These outlets are open for submissions, and they pay $50 to $500 for fiction. Some also accept other genres, like non-fiction and poetry. – S. Kalekar

Welkin: A Magazine of the Fantastic
This is a journal of fantastic literature; they publish fiction. Their website says, “We specifically publish work in the magical realist, fabulist, fairy tale, fantasy, gothic, metafictional, slipstream, fantastic, weird, surrealist, and experimental genres. We seek a movement away from plotless, quotidian tales in favor of the imaginative and the gripping.” Their guidelines say, “While we encourage genre-bending and tropes typically excluded from mainstream literary magazines, elements of the fantastic and unusual in your work should not be used as a crutch.” They publish translations, as well. Also, “We have no hard rules regarding story length, but we do cap the whole magazine at 80 pages, so don’t send us more than that. A very long story will need to justify taking space that could have gone to other pieces.” Pieces under 1,500 words will be published in their online publication, ‘The Book of Idle Tears’, and are unpaid.
Deadline: 31 October 2021 for Welkin; ongoing for The Book of Idle Tears
Length: See above
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.

Held
They want submissions for their third issue, on ‘the body’ theme. Their guidelines say, “Our bodies have been through a lot these past few years. They’ve shifted and changed, sure, but they’ve also carried us through a global pandemic. How do we feel about our bodies in this moment? How have they changed? What about them frustrates or excites you? How do you as a consciousness interact with our mortal shells, and how is your body being politicized in this moment?” They publish fiction, non-fiction, experimental writing, poetry, and artwork. They ensure that 70% of their writers are from underrepresented groups – Black, Indigenous, Racialized and Marginalized, people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, Deaf and disabled people, as well as those living with mental illness.
Deadline: 15 October 2021
Length: Up to 1,500 words for prose; up to 3 poems
Pay: $50
Details here.
(580 Split is also open for submissions of poetry, visual art, photography, short stories, creative nonfiction, and other forms of artistic expression, including audio and video, on the theme ‘Fever Dreams’. Pay is $50; send up to 3,000 words of prose, or up to 3 poems. The deadline is 31 October 2021.)

Unnerving Magazine
This magazine accepts short story and poetry submissions of horror and suspense, generally leaning toward horror. Their guidelines say, “Sex, gore and violence are welcome in moderation. Action over emotion, every time.
Please no hard science fiction, sword and sorcery fantasy, romance, humor that isn’t sinister or literary works that venture so far into experimental that they become nonsense, no cop dramas unless hard boiled gumshoe, no fan fiction, no war stories, no stories where rape is the lead character’s motivator, and no blatant rip-offs. No Lovecraft characters, locations, or wording.” They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 31 October 2021
Length: 1,500-8,000 words for fiction, 12-100 lines for poetry
Pay: $0.03/word for fiction, $0.20/line for poetry
Details here.

Mud Season Review
They publish fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, and they also pay for artwork. For fiction, “We are looking for fully realized stories that remind us of what it means to be human, that take risks, that show us something new, and that stand up over multiple reads, deepening with each encounter.” Submissions may close early by genre, if volume demands.
Deadline: 31 October 2021, or until filled
Length: Up to 6,000 words for prose, 3-5 poems
Pay: $50
Details here.

Death of a Bad Neighbour: Revenge is Criminal Anthology
Submissions are open for a crime and mystery fiction call, ‘Death of a Bad Neighbour: Revenge is Criminal’ anthology. Stories have to be “the tart side of cozy”. Their website says, “…we are plagued by bad neighbours.
One recent article in the Daily Telegraph Online which reported the trauma caused by at best inconsiderate, but at worst criminal, neighbours accumulated five hundred registered comments within half an hour of being published.
It does not take a crime writer to know that a plague of bottom-feeders calls for an exterminator. But it does take the creatively criminal-minded to come up with the bestest plan ever…”
Deadline: 31 October 2021
Length: 2,500-5,000 words
Pay: $0.10/word + royalties
Details here.

khōréō
They publish speculative stories, essays, and art. They only accept work by creators who are immigrants, or members of the Diaspora. “We’re especially interested in writing and art that explores the impact of human or cultural migration, whether voluntary or forced. Examples include themes of immigration, diaspora, and anti-colonialism, as well as more metaphorical interpretations of the term.” They have extensive guidelines on the kind of work they want, and also what they are not looking for. They do not want fiction reprints, but they do accept essay reprints.
Deadline: 31 October 2021
Length: Fiction up to 5,000 words (prefer under 3,500 words); 1,000-3,000 words for essays
Pay: $0.08/word for fiction; $200/essay
Details here.

Black Hare Press War Anthology
They want war/conflict themed dark stories, in any speculative fiction genre or horror. “Please ensure your first chapter compels the reader to want to go further.”
Deadline: 31 October 2021
Length: 5,000+ words
Pay: $50
Details here (click on ‘Paid’ tab)

Solarpunk Sunscapes: Optimistic Visions of the Future Anthology
This is a speculative fiction and poetry anthology about a hopeful future of the planet. They want solarpunk stories and poems on the theme. They have extensive guidelines, including, “solarpunk stories always highlight diversity and demonstrate how humanity has overcome or adapted climate change and other global social problems.” Also, “In addition to hopeful and optimistic solarpunk stories in general, we’re looking for a wide variety of things. We’re looking for stories that take place on land and on sea, underground and up in the air (or space), as well stories that take place in geographically diverse places and communities across the planet. We’re looking for stories that highlight unique solutions and challenges in those different types of places or in different parts of the world. We’re also looking for stories about queer identity, and about familial relationships set within a solarpunk future.” They also accept translations.
Deadline: 1 November 2021
Length: 500-7,500 words for fiction, up to 5 poems
Pay: $0.02/word for fiction, $30/poem
Details here.

(Submissions are also open for Save the World science fiction/climate fiction anthology, of stories with a hopeful tone. They want stories of 2,500-15,000 words, and pay $50-100. They also accept reprints. The deadline is 31 October 2021.)

Thirteen
Thirteen is an audio-drama/ audio fiction podcast from Imaginary Comma, specializing in feature length (~ one hour) productions that are characterized by slow-burn, atmospheric stories horror and ghost stories. Stories with a first person central narrator and supporting characters work best for their format, as do well-crafted stories, full of atmosphere and compelling settings, that take their time getting to the scares. Also, “Submissions of 5,000 words or more are most likely to be selected for wide release. Shorter submissions may be selected for special double feature episodes or episodes exclusive to Patreon supporters and other financial supporters of Imaginary Comma. Any submission that is selected for production, regardless of platform, will be paid.”
Deadline: Open now
Length: Unspecified – but submissions of 5,000 words or more are most likely to be selected for wide release (see above)
Pay: $25-50
Details here.

Vast Chasm
They publish “bold work that explores the expansive human experience, including flash and short fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and other nonconforming work.” They read submissions on an ongoing basis.
Deadline:  Ongoing
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose; one poem
Pay: $50
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.