), Note: must be a queer identifying writer, details at the link: https://decodedpride.com/submit/

Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, 250-20,000 (2500-8000 best), 5-8¢/word, Genre: Mystery/Crime/Suspense/Thriller, details at the link:  https://www.elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/

Escape Pod (opens from 9/15 (12:01am ET)-5/31/2023), 1500-6000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: any SF (prefers high clarity/pacing to match their audio format; prefers a ray of hope even in darker stories), Reprints OK (1500-7500 words, $100), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Anonymous Submissions, submit via moksha (https://escapeartists.moksha.io/publication/escape-pod), details at the link: https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/?fbclid=IwAR1Ma0nS3KVh9Y2IJCjFFaKfaqcd0Qm5HfEhkbFA_LnHVc4D4LzO-UNHf1c

Fantasy Magazine, ~7500 words, 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/Dark Fantasy, Poetry ($40/poem, send up to 6), anonymous submissions, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (only one in each category of short, flash, and poetry), Note: open to BIPOC authors throughout all of 2022; opens for general submissions again on 7/1-7/7 and 10/1-10/7, submit stories here:  https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/fantasy

Flame Tree Press, seeks 70k-120k word novels (SF/F/H/Crime), often announces short story anthologies (8¢/word), runs a monthly flash fiction contest (700-1000 words, 8¢/word, reprints 6¢/word, two categories of SF or Horror), sign up for newsletter to receive notice of monthly flash fiction contest prompts and upcoming anthology calls, info here:  https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/

Flash Fiction Online, submission window open from the 1st to the 21st each month, 500-1000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: any, Multiple OK (up to 3 submitted at a time), Reprints OK (2¢/word), note: remove all author identifying info from submitted files, info here:  http://flashfictiononline.com/main/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/

Focus on the Family Clubhouse, 500-2000 words, 15¢/word, Genre: SF/Fantasy/Humor/General, Age/Theme: 8-12 year old and Christian values, info here:  https://www.focusonthefamily.com/clubhouse-magazine/about/submission-guidelines/

Fractured Lit, 401-1000 words ($75), ~400 words ($50), Genre: general/literary, Multiple OK (up to 2 in same document), submit via Submittable with brief bio and optional cover letter, info here:  https://fracturedlit.submittable.com/submit/

Future Science Fiction Digest (UFO Publishing), 500-10,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: SF, Note: only open to translated submissions or stories by writers for whom English is not their first language and who reside outside of primarily English-speaking countries, info here: http://future-sf.com/submissions/

Futures (at Nature.com), 850-950 words, $130, Genre: near future/hard SF, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, submit as a Microsoft Word attachment to futures@nature.com, info here:  http://blogs.nature.com/futureconditional/2015/04/19/how-to-write-for-nature-futures/

Galaxy's Edge, (only opens briefly every Tuesday at midday 12 pm EST/EDT) , ~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, Link: http://www.galaxysedge.com/submissions/

GrendelPress, 3000-7000 words, 5¢/word, Genre: Dark Fantasy/Horror/Romance, Theme: themed anthologies will be developed as submissions are collected (current themes: Paramnesia, Monsters as MCs, Supernatural Stories, The Devil Who Loves Me; first antho launch planned for August 2023), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK, check site for formatting specifics (12pt Georgia/Times New Roman, normal margins, double spaced, no headers, use three asterisks to indicate scene breaks and story end), Link: https://grendelpress.com/anthology-submissions/

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), info here:  https://www.infiniteworldsmagazine.com/submissions-faqs

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), info here:  https://www.infiniteworldsmagazine.com/submissions-faqs

Nanoism, ~140 characters (including spaces), $1.50/story, Genre/Theme: any (but most interested in literary stories with staying power), also open to serials (see details on site), submit one story/week,  https://nanoism.net/submit/

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)

Neon Hemlock Press (anthology), Opulent Syntax: Irish Speculative Fiction, ~6000 words (best: 1000-4000), 8¢/word, any speculative (SF/F/H/hybrid/alt-history/weird/slipstream/utopian/dystopian/less definable) exploring Irish identity (including immigrant, Irish Traveler/Minceir, queer/trans), submissions open to anyone resident on the island of Ireland and to Irish people living anywhere

Orion's Belt, under 1200 words (not including title and byline), 8¢/word, Genre: literary speculative (must contain significant speculative elements), Poetry OK, Art OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to 2 times/month, submitted separately; poetry up to 3/month), submit work to orionsbelt.submissions@gmail.com, currently closed (will open 3/1/2023), Link: https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions

Planet Scumm, 5000 words, 6¢/word, Genre: SF and other (Hard sci-fi, soft sci-fi, sci-fi that melts in your mouth-brain not your hand-brain Speculative fiction, weird fiction, slipstream), Note: currently closed (might open to subs in early 2023), Link: https://www.planetscumm.space/submit

Plenitude Magazine, ~5000 words, $80 CAD/story (so about 5¢/word for ~1000 words), Genre/Theme: queer literary, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK, Poetry OK (up to five pages; $35 CAD/poem), limited to LGBTQ2S+ writers, also from May 1 until October 1 limited to Canadian writers

PodCastle, ~6000 words (3000-4500 best), 8¢/word, Genre: Fantasy, Simultaneous & Multiple OK, Reprints ($100 for >1500 words, $20/flash), open 11/1-11/31 and closed from December 2021

Pseudopod, 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), Open 3/1-8/31 for Anthologies and Collections, Open 8/10-8/31 for Flash Fiction Contest, currently closed until 2/28/2022

Pulp Literature, ~40000 (~5000 best), 5-8¢/word (up to 7000 words), Seeking: any genre or between-genre, poetry, comics, illustration, and open to novel queries in Jan/July, Poetry (up to 3 poems or 5 pages w/ $25-$50)

Reckoning, ~20,000 words, 8¢/word ($30/page for poems), Genre: SF/F/General, Theme: environmental justice, Simultaneous OK, Poetry OK (prefer multiple 3-5 poems <10 pages, but send only one if longer)

Seize the Press, ~2000 words, 8¢/word, Genre: bleak SF/dark fantasy/Horror, Theme: seeking dark, transgressive speculative (no moralizing and no happy endings), Reprints NO, Multiple OK, Simultaneous OK, email submissions to submissions@seizethepress.com

Smokelong Quarterly, ~1000 words, $50/piece, Genre: Literary, Simultaneous OK, Notes on what they want: language that surprises and excites, narratives that strive toward something other than a final punch line or twist, pieces that add up to something, often (but not necessarily always) something profound or emotionally resonant honest work that feels as if it has far more purpose than a writer wanting to write a story

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, ~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, http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/, will reopen in 2023 (last opened on 10/3-10/5) 

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.com

The 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 Arcanist, ~1000 words, 10¢/word, Genre: Fantasy/SF/Horror, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (sub up to three at a time), Note: seeking great characters with complete stories

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) 

The Dark, 2000-6000 words, 6¢/word, Genre: Horror/Dark Fantasy/Experimental

The 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

The Dread Machine, ~5,500 words, 5¢/word, Genre/Theme: dark future / SF / cyberpunk / slipstream (wants: magical realism, literary SF, alternative realities, diverse protagonists, unique dystopias/utopias, unconventional societies), Reprints OK (~7,000 words, 1¢/word, will not accept if available online for free), Poetry OK (~50 lines, $10/poem), Anonymous Submissions, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 submissions sent separately), submit here after creating free account

The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction Magazine, ~25,000 words, 8-12 cents/word, Genre: F/SF/H (speculative element may be slight but should be present), send to Sheree Renée Thomas, Poetry OK (send 3-5 poems/submission), Art & Cartoons OK (send sample/queries to Gordon Van Gelder), note: do not submit another story or set of poems before 21-days after your last submission

The No Sleep Podcast, 1200-2000 words at 5¢/word (1200-2499 = $100; 2500+ words = $150), Genre/Theme: must be horror and generally prefer first person, should be written with audio format in mind

The Razor, ~2000 words, $100/story, Genre: general/literary, Simultaneous OK, anonymous submissions, Nonfiction OK

The Strand Magazine, 1000-2000 words at 5¢/word (1000-6000 words at $100-150), Genre/Theme: mysteries/detective/terror/supernatural

Thirteen, any word count, 1-5¢/word (~1000 words = 5¢/word; 1000-40,000 words = 1-2¢/word), Genre: horror (an audio-drama podcast specializing in "slow-burn atmospheric horror and ghost stories"), submissions formatted as a script have a better chance of selection, first person central narrator with supporting characters works best for their format, see more advice on the website

Three-Lobed Burning Eye, 500-1000 words or 1001-7500 (1000-2000=5¢/word), Genre: any spec especially horror/dark fantasy (prefers hybrid/weird), $100/short story or $30/flash

Triangle House Review, ~40,000 words, flat rate of $50 (so around 5¢/word for ~1000 words), Genre: general/literary, limited to "pieces by writers who have never been published in any capacity before"

Uncharted Magazine, 1000-5000 words, 4-10¢/word ($200/story), Genres: SF/Fantasy/Horror/Thriller, Simultaneous OK

Unreal Magazine / Unfit Magazine, ~5000 words, 20 cents/word up to 1000 words (1 cent/word over 1000), seeking imaginative/emotional/metaphors/original ideas, Simultaneous OK, SFWA members not eligible, Note: also see their Unfit Magazine (seeking same as Unreal), Note: this was delisted at Submissions Grinder (sub at your own risk)

upstreet, ~5000 words, $50-$250 for short stories or essays (generally 5¢/word for ~1000 words), Genre: general/literary, Simultaneous OK, submissions window is September to March

Raven Canticle Press (Valravn and other anthologies; novellas and novels), 3000-10,000 words paid at 10¢/word (w/ bonus payouts based on crowdfunding/sales; also seeking 15,000-80,000 word novellas/novels paid through advances/royalties), Genre: Horror/Fantasy/Espionage/Thriller/SF (they strongly prefer horror/dark/gothic set in any genre), Theme: the annual anthology Valravn is horror themed but contains other genres (they also release themed anthologies which they will announce; horror/dark/gothic themes must carry the story for novellas/novels), Reprints NO, Multiple NO (only one sub per quarter), submit via website form

Vector, 1000-6000 words, Genre: non-fiction only, seeks: non-academic articles (1000-3500 words), academic articles (3500-6000 words), interviews/roundtables, conference reports, reviews, and queries from prospective guest editors and advertisers, Query: vector.submissions@gmail.com

Voyage, ~6000 words, $200/story, Genre: YA/General, Simultaneous OK

Zooscape, ~5,000 words, 8¢/word, Genre/Theme: any furry SF/F (must feature an anthropomorphic animal figure), Reprints OK (~10,000 words, $20), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO (query), submit to zooscape.zine@gmail.com with subject line of “SUBMISSION:  Title, Word Count", currently closed 4/1/2022-8/14/2022 (opens8/15)

3. Deadlines/Windows after 10/1/2022 paying up to 4¢/word)

10/6, Bright Wall/Dark Room: Recovery, 2500-4000 words, $50, Genre: essays on films, Theme: Recovery (stories of people who faced immense challenges and found a way to come out the other side; recoveries can be successful, or valiant in the mere attempt; they can be noble, or they can be attempted for all the wrong reasons; can be little better narrative material than stories of recovery, and we can’t wait to see all the ways you interpret the theme; see guidelines for examples on addiction narratives, stories of overcoming physical setbacks, wartime experiences, abuse; stories taking on supernatural notes, psychological horror, or those that are abstract, realistic, stylized, or eerie), Link: https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/submissions/ and https://www.brightwalldarkroom.com/the-bright-wall-dark-room-guide-to-pitching-submitting/

10/1-10/14, Apparition Lit, under 1000 words, $30, Genre: speculative, Theme: story based on the monthly photo prompt, Link: https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/

10/15, Wandering Wave Press: Tumbled Tales 1 – Stories that Upend Genre Conventions, 1000-10,000 words, $25, Genre/Theme: any mixed genre (genre authors who cross boundaries; stories that twist the tropes; stories that you can’t classify, that can’t be pigeon-holed into a single subgenre or that pushes against your genre’s boundaries; examples include witches in space, romances that flip gender roles, alternate histories set in the near-future, and fairy tales that start after the ‘happily ever after’, Link: https://wanderingwavepress.com/submissions

10/15, Sasee: In the Spirit!, 500-1000 words, pay varies, Genre: first-person nonfiction material that is for or about women (essays, humor, satire, personal experience, and features on topics relating to women are their focus areas; no fiction or poetry), Theme: next upcoming theme is ‘In the Spirit!’ to be published in December, Link: https://sasee.com/submissions/#writer-guidelines

10/1-10/15, Dose of Dread (Dread Stone Press), 500-1000 words, 2¢/word, Genre: Horror (dread-inducing), Link: https://dreadstonepress.com/submissions/

10/14-10/23, Fusion Fragment, 2,000-15,000 words, 3.5¢/word, Genre/Theme: any SF (especially likes slipstream/cyberpunk/post-apocalypse/a little bizarre; likes character-driven; likes quiet, reflective pieces; tends to dislike high adventure and humor; quality more important than genre though so send anything resembling SF), Link here: http://www.fusionfragment.com/submissions/

10/1-10/31, Solarpunk Creatures, ~7000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: solarpunk, Theme: stories and artwork that put human-nonhuman or even nonhuman-nonhuman relations in the spotlight (defining “creature” broadly: wild animals, domesticated ones, intelligent fungi, plastic-eating bacteria, lakes and rivers granted personhood, reconsider traditional tropes of alien first contact and sentient AI and don't replicate the same old oppressions and assumptions of human dominance), Art OK ($100/$50), Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, send story (doc/docx/rtf) to publisher@worldweaverpress.com with subject line SOLARPUNK CREATURES: [STORY TITLE] and brief cover letter in the body of the email, Link: https://www.worldweaverpress.com/blog/call-for-submissions-solarpunk-creatures

10/31, Rituals & Grimoires | Quill & Crow, 5000-8000 words, $45, Genre: Horror /Fantasy / Dark Fantasy (seeking mature fiction, magical/historical/literary horror, Gothic elements, fantasy/horror blends, dark magical fantasy and dark academia), Theme: gothic tales of dark magic & wizardry, Reprints NO, Simultaneous Maybe (not state), Multiple NO, Link:  https://www.quillandcrowpublishinghouse.com/rituals-and-grimoires

10/31 (11:59 PM PST), Manor of Frights (Horror Addicts), 2000-3500 words, $10, Theme: must be third person horror taking place in the Manor of Fright, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK (up to two stories), blind subs (remove personal info from submission), Link: https://horroraddicts.wordpress.com/current-submission-calls/

10/31, Under the Stairs: An Anthology of Homebound Horror, ~3000 words, 3 cents/word, Genre: Horror (supernatural and strictly human horrors), Theme: stories about what happens when you lose your sense of home, Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit to underthestairsmag@gmail.com, Link: https://www.underthestairsmag.com/

11/2, ~350 words, 5th Annual Weird Christmas Flash Fiction Contest, ~350 words (excluding title), cash prize (1st: $75, prompt prize x3: $50, honorable mentions: $5), winners read on podcast (by author or other), Genre/Theme: weird Christmas-themed fiction (three categories: stocking stuffer, christmas cryptids, weird cards), Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple OK, submit to weirdxmascontest@gmail.com, Link: https://weirdchristmas.com/2022/07/19/2022-weird-christmas-flash-fiction-contest-5th-annual/

4. Open Publications with no deadline paying up to 4¢/word or more

Allegory, any word count (sweet spot: 500-5000 words), $15/story, Genre: SF/F/H, submit stories to  submissions@allegoryezine.com (see link for specific subject heading and email content), Note: the first readers often give helpful feedback, editor Ty Drago, details at the link:  https://www.allegoryezine.com/submissions

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, details at the link:  https://www.blackharepress.com/submissions/

Bourbon Penn, 2000-7500 words, 2¢/word, Genre: speculative (odd/imaginative ones), especially slipstream/cross-genre/magic realism/absurdist/surreal, more details here: https://www.bourbonpenn.com/submissions

Bullet Points, 100-5,000 words, $30 flat ($20 flat for reprints), Genre/Theme: speculative military fiction sensitive to the complexity/tragedy/hope of warfare/violence in human/nonhuman society 
Reprints OK ($20, longer word count okay), details at the link: https://www.nathantoronto.com/bulletpoints/submissions

Crow Toes Quarterly, ~3000 words, $25 (1-1500 words) or $50 (1501-3000 words), Genre: playfully dark fiction for children ages 8-13, Poetry OK (1-5 pieces in a single doc/pdf; $20/poem), Art OK (1-5 pieces; $20-60), Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit to ctqsubmissions@gmail.com with brief bio (include type of submission, title of submission, and name of artist/author in the subject line), details at the link: https://www.crowtoesquarterly.org/submit

Dark Moon Digest,  1500-7000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: Horror (complex/creepy like Twilight Zone or Black Mirror), Simultaneous OK, opens on the 1st every month and closes when full, Link: https://darkmoondigest.submittable.com/submit

Dream of Shadows, ~1500 words, £20, Genre: Horror/Fantasy, Link: https://www.dreamofshadows.co.uk/submission-guidelines

Flash Point Science Fiction, 100-1000 words, $15/story, Genre: speculative (F/SF, slipstream, other), details at the link: https://flashpointsf.com/submissions/

GigaNotoSaurus, 5,000-25,000 words, $100, Genre: F/SF (any combination of the genres), English Translations OK, Reprints NO, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, submit via Moksha submissions portal, Link: http://giganotosaurus.org/submission-guidelines/?fbclid=IwAR3ejADSawz5Ty5xAOKTEn8hQ42yuOkFNheUS2JViZ0PWsHi_ps1YkcmXZ4

Guilty Crime Story Magazine, 1000-6000 words (sweet spot = 3k-4k), $10/story, Non-Fiction OK (~1500 words w/ 500-750 preferred, $5/article, pitch first), Art OK ($15/cover art; $10/interior art), submit to guiltycrimemag@gmail.com, Link:  https://www.guiltycrimemag.com/submissions.html?fbclid=IwAR0FDEJzyTifZgXC9TBjnrDZNzVc06eEOuIyFR8LB1NG_ftgEEDQkuGX2_o

Hexagon Magazine, ~7500 words, CAD 1¢/word, Genre: speculative, Limited submission windows (open in January, March, May, July, September, November), Reprints NO, Translation OK, Poetry OK (~30 lines, $5/poem), Art OK ($5/cartoon, $50/page for comics, $150 cover art), Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO (one pending submission at a time; poems can be sent in batches of 3), details and submission portal at the link: https://hexagonmagazine.ca/submit/

Interzone, 2,000-17,500 words, EUR 1.5¢/word. Genre: fantastika (including horror), Theme: stories that find new ways to recognise the world and change it (stories that trespass genre lines; stories that are fantastic). Reprints NO, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO. submit to submissions@interzone.press, Link: https://interzone.press/submissions/

Interzone Digital, ~7,000 words, EUR 1.5¢/word, Genre: SF/F, Reprints NO, Multiple NO, Simultaneous OK, submit w/ attached Word document to submissions@interzone.digital, don’t sub to IZ Digital if rejected for print edition (will already have considered that option), Link: https://interzone.digital/story-submissions/

Lady Churchill 's Rosebud Wristlet, any word count, Genre: F/SF/general (trends toward but not limited to speculative), 3¢/word, only accepts paper submissions (no email), Poetry OK ($10/poem), Art OK, details at the link: https://smallbeerpress.com/about/submission-guidelines/

Mythic, 2000-6000 words, 4¢/word, F/SF, general submissions open 6/1-7/31 and 12/1-1/31, Link: https://www.mythicmag.com/p/submissions.html

Perpetual Motion Machine, ~1500 words, $25/story, Genre: Horror (complex/creepy like Twilight Zone or Black Mirror), Link: https://pmmpublishing.submittable.com/submit/34164/perpetual-flash-fiction

Pressfuls, 2000-5000 words (3¢/word), 20,000-45,000 words (35% royalties), Genre: F/SF/H/Crime/Mystery, Simultaneous NO, Multiple NO, Reprints NO, submit to submissions@pressfuls.com, Editor-in-Chief: Roban Bandojo, Link:  https://pressfuls.com/about/

Star Ship Sofa (District of Wonders), 3000-9000, 1¢/word (less if 7500-9000 words), Genre: SF, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Note: buying audio rights only, Link:  http://www.starshipsofa.com/submissions/

Sci-Fi Lampoon, ~7500 words, $5, Genre/Theme: humorous speculative, Simultaneous OK, also seeking art and lampoon ads, Multiple OK, Link: http://scifilampoon.com/submissions/

Scrawl Place, ~900 words, $35/piece, Genre: any content/style/form (fiction, poetry, hybrids, creative nonfiction), Theme: pieces about or connected to a specific physical place that someone could visit, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (1-3 pieces at a time), Reprints OK, Link: https://scrawlplace.submittable.com/submit

Simultaneous Times Podcast (from Space Cowboy Books), $10/story, submit a high quality wav. file via wetransfer.com (or follow guidelines on their page if you cannot record your story), Link: https://spacecowboybooks.blogspot.com/p/writer-submissions.html?view=sidebar

Tales to Terrify, 2,000-10,000 words, 1¢/word, Genre: Horror, Link:  https://talestoterrify.com/submissions/

The Colored Lens, ~20,000 words, 1-2¢/word, Genre: speculative, Link:  http://thecoloredlens.com/?page_id=137752

The Common Tongue Magazine, 600-6000 words, 3¢/word, Genre: high fantasy with a dark tone (dark fantasy, grimdark, sword & sorcery), Languages: English or Spanish, Translation OK, Poetry OK (~40 lines), Note: seeking original stories or stories set in their Arthuruin Shared Universe, Nonfiction OK (~2500 words, 3¢/word), Art OK ($200-400), Link:  https://www.commontonguezine.com/submission-guidelines/

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: F/SF/H/Crime/ Mystery/Romance, Theme: varies by anthology, Reprints OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple OK (up to 3 at a time), see deadlines for semi-pro for current anthology windows, Link: https://www.tgvb.in/submissions/

Three-Lobed Burning Eye, 500-1000 words ($30), 1001-7500 words ($100), Genre: speculative (esp. horror/dark fantasy; also prefers hybrid/weird), Link:  https://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html

Utopia, 100-5000 words, 4¢/words, Genre/Theme: different theme each issue (accepts stories that do not match theme; matching theme increases chances of selection), Reprints NO, Poetry OK ($5/short poem; $10/long poem), Nonfiction OK, Art OK, Simultaneous OK, Multiple NO, submit to Editor-in-Chief Tristan Everts, Fiction Editor: Angie, Link:  https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/submit

Welkin: A Magazine of Fantastic Literature, any word count, 1¢/word (~1500 words unpaid, Reprints OK (flash only but no pay), Art OK ($50/issue), Simultaneous OK, Submission periods: March/ July/ October/ January (open to flash fiction year-round), Link: https://welkinmag.com/submit/?fbclid=IwAR1jImN0wwLpkOcmsKEDe4GuL7ScXwa3rGrCNcf-8Q3k8CqAk7hLjoFIUvM

5. Publications paying royalties/advance only

open until end of 2022 (maybe longer), Crystal Lake Publishing, 30,000-95,000 words, 40% royalties for net eBook sales (20% on paperback sales; four years exclusivity), Genre: Dark / Horror / Speculative / Suspense / Fantasy / Thriller, website: https://www.crystallakepub.com/authorcentral/, guidelines: https://www.crystallakepub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Open-subs-2022.pdf

6. Search for More Markets Here

Publishing...and Other Forms of Insanity offers plenty of updated lists of agents, calls for submission, contests, conferences, recipes, and more

S. Kalekar (authorspublish.com) lists lots of places to submit stories such as this October 2022 post: https://authorspublish.com/37-themed-submission-calls-for-writers-for-october-2022/

Angelique Fawns regularly lists places to submit stories, such as this October 2022 post

The Submission Grinder: a submission tracker and market database that is free to use for all, helps provide data on publications and submission windows

Duotrope, same as above, a submission tracker and market database that requires a paid subscription for full usage, may go into a bit more depth than Grinder though not by much based on my brief trial subscription

Ralan.com: up-to-date listings for the speculative market and advice

Publisher's Marketplace

Locus Magazine: Resources

Moksha Listing of Open Publications

Horror Tree: recent markets, articles, interviews, and fiction

Literarium (login/sign-up)

Literarium flash fiction listing

Horror Writers Association: Markets for Horror Writers and Poets

Speculative Poetry Markets

Write Jobs: good and bad jobs, markets, contests, etc.

50 Magazines and Anthologies That Pay for Horror Fiction, a decent list with speculative focus

Where to Submit Short Stories: 30 Magazines and Websites That Want Your Work, a decent list with a literary focus

SFWA Market Report—April 2022

7. Browse Links to Advice/Lists/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

Charlie Jane Anders' advice: chapters from her forthcoming non-fiction book Never Say You Can't Survive with new chapters released every Tuesday

Delilah S. Dawson's page of links, including her advice on how to get published

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

Submission Tetris: An Analytic Approach by Laurence Raphael Brothers, a brief but useful consideration of what and where to submit in the submissions game from SFWA

A listing of speculative award winners. Go read, study, and improve yourself.

Grants to apply for with the Speculative Literature Foundation

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