10 Calls for Short Stories – Up to $800 Per Story

These markets pay $50 to $800 for fiction and a few accept other genres as well, like non-fiction and poetry. They are either open now, or will open shortly for submissions. – S. Kalekar

Enchanted Conversation: A Fairy Tale Magazine
This fairy tale themed magazine publishes one story and two non-fiction pieces every month. The theme for fiction for the entire year is Angels. The non-fiction can be on any fairy tale related theme, and creative non-fiction is welcome. Fiction guidelines say, “Angels may figure big or small in your story, and other otherworldly figures like fairies may be substituted, but, overall, the entire fiction year will feature winged entities, with angels being preferred, but not absolutely essential. So don’t send me a story without an otherworldly winged entity in it.” Also, the essence of classic fairy tales should be maintained in stories. Writers can retell a classical tale, or write an entirely new fairy tale from scratch. Happy endings are preferred, but not essential. No sci-fi, dystopian, erotica, high fantasy, excessive world building, time-travel, futuristic, space travel, western, love triangles, or children’s stories. For non-fiction, writers can explore any aspect of fairy tale culture. Scattering several links to outside sources throughout the essay is a good idea. Submission windows are scheduled to open for 72 hours at the beginning of every month (EST) until November 2020.
Reading period: 1-3 October (for November 2020)
Length: 1,200-2,500 words for fiction; 900-1,200 words for non-fiction
Pay: $100 for fiction; $50 for non-fiction
Details here.

Cossmass Infinities
This magazine of science fiction and fantasy is open during the first week of each month, alternating between under-represented and general submissions. During the first week of October they will be open for general submissions, by all writers.
Reading period: 1-7 October 2020
Length: 2,000-10,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

Scare Street: Night Terrors
They want short horror stories with a focus on ghosts, the supernatural, paranormal, monsters, and dark tales. The stories will be published in their ‘Night Terrors’ anthologies. “We go for stories that are dark, literary; we are looking for the creepy, the weird and the unsettling” according to their guidelines. The magazine also accepts reprints.
Deadline: 26 October 2020
Length: 3,000-7,000 words
Pay: “$10 per 1,000 words” ($0.01/word)
Details here.

 

World Weaver Press: New Tales of Fairy Godmothers
They want short fiction about fairy godmothers. Their guidelines say, “Use your magic to come up with tales that illuminate, investigate or turn the fairy godmother trope on its head. Origin stories are welcome, but so are stories about fairy godfathers, fairy godparents, mundane godparents who find themselves in magical situations, the beneficiaries (or victims) of fairy godmothering—you get the idea.

You can use existing fairy tales for inspiration or create a brand new story. What if Cinderella hates everything the fairy godmother does for her? Or, think about retelling “The Goose Girl” from the horse Falada’s point of view. Can the Giant’s wife in “Jack and the Beanstalk” be seen as a fairy godmother?” The editor is looking for subverted tales, or new tales about wonder and transformation; stories set outside of dominant, Western culture are very welcome, as are new fairy godmother tales about and by people who aren’t usually represented in “classic” fairy tales.
Deadline: 15 November 2020
Length: 4,000-7,500 words
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.

The Journal of Compressed Creative Arts
This magazine publishes “fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, mixed media, visual arts, and even kitchen sinks, if they are compressed in some way.” They also have a section called Topical Tuesdays, where they accept work on topical issues. For the current reading period, they’re looking for works by writers who have not previously published with them.
Deadline: 15 December 2020
Length: 600 words for prose (including prose poems); one poem of 20 lines or 75 words; 1,000 words for prose or a poem of 30 lines for Topical Tuesdays
Pay: $50
Details here.

The Cincinnati Review
This literary magazine accepts fiction, literary non-fiction, poetry, poetry translations, and art. Query for drama submissions. They also have a weekly online Flash feature called micro (payment for this is a digital contributor copy). They accept online submissions only, except from writers with disabilities or those who are incarcerated. See guidelines for editors’ preferences.  
Deadline: 1 January 2021
Length: Fiction can be up to 40 pages, non-fiction up to 20 pages, and up to 5 poems
Pay: $25/page for prose in the journal, $30/page for poetry
Details here.


AGNI
This respected literary journal accepts fiction, poetry, non-fiction, translations, and essays. All work will be considered for print and online publishing.
Deadline: 31 May 2021
Length: No word limit for prose; up to five poems
Pay: $10/page of prose, $20/page of poetry, up to $150
Details here

MetaStellar
This is a new magazine and they want submissions of fantasy, horror, or science fiction. They also accept fiction reprints, as well as reviews and essays, though it is unclear whether they pay for these.  
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 7,500 words for fiction; currently only accepting flash fiction up to 1,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word for fiction
Details here.


Gumshoe Review
This magazine publishes short fiction mysteries, and essays on topics of interest to readers, writers and students of the mystery genre. Their guidelines say, “We’re looking for stories where the investigator is the protagonist, or at least a significant character, and the focus is on solving a solving a crime, or getting someone out of a jam, or seeking some sort of justice.” They are also looking for reviewers currently.
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 1,000 words for fiction a
Pay: $0.05/word, up to $50 for fiction
Details here.

SmokeLong Quarterly
This magazine publishes flash fiction. See detailed guidelines under ‘Info to Help Increase Your Chances of Publication’. Also see their essay/blog and book reviews guidelines, and Global Flash Series. They also accept submissions by writers under 12 years, though these are unpaid. 
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 1,000 words
Pay: $50 for fiction
Details here and 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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