If you’ve just wandered in off the internet, hi and welcome. 🙂 I do these posts every month, so if this post isn’t dated in the same month you’re in, click here to make sure you’re seeing the most recent one. If you want to get an e-mail notification when the listing is posted, get the list a week early, or get a full listing of everything I’ve found (as opposed to the two months’ worth I post here) a week early, you can support my Patreon.
Markets with specific deadlines are listed first, with “Always Open” and “Until Filled” markets (if any) at the bottom.
Markets open only to writers in a limited demographic are marked with a [NOTE:] from me, in italics, right after the main header.
There are usually more details on the original site; always click through and read the full guidelines before submitting. Note that some publishers list multiple guidelines on one page, so after you click through you might have to scroll a bit.
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29 February 20 — Triangulation: Extinction — Parsec Ink
Triangulation is open for submissions. We are Parsec Ink’s speculative fiction anthology, now in our 16th year. We’re looking for outstanding fantasy, science fiction, weird fiction, and speculative horror–from new and established writers. Take the theme and run with it. Tell us a story we won’t forget.
THEME: Triangulation: Extinction
Every day, another species creeps closer to extinction, often brought on by things out of their control. The world changes every time an insect, a rhino, a macaw ceases to exist. These changes are tangible. Tell us about them. Bring us stories of imposing threats, extraordinary creatures brought low, stories of those warriors who fight tooth and nail for their survival. What does extinction mean to you? We like our stories to be profound, relatable, poignant yet familiar. Tell a tale for the ages.
While we appreciate and value creative freedom, please note that this issue of Triangulation has a strict theme. We don’t want to read a hundred stories about dinosaurs and asteroids; we want gritty commentaries and hopeful ruminations. Last year’s issue, Dark Skies, wrestled with light pollution, and similarly, this issue addresses an equally as challenging—and real—topic. Let’s do it justice.
WORD COUNT: We consider fiction up to 5,000 words, but the sweet spot is 3,000. There is no minimum word count. Stories over 5000 words will be rejected unread.
GENRE: We accept science fiction, fantasy, and horror–and enjoy intelligent blends of the three. Stories without a speculative element will not be considered.
We do not accept reprints, multiple submissions, or simultaneous submissions. If we reject a story before the end of the reading period, feel free to send another.
We love creative interpretations of our themes, but we do require the stories to be a solid fit.
We run mature content only if we like the story and find the mature content to be integral to it.
We do not accept fanfic, even if it’s based in a fictional universe that has passed into the public domain.
MANUSCRIPT FORMAT: Please use industry standard manuscript format. We’re not testing you or trying to make you jump through hoops, but we do want a manuscript that is easy for us to read. We reserve the right to reject a story because it did not adhere to our formatting guidelines.
We accept manuscripts in the following formats:
== .doc or .docx (MS Word)
== .rtf (Rich Text Format — generic document format that most word processors can create)
HOW WE CHOOSE
We are a meritocracy. New authors are as welcome as those with a laundry list of accomplishments. But it’s going to be the story that wins us over. Grab us by the lapels, drag us onto that plane, take us for the ride of our lives… but get us back on the ground safely and home in time for dinner.
We aim to read submissions as they are received. If a story doesn’t work for us, we reject it. If we think the story has great potential but isn’t quite there yet, we request a rewrite. The ones we love the most, we hold on to for further consideration, but we won’t keep you guessing: you’ll get an email. Next, the stories fight it out amongst themselves until we have our final lineup. At which time, final acceptances are sent out. It’s sort of like Enter the Dragon, but without the nunchucks. When a story is accepted, the changes we suggest will typically be minor and/or cosmetic.
RESPONSE: Final decisions are made by March 31st.
ELIGIBILITY: All writers, including those who are known or related to the editorial staff, can submit to Triangulation. That doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get in, but we are happy to consider their work.
IF YOUR STORY IS ACCEPTED
COMPENSATION: We pay 3¢ per word. Payment will be either via PayPal or check.
RIGHTS: We purchase North American serial rights, audio and electronic rights for the downloadable version(s). All subsidiary rights released upon publication.
HOW TO SUBMIT
Electronic submissions make our lives easier. Please upload your story via Submittable. If this is your first time using Submittable, you will need to create an account with them. Don’t worry: it’s free.
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1 March 20 — Genderful — ed. Madison Scott-Clary; HYBRID Ink
As furries, we base large swaths of our identity around species. We search for what fits, we let our species choose us, and find ways to be happy as such.
Species isn’t the only portion of identity that we explore within this subculture, though; given the relative safety of our community, gender is also something that we frequently explore. More than 8% of furries describe themselves as non-cisgender, and a further 6% describe their gender as ‘complicated’ (via the 2016 Furry Survey).
Furry is often a means of wish-fulfillment for us, the players of our characters and the bearers of our avatars, so we often present ourselves as we desire to be seen. Within a fictional furry world, though, there’s little reason to expect that similar statistics around gender identity and expression would not also be the case.
Genderful: Green and Gold — How would those in a such a world explore their gender in a day-to-day context? What are the mechanics of hormone replacement therapy – transdermal patches obviously being out of the question – or of gender affirming surgery? What are the social implications of gender transition in a society already differentiated by species?
Genderful: Blue and Silver — How would those in a such a world explore their gender in a sexual context? What are the effects of hormone replacement therapy or of gender affirming surgery on one’s sexuality? How does sex and sexuality work in a setting with complex scents and sensitive noses? Dating, already scary, gains a new layer of tension; romance, already complex, gains a new layer of difficulty; and sex, already fraught with gender, becomes even more complicated.
About the Anthology
Genderful is an anthology of short fiction in two parts edited by Madison Scott-Clary. It will comprise several pieces from diverse authors. The anthology will be released in both physical and e-book formats, as well as, depending on interest, audiobook format.
Genderful: Green and Gold is the general side of the anthology, and Genderful: Blue and Silver is the adult side. Stories for general audience and adult stories will be offered in separate sections or books (the exact details will be determined when we receive submissions) to allow readers to curate their experience.
Here is what HYBRID will be looking for:
Submission Content
We are looking for short story submissions that explore the implications of non-cisgender life within the context of furry. There is no restriction on gender of characters or perceived orientation, including anywhere on the asexuality spectrum. Though the set and setting may be tough and the plot may involve hardships, the characters should be treated with sensitivity and care. We are particularly keen on featuring #OwnVoices authors.
Stories should focus on characters struggling or living with a non-cisgender identity. There are no further restrictions on genre. No preference will be given to stories with any character:
== on any stage of their chosen path of transition,
== of any gender identity or gender assigned at birth, or
== of any orientation
We would like a balance of expressions, and will be publishing an anonymous list of what is represented in each submission as they come in!
HYBRID Ink will not, under any circumstances, publish content that portrays any of the following without justification or in a positive light:
== Racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, or other forms of discrimination
== Pedophilia or sex with characters under the age of 18
== Rape, torture, dubious consent, or forced seduction
== Gratuitous violence, gore, or death
For more information, please see here, and remember that we’re all governed by our code of conduct.
Submission Genre
While there is no restriction on genre of submitted stories, we will aim for a cohesive anthology after the fact. For instance, if we receive more speculative fiction stories than contemporary fiction, that may play a role in accepting stories. Literary fiction, speculative fiction, murder mystery…give us your best!
Submission Rating
G-X — stories of an erotic or violent nature and stories written for a general audience will be presented in separate sections/books (specifics to be determined) to allow readers to curate their experience.
Submission Length
2,000–15,000 words — if you feel like you will fall outside this range, let us know!
Rate
2½¢ per word (maximum $100 per story. Why?)
Simultaneous Submissions
Yes, but please inform us if you are also submitting to other sources.
Multiple Submissions
Yes — limit 2. A maximum of 1 will be published.
Prior Publication
Previously published works are allowed, but preference given to entries that have not yet been published.
Schedule
Submissions Open: December 1, 2019
Submissions Close: March 1, 2020
Submissions Read and Responded to: Within four weeks
Anthology Available for Sale: within six months of contracts
Submission contracts will include a sunset clause. You may see an example contract here.
Submitting to HYBRID
Please submit via email to hybrid+submit@hybrid.ink.
Include your name and what you are submitting for in the subject line in the format [Submission type] Submission name (for X) by Author. For example, Jace Doe is submitting their story “Something Awesome,” to the Great Stories anthology, they would use the subject line:
[Story] Something Awesome (for Great Stories) by Jace Doe.
Alternately, for longer work queries, if Anna Doe is submitting a query for her novel Holy Crap, Birds!, she would use the subject line:
[Query] Holy Crap, Birds! by Anna Doe.
Please submit a synopsis of your work, plus the entire short work, or the first 10,000 words or so (about twenty pages) for longer work queries. We will accept the following formats: Microsoft Word (.doc, .docx), Open Document Format/LibreOffice/Calligra Words (.odt), Markdown, TeX of various flavors. We can also accept Google Docs, but would prefer a standalone file.
If you are submitting to a call for submissions, please be sure to note the following in your submission email:
== Whether or not you are submitting simultaneously to other markets
== Whether or not your submission has already been published elsewhere
== Whether or not you are submitting multiple submissions to the call
We appreciate you following these guidelines, as they help all of us keep submissions organized!
***
15 March 20 — Third Flatiron: Gotta Wear Eclipse Glasses — Third Flatiron
The future we all want. Examples might include effects of technology on the young (online learning, socialization), climate mitigation and adaptation, new opportunities to boldly go where none have gone before
The untented Kosmos my abode, I pass, a willful stranger
My mistress the open road
And the bright eyes of danger (Robert Louis Stevenson, Youth and Love)
Reading period: February 15 – March 15, 2020
Writer deadline: March 15, 2020
Publication date: June 1, 2020
Third Flatiron Publishing is based in Boulder, Colorado, and Ayr, Scotland. We are looking for submissions to our (approximately) quarterly themed anthologies. Our focus is on science fiction and fantasy and anthropological fiction. We want tightly plotted tales in out-of-the-ordinary scenarios. Light horror is acceptable, provided it fits the theme.
Please send us short stories that revolve around age-old questions and have something illuminating to tell us as human beings. Fantastical situations and creatures, exciting dialog, irony, mild horror, and wry humor are all welcome. Stories should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. Inquire if longer.
Role models for the type of fiction we want include Kurt Vonnegut, Arthur C. Clarke, Dan Simmons, Connie Willis, Vernor Vinge, Iain Banks, Alastair Gray, and Ken Kesey. We want to showcase some of the best new shorts available today.
For each anthology, we will also accept a few very short humor pieces on the order of the “Shouts and Murmurs” feature in The New Yorker Magazine (600 words or so). These can be written from a first-person perspective or can be mini-essays that tell people what they ought to do, how to do something better, or explain why something is like it is, humorously. An SF/Fantasy bent is preferred.
Stories should be submitted in either Microsoft Word (using double spacing), RTF, or plain text. They should be between 1,500 and 3,000 words. Be sure they are the final version (any Review comments removed). Flash humor pieces (Grins and Gurgles) should be short, around 600-1,000 words.
Please don’t send simultaneous or multiple submissions. If a story has been rejected, you can then send another (limit 2 per reading period).
Submit by email to
flatsubmit@thirdflatiron.com
either as an attachment (Word, RTF) or in the body of the mail (text).
In the Subject: line of the email, please put
flatsubmit:Title_of_Your_Work
to avoid being deemed a canned meat product based on ham.
If the work is for the humor section, please note that in the body of your email. A brief bio and a one- or two-sentence synopsis in the body of your email would also be helpful to us.
Use the following template (basically, follow William Shunn’s Standard Manuscript Format):
Your Name
Address (mailing)
Email address
Word count
[10 blank lines]
Title
Byline
Body of story
——–
Our response time is expected to be about 8 weeks (or less if the writer deadline is coming up soon).
Remuneration
Your story must be original work, with the digital rights unencumbered. Accepted stories will be paid at the flat rate of 8 cents per word (U.S./SFWA professional rate), in return for the first publication rights to the story for six months after publication. All other rights will remain with the author. We no longer offer royalties. If your story is selected as the lead story, we request permission to podcast the story as a free sample portion of the anthology. We welcome new writers.
Third Flatiron will price and market your story as part of an anthology. We will format the story for the most popular electronic readers and platforms. You agree that we may distribute a sample (portion of the story) to potential customers.
For non-U.S. submissions, we prefer to pay via PayPal, if you have such an account.
Most books (except “year’s best” collections) will be available for sale in trade paperback.
Authors selected for publication will also be entitled to one free online copy of the anthology.
***
25 March 20 — Humans in the Wild: Reactions to a Gun Loving Country — Swallow Publishing
Swallow Publishing, in association with Mythic Picnic, is soliciting works for HUMANS IN THE WILD: Reactions to a Gun Loving Country.
The anthology features Kathy Fish, author of Collective Nouns for Humans in the Wild. We will choose approximately 30 additional works from other authors, artists, and people at large.
Submissions must be original, but may be previously published works, and should be no more than 2,500 words in length.
Selected authors will be paid $50 each.
The anthology will be sold in print and eBook. We’ll be donating a percentage of net proceeds from sales to charity, and encourage you to do the same.
If you choose to donate your $50, please tell us about your chosen charity and why you choose to donate.
Though the editors of HUMANS IN THE WILD prefer donations to anti-gun violence charitable organizations, we understand there are many problems in the 21st century that may be nearer to your heart, and if you’ve lost faith in charities, you can tell us about that if you want to as well.
An index at the back of the anthology will include a bio on each contributor, including your explanation of where the $50 is going and why, but only if you wish to include that information.
Paste your submission into the body of the email, or attach it as a PDF/Docx/Doc.
Include your contact info and bio in the body of the email, remember to tell us about your preferred charity, your reason for donating, or your reason for choosing not to donate.
Donation, and explaining your donation, is totally optional and is not a requirement for acceptance.
Please send submissions to jen@rrusson.com.
The last day for submissions is March 25, 2020.
We hope to notify selected contributors via email by April 1, 2020.
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31 March 20 — Midnight in the Pentagram — Silver Shamrock Publishing
IT’S TIME TO MAKE A DEAL WITH THE DEVIL…
With the success of our first Midnight anthology, Midnight in the Graveyard, it’s time to roll out the 2nd in the series, Midnight in the Pentagram.
Silver Shamrock Publishing is now accepting submissions for the Midnight in the Pentagram anthology.
We are looking for original Occult/Demons/Possession/Satanism horror stories with an Exorcist/The Omen/Rosemary’s Baby/Hereditary meets EC Comics/ Creepshow/Tales From the Crypt kind of vibe.
Specific submission guidelines:
Submit by email to: kmckinley@silvershamrockpublishing.com
Length: up to 6000 words
Format: Preferred format is Doc or Docx, double-spaced with author email at the top of the first page.
— Please use the anthology title, MIDNIGHT IN THE PENTAGRAM, in the subject heading of your email.
— A writer’s CV with a summary of previous publications, awards, recognition, influences hometown and social media links.
— The word count.
— Acknowledgement of receipt of your manuscript will be emailed within 3 business days
— Successful authors will receive a contract upon acceptance. Once we have a signed contract by the author and Silver Shamrock Publishing, payment will be made within 30 days via PayPal.
Payment: Professional rate of $0.06/word.
Note: This is an invitation AND open-submission anthology (approx. 75% invitation/25% open-submission). With the All-Star cast of horror writers we assemble, this will prove to be a very competitive open-submission, with us only taking the very best entries.
Good luck!
***
31 March 20 — Geek Out! III — ed. Sage Kalmus; Qommunicate Publishing
[NOTE: Submissions open to GLBT+ writers only.]
Please read the following submission guidelines carefully before submitting your work to Geek Out! III If you have any questions not answered below, please write us at submissions@qommunicatepublishing.com and we will be happy to answer.
Theme
Where queer meets geek. Whatever you geek out about, we want to read it!
Genres
== Genre Fiction: Scifi, fantasy, western, noir, horror, romance, etc.
== Creative Nonfiction (non-memoir based): opinion essays, topical articles, reviews, interviews, profiles, humor, etc.
== Poetry: Experimental, slam and non-traditional formats
== Comics / Graphic short stories (black & white only)
== Scripts: short stage plays, teleplays, screenplays, video scripts, etc.
== Visual Art: LGBTQ+ themed (non-erotic).
Not Looking For
We are not looking for work in the following genres for this particular publication. (See our other Submission Guidelines homepage for other publications with upcoming deadlines seeking work in these genres.)
== Literary Fiction
== Memoir-based Nonfiction
== Traditional Poetry
Additionally, we rarely accept work in the following genres:
== Erotica
== Work written for children
Length (all word/page counts are loose)
== Prose: up to 7,500 words
== Poetry: up to 3 pages (per poem)
== Comics & Scripts: up to 10 pages
== Visual Art: Submit up to 5 images.
These maximums are recommended but flexible. Please number submissions of longer than 10 pages.
Formats
== All submissions of writing must be typed. No handwritten submissions will be accepted.
== Digital art files should be at least 300 dpi resolution.
== PLEASE EDIT YOUR WORK.
== If you send your submission in, please do NOT mail us your only copy of your work. We can not be responsible for returning submissions.
Multiple Submissions
== Multiple submissions (submissions of more than one work) are fine. Send us what you’ve got!
Simultaneous Submissions
== Simultaneous submissions (submitting work you’ve already submitted–or are planning on submitting–elsewhere) are fine too.
== Please just be sure that if your submission gets accepted elsewhere, you contact us at submissions@qommunicatepublishing.com to withdraw it from consideration for Geek Out! III
Reprints
== Reprints will NOT be considered.
Rights
== We are seeking First English Anthology Rights and First World Anthology Rights in print and ebook formats.
== NOTE: These rights only allow the material to be used in the anthology and its reprints, and the writer retains all rights to their work not specified here (i.e. in the contract), including copyright to their work.
== We are also seeking, for all material, Non-exclusive Excerpt Rights (for the purposes of promoting the Anthology on the website).
Compensation
== Writing contributors will receive $5 per printed page.
== Artwork contributors will receive $15 per piece.
[NOTE: There’s no way to tell exactly how many cents/word they’ll be paying; it depends on the size of the pages, the size of the typeface, and the density of the writing on any given page. (A page with many short lines of dialogue will have a lot fewer words than a page full of long paragraphs of description or narration.) A standard manuscript page is counted as approximately 250 words, which works out to about 2 cents per word. I’m assuming a “printed” page will be less than twice that, which means this market squeaks in just past my guidelines, to give them the benefit of the doubt. Keep this in mind, though, when you decide whether to sub here.]
What to Submit
== Your submission
== A brief bio telling us something about you and (if applicable) any publishing experience
== At least one form of contact information (phone number, email, or mailing address. Please do not give a social media account handle as your only form of contact information.
== IMPORTANT: Pen names are acceptable. However, for contractual purposes, all submissions must also include the author’s legal name.
== Please identify in the subject line or cover letter the publication to which you’re submitting, though keep in mind we may consider your work for other books we publish too if we find them appropriate. If you only want your work considered for this one book and no others, please indicate as such.
Where to Submit
Submissions may be emailed to us at: submissions@qommunicatepublishing.com or mailed to us at:
Qommunity
201 Lancelot Lane
Becket, MA 01223
AGAIN, MAILED SUBMISSIONS WILL NOT BE RETURNED
Response Time
We do our best to respond to all submissions within 3 months of receiving them. If you haven’t heard from us in that time, please feel free to reach out.
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31 March 20 — SLAY: Stories of the Vampire Noire — Mocha Memoirs Press
SLAY: Stories of the Vampire Noire will follow the steps of our previous published bestseller anthologies An Improbable Truth: The Paranormal Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Black Magic Women: Terrifying Tales by Scary Sisters (A Bram Stoker nominee).
What we are looking for: Vampires have been around in the horror genre for centuries. We are looking to tell a different vampire story. Ones where they may sparkle, but it is a dark one. This call is seeking unpublished short stories that tell stories of the vampire noire, the black vampire. We want stories of vampire hunters, of anti-vampiric heroes/heroines, and more. If you can take the story out of westernized culture, we’d love to see those, too! We want stories that speak of inclusivity. So, if your vampire is disabled or suffers from an alignment, send those stories too. LGBTQ+ stories are also encouraged. To point, we want stories from the African diaspora.
If you do not follow the guidelines, your submission will be deleted unread. Seriously, read the guidelines. Follow them.
Upon results of a successful crowdfunding campaign, we will pay HWA pro-rate of .05 per word for publication for First World Rights.
Still interested? Here are the guidelines.
== Stories for this anthology must be original (no reprints or previously published material), no more than 5,000 words in length, and must satisfy the theme of the anthology, meaning the protagonist must be from the African Diaspora. Remember, this entire anthology is dedicated to stories of the black vampire. They can be in space, superheroes, but they must be from the African Diaspora.
== Manuscripts should be in Shunn manuscript format, meaning double-spaced, 12pt font, standard margins on top, bottom and sides, and pages numbered. Please use Times New Roman font. The first page should include the Title of the story, Author’s name, address, and email, and Pseudonym if different from the author’s real name. Italics and bold should be in italics and bold.
== Attach the story in either .docx, .doc, and send it to mochamemoirspress AT gmail.com
== Subject: SLAY Submission: Title of Short story-Author Name
== Save your File as STORY TITLE-AUTHOR NAME
Here is our list of don’t:
== No revenge stories.
== No erotica.
== No Bestiality.
== No underage sex with minors, bestiality, or racist rants/racist storylines.
Decisions on stories should be completed by the end of July 2020.
***
4 April 20 — Disturbia — ed. Sandra Ruttan; Bronzeville Books
Take a hard left turn from normal. Bring us your unsettling stories. If a common activity leads to violations of the laws of man or nature, your story may be perfect for this collection. Ideal genres: horror, crime.
Note: We will not process or respond to submissions sent to the wrong email address. Only submissions sent to thebronzevillebee@gmail.com will be processed.
Note: Each story should be submitted in its own email. Do not send a submission as a response to a rejection or email query. Do not send multiple stories in the same email.
Pro Tip: Read Rigor Morbid: Lest Ye Become to get a sense of what the editor is looking for in stories. The tone is appropriate for Disturbia and Rigor Morbid 2.
We welcome submissions from diverse authors. We encourage individuals to opt to include a bio (100 words, written in third person) and author photo that can be used with the publication when submitting.
*Diverse can refer to race, religion, gender, sexual orientation, or those that are specially abled
Payment
$0.08 U.S. per word
We will not publish stories that are donated — all writers must be prepared to receive payment through one of our approved payment methods. All payments to U.S. writers will be made by check. All payments to international writers will be made by Paypal to a verified Paypal address that is in the writer’s name.
Guidelines
== Stories should be 3000 words or less
== Stories should be attached as a .doc or .docx file
== Text in stories should be in black ink
== No underlined text in stories
== Use a standard font (Times New Roman or Courier)
== stories should be sent to the proper email address
== submissions should be addressed to Sandra Ruttan
== submissions should have the requested information in the subject line
== submissions do not need to be accompanied by an email. An author bio is preferred.
Send submissions to Sandra Ruttan thebronzevillebee@gmail.com
Your Email Should:
== Have a subject line that indicates the name of the submission call, the name of the story, the author’s name, the word count of the story and the genre of the story
==== Example: Disturbia – ‘This is My Story’s Title’ – by Author Name – 2725 words – horror
== Be addressed to the editor, Sandra Ruttan
== Include a bio (100 words, written in third person) and author photo*
== Your bio can indicate if this is an #ownvoices story — we welcome #ownvoices submissions
Deadlines
Submissions will close on April 4, 2020 at 11:59 pm Eastern or when 175 submissions are received. In the event that we are approaching our submission limit for this call we will post a two-week warning with a revised deadline here. We will also update people through our newsletter.
Auto Reply
== We use an auto reply to confirm we have received submissions
== You should receive an auto reply that will remind you of the submission guidelines to ensure that your submission will be processed
== We will not process submissions that produce a ‘failure to deliver’ message when we send the auto reply (Why? It can indicate the email account is not working. We have sent more than a dozen direct emails about submissions in the past three months that have failed delivery. They continued to fail delivery after repeated attempts. The time spent processing those submissions and attempting correspondence impedes our ability to spend time on serious submissions we could potentially publish.)
== If you notice you missed something, resend the entire submission and note in your email that you are replacing a prior submission because some material requested was not included. Please do not send separate emails with pieces of a submission.
Review Process
== We normally review submissions in the order received, with the exception of material lacking the word count or not conforming to the submission guidelines
== Suspected troll submissions may be eliminated before submission review begins
== Submissions that do not state the word count will not be prioritized for review
== Submissions with significant formatting issues that do not follow our guidelines will also not be prioritized for review
== Stories that are not prioritized will only be reviewed if space is still available when all other submissions have been reviewed
Submissions That Will Not Be Processed
== Stories that exceed the word count limit
== Submissions of PDF, RTF or other document formats, or that include the story in the body of the email
== Submissions sent via DM on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram or any other social media platform
== Submissions addressed to persons other than Sandra Ruttan
== Stories with colored text
Multiple Submissions
Are not permitted for this open call
Simultaneous Submissions
Are permitted. Please withdraw your story ASAP if it is accepted elsewhere.
Reprints
Are not permitted for this open call at this time except by invitation
Resubmission Policy
Stories that have been rejected cannot be submitted to the same open call. They may be submitted to a different open call with a different editorial team.
Contracts
No content is guaranteed publication until an agreement is signed by both parties.
Failure to return the signed contract in a timely manner can result in a delay in publication or cancellation of publication
If edits aren’t completed within one week from the time issued it may result in a delay in publication or cancellation of publication
Forbidden Content
== Absolutely no adults having sex with minors, or anyone having sex with animals.
== We will not publish works that appear to promote hate towards people based on their religion, race, gender or orientation. While we may publish a story about racism, or that has sexism or bigotry as a component, there’s a line between writing about something and endorsing it. When necessary, we will hire a sensitivity editor to review content.
== To clarify, a story touching on racism may require a racist character that makes a racist statement. These should be used sparingly, and carefully. When the narrative is peppered with racist insults the story has gone beyond establishing that a character is racist and may read as a presentation of the author’s views. Anyone who is not prepared to work with a sensitivity reader or have this content addressed in edits should not submit to us.
== “While we will consider stories that deal with sexual abuse, the acts should be alluded to but not detailed. We are not interested in publishing stories that would appeal to pedophiles or abusers.” – Sandra Ruttan
Policy
We will work with sensitivity readers if we feel their insight is required for a story we’re considering. If you are a writer who is not willing to complete edits and work with a sensitivity reader, if required, do not submit to us.
Disclaimer
This information is for forthcoming submission calls for three anthologies. There is no guarantee of publication. The editor reserves the right to select the stories they wish to publish. The editor will not send editorial notes and detailed explanations about the stories not selected. That is a service an editor-for-hire or a beta reader provides. When you are submitting to a publication call you are, in a manner of speaking, auditioning for a job. You either get it, or you don’t. The editor’s decision is final. We will not debate or discuss our decisions with you. We routinely post tips and writing insights at Bronzeville Bee to help writers refine their work or determine if our publications are a good fit for them. We publish fiction at Bronzeville Bee. We have published Rigor Morbid: Lest Ye Become. A good way to determine what we publish is to read what we have published.
Anti-Harassment Policy
Correspondence should be directed to the email address provided here. Do not submit stories via Facebook or other social media DM channels. Do not send a message request to an editor’s personal social media account to argue about a submission. This is harassment. The editor reserves the right to ban you from consideration for future projects if you harass them.
***
30 April 2020 [OR UNTIL FILLED] — Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered — ed. Steven R. Southard; Pole to Pole Publishing
Opening January 1, 2020 [DO NOT SUBMIT until this date]
Pole to Pole Publishing is seeking fictional short stories for its upcoming anthology, Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered, to be published in June 2020, on the sesquicentennial of Jules Verne’s work.
Since June 20, 1870, Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea has been hailed as a classic, translated and reprinted in numerous book versions, transcribed for stage, movies, and TV miniseries, made into video games and a theme park ride. The book has inspired countless submariners, undersea explorers, and ship designers, not to mention armchair adventurers. We can’t let this anniversary pass unnoticed, so will launch this anthology as our tribute to the Father of Science Fiction and his masterwork. Pole to Pole Publishing welcomes Steven R. Southard as a co-editor of this anthology.
Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered will contain short stories that pay tribute in some way to Jules Verne’s novel. Set your story in any time or place; use characters from Verne’s novel or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The mood of your story need not be dark, as other Pole to Pole Publishing anthologies have been. Aim to capture, in your own way, the sense of wonder and adventure for which Jules Verne is famous. The connection between your story and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea must be obvious and significant, and your story must not disparage either the novel or its author.
Stories should be 3,000-5,000 words (firm).
Hard Sells:
== Profane and vulgar language. Because we market to both adult and YA readers, if you use an F-Bomb, and we accept your story, we’ll probably ask you to change it.
== First person and Present Tense. We’ve published both: when the stories were very, very good. We want to let you know up front that we’re going to reject this most of the time. It’s just not our preference.
== Excessive Gore and/or violence. Blood and guts are fine—as long as they’re part of the story and not the story itself.
== Sex. See above about marketing to a wider audience.
Edition and Rights:
==Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered will be published in electronic and trade paperback in English. We are asking for exclusive, worldwide rights to your work for both electronic and print for six months only, and a non-exclusive right to keep your story in the anthology after that.
==Payment: Payment is 2¢ per word for original stories ($15 flat rate for reprints), paid at publication, via PayPal only.
==If you do not have a PayPal account, please do not submit your work.
==Authors will also receive one copy of both the electronic and paperback versions of the anthology. (Authors can buy additional books at a discount.)
What We Don’t Want:
==No rape, torture, etc. of children. No animal abuse. No stories with characters from a copyrighted world that belongs to someone else. (Note: both Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea and The Mysterious Island are in the public domain.) No Poetry. Only one story from each author will be considered.
Formatting:
==No tabs. Please format the document with a first line indent.
==Curly quotes, please—no straight quotes.
==Please, no headers or footers. Use italics, not underlines. No boldface. Use Times New Roman font.
If you’re not sure if your story is suitable, don’t query; just go ahead and submit, and let our editors decide. (Word count is firm, however.) If your story is a reprint, please give us details of its publication history.
Opens: January 1, 2020
Deadline: April 30, 2020, or until filled. Be aware that all of our anthologies have filled before the deadline, so don’t wait until the last minute to submit.
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30 April 2020 [OR UNTIL FILLED] — Historic Fantasy — 87 Bedford
What we want
Five original, previously unpublished, literary fantasy short stories between 1000 to 5000 words for our Historic Fantasy Anthology. We are seeking stories that offer a riveting reimagining of a historic time period imbued with fantasy and magic. As always, we prefer stories with a literary quality built upon strong characters, spellbinding language, and believable world-building.
If your work is accepted, we will ask you to send us an author’s note (around few hundred words) related to the story that we can include in the anthology.
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Deadline
We will be accepting submissions until April 30, 2020, or whenever the anthology is filled. The anthology will be published within ninety (90) thereafter.
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Response Time, Simultaneous, & Multiple Submissions
We will do our best to respond to your submission within one month. Please feel free to check-in with us if you have not heard back after four weeks.
We allow simultaneous submissions but ask that you notify us as soon as your story is accepted elsewhere
We do not accept multiple submissions. You are welcome to submit again as soon once we have responded to a previous submission.
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Editing, Rights, & Payment
If we accept your work, we may request minor line-edits for grammar, punctuation and clarity. You will have the opportunity to review and discuss all edits with us before the final version of your work is published.
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We ask for First World Serial Rights, First World Electronic Rights and Exclusive Rights for ninety (90) days from the date of first publication. We also ask for Non-exclusive Anthology Rights. Lastly, we ask for Non-exclusive Audio Rights to publish an audio podcast of the work if we so choose. Stories will be published on both our website and as part of the anthology.
The author retains copyright and ownership of the work. All rights revert back to the author after ninety (90) days.
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We pay $0.08 per word. Payment will be made through PayPal (preferred) or mailed by check, upon publication. We will also send you a digital copy of the final anthology.
All published works will be credited with a byline, and contributors will be featured on our Contributors Page.
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Formatting and Submitting
All fiction manuscripts should be in standard manuscript format. Most important: double-spaced, 12 pt standard font (e.g. Times, Arial, Courier), and page numbers.
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Please email all submissions to submit87bedford@gmail.com and include in the subject field the word “Anthology,” the name of the piece, and approximate word count. Example: Anthology – “The Loyal Samurai” (6000). Please include your work as a separate attachment (.DOC, .DOCX., .RTF) to the email.
We look forward to receiving your work!
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UNTIL FILLED — Burly Tales — ed. Steve Berman; Lethe Press [First posted in July ’19]
This anthology, to be edited by Steve Berman, seeks short stories and novellettes that adapt classic fairy tales. But we want them populated with Bears! Strapping heroes are fine as long as they are stout. All the stories should have a measure of whimsy and/or wonder.
Before submitting your story, please consult this page – we would rather not double-up on any original fairy tale idea (we fear we’d end up with a book that was mostly about a gang of male Goldilocks roaming the woods and asking one another “Too hot? Too cold? More please!”) – so I will be listing any fairy tale that we no longer are interested in reading. Yes, rather than wait a year to hear from us, the entire open period will have “rolling acceptances.”
………please no stories based on Little Red Riding Hood
All stories should be romantic (HEA or HFN). Erotic content is not a necessity but our burly men should be sex-positive about their lives.
Specs: Please submit Word docs only, standard formatting, 12 pt Times Roman to me at lethepress@aol.com, using the title of the anthology as the subject line. No stories below 5k and none greater than 15. Reading period begins August 1st, 2019. Payment is 5 cents a word for original fiction, considerably less for reprints.
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