9 Short Story Publishers that Pay ($50 to $800 Per Story)

These markets pay $50 to $800 for fiction, and are open for submissions. Some have (fun) themed calls, like furry innovation stories and Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered. One is a pro-paying market that had shut down, and is now revived. A few also accept other genres, like non-fiction and poetry. Deadlines are approaching quickly.

Sci Phi Journal: Two themes
This speculative fiction magazine wants work particularly (but not exclusively) addressing these topics:(1) The future of religion in an age of amortality; and (2) Communal identities on a globalised planet. They are not interested in character-driven fiction, and want Campbellian hard science fiction. Their guidelines say they’re looking for “hard SF that zooms out of the personal and lifts off into the structural, the systemic, the epic. We yearn for carefully crafted philosophical speculation that puzzles over the questions of the future and alternate pasts. And we have a soft spot for stories created as ‘artefacts’ (fictional, ‘in-universe’ non-fiction).” They also accept speculative philosophy, and translations.
Deadline: 31 January 2020
Length: Up to 2,000 words
Pay: $0.03/word (Euro) for fiction; $0.01/word for translations; no payment for non-fiction
Details here

Dark Peninsula Press: Negative Space – An Anthology of Survival Horror
They have opened a brief submission window again for their survival horror anthology. The focus is on the survival horror genre (in which protagonist(s) must face dire situations in locations far off the beaten path by using the environment, or items found in the environment, to survive) of video games, and to incorporate elements of the survival horror tradition into narrative fiction writing. This anthology will favor active horror stories over quieter, literary pieces. Think dangerous locales, overwhelming odds, makeshift weapons, cryptic journals, secret underground facilities, and deadly traps. Their guidelines also say, “Although this is a sub-genre created by video games, you don’t have to have knowledge of video games to submit. You could look at this as a “survival against the elements” type of story, or a “survival against something in the woods” type of story. But keep in mind…the protagonist must be at severe odds against his or her adversary.” Military horror is not a good fit for this anthology.
Deadline: 31 January 2020
Length: 2,000-8,000 words (2,000-5,000 words preferred)
Pay: $50
Details here.

The First Line
For this quarterly journal, they want a short story beginning with a pre-set first line. They have released the first lines for all the four quarters (see guidelines) and for the Spring issue, it is: ‘Ravi had just worked a double shift and was having trouble keeping his eyes open.’ Their guidelines also say, “If you think you are up to the challenge, you can write a four-part story that uses the spring, summer, fall, and winter sentences. However, all the parts must be submitted at once (a single e-mail or snail mail) before the February 1st deadline. (If selected, each part will be published in its respective issue.)”  They also accept poetry and non-fiction.
Deadline: 1 February 2020
Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction
Pay: $25-50 for fiction, $5-10 for poetry, $25 for non-fiction
Details here.

FurPlanet Productions: Roar 11 – Innovation
They’re looking for general audience furry stories on the theme of ‘Innovation’. Their guidelines say, “We can be generous in how we interpret “Innovation,” but all stories must be furry. That means an anthropomorphic animal figure should be significantly featured in your story — it could be anthropomorphic in body or only intelligence. We’ll consider any type of furry fiction from secret life of animals to fox in Starbucks — as long as it’s excellent. Though, the editor does have a preference for stories where the animal nature of the characters matters — if the reader can’t even remember the species of the characters by the end of the story, then that’s not a good sign.”
Deadline: 1 February 2020
Length: 2,000-18,000 words (query for longer or shorter)
Pay: ½¢ per word
Details here.

Belmont Story Review
They are reading submissions of fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry for Volume 5. They pay a check in US dollars only and do not offer any alternate form of payment.
Deadline: 1 February 2020
Length: Up to 12,000 words; up to five poems
Pay: $50 for prose, $25 for poems
Details here

Compelling Science Fiction
This science fiction market has now been revived with the help of Flame Tree Publishing. The stories they accept almost always illustrate at least one interesting concept, are engaging, and clearly explain the science/technology in the story. They don’t publish fantasy.
Deadline: 3 February 2019
Length: 1,000-10,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

El Chapo Review
They accept fiction, creative non-fiction, and poetry. They will read any genre for fiction including sci-fi, fantasy, crime, neo-noir, literary, historical, absurdist, surrealist, magic realism, romance, horror, mystery, and bizarre. They are reading now for their Summer issue.
Deadline: 15 March 2020
Length: Up to 1,000 words for prose, up to five poems
Pay: $100
Details here.

Pole to Pole Publishing: Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered
They are seeking fictional short stories for an upcoming anthology, ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Remembered’, to be published in June 2020, on the sesquicentennial of Jules Verne’s classic. The anthology will contain short stories that pay tribute in some way to Jules Verne’s ‘Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea’. Their guidelines say, “Set your story in any time or place; use characters from Verne’s novel or make up your own. You need not write in Verne’s style. The mood of your story need not be dark, as other Pole to Pole Publishing anthologies have been. Aim to capture, in your own way, the sense of wonder and adventure for which Jules Verne is famous. The connection between your story and Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea must be obvious and significant, and your story must not disparage either the novel or its author.” They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 30 April 2020 or until filled
Length: 3,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here

Hermine
This is a print-only journal of short stories, published annually and distributed by mail.
Deadline: Open now
Length: Unspecified
Pay: CAD0.08/word
Details here.


Author Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She is the author of 182 Short Fiction Publishers. She can be reached here.

 

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