These markets pay $50-400 for fiction, and a few accept other genres as well, like non-fiction and poetry. Deadlines are approaching quickly for some of these magazines. – S. Kalekar
Diabolical Plots
They publish science fiction, fantasy and horror. Feel free to mix in other genres with these (like a fantasy mystery or a science fiction romance). All stories must have a speculative element. See the list of tropes/elements they particularly like, and also of the hard sells. They accept translations, as well. They’ll also open for a food-themed issue in October.
Deadline: 14 August 2021
Length: Up to 3,500 words
Pay: $0.10/word
Details here.
Tales From The Cyber Salon Event #3: A Sense of Community
This is a science fiction project. Throughout 2021, Cybersalon will host ‘Tales of the Cybersalon’, a series of interdisciplinary technology and policy investigations through science-fiction storytelling; apart from publishing, for selected writers, this involves a reading of their story, and discussion with panel experts to finesse the technological aspects of their fiction (see guidelines). They are currently reading fiction on ‘A Sense of Community’. They are not looking for the post-apocalyptic or utopias on other planets; the stories need to be plausible enough for their experts and audience to engage with them meaningfully. The theme guidelines say, “The Internet’s role as a force for rapidly changing our experience of community was provided some surprise competition this past year, in the form of Covid-19. We’ve met our neighbours clapping for the NHS, sometime for the first time, and stayed in touch through hyper-local, social media and chat. We’ve traded hugs for high-definition video calls and the euphoria of crowds for the endless recycling of cardboard delivery packaging. As we emerge from our lockdowns and self-imposed isolations into the world again, is this our chance to choose our communities anew? Who might they be next? What could they look like? Have we discovered Covid-19 ‘keepers’ or developed ones we should never want again?”
Deadline: 15 August 2021
Length: Up to 1,000 words
Pay: £50
Details here.
Westerly
This literary magazine maintains a special emphasis on Australia, particularly Western Australia, and the Asian region, but they accept submissions from anywhere. They publish short stories, poetry, memoir and creative nonfiction, essays and literary criticism. Non-subscribers will be asked to take magazine subscription as part payment for their work. Scholarly articles are accepted year-round.
Deadline: 20 August 2021
Length: Up to 3,500 words for fiction and creative nonfiction; up to five poems; up to 5,000 words for essays; 500-700 words for reviews
Pay: AUD200 for short stories and articles, AUD120-150 for poetry, AUD120 for visual art/intro essay and online pieces, AUD100 for reviews
Details here.
European Astrobiology Institute: Life Beyond Us Anthology
This is a call for science fiction stories. The anthology “explores worlds beyond—and within—ours, with the aim to publish brilliant SF and promote science understanding and critical thinking. The book is connected by the theme of astrobiology: searching for life wherever it might arise in the universe.
We’re looking for original short stories exploring the unknown: life forms we’re not familiar with on Earth (from extreme environments, to those right beneath our noses) and beyond our planet; strange life’s discovery, peculiarities, and the ethical questions arising from these.” They also accept translations. Each story will be accompanied by a companion essay written by scientists about the science behind the world that the authors include.
Deadline: 20 August 2021
Length: 1,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.
The New Gothic Review
They want short stories that embrace and reimagine Gothic fiction for the 21st century. They want compelling plots with a strong literary bend; eerie atmosphere is key, and stories with Weird Fiction and Folk Horror elements are welcome. They want some terror and horror, but this is not a horror fiction outlet. They don’t want stories written in Victorian Era prose, or those containing gruesome violence, gore, or explicit sexual content, fantasy, strong science fiction, or true crime stories.
Deadline: 31 August 2021
Length: 1,500-5,000 words
Pay: $50
Details here.
En Bloc
They are reading fiction, poetry, art, and photography for their third issue.
Deadline: Ongoing; 1 September 2021 for Issue 3 (see ‘Is there a deadline?’ in FAQ)
Length: Unspecified
Pay: £35 per side as they appear in the magazine, capped at £150 (see here)
Details here.
Midnight & Indigo
This literary magazine publishes fiction, as well as narrative and personal essays, by Black women writers only. For general fiction their guidelines say, “We are looking for previously unpublished, CHARACTER-DRIVEN fictional short stories written by Black women writers. All genres are welcome. Subject matter and plots can run the gamut, but we want emotion, grit, soul, and writing that forges an immediate connection with the reader.” There is no pay for book reviews.
Deadline: 5 September 2021 for fiction and essays; reviews accepted year-round
Length: At least 1,500 words for fiction; at least 1,200 words for essays
Pay: $50-125 for fiction, $50 for essays
Details here.
Boneyard Soup Magazine
They publish fiction in the horror and dark fantasy genres, including traditional Gothic, pulpy horror with an ’80s vibe, body horror, ghost stories, horror comedy, and stories within the horror and dark fantasy genres. They also publish reprints, as well as non-fiction and artwork. They accept reprint flash fiction of 500-1,500 words, as well (see guidelines).
Deadline: Open now
Length: 2,000-6,000 words for fiction; up to 3,000 words for non-fiction
Pay: $0.05/word
Details here.
Fecund
They publish fiction, essays, criticism, screenplay excerpts, fashion writing, poetry, visual art, video, fashion photography, and photo essays. Their guidelines say, “Although we don’t conform to one aesthetic, we tend to respond to work that challenges traditional forms or embraces liminality.” They are reading for their fifth issue.
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 7,000 words for prose, up to 10 poems
Pay: $50
Details here.
Orion’s Belt
This is a literary speculative fiction magazine. Their website says, “We specialize in the strange and poignant and awe-inspiring, stories that have a cosmic scale and intimate personal stakes.” They publish one story a month.
Deadline: Open now
Length: Up to 1,200 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.
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.
