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