Besides the very popular SF and Fantasy markets like Asimov’s and Clarkesworld magazines, there are several other markets that are currently open to science fiction, fantasy and horror submissions. Many are themed calls – for spaceships and superheroes, fantasy beasts, food, monsters, autumn, and queer-inclusive young adults. Most of them pay writers.
Cricket Media: Spider Magazine – Fantastic Fantasy Beasts
This magazine for 6-9-year-olds wants fiction, poetry, activities, recipes and crafts for the above theme. They want knights, castles, dragons, pixies, sprites, unicorns, and all manner of epic quests. They specially welcome twists on classic fairy tales like Thumbelina, respectful and authentic treatment of cultures and strong female protagonists.
Deadline: 31 July 2017
Word count: 300-1,000 for fiction; up to 20 lines for poetry; 300-800 for non-fiction; 1-4 pages for crafts and activities
Pay: Up to $0.025 for fiction and non-fiction; $3/line for poetry, $25 minimum; $75 for activities and recipes
Details here.
PaperSteel Press
They are looking for short stories, novellas and novels in the science fiction, fantasy and paranormal romance genres.
Deadline: 31 July 2017
Word count: 10,000-25,000 for short stories, 25,000-50,000 for novellas, 55,000+ words for novels
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
New Myths
They publish speculative fiction of every kind, except graphic horror. They also publish at least one non-fiction essay, poems and reviews in each issue.
Deadline: 31 July 2017
Word count: Up to 10,000 for fiction and nonfiction; up to 5 poems of any length
Pay: 1.5c/word (minimum $30)
Details here.
Diabolical Plots
They publish science fiction, fantasy and horror – feel free to mix in other genres with these. All stories must have a speculative element. There are specific guidelines about anonymity for their blind submissions. They list the tropes/elements they particularly like, and hard sells.
Deadline: 31 July 2017
Word count: Up to 3,500; can send two stories in a reading period
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.
Exile Publishing: The Food Of My People
This is a speculative writing anthology – food and nourishment must be an integral part of the story and the outcome. Submissions must be by Canadian residents and they welcome diverse voices. There is a 10% window for content by non-Canadian residents.
Deadline: 1 August 2017
Word count: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: CAD0.05/word
Details here.
Fantasia Divinity Magazine and Publishing: The Heart of a Devil
This is a horror and dark fantasy anthology about monsters, demons, murderers – are they really as evil as they seem? What made them this way? A broader take on the fairy tales villains anthology. The monsters can be creatures of myth and lore, or of the imagination and must be the focus of the story.
Deadline: 10 August 2017
Word count: 500-10,500
Pay: $5-$15; maximum $10 for reprints
Details here.
The Fantasist
This is a magazine of fantasy novellas. They like stories in well-researched historical settings, with an interaction between magic and science, Napoleonic Era, faeries, dragons, and stories not set in Europe. They are particularly looking for urban fantasy. They welcome diversity in the stories’ viewpoints, and their authors.
Deadline: 25 August 2017
Word count: 15,000-40,000
Pay: $100 and royalties
Details here.
Fantasia Divinity Magazine and Publishing: Autumn’s Harvest
They want fantasy and dark fantasy settings focusing on an Autumn theme for this autumn fantasy anthology. They want the focus to be on the nature of Autumn and magic/fantasy elements inspired by it; they will also consider modern/futuristic stories.
Deadline: 25 August 2017
Word count: 500-10,500
Pay: $5-$15; maximum $10 for reprints
Details here (scroll down to the middle of the page).
Indie Shelves Publishing: Fantasy and Horror Anthologies
Submissions are open for two anthologies: fantasy and horror. Adult themes are allowed, but submissions relying too heavily on these will not be accepted.
Deadlines: 31 August for Fantasy, 30 September for Horror
Word count: 7,500-10,000 for each anthology
Pay: Royalties
Details here.
Schoolbooks & Sorcery: A Queer-inclusive YA Urban Fantasy Anthology
Stories should deal with the normal ups and downs of school life, with a healthy dose of magic. The editor is looking for protagonists of most facets of the LGBTQ spectrum, and for under-represented authors to submit.
Deadline: 31 August 2017
Word count: 2,000-6,000
Pay: $0.06c/word
Details here.
Dragon’s Roost Press: Hidden Animals – A Collection of Cryptids
They want dark speculative fiction that features one or more of the lesser-known, but established cryptids (an animal or creature whose existence or survival is disputed or unsubstantiated, like Bigfoot, or Nessie). They will accept only one story per cryptid. Authors must put their own spin on the creature, to make them terrifying, sympathetic or humorous, but shouldn’t create a new creature. This is a charity anthology to raise money for the canine rescue organization, Last Day Dog Rescue.
Deadline: 31 August 2017, or until filled
Word count: Up to 6,000
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here.
Cricket Media: Spider Magazine – Spaceships and Superheroes
This magazine for children wants science fiction and superhero stories about protagonists that save the day with super suits, super powers or self-made gadgets. They are particularly interested in technology like flying cars, interplanetary travel, holograms, robots, and teleporters. They welcome twists on familiar comic book or sci-fi tropes, and female, people of color, and kid protagonists.
Deadline: 31 August 2017
Word count: 300-1,000 for fiction; up to 20 lines for poetry; 300-800 for non-fiction; 1-4 pages for crafts and activities
Pay: Up to $0.025 for fiction and non-fiction; $3/line for poetry, $25 minimum; $75 for activities and recipes
Details here.
Fantasia Divinity Magazine and Publishing: Menagerie de Mythique
This is an anthology with stories about mythical creatures – unicorns, griffins, chimeras, or something unknown.
Deadline: 5 September 2017
Word count: 500-10,500
Pay: $5-$15; maximum $10 for reprints
Details here (scroll down to the end of the page).
Three Drops from a Cauldron
This is a monthly web journal publishing poetry and flash fiction involving myths, legends, folklore, fables or fairytales. It could be a retelling or just use the original story as a loosely connected metaphor.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: 1-6 poems (no line limit) or 1-3 pieces of flash fiction or poetry (up to 1,000 words each)
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
The Anarchist
This new, Medium-based magazine focuses on fantasy and sci-fi flash fiction. No hate, racism or excessive gore.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: 1,000 or under
Pay: $50
Details here.
Crimson Streets
This is a pulp web now/print later magazine, with focus on action and atmosphere over characterization. They accept several genres, including fantasy and horror/occult. They also publish a limited number of articles related to the pulps. Read the submission guidelines for the other genres they accept, and the rights they acquire.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: 800-6,000
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.
Dark Moon Digest
This quarterly is currently only open for short stories, but they also accept flash fiction, reviews and columns. They want fiction reminiscent of The Twilight Zone, Black Mirror, Tales from the Crypt, and Tales from the Darkside. They welcome voices that are typically underrepresented in publishing. See the guidelines for details of the kind of stories they don’t want.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: 1,500-7,000
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.
Grievous Angel
This UK-based magazine publishes only science fiction, fantasy and horror, including its sub-genres, as well as humor/satire riffs on these genres. They want flash fiction, poetry and haiga. They extensively promote work on the social media and some poetry may also be reproduced in the British Science Fiction Association’s magazine, Focus.
Deadline: Rolling
Word count: Up to 5 poems of 40 lines each; up to 2 haiga; one flash fiction of up to 700 words (or more than one substantially smaller micro-fiction)
Pay: $0.06/word for fiction; $1/line for poetry; $5 for haiku and very short poems/microfiction; $10 for haiga
Details here.
The Dark
This is a monthly online magazine of horror and dark fantasy. They do not want graphic, violent horror.
Deadline: Rolling
Word count: 2,000-6,000
Pay: $0.03/word for originals; $0.01/word for reprints
Details here.
Black Dandy
This is a New-Zealand-based magazine of slow-simmering weird fiction. Their first issue will be out in the fourth quarter of 2017. They welcome writers from the world over. See their submission guidelines for the kind of fiction they particularly like.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: 2,500-7,000
Pay: NZ$0.03/word
Details here.
East of the Web: SF/Fantasy and Horror imprints
East of the Web is looking for stories for their new science fiction/fantasy and horror electronic imprints. The authors must have had some publication history; they are also looking at reprints. They only respond to queries they are interested in.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: At least 7,000 words
Pay: Starts at $0.05/word, or a mix of an advance and royalties
Details here and here.
GigaNotoSarus
They publish one science fiction/fantasy story every month. They seek a variety of settings, styles, viewpoints and backgrounds.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: 5,000-25,000
Pay: $100
Details here.
Grimdark Magazine
Stories should be in a dark, medieval fantasy/science fiction setting. They want morally ambiguous decisions, grey characters and grit.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: Up to 4,000 words; reprints up to 6,000 words
Pay: AUD0.07/word; AUD0.01/word for reprints (see guidelines for payment methods)
Details here.
Blind Spot
This is an online biannual speculative fiction magazine that publishes short stories, either in English or translated from the French. Submit in English or French.
Deadline: Unspecified
Word count: Up to 10,000
Pay: $0.08/word (English texts)
Details here.
