You Missed a Spot!

When you think you already plotted your story … but when you’re thiiiiiis close to the end, you find out you left out an important bridge. And by you, I mean me. It happens to the best of us plotters, no matter how intricately we think we’ve woven our web.

So when the web is 98% constructed, what do I do when I discover the missing 2% of the pattern?

I sulk.

No, really. First, I allow myself to be justifiably cranky at my past self who assured me that the job was done and everything would be fine and all I had to do was follow the map. What a slacker! Past Me is fired!

Unfortunately, that still leaves the job for Present Me. I plot best with pen and paper (this could be a liability if I ever plan a murder). So I get out my notebook and pen and scribble down all the end conditions that I need the bridge to connect to. Then I work backwards. What is the smallest step that has to occur to get to that end point? Okay, got it. Rinse and repeat.

Sometimes, I discover that the bridge just won’t be structurally sound if I try to connect it to one of those end conditions. That sucks, because it means that I have to change the already plotted ending. It extra sucks if I’ve already written part of the doomed scene. But eventually, the gossamer bridge that I’m plotting becomes solid and real. Then I breathe a sigh of relief and get back to putting in the words until I get to The End.

What I’ve been up to lately, writing-wise:

The kids are out of school, I went to the (excellent as always) 4th Street Fantasy Convention, we had a week in Kansas City, 4th of July and CONvergence are coming up, and–what’s that you say? That isn’t writing? Very observant of you.

Things Shiny or Useful

Archive of all shiny or useful links: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/shiny-or-useful-writing-links/

Defy Parkinson’s Law to Be More Productive: https://lifehacker.com/defy-parkinson-s-law-to-be-more-productive-1850565701

7 Tips for Choosing a Title You Love: https://careerauthors.com/7-tips-for-choosing-a-title-you-love/

Featured Market

Successfully launched Monstrous Magazine wants horror flash fiction, pays $.06/word.

We’re launching a print magazine! Monstrous will contain comics, prose fiction, and articles.

FLASH FICTION

WHAT WE’RE LOOKING FOR:

Horror Flash Fiction for the first issue, to be published later this year. There’s no theme, but we do like monsters, pulp, and classic horror films. Focus should be on fast-paced entertaining stories. We’ll take a limited amount of fantasy, but make it dark and action packed. No science fiction or detective fiction. No reprints.

Monstrous Magazine

Basics: horror, 1,000 – 2,000 words, pays $.06/wd, no reprints, first submission period closes 7/27/23. Guidelines: https://monstrousbooks.com/submissions

Market List Updates

To see all the details about these new listings and what they’re looking for, go to https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/new/. For hundreds of other listings, go to Aswiebe’s Market List and download the latest version of the spreadsheet, or view it online at https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/marketlistonline/. Best read on a bigger screen!

Screenshot of market lists update. Click to go to New Updates page.

Click to see the hot new updates!

Keep writing, keep submitting, and good luck!

Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Keeper of Lists
Aswiebe’s Market List
Abra Staffin-Wiebe’s Author Website

The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 7/15/2023.If you don’t want to miss an update, subscribe to the Aswiebe’s Market List newsletter: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/subscribe-to-market-list/
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What Does Easy Writing Mean for You?

Big News!

My full market list is now, finally, fully searchable online! I am so excited about this!!!

I’ve been fiddling with the page for the last couple of weeks … mostly learning which things I can’t do using these plug-ins. So the actual updates from this newsletter are from the middle of April, and you should expect another update in the near future. Going forward, I’ll update the online version at the same time that I send the newsletter out. Of course, you can still download the complete spreadsheet and keep your own copy on your own computer.

Go ahead, go to the Online Market Listings, search for “anthology theme” and see if any of your stories match current calls!

What Does Easy Writing Mean for You?

What kind of scene is easiest for you to write, and why? I was asked this question recently, and I think it’s a good one for any writer to think about.

For me, it’s food scenes. This isn’t terribly surprising. I like to savor my food, I like to watch cooking shows, I’m the main cook for my household so I have some idea what I’m talking about, and description is one of the writing tools that I got for free. But those aren’t the deepest reason why feasts are easy for me to write, they’re just the price of admission.

Food is visceral. It draws me in. Writing about it kicks my imagination (and my salivary gland) into overtime. I hit flow faster. The movie that plays in my mind as I write becomes more vivid. And when it’s more vivid for me, hopefully I do a good enough job writing it that it also becomes more vivid for my reader. And if they are my ideal reader, they are probably drawn in by the same things that I am.

The other kind of writing that I find easy, for the same visceral reasons, is body horror. This despite the mid-writing research required to keep it physically possible. Theoretical research only, I assure you. 😉

Now, does this mean that I should put a feast scene (or a body horror scene) in every chapter I write? Well, no. Although if I did both, I could probably churn out a pretty good horror novella in a month or two (note to self). Balancing scene types and tension and plot is important. But it does mean that I can lean in when I see an opportunity for a feast scene or some good old-fashioned enucleation. And if I’m plotting a story and there’s a choice between a cannibal feast or a dramatic love scene, I know which one will fit my voice and style better.

Writer, know thyself!

What I’ve been up to lately, writing-wise:

Let’s just say there’s nothing like a 4theWords special event to get me pushing to meet new word challenges … or to leave me with a hot mess of a chapter that has a lot of “put this bit here, move that bit there, double-check this detail, did I already say this?” inline notes that I now need to go through and clean up to get a proper first draft.

Things Shiny or Useful

Archive of all shiny or useful links: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/shiny-or-useful-writing-links/

How to Pitch: 3PO Edition: http://candleinsunshine.com/musings/how-to-pitch-3po-edition/

An Open Letter to the 2023 Hugo Finalists: http://corabuhlert.com/2023/05/01/an-open-letter-to-the-2023-hugo-finalists-whoever-they-may-be/

Clock Outline: http://candleinsunshine.com/musings/clock-outline-blades-in-the-dark-style/

7 Ways to Spring Clean Your Writing: https://careerauthors.com/7-ways-to-spring-clean-your-writing/

The Basics of Crafting Terror: https://horrortree.com/how-to-write-horror-the-basics-of-crafting-terror/

Email Lists From Scratch Tutorials: https://sellingforauthors.wistia.com/projects/2nsyj3aru4

Query Shark October Newsletter-Personalization: https://tinyletter.com/QueryShark/letters/query-shark-october-newsletter-personalization

Isabel Yap’s thread: how i write with a full-time job: https://twitter.com/visyap/status/1638337852256710656

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

The Nebula Conference, May 12-14, 2023 ($150). Purchasing a membership also gets access to recorded panels and year-round special events: https://events.sfwa.org/

Wiscon, May 26-29, 2023 ($25): http://wiscon.net/

The Orange County Library System has many upcoming free virtual writing talks: https://www.ocls.info/writers-corner

Featured Market

Uncanny Magazine‘s novella call is still open until 5/15/23!

Uncanny Magazine is seeking passionate, diverse SF/F fiction and poetry from writers from every conceivable background.  We want  intricate, experimental stories and poems with gorgeous prose, verve, and imagination that elicit strong emotions and challenge beliefs. Uncanny believes there’s still plenty of room in the genre for tales that make you feel.

Uncanny Magazine

Basics: speculative fiction novellas, 17,500 – 40,000 words, pays $.10/wd, no reprints, due 5/15/23.

Guidelines: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/submissions/

Market List Updates

To see all the details about these new listings and what they're looking for, as well as hundreds of other listings, go to Aswiebe's Market List and download the latest version of the spreadsheet. Note: going forward, limited demographic market listings will be italicized.
Click here to keep reading! (Best viewed on a wide screen.)
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The Joy of Research

The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 10/15/2022. If you don’t want to miss an update, subscribe to the Aswiebe’s Market List newsletter: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/subscribe-to-market-list/

Ah, the joy of research! It’s amazing how much research writers use to build purely imaginary science fiction and fantasy worlds. And I love it. There are the tiny little bits of research that make pleasant diversions (hey, what’s the etymology of spick-and-span anyway?) and the big chunks of research that are a necessary part of realistic world- and alien-building (carapaces and mandibles and cuttlefish, oh my!). As long as you don’t get lost down a research rabbit hole, and words still get written, research can be great refreshment for the imagination. And sometimes, indulging in “research” and random facts can inspire your writing.

Here are some excellent research-based sources of inspiration:

(Do you have a writing question? Send it to me, either by replying to this email or by using the contact form on my website, and it may get answered in the next newsletter.)

What I’ve been up to lately, writing-wise:

The current chapter in my WiP (work-in-progress) seems to be all vibes, no driving plot action. It’s Chapter 6, so that’s far enough in that it should be okay, right? Right??

Things Shiny or Useful

Archive of all shiny or useful links: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/shiny-or-useful-writing-links/

Apex Mag wants (unpaid) slush readers: https://apex-magazine.com/blog/apex-magazine-flash-fiction-contest-slush-reader-needed/

Tade Thompson on synopses: https://twitter.com/TadeThompson/status/1570133449155186688

SFWA Safety Resources: http://www.sfwa.org/safety/

Close to You: Writing in Third Person Close: https://careerauthors.com/third-person-close-pov/

Writing Tricks and Brain Hacks: https://twitter.com/rapscallison/status/1562442998717509635

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

Can*Con (CAD$45), Oct 14-16, 2022: https://can-con.org/2022-registration-and-price-list/

World Fantasy Convention ($125), Nov 3-6, 2022: https://www.wfc2022.org/

The Nebula Conference ($150) is over for 2022, but purchasing a membership now still gets access to recorded panels and year-round special events: https://membership.sfwa.org/event-4563942

Featured Market

Phantom wine 2022 Ghost Story Writing Contest wants ghost stories, only 250 entries accepted, winner takes $5,000.

TELL US A GHOST STORY THAT’S NEVER BEEN TOLD

Phantom Wine

Basics: ghost stories, up to 2,500 words, pays $5,000 to the winner, no reprints, due 10/31/22 or until full. Guidelines: https://phantomwine.com/ghoststories/

Market List Updates

To see all the details about these new listings and what they're looking for, as well as hundreds of other listings, go to Aswiebe's Market List and download the latest version of the spreadsheet. Note: going forward, limited demographic market listings will be italicized.
NameWhat they wantPay Per Word USD (originals)Flat Pay USD (originals)WebsiteNotes
Artifice & Craft (Zombies Need Brains) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31/22All speculative fiction, themed to enchanted artwork$0.080
https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/publication/artifice-craft/guidelines

Cossmass InfinitiesSF and fantasy$0.080
https://www.cossmass.com/submit/SUBMISSION PERIODS: BIPOC/GLBTQ+ (2/1 – 2/14, 10/1 – 10/14) and open to all (2/8 – 8/14, 10/8 – 10/14). May close early if receive many submissions.
Dragonesque (Zombies Need Brains) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31/22All speculative fiction, themed to dragons$0.080
https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/publication/dragonesque/guidelines

Escape Pod (Podcast) Short StoriesSF$0.080
https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/An Escape Artists publication. Original work up to 6,000 words. Reprints up to 7,500 words. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIODS: 9/15/22-5/31/23, 9/1/23-5/31/24
FiyahSpeculative fiction. LIMITED DEMOGRAPHIC: authors from the African diaspora$0.080
http://www.fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/ONE-TIME SUBMISSIONS SCHEDULE: 9/1/22-12/31/22 unthemed, 2/1/23-3/3/23 carnival, 6/1/23-7/31/23 belonging
Game On! (Zombies Need Brains) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31/22All speculative fiction, themed to games (not sports)$0.080
https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/publication/game-on/guidelines

If There's Anyone Left Speculative fiction. Limited demographic: marginalized authors$0.080
https://www.iftheresanyoneleft.com/submission-guidelinesONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: Spring 2023
Never Wake (Crystal Lake Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/17/22-12/04/22Horror themed to dreams and hallucinations$0.080
https://www.crystallakepub.com/authorcentral/

Nightmare MagazineHorror/dark fantasy and poetry$0.080
https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/guidelinesPrefers < 5,000 words. SUBMISSION PERIODS: 2x yearly, usually March and September. Special flash fiction submission periods. Do not submit if rejected by Lightspeed, okay if rejected by Fantasy Magazine. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIODS: 9/26/22-10/9/22Award-nominated
Solar Flare (Zombies Need Brains) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31/22All speculative fiction, themed to solarpunk$0.080
https://zombiesneedbrains.moksha.io/publication/solar-flare/guidelines

Solarpunk MagazineSolarpunk fiction and poetry$0.080
https://solarpunkmagazine.com/submissions/ONE-TIME 2022 Submission periods:. November 2022 submission period canceled.
DreamForge AnvilPositive science fiction and fantasy$0.070
https://dreamforgemagazine.com/call-for-submissions/ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 9/22/22 – 10/15/22, esp. wants solarpunk and hopepunk
Mighty (Renaissance Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 11/14/22Fantasy and SF, themed to disabled superheroes. Limited author demographic: both disabled and historically underrepresented $0.061
https://pressesrenaissancepress.ca/2022/06/29/call-for-submissions-mighty/

Drabblecast PODCASTSF, fantasy, and horror$0.060
https://www.drabblecast.org/submissions/Also publishes 100 word and 100 character stories, without pay. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: until 10/22/22
Planet ScummSF and weird fiction$0.060
https://www.planetscumm.space/submitRIGHTS: Also takes audio rights. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: open until 10/2/22
HeartlinesSF/fantasy fiction and poetry themed to long-term relationships, incl. Platonic$0.059
https://www.heartlines-spec.com/submission-guidelines/

Dark Recesses MagazineHorror and dark fiction$0.050
http://darkrecessespress.com/submissions/

Grendel Press ONGOING ANTHOLOGIESDark fantasy and horror, themed and unthemed$0.050
https://grendelpress.com/anthology-submissions/

Solarpunk Creatures (World Weaver Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/1/22-10/31/22Themed to solarpunk featuring non-human characters$0.030
https://www.worldweaverpress.com/submit-anthologies.html

Translunar Travelers LoungeFun SF and fantasy$0.030
https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/SUBMISSION PERIODS: 3/15-3/21 (POC), 3/22-4/15 (all), 9/15-9/21 (POC), 9/22-10/15 (all)
Under the StairsHorror$0.030
https://www.underthestairsmag.com/submissionsONE-TIME THEME DUE 10/31/22: Homebound Horror
Wild Hunt MagazineWeird and surreal, themed issues$0.027
https://wildhuntmag.com/submissionsWordcount may vary by issue. Note: offers paid critique feature. ONE-TIME THEME DUE 10/2/22: Moon.
Dragon Gems (Water Dragon Publishing)Fantasy or science fiction$0.020
https://waterdragonpublishing.com/submissions/dragon-gems/

Alchemy Press Book of the Unknown, The (Alchemy Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 11/1/22-12/14/22Weird fiction with a hint of horror$0.013
https://alchemypress.wordpress.com/2022/07/30/the-unknown/

Cafe Irreal MagazineFabulist fiction$0.010
http://cafeirreal.alicewhittenburg.com/

Fable (Aurelia Leo) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 11/30/22Horror, mystery, thriller, especially with supernatural elements$0.010
https://pridebookcafe.com/fable-an-anthology-of-horror-suspense-the-supernatural/?v=7516fd43adaa

Fable (Pride Book Cafe) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 11/30/22Horror and mystery, especially supernatural$0.010
https://pridebookcafe.com/fable-an-anthology-of-horror-suspense-the-supernatural/?v=7516fd43adaa

Pride Quarterly (Aurelio Leo/Pride Book Cafe)All speculative fiction, from flash fiction to novella and poetry by limited demographic: QTBIPOC creators$0.010
https://pridebookcafe.com/pride-quarterly/?v=7516fd43adaa

Sand, Salt, Blood (Sliced Up Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/16/22 OR UNTIL FULLHorror fiction and poetry, themed to the sea$0.010
https://sliceduppress.com/submissions/

Back Forty (JayHenge Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE UNTIL FULLSpeculative fiction themed to frontiers$0.005
http://www.jayhenge.com/callforstories.html

Vampiricon, The (Mind’s Eye Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/1/22-10/31/22All genres, fiction and poetry, themed to vampires$0.005
https://mindseyepublications.submittable.com/submit

Phantom Wine Ghost Story Contest (Bogle Vineyards) ONE-TIME CONTEST – DUE 10/31/22Ghost stories
$5,000.00https://phantomwine.com/ghoststories/Capped at 250 entries
Escape Pod (Podcast) Novelette ReprintsSF reprints only
$100.00https://escapeartists.moksha.io/publication/escape-pod/27/submitAn Escape Artists publication. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 9/15/22-5/31/23
Haunting Hooks: Scary Story Opener Writing Contest (Dictionary.com) ONE-TIME CONTEST – DUE 10/7/22SF themed to scary SF story opening (beginning only)
$100.00https://www.dictionary.com/e/scary-story-opener-writing-contest/

word west revueWestern-themed fiction and poetry, including weird western
$100.00https://www.wordwestrevue.co/submitSUBMISSION PERIODS: 9/15-11/15, 3/15-6/15
Bikes in Space Series ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY - DUE 1/15All feminist speculative fiction, themed to bikes plus annual theme
$50.00https://microcosmpublishing.com/blog/tag/call-for-submissions/ONE-TIME 1/15/23 THEME: gardens
Halloween Contest (Tales from the Moonlit Path) ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 10/13/22Horror and dark speculative fiction, themed to prompt
$50.00https://talesmoonlitpath.com/halloween-challenge-2022/

Tales from the Moonlit Path ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 10/13Horror, themed to quote
$50.00https://talesmoonlitpath.com/halloween-challenge-2022/

MyceliaEerie, weird literary fiction and poetry
$44.47https://www.hederafelix.com/submissions/

Empire of Beasts (Lost Boys Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/1/22SF and fantasy themed to a new society of an anthropomorphized creature
$40.00https://www.lostboyspress.com/empire-of-beasts

Rituals & Grimoires (Quill and Crow) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/1/22Horror and dark fantasy themed to dark wizards
$40.00https://www.quillandcrowpublishinghouse.com/rituals-and-grimoires

Women and the Sea (Tyche Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/30/22All genres, themed to women and the sea
$38.36https://www.rhondaparrish.com/home/open-calls-for-submission/

Dead of Winter (Toasted Cheese Literary Journal) CONTEST – ANNUAL, due 10/1-12/21Horror set in autumn or winter, themed
$25.00http://tclj.toasted-cheese.com/dead-of-winter/Annual theme is posted Oct 1st. Word count range varies by year.
EideticHorror
$25.00https://www.spibb.net/eideticFlash fiction under 1,000 words, short stories 2,000-10,000 words.
Alien DimensionsSF themed to aliens in space
$20.00http://aliendimensions.com/submission-guidelines/

Theatre Phantasmagoria, The (Night Terror Novels)Horror flash fiction, themed monthly
$13.33https://nightterrornovels.wordpress.com/2021/12/02/announcement-ongoing-flash-fiction-now-open-for-submissions/

A-Z of Horror (Red Cape Publishing) ONGOING ANTHOLOGY SERIESHorror, themes change every 2 months.
$11.52https://redcapepublishing.com/submissions/ONE-TIME 2022 THEMES: 9/1/22-10/31/22, quantum; 11/1/22-12/31/22, revenge. RIGHTS: Must not be available elsewhere.
Full Moon Chronicles (Howling Wolf Press)Speculative fiction, flash fiction, and poetry
$10.00https://www.howlingwolfpress.com/submissions/ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 9/1/22-10/31/22
Incubate (Speculation Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/14/22Feminist horror themed to rage
$10.00https://www.speculationpub.com/submissions

Tales from the Moonlit PathHorror and dark speculative fiction
$10.00https://talesmoonlitpath.com/submissions/

Yay! They’re Here! (Dead Fish Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31/22SF themed to first contact with aliens
$5.00https://deadfishbooks.com/submissions.html

HootAll genres, flash fiction and poetry
$0.00http://www.hootreview.com/submissions/

Neon Hemlock NovellasScience fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and weird, especially queer stories

https://www.neonhemlock.com/submissions2022 SUBMISSION PERIODS: October 11-24, 2022 all authors.
Mysterium Tremendum (Silent Motorist Media) – DEAD MARKETWeird fiction/horror, themed to the sacred or numinous
$50.00


Boneyard Soup – DEAD MARKETHorror and dark fantasy$0.050



Page & Spine – DEAD MARKETAll genres, incl. SF/spec fic/H$0.010



Wondrous Real Magazine, The – DEAD MARKETFabulism
$10.00


Legendary Tales – DEAD MARKETAll speculative fiction$0.010



Nightmares and Phantasms PODCAST – DEAD MARKETHorror
$5.00


Constraint 280 (microverses) – DEAD MARKETSpeculative micro-fiction
$2.80https://microverses.net/submissionsWordcount estimated. 280 character maximum.
Mantid Magazine – DEAD MARKETSpeculative fiction
$75.00


Lackington's – DEAD MARKETSpeculative fiction, themed$0.008
https://lackingtons.com/submissions/

Liquid Imagination – DEAD MARKETSpec-fic and literary. Also has a special flash fiction section.
$8.00


Keep writing, keep submitting, and good luck!

Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Keeper of Lists
Aswiebe’s Market List
Abra Staffin-Wiebe’s Author Website

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Strengthen Your Paragraphs, Merciless Mermaids, and Other Market List Updates

The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 9/15/2022. If you don’t want to miss an update, subscribe to the Aswiebe’s Market List newsletter: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/subscribe-to-market-list/

Permanent link to this newsletter in the archives: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/aug-2022/

Thoughts in Passing

What makes a strong paragraph?

  • Watch your openings.
  • Go against the grain.
  • Mix it up.
  • End strong.
  • …And if you’re focusing too much on it, save it for your edits!

Watch your openings. Watch out for repetitive paragraph beginnings. He, she, then, while, next, [character name] are common offenders. My critique group recently flagged me for using “He” to open too many paragraphs in a section. Similar sentence structure at the beginning of each paragraph can also be a problem.

Go against the grain. This depends on your natural tendencies. Do you normally write short and choppy? See if you can blend some sentences together. Do you normally write long sentences? Break them up (while preserving the natural flow). Long sections of dialog? Add action or description. Heavy on “looking at”-type description? Work action into the description. Figure out what your normal tendencies are and train yourself to look for places to go against them. This flows best not as large sections of something different, but occasional changes within a paragraph.

Mix it up. This is similar to going against the grain, but it depends less on your natural tendency and more on paying attention to what you’ve done. Then do something different. This is also a good way to figure out what your natural tendencies are. Were the last 4-5 paragraphs long? Write a short one. What sentence structures have you been leaning on? Try a different one.

End strong. Humans naturally put more weight on endings. The last item in a list. The last word or clause in a sentence. The last sentence of a paragraph. That’s where to put things you want to hit home for the reader: an evocative image; a sound; a shocking emotion; or a hook to pull them on.

Save it for your edits! As always, your mileage may vary. Different techniques work for different writers. If you find yourself getting bogged down in the sentence- and paragraph-level of your writing, save it for edits of sections that you really want to shine.

(Inspired by someone else’s locked Patreon post.)

(Do you have a writing question? Send it to me, either by replying to this email or by using the contact form on my website, and it may get answered in the next newsletter.)

What I’ve been up to lately, writing-wise:

I’m deeply enjoying leaning into the weird and grotesque in my writing. When I cackle as I write, it’s a good sign. I’ve been cackling a lot as I write my latest project…

Things Shiny or Useful

Archive of all shiny or useful links: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/shiny-or-useful-writing-links/

Why Unreliable Characters Are So Compelling: https://careerauthors.com/why-unreliable-characters-are-so-compelling/

Quick Tips on Writing a Novelette: https://horrortree.com/quick-tips-on-writing-a-novelette/

Delete Me (privacy service): https://joindeleteme.com/

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

ChiCon 8 / WorldCon ($30), Sept 1-5, 2022: https://chicon.org/

Can*Con (CAD$45), Oct 14-16, 2022: https://can-con.org/2022-registration-and-price-list/

World Fantasy Convention ($125), Nov 3-6, 2022: https://www.wfc2022.org/

The Nebula Conference ($150) is over for 2022, but purchasing a membership now still gets access to recorded panels and year-round special events: https://membership.sfwa.org/event-4563942

Featured Market

The Merciless Mermaids: Tails From the Deep anthology wants dark mermaid stories.

We’re sounding the ship’s bell for stories about malevolent and merciless merfolk of all kinds. Give us your mermaids who fought for the wrong reasons, made tough by their circumstances or by their own choices. Show us their schemes and villainous wiles, the fairytales that end in blood. Or laughter. Tempt us with their twisted workings across time and space, colors and creeds.

…Original “dark mermaid” short stories and poetry in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, humor, and romance, appropriate for a “PG-13” audience. Mermaids must be integral to the story. Diverse cultures and non-traditional legends and persons welcomed. Please, no copyrighted characters.

Merciless Mermaids

Basics: all speculative fiction, themed, up to 5,000 words, pays $.06/wd, no reprints, due 8/31/22 – 10/7/22.

Guidelines: https://wordfirewestern.moksha.io/publication/merciless-mermaids-tails-from-the-deep/guidelines

Market List Updates

To see all the details about these new listings and what they're looking for, as well as hundreds of other listings, go to Aswiebe's Market List and download the latest version of the spreadsheet. Note: going forward, limited demographic market listings will be italicized.
NameWhat they wantPay Per Word USD (originals)Flat Pay USD (originals)WebsiteNotes
Deadlands, TheDeath-themed speculative fiction and poetry$0.100
https://thedeadlands.com/guidelines/
Strange HorizonsAll speculative fiction and poetry$0.100
http://strangehorizons.com/submit/fiction-submission-guidelines/ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 10/3/22 UNTIL FULL (1,000 stories submitted)
Unspeakable Horror 3: Dark Rainbow Rising (Crystal Lake Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/30/22LGBTQIA+-themed horror$0.100
https://vinceliaguno.blogspot.com/2022/06/call-for-submissions-unspeakable-horror.html?m=1
Fantasy MagazineFantasy and dark fantasy fiction and poetry$0.080
https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/fantasy/guidelinesOK to submit even if previously rejected by sister publications Nightmare Magazine or Lightspeed. SUBMISSION PERIODS: ONE-TIME open to BIPOC authors all of 2022. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD 10/1/22 – 10/7/22.
Flame Tree PressFrequent themed anthologies$0.080
https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/topic/call-for-submissions
Gothic Romance Anthology (Brigid’s Gate) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/30/22Gothic romance. Limited author demographic: women and non-binary people$0.080
https://brigidsgatepress.com/submissions
Immigrant Sci-Fi Short Stories (Flame Tree Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/30/22SF themed to immigration and migration. Limited demographic: authors with direct/familial experience with theme.$0.080
https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/immigrant-sci-fi-call-for-submissions-0-0
Merciless Mermaids: Tails from the Deep (WordFire Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/31/22-10/7/22Themed to PG-13 dark mermaid stories$0.060
https://wordfirewestern.moksha.io/publication/merciless-mermaids-tails-from-the-deep/guidelines
There’s No Place (Renaissance) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/30/22All genres, themed to home. Limited demographic: authors who have experienced homelessness$0.060
https://pressesrenaissancepress.ca/2022/06/29/call-for-submissions/Accepted stories will be 70% Canadian
Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery, including paranormal$0.050
https://www.alfredhitchcockmysterymagazine.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/Long response time
Dread MachineDark SF, horror, magic realism, slipstream, and poetry$0.050
https://www.thedreadmachine.com/submit/Reprints up to 7,000 words.
Ellery Queen's Mystery MagazineMystery of all types$0.050
https://www.elleryqueenmysterymagazine.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/Prefers 2,500 - 8,000
Dead & Bloated (The Evil Cookie Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/1/22Extreme horror, with dark humor, themed to water $0.030
https://theevilcookie.com/pages/submissions
Superstition (Redwood Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE UNTIL FULLHorror and dark fiction themed to superstition$0.020
https://redwood-press.com/category/submissions/
InterzoneScience fiction, fantasy, and horror$0.015
https://interzone.press/submissions/Do not submit the same story to Interzone and IZ Digital
IZ Digital (Interzone)Science fiction, fantasy, and horror$0.015
https://interzone.digital/story-submissions/Do not submit the same story to Interzone and IZ Digital
After Dinner Conversation (Magazine and Podcast)Discussion-provoking stories, all genres$0.010
https://www.afterdinnerconversation.com/submissions
Mythic MagazineSF/F$0.010
http://www.mythicmag.com/p/submissions.htmlONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 8/2/22 – 8/31/22
Project Briar Rose (Manawaker Studio) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31/22SF, themed to personal qualities (see guidelines)$0.010
http://www.manawaker.com/submit-to-project-briar-rose/
Troopers (Shacklebound Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/31/22Flash fiction themed to law enforcement and military SF$0.010
https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/troopers/
Two-thousand Word Terrors (Rooster Republic Press)Horror$0.010
https://roosterrepublicpress.com/short-story-submissions/Wants about 2,000 words, slightly under is okay. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: due 8/31/22
Underland ArcanaMildly speculative and weird fiction$0.010
https://www.underlandarcana.com/submissions/ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: Fall 2022, probably October
Emerging Writers Contest (Dream Foundry) ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 8/8 – 10/8Speculative fiction. Limited demographic: non-pro authors
$1,000.00https://dreamfoundry.org/writing-contest/No admission fee.
Into Chaos (Sans Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/6/22All genres, themed to embracing the unknown and stepping into chaos
$151.25https://www.sanspress.com/submissions
Pets, Pets, PETS!!! (Los Suelos, California) ONE-TIME CONTEST – DUE 9/5/22All genres, esp. twisted, surreal, occult, themed to pets
$150.00https://lossuelos.com/submissions/
Nemesis (Wicked Taxidermy Press) ONE-TIME CONTEST – DUE 8/31/22 (estimated)Speculative fiction themed to enemies-to-relationship
$100.00https://www.wickedtaxidermypress.com/submissionsAll entries will be “considered for publication,” short stories’ regular rate is $10.
Furious Gazelle's Halloween Writing Contest, The ANNUAL CONTEST - DUE 10/01All genres, themed to Halloween
$50.00http://thefuriousgazelle.com/submit/halloween-writing-contest/
Tumbled Tales 1 (Wandering Wave Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/1/22Speculative fiction, themed to subverting tropes and expectations
$25.00https://wanderingwavepress.com/submissions
Ghastling, ThePsychological or quiet horror, ghost stories, themed
$17.74https://theghastling.com/submit/Check their Twitter for submission windows.
Flash Point Science FictionAll speculative flash fiction
$15.00https://flashpointsf.com/submissions/
Freeze Frame FictionFlash fiction, all genres
$10.00https://freezeframefiction.com/write/submission-guidelines-faq/SUBMISSION PERIODS: 8/1 – 12/31, 2/1 – 6/30
From the Yonder Vol 5 (War Monkey Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/31/22Horror based on folk legend or tall tale from around the world
$10.00https://warmonkeypublications.com/submissions
Tales from the Radiator (Strong Branch Productions) PODCASTAll weird fiction and speculative fiction
$5.00https://strongbranchproductions.com/tales-from-the-radiator/RIGHTS: non-exclusive audio rights, plus reprint rights. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 9/30/22 or until 100 submissions received
Strange Libations: Dark Cocktails (Apex Magazine) ONE-TIME CALL – DUE 9/9/22Dark micro-fiction in cocktail recipe form
$0.00https://apexbookcompany.moksha.io/publication/strange-libations-dark-cocktails/guidelines
Hypnos Magazine – DEAD MARKETWeird fiction and cosmic horror$0.010

Fast response time.
Year After, The – DEAD MARKETFantasy, literary, and science fiction$0.010
https://www.theyearaftermag.com/submissions
Timeworn Literary Journal – DEAD MARKETHistorical fiction, esp. incl. genre and speculative elements
$25.00

McCoy's Monthly – DEAD MARKETAll genres, incl. literary and SF
$20.00

Toasted Cake (Podcast) – DEAD MARKET (Indefinite Hiatus)Speculative flash fiction
$15.00http://toastedcake.com/submissions.htmlONE-TIME CLOSURE until August ?? 2022
Chillfiltr – DEAD MARKET (no longer lists pay)Literary fiction and fantasy

https://chillfiltr.com/write-for-chillfiltr/
Daily Science Fiction – DEAD MARKETSF, fantasy, slipstream, dark fantasy but not pure horror, etc.$0.080
http://dailysciencefiction.com/submit/story/guidelines

Keep writing, keep submitting, and good luck!

Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Keeper of Lists
Aswiebe’s Market List
Abra Staffin-Wiebe’s Author Website

Feel free to share this newsletter with others by whatever means you like, as long as you include all of it. 

The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 9/15/2022. If you don’t want to miss an update, subscribe to the Aswiebe’s Market List newsletter: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/subscribe-to-market-list/
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22 Publishers Seeking Novellas, and More Market Updates

The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 6/15/2022. Permanent link to this newsletter in the archives: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/may-2022/

Thoughts in Passing

This (theoretically May) update is going out a couple of days late, so it’s extra large. More new markets! More useful links! So the timing seems right to talk about extra large stories: novellas.

tldr; Be patient, keep an eye on current submission calls (YES, I will list novella calls in this market list when I see them), and consider the advantages and disadvantages of publishing in a magazine.

How long is a novella? A novella is 17,500 – 39,999 words long, as defined by the Nebula Award categories.

Selling a novella is hard. Here are some options for science fiction, fantasy, and horror novellas, both publishers and magazines. There are a few publishers known for publishing novellas, but their unagented submission windows tend to be very short and far between, and there’s a lot of competition. Other publishers who occasionally publish novellas will often have special novella calls, but information about their novella publishing schedule is not even listed on their website the rest of the time. There are several magazines who accept novella-length submissions, but although they are open to the idea, they do not publish many novellas, they don’t pay royalties, and your novella will only be distributed as part of that magazine’s issue. (Yes, self-publishing a novella is always an option–there are special challenges there too!–but this is about selling it to a publisher.)

Options:

PUBLISHERS – OPEN

Pressfuls Novellas wants fantasy, horror, adventure, romance, and crime/mystery, pays 35% royalties.
(Pressfuls Magazine appears defunct, but they’re still publishing longer works.) https://pressfuls.com/submit-a-story/

Midnight Bites ANTHOLOGY SERIES wants novelette and novella horror, 10k – 25k words themed and unthemed, pays $50 plus 25% royalties. Currently seeking carnie horror and medical horror. https://cronegirlspress.com/submissions/

PUBLISHERS – UPCOMING SUBMISSION CALLS

Neon Hemlock wants SF, fantasy, horror, weird fiction, and slipstream, especially queer. Pays royalties, or advance plus royalties. Award-winning. Open June 12th to 25th 2022 for trans women writers and writers of color. Open to all writers October 11th to 24th 2022. https://www.neonhemlock.com/submissions

United Faedom Publishing wants novelettes, novellas, and novels, pays $75 for novelettes and ? for others. OPENS JULY 2022. https://unitedfaedompublis.wixsite.com/unitedfaedompub/novelettes-and-novellas

Interstellar Flight Press has a one-time call for horror novellas including SF horror and fantasy horror, pays 30-40% royalties plus possible advance. Open to submissions 10/1/22 – 12/1/22. https://www.interstellarflightpress.com/submissions.html

PUBLISHERS – CURRENTLY CLOSED UNTIL ??

Tor.com (novellas) wants fantasy and SF, pays pro rates of advance + royalties or higher royalty-only rate. Award-winning. CURRENTLY CLOSED. Unclear if/when they will reopen for unagented novella submissions, but it’s been a couple of years. https://www.tor.com/fiction-submissions-guidelines/

Nightfire (Tor) wants horror novels and novellas, pays pro rates of advance + royalties or higher royalty-only rate. CURRENTLY CLOSED. Unclear if/when they will reopen for unagented novella submissions. https://tornightfire.com/nightfire-slush-submission-guidelines/

Uncanny (novellas) wants SF/F, pays $.10/word. Publishes 1 novella a year depending on funding. Award-winning. CURRENTLY CLOSED – LOOK FOR THEM TO OPEN NEXT YEAR. https://www.uncannymagazine.com/submissions/

Queen of Swords Press wants novels and novellas of around 40k words, set in fantastical worlds, especially with a queer focus. Pays royalties. CURRENTLY CLOSED. https://queenofswordspress.com/about-queen-of-swords-press/submissions/

Stelliform wants science fiction, fantasy, quiet horror and literary works with speculative elements, pays 2¢ CAD per word advance (up to $2000), plus royalties. CURRENTLY CLOSED. https://www.stelliform.press/index.php/submissions/

Wyldblood Press wants speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy or horror) novellas and novels, pays royalties. CURRENTLY CLOSED. https://wyldblood.com/guidance-submissions/

MAGAZINES

Magazines that accept short novellas (up to the 20-25K word range) include Asimov’s, Reckoning, Pulp Literature, Clarkesworld, The Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction (F&SF), and sometimes Escape Pod (reprints only).

Magazines that accept full length novellas or have no wordcount limit include Analog, Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores, Beneath Ceaseless Skies, and ParSec. Be cautious about submitting to places that don’t list a maximum wordcount; they don’t always expect or accept novellas.

Keep an eye out for anthology calls with no word limit whose guidelines explicitly mention novellas, like Sovereign: An Anthology of Black Fantasy Fiction (2023), due 7/16/22.

June’s update will be shorter, and I’ll talk about where to sell flash fiction!

(Do you have a writing question? Send it to me, either by replying to this email or by using the contact form on my website, and it may get answered in the next newsletter.)

What I’ve been up to lately, writing-wise:

I’ve started work on a new novel, working title Desolation Station Salvage. I love this stage. Everything is shiny and new, and all kinds of fun random ideas are popping up as I write.

I’m looking forward to in-person convention 4th Street Fantasy in a couple of weeks, where I’ll be on panels discussing ambiguous endings and PoV.

Things Shiny or Useful

Archive of all shiny or useful links: https://aswiebe.com/marketlist/shiny-or-useful-writing-links/

The Indie Files: Make the Most of New Book Announcements: https://www.sfwa.org/2022/05/18/indie-files-new-book-announcements/

How to Write a Depressed Character That Won’t Depress Your Reader: https://horrortree.com/how-to-write-a-depressed-character-that-wont-depress-your-reader/

Work of Art: Business Skills for Artists Toolkit: https://springboardforthearts.org/professional-growth/work-of-art-program/

IngramSpark Academy’s How to Self-Publish: https://www.ingramspark.com/how-to-self-publish-course

IngramSpark Academy’s How to Build an Author Platform: https://www.ingramspark.com/author-platform-course-description

From Panic to Process: What Taking Criticism Actually Means: https://www.uncannymagazine.com/article/from-panic-to-process-what-taking-criticism-actually-means/

Three Agent Types to Avoid and the One You Won’t See Coming: https://nelsonagency.com/2021/02/three-agent-types-to-avoid-and-the-one-you-wont-see-coming/

All the Writing Talent in the World Won’t Save the Wrong Story: https://nelsonagency.com/2022/04/all-the-writing-talent-in-the-world-wont-save-the-wrong-story/

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

Cymera (£50), June 3-5, 2022: https://www.cymerafestival.co.uk/

Westercon (?), July 1-4, 2022: http://westercon74.org/

ChiCon 8 / WorldCon ($30), Sept 1-5, 2022: https://chicon.org/

The Nebula Conference ($150) is over for 2022, but purchasing a membership now still gets access to recorded panels and year-round special events: https://membership.sfwa.org/event-4563942

Featured Market

Award-winning Neon Hemlock will be open for speculative fiction novella submissions June 12 – 25, 2022 for BIPOC and trans women authors, October 11 – 24, 2022 for all. Pays royalties, or advance plus royalties.

:Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Slipstream, & Weird.  Hybrid work or difficult to categorize novellas are also welcome.

Standalone works, although they may be connected to other series or work.

We are particularly interested in work that explores some element of queer experience, broadly speaking.

Neon Hemlock
Neon Hemlock

Basics: speculative fiction, 17,500-40,000 words, pay ?, no reprints, due 6/12/22-6/25/22 and 10/11/22-10/24/22.

Guidelines: https://www.neonhemlock.com/submissions

Market List Updates

To see all the details about these new listings and what they’re looking for, as well as hundreds of other listings, go to Aswiebe’s Market List and download the latest version of the spreadsheet. Note: going forward, limited demographic market listings will be italicized.

NameWhat they wantPay Per Word USD (originals)Flat Pay USD (originals)WebsiteNotes
UncannySF/F$0.100https://uncannymagazine.com/submissions/Fast response time. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION CLOSURE UNTIL ?
Worlds of Possibility (Julia Rios)SF and fantasy, with a sense of hope$0.100https://worldsofpossibility.moksha.io/publication/worlds-of-possibility/guidelines
Augur MagazineLiterary SF/F, fabulism, slipstream$0.088http://www.augurmag.com/submissions/80% Canadian. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: Opens 6/30/22
MetastellarFantasy, SF, and horror flash fiction$0.080https://www.metastellar.com/write-for-us/flash-fiction-story-submission/ONE-TIME SUBMISSION WINDOW 10/1/22 – 10/31/22. NOTE: submission gives right of publication, even without a contract signing
Pseudopod (Podcast)Horror and dark fantasy$0.080http://pseudopod.org/submissions/An Escape Artists publication. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIODS: 3/1/22-7/31/22 (2022 anthologies and collections), 8/12/22-8/21/22
Gargantua (Air and Nothingness Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/1/22-1/31/23All genres, flash fiction, themed to massive engineering megastructures$0.080http://aanpress.com/submissions.html
Monstrous Futures (Dark Matter Ink) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/1/22-6/30/22Near-future dark SF$0.080https://darkmattermagazine.shop/pages/dark-matter-presents-monstrous-futures
World of Juno, The (Space Wizard Science Fantasy) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – PITCH DUE 6/1/22Shared world science fiction$0.080https://spacewizardsciencefantasy.com/submissions/Note the 150-word story pitch is due 6/1/22. The story itself is due 7/14/22.
Crack in the Code (Mocha Memoirs) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/30/22SF themed to robots, AI, or cyborgs going off-programming$0.080https://mochamemoirspress.com/write-for-us/
Asimov’s Science FictionCharacter-oriented SF, borderline fantasy, slipstream, surreal. No sword & sorcery.$0.080http://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/
Baffling Magazine (Neon Hemlock)All speculative flash fiction$0.080https://www.bafflingmag.com/submissions
Campfire Macabre Vol 2 (Cemetery Gates Media) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/1/22-8/15/22Horror flash fiction, themed to When We Were Getting High, My Last Trick ‘r Treat, Body Grotesquerie, Ominous Visitors from Deep Space, or Out in the Fields, Forests, and Lakes$0.080https://cemeterygatesmedia.com/submissions/
Solarpunk MagazineSolarpunk$0.080https://solarpunkmagazine.com/submissions/ONE-TIME 2022 Submission periods: 6/20-7/4/22 Solarpunk at Work, 9/1-9/14 and 11/1-11/14 general solarpunk.
Cast of Wonders PodcastClean YA SF/F/H$0.080http://www.castofwonders.org/submissions/ONE-TIME 2022 SUBMISSION PERIODS: 06/15/22 – 06/30/22 (Young Authors), 08/01/22 – 08/31/22 (Flash Fiction Contest) ### Query first for > 6,000 words.
Constellation / Constelación MagazineSpanish or English speculative fiction, themed$0.080https://www.constellationmagazine.com/submissionsONE-TIME CLOSURE until mid-September 2022
Dark Matter MagazineScience fiction and sci-fi horror$0.080https://darkmattermagazine.com/submission-guidelines/NOTE: This is NOT the same publication as Dark Matter Zine.
Podcastle (Podcast)Fantasy fiction$0.080http://podcastle.org/guidelines/An Escape Artists publication. Original fiction up to 6,000 words, reprints up to 17,000. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION THEME: Indigenous Magic (#ownvoices) 7/1/22 – 7/31/22
Librarian, The (Air and Nothingness Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/30/22Speculative fiction, themed to a helpful traveling librarian$0.080http://aanpress.com/submissions.html
Galaxy’s EdgeSF and Fantasy$0.070https://www.galaxysedge.com/submissions/Submissions open early on Mondays when they’re taking submissions, then close when they hit their quota. May be closed to submissions even if Moksha says they’re open, if there is no submission type to select. Long response time.
Fiends in the Furrows III, The: Final Harvest ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22Folk horror$0.060https://www.nosetouchpress.com/call/
Dracula Beyond StokerHorror inspired by Dracula, themed issues$0.050https://www.dbspress.com/submissions
Planet ScummSF and weird fiction$0.050https://www.planetscumm.space/submitRIGHTS: Also takes audio rights. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: opens 7/8/22
Apparition LitSpeculative fiction, themed. Separate monthly flash fiction contest.$0.050https://apparitionlit.com/submissions/Submission periods: 2/15 – 2/28, 5/15 – 5/31, 8/15-08/31 (ONE-TIME 2022 THEME: Nostalgia), 11/15 – 11/30, with a 1-week extension each period for BIPOC.
Story UnlikelyAll genres, including bizarro and speculative fiction$0.050https://www.storyunlikely.com/#submit
Old Moon QuarterlyWeird sword-and-sorcery$0.050https://www.oldmoonpublishing.com/what-we-want
Hidden Villains: Arise (Inkd Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/1/22-8/31/22All speculative fiction, themed to the title$0.050https://inkdpub.com/submissions/
Ember: A Journal of Luminous ThingsAll genres for all age groups, especially children ages 10-18$0.020https://emberjournal.org/submission-guidelines/
Utopia Science FictionSF, especially hard SF$0.010https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/submit
Dread ImaginingsQuiet horror$0.010https://dreadimaginings.com/submissions/
Tales to Terrify PODCASTHorror and dark fantasy$0.010https://talestoterrify.com/submissions/
We’re Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction (Neon Hemlock) ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DUE 12/31Queer speculative fiction published this year.$0.010https://www.neonhemlock.com/submissionsReprints only from the current year.
RakehellSwashbuckling tales, all genres$0.010https://rakehellmagazine.com/submissions/
Reader Beware! (DarkLit Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/1/22YA horror themed to 80s-90s nostalgia$0.010https://darklitpress.com/reader-beware/
Cosmic Horror (Eerie River Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/15/22-11/15/22Cosmic horror themed$0.008https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/open-submission
Folk Horror (Eerie River Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22Themed to folk horror$0.008https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/open-submission
It Calls From Below (Eerie River Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/1/22-9/1/22Horror themed to the underground$0.008https://www.eerieriverpublishing.com/open-submission
Phantasmical Contraptions and More Errors (JayHenge Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22Steampunk, dieselpunk, biopunk, etc.$0.005http://www.jayhenge.com/callforstories.htmlStill open to subs 1/9/22
Professor Feiff’s Compleat Pocket Guide to Xenobiology for the Galactic Traveller on the Move (JayHenge Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/21Themed to alien flora and fauna$0.005http://www.jayhenge.com/callforstories.html
Sapiens Plurum & Future of Life Institute Short-Fiction Contest ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 4/22 – 6/1SF, themed to optimistic SF. ONE-TIME 2022 THEME: Inventing Beautiful Futures$1,000.00https://sapiensplurum.org/
riddlebirdLiterary fiction, including literary genre fiction$100.00https://www.riddlebird.com/submission-guidelines
Etherea MagazineAll speculative fiction, especially F/SF.$71.88https://ethereamagazine.com/submissions/Length: 500 – 1,000 words and 2,000 – 5,000 preferred
Paranoid TreeFlash fiction, all genres$50.00https://www.paranoidtree.com/
Taco Bell QuarterlyLiterary, all genres, themed to Taco Bell$50.00https://tacobellquarterly.org/submission-guidelines/
Consultations of Sherlock Holmes, The (Belanger Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 9/15/22Mysteries themed to traditional Sherlock Holmes$50.00https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDerrickBelanger/posts/3294508860834029
Detective and the Clergyman, The (Belanger Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/15/22Mysteries themed to traditional Sherlock Holmes partnering with traditional Father Brown$50.00https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDerrickBelanger/posts/3294508860834029
Sherlock Holmes: Adventures in the Realms of H.P. Lovecraft (Belanger Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 11/15/22Mysteries themed to traditional Sherlock Holmes in a Lovecraftian world$50.00https://www.facebook.com/AuthorDerrickBelanger/posts/3294508860834029
Horrifying Tales of Wonder (House Blackwood) PODCASTThemed to weird fiction set in the 1880s-1940s$50.00https://www.houseblackwood.net/horrifying-tales-of-wonder/
Midnight Bites ANTHOLOGY SERIESNovella and novelette horror, themed and unthemed$50.00https://cronegirlspress.com/submissions/ONE-TIME THEMES OPEN UNTIL FULL: carnival horror, medical system horror
Tales from Brackish Harbor (Quill and Crow Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/1/22Shared world Gothic cosmic horror$40.00https://www.quillandcrowpublishinghouse.com/brackish-harbor
Extremely Bizarre (Planet Bizarro) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22Extreme horror with bizarro elements or vice versa$36.75https://www.planetbizarro.com/submissions
On the Premises Mini-Contest RECURRING CONTESTThemed contests with very limited wordcounts.$35.00https://onthepremises.com/current-contest/Mini-contest submission periods vary
Along Harrowed Trails (Timber Ghost Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/31/22Horror set in the Old West$35.00https://www.timberghostpress.com/along-harrowed-trails.html
Fear Forge Quarterly AnthologyHorror and dark fantasy, themed$30.00https://www.horrorsmithediting.com/opencallONE-TIME WINTER QUARTER 2022 THEME OPEN UNTIL FULL: forges
Bloodless (Sliced Up Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22Horror, themed to no mention of blood$30.00https://sliceduppress.com/submissions/
Solarpunk Magazine Micro Fiction Contest – MONTHLY CONTESTSolarpunk with a monthly theme$25.00https://solarpunkmagazine.com/monthly-micro-fiction-contest/ONE-TIME 6/17/22-6/23/22 THEME: solarpunk, no special theme
Dismember the Coop ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22 – 8/31/22Horror themed to the music of Alice Cooper$25.00https://www.facebook.com/groups/1030647144551138/posts/1030647424551110/Paid charity anthology.
Short Reads (Black Hare Press)Dark fiction$25.00https://www.blackharepress.com/submissions/
Space Horror (Ladies of the Fright) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE UNTIL FULLSF horror$25.00https://www.ladiesofthefright.com/blog/2022/5/4/space-horror-submission-guidelines
Et Sequitor MagazineAll genres, themed: continuing from the previous story$25.00https://www.etseqmag.com/Submissions.php
Their Ghoulish Reputation (Dark Lake Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE UNTIL FULLFolk horror$25.00https://darklakepublishing.com/migrate/folk-horror-anthology-submission/
Tales From the Ruins: A Post-Apocalyptic Anthology (Black Beacon Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22Themed to Post-apocalyptic fiction$21.31https://blackbeaconbooks.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html
Still of Winter (Unsettling Reads) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22 OR UNTIL FULLCreepy stories themed to a tree in winter$20.00https://unsettlingreads.squarespace.com/submissions-stillofwinter
Sprawl Mag, TheSpeculative fiction$15.50https://www.thesprawlmag.ca/guidelines
Fall Into Fantasy (Cloaked Press) ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/10Fantasy$15.00https://www.cloakedpress.com/fallfantasy/
Hexagon MagazineAll speculative fiction (SF/F/H)$11.87https://hexagonmagazine.ca/submit/
Framework of the Human Body (Bell Press Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/15/22Literary, weird fiction, and speculative fiction, themed to the human body$11.86https://bellpressbooks.com/submissions/
Love Letters to PoeGothic flash fiction themed to Poe stories$5.00https://loveletterstopoe.com/submit-a-story/
Interstellar Flight Press NovellasONE-TIME THEME 10/1/22-12/1/22: Horror novellashttps://www.interstellarflightpress.com/submissions.html
Neon Hemlock NovellasScience fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and weird, especially queer storieshttps://www.neonhemlock.com/submissions2022 SUBMISSION PERIODS: June 2022 PoC and trans women, October 2022 all authors.
Valravn (Raven Canticle Press) ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DEAD MARKETFantasy, horror, SF, and espionage/thriller, especially with horror elements$0.100https://www.ravencanticlepress.com/submissions/
Lamplight – DEAD MARKETDark literary, horror, dark spec-fic, and noir$0.060http://lamplightmagazine.com/submissions/
Kanstellation Magazine – DEAD MARKETGeneral fiction and SF, themed$30.00
Fabled Journal – DEAD MARKET (no longer accepting submissions)Myth, folklore, gothic, paranormal, and historical flash fiction.$10.00https://www.fabledcollective.com/journal-submissions.html
Asylum Diaries, The – DEAD MARKETCosmic horror or body horror$9.63
Aswiebe’s Market List May Updates

Keep writing, keep submitting, and good luck!

Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Compiler of Lists
Aswiebe’s Market List
Abra Staffin-Wiebe’s Author Website

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