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.
***
31 January 2020 -- Hashtag Queer, Volume 4 -- Qommunicate Publishing
[NOTE: Submissions open to LGBTQ+ writers only.]
Like its successful predecessors Hashtag Queer: LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology, Volume 4 will be released in June of 2020 to once again celebrate LGBTQ Pride season.
Hashtag Queer: LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology is the annual collection of creative literary work by and about LGBTQ+. It includes fiction, nonfiction, poetry and scripts up to 7,500 words.
Hashtag Queer: LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology, Volume 4 will be published in print & ebook. It will be made available in paperback on Amazon, the Barnes & Noble website, QommunicatePublishing.com and wherever books are sold (available to booksellers and libraries through Ingram.) Ebook versions will be compatible with the Amazon Kindle, Barnes & Noble Nook, Kobo, iOS, Android, MacOS, and Windows devices, in addition to PDF and other downloadable formats and web-viewable digital formats.
Submission Guidelines:
Please read the following submission guidelines carefully before submitting your work to Hashtag Queer: LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology, Vol 4. If you have any questions not answered below, please write us at submissions@qommunicatepublishing.com and we will be happy to answer.
Theme:
== By and/or about LGBTQ+.
Genres:
== Fiction (including flash non-fiction of 1 page or less).
== Creative non-fiction & memoir.
== Poetry.
== Scripts (including plays and screenplays).
For this book, we are NOT considering:
== Erotica.
== written for children.
Length:
== Prose: up to 7,500 words
== Poetry: Up to 5 pages
== Scripts: Up to 10 pages
These maximums are recommended but flexible. Please number submissions of longer than 10 pages.
Formats:
== All submissions must be typed. No handwritten submissions will be accepted.
== 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 Hashtag Queer: LGBTQ+ Creative Anthology, Vol 4.
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:
== Contributors will receive $5 per printed page.
[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.
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 will respond to all submissions by March 31, 2020.
***
31 January 2020 -- Rebuilding Tomorrow -- Twelfth Planet Press
Rebuilding Tomorrow is a followup anthology to Defying Doomsday, which was an anthology of apocalypse-survival fiction with a focus on disabled characters. Rebuilding Tomorrow will again focus on disabled and/or chronically ill protagonists but, rather than focussing on survival in the immediate aftermath of an apocalypse, we want stories set a significant time after an apocalyptic disaster. We want stories that show society getting back on its feet and people who have moved past (or are in the process of moving past) subsistence-level existence into a new, sustainable world, even though it’s one that has been irrevocably changed by an apocalypse.
We already have some fantastic stories lined up, but we want more! If you have an apocalypse story featuring a character with a disability, we would love to read it.
SUBMISSION GUIDELINES:
== (One of) the protagonist(s) must be a character with a disability or physical impairment, chronic illness, mental illness or neurodiversity etc. We will consider stories with characters experiencing all kinds of disability and illness and hope that submitting authors will be creative with the possibilities.
== We feel strongly that disability or chronic illness (etc) should have a frequent (if not daily) impact on the character’s life. For example, a character with a deadly peanut allergy in a world where peanuts have been wiped out by a plague isn't going to quite cut it. However, we are not looking for issue stories or stories where disability is the sole focus of the narrative.
== Some sort of cataclysmic event must have occurred well before the start of the story. We are open to a variety of past events, including apocalypses, alien invasions, devastating war, natural disasters etc. Be creative! The important thing is that these events should be in the past, although characters may still be dealing with some longterm consequences.
== We are not interested in fantasy (that means no magic).
== Stories can be young adult or adult stories. Graphic themes and content are okay, but we're not looking for erotica or gratuitous violence.
== Stories should be between 2000 and 6000 words in length and submitted in some approximation of standard manuscript format. We will happily accept .rtf, .doc and .docx files.
== No reprints, no simultaneous submissions, no multiple submissions.
We want a varied anthology with stories that are fun, sad, adventurous or horrific etc. We are also looking for variety in both characters and worldbuilding. Most of all, we are looking for good quality, well written stories. Note that, while we value #ownvoices stories, we do not require authors to disclose personal information to us.
Some things we already have covered (hard sells to steer away from):
== Stories featuring protagonists with upper limb deficiencies
== Stories where the central plot involves a happy community being temporarily disrupted by belligerent outsiders
Submissions are open until 23:59 on 31 January 2020 Australian Eastern Standard Time.
Payment will be 8 cents per word (USD) to be paid on acceptance in exchange for First World Publication Rights, with an exclusivity period of 12 months (with the exception of Year’s Best reprints).
Email submissions to: defyingdoomsday@twelfthplanetpress.com.
***
1 February 20 -- Multispecies Cities -- Worldweaver Press
A science fiction anthology in partnership with the Research Institute for Humanity and Nature in Kyoto, Japan
Story Length: 500 to 5,000 words
Payment: $0.03 per word (USD) + contributor copy
In order to attain better futures, we first must imagine them. But at this crucial tipping point for our planet, it's important to imagine futures that include the many other species we share our world with. Cities tend to be anthropocentric—designed for the comfort and convenience of humans, often with little regard for the plants, animals, and insects local to that area. Science fiction tends toward anthropocentric as well, concerned with either the great achievements or failures of humankind. For this anthology, we want to see more-than-human stories that investigate humanity's relationship with the rest of the natural world. We're looking for stories that acknowledge humans as part of a larger ecosystem, for characters who strive for balance with (rather than dominance over) the creatures surrounding them, for settings that depict an optimistic balance of nature and technology.
Authors may wish to envision futuristic cities where people and wildlife can thrive together, or urban landscapes re-designed to heal past ecological destruction. Characters might need to make tough decisions to maintain the multispecies ecosystem of a city, struggle to negotiate coexistence between human and non-human residents, or fight back against a project that would threaten the balance of that ecosystem. Stories could focus on conservation efforts for currently living species, or explore de-extinction processes for species lost due to human impact. Or perhaps an encounter with an extraterrestrial species could serve as a metaphor for how humans interact with the non-human species of Earth.
Because this project is inspired by the solarpunk movement, we prefer stories to end on a positive or hopeful note. We want narratives that engage with fundamental political ideas and problems, such as non-human citizenship and ecological justice. Far-fetched situations are acceptable as long as they're based in some realistic biology and/or climate science. We encourage authors to set their stories in the Asia-Pacific region, or at least include some thematic tie to that part of the world.
Submissions must be in English; translations are welcome, provided the original author has given permission.
Simultaneous submissions = okay. Multiple submissions = no.
How to submit: Send story as a .doc, .docx, or .rtf to solarpunk[at]worldweaverpress[dot]com.
***
16 February 20 -- Inverted Fairy Tales & Folklore -- ed. KC Alpinus and Sean Gerace; Goal Publications
We’ve all heard the stories of Little Red Riding Hood, Sleeping Beauty, the Princess and the Pea, and other faithful classics. We're sure that more than a few are familiar with the mythology of ancient Greece, Egypt, and others.
Great! That’s NOT what we're looking for, with a few exceptions.
We're looking for folklore, mythology, or fairy tales from other places, and fantasy stories that invoke these, that can have a furry (anthropomorphic animal) twist. Have a story about Baba Yaga? Toss it over here. One about Raw Head and Blood Bones? Sure, would love to see it! We want tales that have been lost to time, but we want you to twist it into being your own story. Give us something new and imaginative!
What we DO NOT want:
Explicit Gore – You'll have a much better shot at being selected if we can make it through your story without feeling physically ill. Horror without explicit gore is more than fine.
Explicit Sex/Erotica – Not that kind of anthology. Romance or alluded intimacy among characters is fine, but nothing that would require us to use a brown paper covering. The intended audience for this is 14+, so if you wouldn't feel comfortable with a 14-year-old reading the story, don't send it in.
"Zipperbacks" (meaning characters that are animal-people, and the fact that they are part animal has no significance to the story) – Some examples of what you can do to avoid having "zipperbacks": if your story has wolves in it and they don't engage in canine behavior (the occasional scratching, boundless energy, a fixation on scents, etc), then they might be an issue. If you have a cat character, maybe sometimes it grooms itself when it's bored during a conversation. If you have an otter, maybe it has an affinity for water and is extremely athletic. Animal-people may have different social customs (like they worry about shedding in fancy places), or their clothing might be unique to their species and has to be hand-made. Please make your fuzzy animals do fuzzy animal things so we know that they’re not just humans playing at being animals.
Thor, Loki, Odin, Horus, Osiris, Anubis, Zeus, Hades, Apollo, etc. We know these guys are a big part of culture, but their mythology is over-represented. We're not completely against Greek/Roman, Egyptian, or Norse stories, but just not these guys, and they need to be stories that aren't all over western pop culture. There are some lovely myths and fairy tales from these cultures that are often overshadowed, and we want to bring them to the front.
Any Disney princess ala Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Rapunzel or etc., with a few notable exceptions, are also over-represented and are not what we're looking for.
Dull, listless characters – Our editors both really prefer stories that feature unforgettable characters that make us love or hate to love them. If there's nothing memorable about your character or their exploits, chances are there won’t be anything memorable about your story.
What we DO want:
First and foremost, we want fantasy and fantastical elements. We want a sense of wonder, enchantment, and thrill at being immersed in the world that you've created. Please find the stories that need to be told and submit them. We love seeing diverse characters in diverse settings, so keep that in mind too.
One of the biggest goals with this anthology is to bring the stories from other cultures to the forefront. If you have a specific question, think, does this celebrate/give a voice to a nonwhite culture/a marginalized group of people? If it does, there's a good chance that some of these story guidelines may bend (such as, we may consider an original story written in the style of a fairy tale/folklore).
This is also a furry anthology, so please make sure your main character(s) fall somewhere into this! We don't want a "man runs with wolves"; we'd rather know what's going on with the wolf, and their thoughts on why the strange monkey-man is running with them.
The Twists:
Like we said, we want stories that feature folklore, fantasy, and mythology, but not just a rehashing of the original tale (unless it's a retelling of story totally unknown to western culture, and then we MIGHT be willing to take it. For example, we would be willing to take a "Vasilisa the Beautiful" retelling, especially if it features a location that isn’t a derivative of western civilization, versus a retelling of "Beauty and the Beast".) We're especially fond of fairy tales or folklore that have twists within them. Good surprises and memorable characters are quick sells with us. If you have questions about what this all means, please use our query form with the subject "submissions" and mention this anthology. Our editors will give you their thoughts.
Themes:
Anything with wonder, amazement, mystery, intrigue, or the fantastical.
Submission Requirements and Formatting:
Submit your story using the form at the bottom of this page. Make sure that all submissions follow our submission guidelines for formatting. In the "How does your story fit the anthology theme?" field, please include the fairy tale, myth, or folklore story that you were inspired by in the body of the email (We may want to look it up for future reading). Failure to follow these submission guidelines may result in your story not even being read.
Word Count: 1,000 – 8,000 words. This is a fairly hard limit, and stories outside of this limit will have a very low chance of being accepted. If your story goes off the rails and ends up over 10k words, we have a separate, standalone market for that. Don't submit that to this anthology, as it won't get read.
Payment: $0.04 per word (maximum of $100 for a story) for original stories, or $0.01 per word (maximum of $25 for a story) for a reprint. You will also receive a copy of the finished book.
Rights: We are asking for first rights on all original stories, exclusive for six months from the publication date, and then non-exclusive after that as long as the anthology remains for sale. For reprints, non-exclusive rights as long as the anthology remains for sale.
Multiple Submissions: Maximum two submitted stories per author. We will only be accepting a maximum of one story per author.
Response Time: Initial responses will be sent out by Sean within 48 hours of submission (please note that if you don't receive a response in this time frame that your response may either be in your junk mail box, or your email has blocked our reply, so get in touch with @goalpublication on Twitter). Final responses should be sent out within eight weeks of the submission closing, by KC Alpinus.
Expected Release: Late-summer or fall. More details to come!
***
22 February 20 -- Silk and Steel: An Adventure Anthology of Queer Ladies -- ed. Janine A. Southard; Cantina Publishing
Princess and swordswoman. Scholar and mecha pilot. Warrior women... and the courtly ladies who love them.
The Silk and Steel anthology was initially inspired by artwork from Al Norton. She's put so much tension into these characters! Yet, among all that edginess and conflict, there are also romantic feelings... and a definite sense that both women have the upper hand.
We’re looking for stories of high adventure that feature one weapon-wielding woman and one woman whose strengths lie in softer skills, but who is just as powerful in her own right. You're free to choose any setting – from historical to modern to wildly futuristic.
You can expect to share a Table of Contents with distinguished authors such as: Ellen Kushner, Aliette de Bodard, Amal El-Mohtar, Arkady Martine, Claire Bartlett, Django Wexler, Freya Marske, Jennifer Mace, JY Yang, K.A. Doore, Kelly Robson, Nibedita Sen, and Yoon Ha Lee.
Editor's Note: I'm looking for all speculative genres except straight-up erotica or hard-core horror. (We're aiming this anthology at general audiences, after all. Erotic and horror elements within your story's context are definitely okay! But if they're the thrust of the story, then you’ve gone off genre.) I think the idea lends itself well to swashbuckling romance and operatic comedy, but it's really up to you.
Other Inclusions: Yes! I would love to see trans women, bi, pan, and ace characters.
How to submit: Send your story in .doc, .docx, or .rtf format to Janine A. Southard at silky.subs@cantinapublishing.com
Note about conflict: Yes, this is an f/f anthology, but that doesn't mean your women need to be fighting against homophobia! While this is one option, it's not the only one. Consider also having them fight for their countries, their loves, or their right to wash their cars on Wednesdays in flagrant disregard of their HOA's rules. Silk and Steel is about romance and optimism, so moving on to the next big fight after homophobia will be a much easier sell.
Rights and compensation: Originals only, no reprints. We will purchase first publishing rights for inclusion in this anthology (ebook and print) and one year of exclusivity for 8 cents/word. Authors retain the rights to the individual stories; Cantina Publishing exercises rights to the anthology as a whole.
General Guidelines for Submissions:
We are currently only considering submissions for active calls.
Do send: Your story with your contact details, name (and pseudonym, if applicable), and word count on the first page of a .doc, .docx, or .rtf document. Please use italics instead of underlining. Cantina Publishing recommends using a really common workhorse font like Times New Roman or Calibri at whatever the default setting is for your word processor. (Font selections are subject to change before publication. Still, the submissions reader will remember you as "the jerk who sent something all in wingdings." So we don't recommend that particular level of creativity.) 3,000-7,000 words recommended.
Don't send: Fanfic of any kind. (Unless specified by the call for submissions.) Grotesque horror. Anything over 10,000 words without querying first.
***
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.
***
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!
***
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.
***
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.
***
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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UNTIL FILLED -- Of Witches, Warriors, and Wyverns -- TANSTAAFL Press [First Posted in September '19]
[NOTE: Updated December '19]
We now have an OPEN call for the high fantasy anthology Of Witches, Warriors, and Wyverns.
Guidelines:
1. We have received enough stories EXCEPT ones featuring wyverns. No additional stories will be considered where they are not the focus.
2. We will only accept those stories emailed as text in the email OR .txt, .doc, .docx formats.
== All attachments will be destroyed if not accepted.
== All attachments MUST contain the submission title, the author’s name, the author’s contact information (email as minimum)
== Email address is submissions@tanstaaflpress.com
3. We will not accept stories by mail or post. If we receive these they will be destroyed at once.
4. All stories must be original and unpublished anywhere
== If accepted TANSTAAFL Press will take first English publication rights.
==== Note that reprint rights are yours as are first publication in alternate languages, however the value of reprints is low as are the likelihood of getting anyone to reprint.
==== This publication is likely the only location where you will likely be paid for this piece.
== Stories must be less than 8000 words. Any story over 5000 words must be exceptional to be considered.
5. Stories must be less than 8000 words. Any story over 5000 words must be exceptional to be considered.
6. Stories considered for Of Witches, Warriors, and Wyverns must be high fantasy.
== We will not accept urban fantasy, or combinations of technology and fantasy.
==== To be clear, no technology beyond waterwheel or windmill.
== Any work that starts with or has as a major component a dream sequence will be rejected without a response.
== We also advise against any of the following:
==== Write-ups of your role playing sessions.
==== Any story that has something that makes someone invincible.
==== Avoid werewolves and vampires.
7. TANSTAAFL Press will attempt to get to submissions as quickly as possible, but make no commitment to how quickly. Our target is to have this work available by GenCon 2020 thus we must be complete with story selection nlt November.
8. TANSTAAFL Press will read submissions until we have our target word count, which at this time is circa 70K words.
Payments / Renumeration
Of Witches, Warriors and Wyverns will pay for each story used at $0.025 per word. Authors who’ve published with TANSTAAFL Press before will receive $0.03 per word.
TANSTAAFL Press will pay upon the finalization of three criteria:
1. Acceptance of your edited work
== This means if there are changes requested that they have been completed.
2. Signed contract with TANSTAAFL Press for publication of this work
== Come see our tentative contract. It hasn’t been fully vetted but it will be close.
3. All works for publication have been accepted and signed.
== That is, we will pay you when we have the full manuscript in hand.
== You will not have to wait for TANSTAAFL Press to actually publish.
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If you've found this listing useful, and especially if you've sold a story to a market you found here (score!) I'd love to hear about it. You can e-mail me at angiepen at gmail dot com.
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