Revising Parallel Scenes, plus Aswiebe’s Market List updates

Thoughts in Passing

Revising Parallel Scenes

All too often, the revision process involves simultaneously editing two (or more!) scenes to make them line up. This can happen when one scene is dependent on the other. It can happen when showing the same events from multiple different PoVs. It can happen when writing scenes out-of-sequence. It can even happen when the writer had a beautiful brainstorm late in the writing process and to set it up properly, they need to change earlier events to align. *cough, cough*

For on-paper revisions, it’s straightforward enough. Just print out copies of the relevant scenes and set them beside each other on the table. Scribble red ink here, there, and everywhere. Voila! But when moving around large chunks of text, digital revisions may be easier. This is when the idea of a “Working Scenes” file (or two!) comes in handy.

Consider it like a scratchpad. Mine is just an empty document, unless I’m actively working on meshing two scenes. Then I copy one of the scenes from my Work in Progress over into Working Scenes, arrange the file windows next to each other so I can see both at the same time, and adjust both at the same time. I usually keep the scene that needs the most work in the Work in Progress window, and the one that needs few or no adjustments in Working Scenes. If I do make changes in Working Scenes, I bold the section that will need to replace the original. If the changes are extensive enough, I replace the entire section in the original.

Once I’ve made my changes in both scenes, and moved the Working Scene changes back into the Work in Progress, it’s done! Then I delete the scene from Working Scenes. And voila, it’s a blank slate ready for the next round of adjustments!

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

Oh my slithy toves, let me warn you of the perils of the parenthetical “fix this later” note! Kidding. It’s actually a great tool, as long as you go back and fix things sooner-later instead of later-later. I … did not.

In happier news, today I have discovered that my shoulder-cat, Creamsicle, is happy to sit on my shoulders even when I am *not* sitting in a wingback chair. This is great, because my preferred “office chair” is actually an exercise ball with no back at all. I had been delaying putting it back at my desk because I like having Creamsicle keep me company. Now I know that I don’t need to give up either one. Of course, it’s too hot to work in my attic office in this hellish heatwave. But soon!

Me, with a cat draped around my shoulders like a scarf.

Things Shiny or Useful

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

“Write with Love” and Other Advice from Chuck Tingle: https://www.tor.com/2023/07/25/write-with-love-and-other-advice-from-chuck-tingle/

Growth-Centered Story Structure: https://jessmahler.com/growth-centered-story-structure/

12 Dos and Don’ts of Revealing Critical Backstory in a Novel: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/12-dos-and-donts-of-revealing-critical-backstory-in-a-novel

Publishing: Expectations vs. Reality: https://ilona-andrews.com/blog/publishing-expectations-vs-reality/

Featured Market

The SciFidea Award contest is for Dyson Sphere-themed novels and novellas.

The submitted works should be within the realm of science fiction, and must show a new worldview that conforms with scientific logic.

The work involves both the technical setting of the Dyson Sphere (overall structure, the scale and the size, construction materials and methods, etc.) and the ecological environment of the internal civilization (gravity changes, alternation of day and night, species distribution, etc.).

The writing should be smooth, the imagination and speculation should be creative and novel, and the plot should convey a sense of wonder.

SciFidea

Basics: themed SF, 30,000 – 100,000 words, 10 winners earn $20,000, no reprints, due 8/31/23. Guidelines: https://contest.scifidea.org/

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 all the hundreds of 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 details of the latest updates!

Keep writing, keep submitting, and good luck!

Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Keeper of Lists

The next update of Aswiebe’s Market List will be after 08/15/2023.

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.
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What Can Writers Do for Awards Season? (And Best of the Year Anthologies)

The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 01/15/2023.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/

What Can Writers Do for Awards Season? (And Best of the Year Anthologies)

tldr; Make an awards eligibility post on your website/blog. Post a thread of your publications this year on social media. Don’t forget to pay the cat pictures tax. 😉

You can call it an awards eligibility post, or an end of year post, or you can just say “This is what I got published this year.” If self-promotion makes you uncomfortable, think of this as an opportunity to reflect on what you’ve accomplished this year and what you’re happy about. John Wiswell’s post is a great example of this (and his stories are also good! go read them!): https://johnwiswell.substack.com/p/all-the-short-stories-i-published. With each story include the link (if available), the wordcount, the date published, and a quick description of what the story is about and why someone might want to read it.

Keep an eye on social media for people who are keeping lists of awards eligibility posts. Don’t be shy in sharing yours! And after you’ve made your eligibility post, remember that this is also a great time to talk about stories that you’ve really enjoyed reading that were first published this year. A rising tide, etc.

Okay, you say, but what else can a writer do? That’s where it gets more complicated. There is definitely a decreasing return on investment at this point. But yes, for many awards, there are other things you can do to increase your story’s visibility.

This is not true of all awards. Notable awards where authors can not offer their work for consideration include the Arthur C. Clarke Award (unless you’re a UK self-publisher), the British Fantasy Award, the BSFA Awards, the Locus Award, the Philip K. Dick Award, the Theodore Sturgeon Award, the Mythopoeic Awards, and the Shirley Jackson Award.

For a list of awards (and Best of the Year anthologies), click to view the full-size table of award info and the rest of the market list updates:

Continue reading “What Can Writers Do for Awards Season? (And Best of the Year Anthologies)”
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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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Uncanny Magazine will be open for 📖novella submissions, how to make writing a treat, and other Aswiebe’s Market List updates! April 2022

Thoughts in Passing

How can you make writing a treat? Sure, we all love it when we hit flow state while writing, or when we craft that perfect sentence (that we later delete during edits, half the time). But you can’t rely on that happening. What can you choose to pair it with that will, itself, make writing a reward?

Working in a coffee shop is a good option for me, and not only because there are often yummy treats there. My brain loves going places. A museum, an art gallery, or a public garden are also rewards for me. And now that we are theoretically* approaching patio weather, there are even more options.

I’m also an extrovert, which means that coworking writing events work well for me, whether they are in-person or via Zoom. My brain sees meeting other humans as a reward, too!

If you’re looking for an in-person coworking event, try checking Meetup for writer’s groups in your area, or even general coworking events. There is also a weekly Zoom writing date that is included with Nebula conference membership.

So–what can make writing into a reward for you?

* It is Spring, but it is SO COLD here in Minnesota, you guys. So cold. I wore my winter coat this morning when I took my offspring to an Easter egg hunt.

(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:

Erm. Going to coffee shops?

Things Shiny or Useful

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

When Words Melt Away: https://www.sfwa.org/2020/04/17/when-words-melt-away/

Naomi Kritzer’s Advice for Parents (thread): https://twitter.com/NaomiKritzer/status/1513940462457225216

7 Ways to Add Great Subplots to Your Novel: https://www.writersdigest.com/write-better-fiction/7-ways-to-add-great-subplots-to-your-novel

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

Stokercon ($50), May 12-15, 2022: https://www.stokercon.com/

Nebula Conference, May 20-22 ($150): https://membership.sfwa.org/event-4563942(Membership includes recorded panels and year-round special events.)

Wiscon ($40), May 27-30, 2022: http://wiscon.net/

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

Featured Market

Award-winning Uncanny Magazine will be open for SF/fantasy novella submissions May 1-15, 2022. Novella pay rate unclear; they pay $.10/word for short stories.

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

Uncanny is also looking for Submissions Editors (paid slush readers). They are accepting applications until 4/27/22. https://www.uncannymagazine.com/uncanny-is-looking-for-submissions-editors-once-again/

Basics: SF/fantasy, 17,500-40,000 words, pay ?, no reprints, due 5/1/22-5/15/22.

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.
Name What they want Pay Per Word USD (originals) Flat Pay USD (originals) Website Notes
Diabolical Plots Science fiction, fantasy, and horror $0.100
http://www.diabolicalplots.com/guidelines/ ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 7/1/22-7/14/22 unthemed, 7/24/22-7/31/22 telepathy themed
Uncanny (novellas) SF/F novellas $0.100
https://uncannymagazine.com/submissions/ Publishes 1 novella a year depending on funding. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 5/1/22 – 5/15/22
Fantasy Magazine Fantasy and dark fantasy $0.080
https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/fantasy/guidelines OK to submit even if previously rejected by sister publications Nightmare Magazine or Lightspeed. SUBMISSION PERIODS: ONE-TIME open to BIPOC authors all of 2022. General submissions: 1st – 7th of April, July, and October 2022.
Martian Magazine SF $0.080
https://themartianmagazine.com/submissions/
Seize the Press Bleak, dark transgressive speculative fiction $0.080
https://www.seizethepress.com/submissions/
Space Fantasy Magazine Science fiction and fantasy in space, themed $0.080
https://spacefantasymag.com/submission-guidelines/ ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD THEME: 5/1/22-5/30/22, Is There Anybody Out There?
Tales & Feathers Magazine Fantasy, fairy tales, and myths with very little plot $0.080
https://twitter.com/talesfeathers ONE-TIME NOTE: website launching in May 2022, sibling to Augur Magazine. Submissions open June 2022.
Bound in Flesh ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22 Body horror. Limited author demographic: trans/non-binary authors $0.050
https://perpetualpublishing.com/2022/04/13/announcing-bound-in-flesh-an-anthology-of-trans-body-horror-now-open-for-submissions/
Mother: Tales of Love and Terror (Weird Little Worlds) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/15/22 Science fiction, fantasy, and horror themed to mothers $0.050
https://weirdlittleworlds.com/submissions/
LOLcraft: A Compendium of Eldritch Horror (The Dragon’s Roost) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/30/22 OR UNTIL FULL Cosmic horror with humor $0.040
https://thedragonsroost.biz/dragons-roost-press-submissions/
Sci Phi Non-character-driven SF, esp. big idea SF and classic-style SF $0.033
https://www.sciphijournal.org/index.php/submission-guidelines/ ONE-TIME SUBMISSION CLOSURE UNTIL: July 2022
Killer Creatures Down Under (IFWG Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 4/22/22-7/15/22 Body horror themed to Australian animals. Limited demographic: Australian authors. $0.030
https://ifwgaustralia.com/2022/03/31/anthology-submission-guidelines-killer-creatures-down-under-horror-stories-with-bite/
Neo-Opsis SF/F $0.024
http://www.neo-opsis.ca/guidelines.htm Prefers < 6,000 words.
Dose of Dread Flash horror fiction $0.020
https://dreadstonepress.com/submissions/ SUBMISSION PERIOD: 1st – 15th Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Archive of the Odd All spec-fic, especially horror, with unconventional story structure $0.010
https://archiveoftheodd.wordpress.com/submissions/ ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD themed to monsters: 4/15/22 – 6/15/22
Kaleidotrope All genres, especially SF/F and the unconventional and weird. $0.010
http://www.kaleidotrope.net/guidelines/ Prefers 250 – 10,000 words. ONE-TIME 2022 SUBMISSION PERIODS: Jun, Sept, Dec.
Last Girls Club Horror and dark SF/Fantasy from the female perspective, themed $0.010
https://www.lastgirlsclub.com/submit SUBMISSION PERIODS (may close early if submission quota is reached): 1/1 – 2/1, 4/1 – 5/1, 7/1 – 8/1, 10/1 – 11/1
Medusa Tales Speculative fiction themed to immobilization and/or transformation $0.010
https://medusatales.com/submissions/
Nightmare Sky (Death Knell Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/1/22-5/31/22 Astronomy or night sky-themed horror $0.010
https://deathknellpress.com/submissions/
Occult Detective Magazine Themed: occult detectives $0.010
http://greydogtales.com/blog/occult-detective-magazine/ Query first for > 6,000 words.
Starward Shadows Quarterly All spec-fic $0.010
https://starwardshadows.com/submissions/ ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD THEME: 4/9/22-5/9/22 Eastern European (Ukrainian) theme
World of Xonthian, The (Fedowar Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 10/31/22 Shared world sword & sorcery $0.010
https://fedowarpress.com/submissions/xonthian/
Wyngraf – flash fiction Secondary world cozy fantasy flash fiction $0.010
https://wyngraf.com/2022/03/20/now-open-to-cozy-flash-and-microfiction/
Wyngraf – short stories Secondary world cozy fantasy $0.010
https://wyngraf.com/submissions/ ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: will re-open in Fall 2022
Futures Hard SF
$130.00 http://www.nature.com/nature/authors/gta/others.html#futures
GPS Annual Writing Contest ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 4/30 – 6/30 Spec-fic short stories, poetry, and graphic novels, multiple age categories. Limited author demographic: non-professional writers.
$100.00 https://geekpartnership.org/programs/writing-contest/
Enchanted Conversation Fairy tale retellings, themed. ONE-TIME 2022 THEME: weather.
$50.00 https://www.fairytalemagazine.com/p/submissions.html Submission periods: 1st – 3rd of Jan, March, May, Jul, Nov. Occasional calls for longer works.
Untitled Anthology (ASP) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/9/22 Speculative fiction themed to running away
$30.00 https://alansquirepublishing.submittable.com/submit
ergot Literary horror
$25.00 https://www.ergot.press/
First Line, The All genres, themed issues
$25.00 http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm
Strange Aeon ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/30 OR UNTIL FULL Cosmic horror and weird Western
$20.00 https://mkeatonauthor.blogspot.com/2022/04/strange-aeon-2022-is-now-open-for.html ONE-TIME 2022 THEME: Fighting the good fight
Other Stories, The (Podcast) Horror, themed
$19.70 https://theotherstories.net/submissions
A-Z of Horror (Red Cape Publishing) ONGOING ANTHOLOGY SERIES Horror, themes change every 2 months.
$13.74 https://redcapepublishing.com/submissions/ ONE-TIME THEMES: 04/01/22-05/31/22 O is for Outbreak, 06/01/22-07/31/22 P is for Poltergeist. RIGHTS: Must not be available elsewhere.
Witch House Cosmic horror
$10.00 https://witchhousemag.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html
Silver Blade F/SF
$8.00 https://www.silverblade.net/submissions-2/ Reading periods: Dec-Jan, Mar-Apr, Jun-Jul, Sep-Oct
Fantastic Other, The Fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, and surreal
$5.00 https://fantasticother.com/submissions/
Mirror Dance Fantasy
$5.00 http://mirrordancefantasy.blogspot.com/2008/01/submissions.html < 5,000 words preferred. ONE-TIME CLOSURE until late 2022.
Unsung Stories – DEAD MARKET SF, fantasy, horror, and weird
$30.92 http://www.unsungstories.co.uk/short-fiction
Quickfic (Digital Fiction Pub) – DEAD MARKET Speculative fiction, pro/semi-pro reprints only $0.010
https://dfpcorp.submittable.com/submit

Keep writing, keep submitting, and good luck!

Abra Staffin-Wiebe, Compiler of Lists

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