Submissions are currently closed.
We’ll be opening again for submissions May 15 to June 15 for the theme TRAIN. We will allow one themed and one un-themed submission per writer. All submissions must be submitted via our Google form, which will be available here when we are open.
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What do we want?
- Speculative fiction (science fiction or fantasy)
- Note: We accept horror, but it must have a speculative element, whether science fiction or fantasy.
- Drabbles (100-word stories EXACTLY)
- Note: We calculate word count using Microsoft Word. If using Google Docs, please manually count your words. It has a truly baffling definition of a word (e.g., “1,000” = 2 words).
- Actual, complete stories
- Even though they’re only 100-words, drabbles still need all the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, theme, and plot.
What do we NOT want?
- Child abuse (of any type)
- Erotica
- Rape
- Revenge stories
- Hateful content
- Poems
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All the details
Simultaneous submissions: Yes! Go crazy. Submit everywhere! But if it is accepted elsewhere, please let us know.
Response time: Responses will be within 60 days. Please query after this time.
Multiple submissions: You may submit two stories per submissions period.
Note: Only one story will be accepted per author per period.
Reprints: Nope. Stories many not be previously published in any format (including on your blog, Patreon, etc.).
Formatting: Please format italics with surrounding _underscores_. You do not need to add indents or manual line breaks.
AI use: No. All work must be original and yours. Using AI or plagiarizing will get you banned forever. No redemption arc will be possible.
Contract terms: We require first worldwide English electronic rights with a 90-day exclusivity period.
Compensation: $8.00 ($0.08 per word) via PayPal.
Acceptance rate: We accept about 4% of submissions. Because of the high volume of submissions, we are unable to provide personal feedback.
How to submit: All submissions must be sent through our Google form. This form will only be available when we’re open to submissions.
Hard sells: The following are hard sells for our magazine:
- Myth and fairy tale retellings
- Stories where the characters are real historical figures or from classic literature
- Holiday stories
- Stories where aliens destroy Earth (especially if the motive is that humans are deemed too violent)
- Stories where the resolution is an unexpected murder in the last line
- Screenplay format
- Stories where the speculative element could be removed without changing the story
But if you have a unique take on any of these that you think would knock our socks off, don’t be afraid to send it along!
“The shorter and the plainer the better.”
— Beatrix Potter
