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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27 Places to Sell Flash Fiction, and Other Market List Updates

The next update of Aswiebe’s Market List will be after 7/15/2022. 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/

Thoughts in Passing

27 Places to Sell Flash Fiction

What even is flash fiction? Because the major awards don’t have a “flash fiction” category, there is no standard definition. Most publications agree that if it’s under 1,001 words, it is flash fiction. Some stretch that to under 1,501 words or even 2,001 words. Some ask for fiction that’s under 501 words. (And then there’s micro-fiction, which is usually under 300 words, and drabbles, which are exactly 100 words long.)

How do you know if a publication is flash fiction friendly? Even if they don’t list a minimum wordcount in their guidelines, flash fiction may be a hard sell. If they specifically mention flash fiction in their guidelines, that’s a good sign! If they say that they have more room for shorter stories, that’s a good sign!

What’s the best place to sell flash fiction? Flash fiction contests are worth considering. Low risk, high reward! Publications that specialize in flash fiction are a good bet. When comparing publications, remember that a flat pay rate instead of a per-word pay rate may be a better deal for flash fiction. And for these very short pieces, it’s great to find publications with a minimum guaranteed payment.

Here are 27 places to sell your flash fiction.

NameMin WordcountMax WordcountWhat they wantPay Per Word USD (originals)Flat Pay USD (originals)Payment NotesWebsiteNotes
Factor Four Magazine01,000All speculative flash fiction, especially SF, fantasy, supernatural, and superhero fiction$0.110https://factorfourmag.com/submissionsinfo/
Arcanist, The01,000SF/F/Horror flash fiction$0.100https://thearcanist.io/a-call-for-submissions-244f646d25a4
Third Flatiron Press6003,000Science fiction, fantasy, horror, themed issues. Flash fiction, no theme required.$0.080https://thirdflatiron.com/ONE-TIME THEME: 7/19/22 – 8/2/22 things with feathers (hope or the loss of)
Baffling Magazine (Neon Hemlock)01,200All speculative flash fiction$0.080https://www.bafflingmag.com/submissions
Pseudopod (Podcast)5006,000Horror and dark fantasy$0.080$100 for reprints, $20 for flash fictionhttp://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 12/1/22-1/31/231,0001,000All genres, flash fiction, themed to massive engineering megastructures$0.080http://aanpress.com/submissions.html
Metastellar01,000Fantasy, 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
Campfire Macabre Vol 2 (Cemetery Gates Media) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/1/22-8/15/225001,500Horror 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/
Cast of Wonders Podcast07,500Clean YA SF/F/H$0.080$100 flat for reprints, $20 for flash fictionhttp://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.
Podcastle (Podcast)06,000Fantasy fiction$0.080$100 for reprints, $20 for flash fictionhttp://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
Frozen Wavelets01,500Speculative flash fiction and poetry$0.080https://earthianhivemind.net/frozen-wavelets/Reprints 500 – 1,500 or fewer words, original fiction 750 or fewer words.
Orion’s Belt01,200Literary speculative flash fiction$0.080https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions
PodCastle Flash Fiction Contest RECURRING CONTEST – DUE 3/1 – 3/310500Fantasy flash fiction$0.080https://podcastle.org/2021/02/16/podcastle-flash-fiction-contest-vi/Recurring contest, rotates between Escape Artists publications Escape Pod, PodCastle, and PseudoPod.
Flame Tree Newsletter Flash Fiction7001,000Horror and sci-fi, themed. Subscribe to free newsletter for themes.$0.080https://www.flametreepress.com/submissions/SUBMISSION PERIOD: usually 2 weeks at the beginning of the month
Shoreline of Infinity06,000SF and Fantasy$0.052Pays £40/1,000 wordshttp://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/submissions/RIGHTS: Also takes audio rights. ONE-TIME 2022 SUBMISSION PERIODS: 6/13 – 8/28 (flash fiction competition), 9/11 – 9/14
Apparition Lit05,000Speculative fiction, themed. Separate monthly flash fiction contest.$0.050$50 minhttps://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.
Dose of Dread5001,000Flash horror fiction$0.020https://dreadstonepress.com/submissions/SUBMISSION PERIOD: 1st – 15th Jan, Apr, Jul, Oct
Wyldblood Press – Wyld Flash01,000Speculative flash fiction$0.012Pays £.01/wordhttps://wyldblood.com/submissions-2/
Starward Shadows Quarterly5004,000All spec-fic$0.010Flash fiction is paid $10 flat.https://starwardshadows.com/submissions/
Wyngraf – flash fiction01,001Secondary world cozy fantasy flash fiction$0.010https://wyngraf.com/2022/03/20/now-open-to-cozy-flash-and-microfiction/
Hypnos Magazine010,000Weird fiction and cosmic horror$0.010$.03/wd for flash fictionhttp://www.radiumtownpress.com/guidelines.htmlFast response time.
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight Magazine010,000All speculative fiction and poetry, especially humorous and lighthearted$0.007AU $0.01, min AU$20, max AU$100. Flash fiction and poetry AU$10.https://andromedaspaceways.com/submissions-manager/Subscribers and AU/NZ authors can submit up to 20,000 words. ONE-TIME CLOSURE until 7/1/22.
Electric Literature010,000Literary, all genres, incl. experimental. The Commuter takes flash fiction. Recommended Reading takes short stories.$300.00$100 for flashhttps://electricliterature.submittable.com/submitSUBMISSION PERIODS: Recommended Reading (short stories) has 2 1-week open submission periods, usually in Spring and Fall, The Commuter (flash fiction) has 4 1-week submission periods. NOTE: Long response time.
Craft Literary06,000Literary, with a focus on writing craft$200.00$100 for flashhttps://www.craftliterary.com/submit/
Three-Lobed Burning Eye07,500All speculative fiction, western, and suspense$100.00$100 per story, or $30 for flash fiction.http://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html
Flash Fiction Online5001,000All genres, including SF/F/H and literary$80.00https://www.flashfictiononline.com/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/what-were-looking-for-and-not/Submission period: 1st to 21st monthly, closed December.
Daily Science Fiction1001,500SF, fantasy, slipstream, dark fantasy but not pure horror, etc.$0.080Plus $.05/wd if they choose to use story in anthology.http://dailysciencefiction.com/submit/story/guidelines
Flash Fiction Markets
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:

My cozy, funny, queer story about a haunted drag show and an unusual pest control specialist is now up at PodCastle! Go to Episode 740 to read or listen, or find it in your preferred podcast stream.

Note: ASL is its own language, with its own grammar and syntax that is different from English. This story is written to convey the meaning, not as a direct word-for-word translation. Special thanks to Anna Dudda for providing a Deaf expert reading.

PodCastle logo of dragon with castle, and story excerpt
Beck’s Pest Control and the Case of the Drag Show Downer

Things Shiny or Useful

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

Five PR Tools Every Writer Should Know About: https://www.authorsguild.org/industry-advocacy/five-pr-tools-every-writer-should-know-about/

9 Things We Learned From Tracking 150k Books for 3 Years on Amazon: https://www.ingramcontent.com/publishers-blog/9-things-we-learned-from-tracking-150k-books-for-3-years-on-amazon?

Dark Art as an Access Need: https://adahoffmann.substack.com/p/dark-art-as-an-access-need

Digital Security for Filmmakers: https://www.digitalsecurity.film/

Crash Override Network: http://www.crashoverridenetwork.com/resources.html

How to Write Character Arcs: https://www.helpingwritersbecomeauthors.com/write-character-arcs/

Setting boundaries (thread🧵): https://twitter.com/AyanaGray/status/1535431505270525953

Accessible links (thread🧵): https://twitter.com/Em1lySm/status/1516741011422199810

How to See if a Song is Copyrighted: https://legismusic.com/how-to-see-if-song-is-copyrighted/

List of Public Domain Music: https://www.pdinfo.com/public-domain-music-list.php

Free adspace on Dead Headspace for LGBTQ+ community through 7/24/22: https://horrortree.com/dead-headspace-is-offering-free-ad-space-to-the-lgbtq-community/

Reimagining Conflict: https://www.sfwa.org/2022/05/10/reimagining-conflict-writing/

Reasonable Agreement: On the Crapification of Literary Contracts: https://doctorow.medium.com/reasonable-agreement-ea8600a89ed7

Using Writer’s Block to Diagnose Story Problems: https://www.tiktok.com/@maryrobinettekowal/video/7081295775627480362

Classes for BIPOC writers: https://twitter.com/tinytempest/status/1537421038115381249

Atticus (for creating ebooks): https://www.atticus.io/

Sorting Hat Chats: https://sortinghatchats.wordpress.com/2020/01/17/the-basics/

What Debut Authors Should Know  (thread🧵): https://twitter.com/MissDahlELama/status/1537437057332617216

Artbreeder (Creative Commons AI art generator, great for character art!): https://www.artbreeder.com/beta/about

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

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

Mysterion wants speculative fiction that engages with Christianity. Open for submissions during July 2022.

We are looking for speculative stories that meaningfully engage with Christianity.

Your story doesn’t need to teach a moral or cleave closely to an approved theological position. 

Your story doesn’t need to be pro-Christian. We’re unlikely to publish anything that insults us, but we do want to read stories that challenge us. Having said that, there are tropes we see too often in stories critical of Christian faith and tradition: evil preachers, theocratic dystopias, Christians abandoning their faith because something inexplicable happened, crazy Christians trying to bring about the apocalypse by doing something in Israel, an unambiguously evil God. Any of these will be a hard sell.

There are tropes we see too often on the pro-Christian side, too. Stories where the plot resolution hinges on one or more characters becoming Christian, apocalypse stories based on a literal reading of Revelation, rapture stories, spiritual warfare with angels and demons as characters, retold Bible stories, allegory, theocratic utopias, anything that reads like C.S. Lewis fanfic. You’d have to do a very unique take on one of these to get anything other than a quick rejection.

Mysterion

Basics: themed speculative fiction, up to 9,000 words, pays $.08/wd for original work, $.04/wd for reprints, reprints okay, annual submission periods in January and July.

Guidelines: https://www.mysteriononline.com/p/submission-guidelines.html

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.
Test
NameWhat they wantPay Per Word USD (originals)Flat Pay USD (originals)WebsiteNotes
Alternate History (Flame Tree Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/11/22SFF themed to alternate history$0.080https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/alternate-history-call-for-submissions-0-0
Baffling Magazine (Neon Hemlock)All speculative flash fiction$0.080https://www.bafflingmag.com/submissions
Hidden Realms (Flame Tree Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/11/22SFF themed to hidden places$0.080https://blog.flametreepublishing.com/fantasy-gothic/hidden-realms-call-for-submissions-0?
MysterionSF, fantasy, and horror with Christian themes$0.080http://www.mysteriononline.com/p/submission-guidelines.htmlSUBMISSION WINDOWS: January, July
Third Flatiron PressScience fiction, fantasy, horror, themed issues. Flash fiction, no theme required.$0.080https://thirdflatiron.com/ONE-TIME THEME: 7/19/22 – 8/2/22 things with feathers (hope or the loss of)
MythuluSF/F/H, themed$0.040https://mythulu.com/emagazine-submission-call/
Night Frights (Dark Moon Digest) ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/1PG-rated YA horror$0.030https://perpetualpublishing.com/2022/05/21/now-open-for-submissions-night-frights-a-ya-horror-magazine/
Superstition (Redwood Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22 until fullHorror and dark fiction and poetry themed to superstition$0.020https://redwood-press.com/category/submissions/
Wyldblood Press – Wyld FlashSpeculative flash fiction$0.012https://wyldblood.com/submissions-2/
Museum Piece (Metaphorosis Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22SFF themed to museums$0.010https://books.metaphorosis.com/open-calls/
Andromeda Spaceways Inflight MagazineAll speculative fiction and poetry, especially humorous and lighthearted$0.007https://andromedaspaceways.com/submissions-manager/Subscribers and AU/NZ authors can submit up to 20,000 words. ONE-TIME CLOSURE until 7/1/22.
Islandia JournalAll genres, themed to myth, folklore, history, and ecology of Florida and the Caribbean$100.00https://www.islandiajournal.com/
Short Story SubstackAll genres$100.00https://shortstory.substack.com/p/coming-soon
Flash Fiction OnlineAll genres, including SF/F/H and literary$80.00https://www.flashfictiononline.com/submission-guidelines-flash-fiction/what-were-looking-for-and-not/Submission period: 1st to 21st monthly, closed December.
Reclaiming Joy (WriteHive) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22 – 8/30/22Speculative fiction themed to reclaiming joy after difficulties$30.00https://writehive.org/news/coming-soon-reclaiming-joy-anthology/
Future Fire, TheProgressive speculative fiction and poetry$20.00http://futurefire.net/guidelines/fiction.htmlPrefers under 7,500 words.
Haunted Train, The: Creepy Tales from the Railways ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/15/22Stories about trains$10.72https://www.raynehall.com/general-8
Incubate (Speculation Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE UNTIL FULLFeminist horror themed to rage$10.00https://www.speculationpub.com/submissions
Insignia’s Best Asian Speculative Fiction ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DUE 6/1 – 6/30All speculative fiction set in Asia with an Asian main character, reprints only$5.00https://insigniastories.com/subs/
Wyldblood Press – Novels and NovellasScience fiction and fantasy$0.00https://wyldblood.com/submissions-2/
Updated Listings for June

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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Bioluminescent Anthology wants lunarpunk SF, a new website, and other Aswiebe’s Market List updates! March 2022

Thoughts in Passing

What’s with the new logo? Why do I suddenly have a new website?

tldr; My credit card number was stolen.

Okay, that explanation might be a little too short! As you may remember, I’ve been working on transferring my author website. This project got a sudden boost when my credit card number was stolen. As a result, that credit card was cancelled and I got a totally new card number. Now, my old legacy webhost was notorious for being difficult to cancel their auto-payment plans. But they no longer had my credit card number.

I’ve just barely squeaked under the wire by getting this done by the end of March. 🐭 Squeak, squeak!

Thanks to the excellent Torknado.com’s One-Hour Author Website site, which helps authors set up the basic framework for an author website in an hour and then takes a lotlonger to go into all the customization nitty-gritty, I have a new website! More or less. My market list site is pretty solid, but I’ll be tweaking it for a while yet. My main author site is still a mess-in-progress, though, so don’t judge me on it (yet)!

(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:

Taxes and building a new website have taken up almost all my “writing” time. Elvis is still stuck in the LHC. (Yes, if I can’t work on a story for a while, I feel like my poor characters are stranded in the middle of whatever was going on.)

Things Shiny or Useful

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

Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops

(Any registration fees are noted.)

Flights of Foundry, April 8-11 (time zone depending): https://flights-of-foundry.org/

Norwescon, April 14-17: https://www.norwescon.org/

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

Featured Market


The Bioluminescent anthology (Android Press) wants optimistic SF with a lunarpunk aesthetic, pays $.08/word.

Lunarpunk is a very young, still somewhat nebulous and developing aesthetic — much more so than solarpunk at least— so it isn’t really possible to define exactly, specifically what that aesthetic is. But in many ways it can be thought of as a gothic take on solarpunk.

This site does a good job of putting forward an idea of what the Lunarpunk aesthetic entails. But to put it briefly, think of solarpunk and lunarpunk in terms of a dicotomy. If solarpunk is about bright colors, daylight and sun, science, community, etc… then lunarpunk is about darker colors, nighttime and moonlight, spirituality (though not necessarily a negation of science), introspection and more individual focus (though not a negation of community).

A lunarpunk world might include bioluminescent plant life, or other special tech to help societies function in the dark. A Lunarpunk community might live underground, in caves, on the moon, or elsewhere. Pagan nature worship, flowing robes and clothing, blacks, greys, silver and sparkle, purples, blues, and greens, mushrooms and night blooming plants, and various other elements of the gothic aesthetic are all common among what little, already existing lunarpunk work is out there.

Android Press

Basics: SF, 500-7,500 words, $.08/wd, no reprints, due 4/30/22.
Guidelines: https://www.android-press.com/lunarpunk-anthology-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
Factor Four MagazineAll speculative fiction, especially SF, fantasy, supernatural, and superhero fiction$0.110https://factorfourmag.com/submissionsinfo/
Baen Fantasy Adventure Award ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 2/1 – 4/30Adventure fantasy$0.080https://www.baen.com/contest-faa
Bioluminescent (Android Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 4/30/22Optimistic SF with the lunarpunk aesthetic$0.080https://www.android-press.com/lunarpunk-anthology-submissions
Cyberpunk-Solarpunk Anthology (Android Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 3/31/22Cyberpunk and solarpunk stories$0.080https://www.android-press.com/cyberpunk-vs-solarpunk-anthology
Jim Baen Memorial Writing ANNUAL CONTEST – DUE 10/01 – 02/01Near future positive space exploration SF$0.080https://www.baen.com/contest-jbmssa
Nightmare MagazineHorror/dark fantasy$0.080https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/guidelinesPrefers < 5,000 words. SUBMISSION PERIODS: 2x yearly, usually March and September.
Planet Democracy (Mithila Review) ONE-TIME THEMED ISSUE / ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/20/22Hopepunk and solarpunk$0.080https://mithilareview.com/hopepunk/
Galaxy’s EdgeSF and Fantasy$0.070https://www.galaxysedge.com/submissions/Submissions open every week, then close when they hit their quota
Halloween Ghost Anthology (Alienhead Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/31/22Halloween ghost stories$0.060https://www.gabytriana.com/alienheadpresssubmissions
Shoreline of InfinitySF and Fantasy$0.052http://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/submissions/RIGHTS: Also takes audio rights. ONE-TIME 2022 SUBMISSION PERIODS: 4/4 – 4/14 (SF fairy tales), 6/13 – 8/28 (flash fiction competition), 9/11 – 9/14
Azathoth: Ordo ab Chao (Hellnotes) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/31/22Horror themed to Lovecraftian god Azathoth and order out of chaos$0.050https://hellnotes.com/open-call-azathoth-ordo-ab-chao/
Planet ScummSF and weird fiction$0.050https://www.planetscumm.space/submitONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: open until 5/2/22
Translunar Travelers LoungeFun speculative fiction$0.030https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/SUBMISSION PERIOD: 3/15-3/21 (POC), 3/22-4/15, 9/15-9/21 (POC), 9/22-10/15
Fission (British Science Fiction Association) ANNUAL ANTHOLOGY – DUE 2/1-3/15SF$0.027https://bsfa.co.uk/fission
Shacklebound Monthly NewsletterAll speculative fiction, especially dark$0.020https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/submissions/
Dread Space (Shacklebound Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE UNTIL FULLMilitary SF horror$0.010https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/submissions/
Maelstroms (Shacklebound Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE UNTIL FULLDark fantasy, themed to the sea$0.010https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/submissions/
Electric LiteratureLiterary, all genres, incl. experimental. The Commuter takes flash fiction. Recommended Reading takes short stories.$300.00https://electricliterature.submittable.com/submitSUBMISSION PERIODS: Recommended Reading (short stories) has 2 1-week open submission periods, usually in Spring and Fall, The Commuter (flash fiction) has 4 1-week submission periods. NOTE: Long response time.
Fairy Tale ReviewFairy tale poetry and prose$50.00https://fairytalereview.submittable.com/submit/ONE-TIME theme 3/21/22-6/30/22: queer fairy tales
Futures that Never Were (Broadswords and Blasters) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/1/22 – 7/15/22Sword and planet fiction$40.00https://broadswordsandblasters.wordpress.com/2022/03/01/open-call-broadswords-and-blasters-presents-futures-that-never-were/
Out of the Darkness (WolfSinger Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 8/15/22-10/15/22Speculative fiction, themed to escaping the darkness$20.00https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/out-of-the-darkness
War Torn (Shacklebound Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 4/1/22 OR UNTIL FULLReprint SF featuring war$20.00https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/submissions/
Never Cheat a Witch (WolfSinger Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 5/15/22-7/15/22Speculative fiction, themed to cheating a powerful magical entity$15.00https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/never-cheat-a-witch-guidelines
Ring of Fire (WolfSinger Publications) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY – DUE 7/31/22Speculative fiction, themed to a ring of fire$15.00https://www.wolfsingerpubs.com/ring-of-fire-guidelines
Luna Station QuarterlyFantasy, science fiction, creepy horror by women-identified writers only$5.00http://lunastationquarterly.com/submissionsSubmission periods: Sept 15 – Nov 15, Dec 15 – Feb 15, Mar 15 – May 15, June 15 – Aug 15
Fireside Fiction (novellas and novels) – DEAD MARKETAll genres, explicitly including spec-fic$0.000https://firesidefiction.com/submissions
Fireside Fiction (short stories) – DEAD MARKETAll genres, explicitly including spec-fic$0.125https://firesidefiction.com/submissions

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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