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The following literary journals accept reprints. The list is in no particular order. Not all of these journals are open to submissions at this time, but most are.
1. Down In the Dirt
Down in the Dirt is a literary journal that publishes poetry and prose in print and electronic formats. To learn more, visit their website here: http://scars.tv/down-in-the-dirt.htm
2. The Bark
This magazine about dogs pays their writers. Learn more here: http://thebark.com/.
3. Easy Street
Easy Street publishes flash, fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, reviews, interviews, editorial columns, news, and opinion pieces (Perspectives) on relevant topics. Learn more here: http://www.easystreetmag.com/submit/
4. Bewildering Stories
This very approachable journal publishes all genres of writing. They do prefer to publish reprints only of hard to find elsewhere work (such as print only). Learn more here: http://www.bewilderingstories.com/
5. East Coast Review
This journal publishes poetry and prose. They have a relatively high acceptance rate. To learn more, visit their website here: http://www.eastcoastliteraryreview.com/
6. Slick Lit Magazine
This is an approachable publisher of a wide variety of genres. Learn more at their website here: https://sicklitmagazine.com/
7. Avatar Review
Avatar Review is an electronic journal that publishes poetry and fiction. They have a fairly high acceptance rate. To learn more, visit their website here: http://www.avatarreview.net/
8. The Stray Branch
This is an electronic journal that is open to submissions of genre work. They publish fiction and poetry and have a rather high acceptance state. To learn more, visit their website here: http://www.thestraybranch.org/
9.Haggard and Halloo
Haggard and Halloo is an online and print journal that accepts poems and short stories, including reprints. Learn more here: http://www.haggardandhalloo.com/submit-writing/
10. Nice Cage
Nice Cage is a literary journal open to a variety of work. They are open to previously published work as long as the original publisher allows it. Learn more here: https://www.nicecage.com/guidelines.html.
x x x
* excerpted from the free online newsletter of, Author's Publish *
1. Down In the Dirt
Down in the Dirt is a literary journal that publishes poetry and prose in print and electronic formats. To learn more, visit their website here: http://scars.tv/down-in-the-dirt.htm
2. The Bark
This magazine about dogs pays their writers. Learn more here: http://thebark.com/.
3. Easy Street
Easy Street publishes flash, fiction, poetry, creative nonfiction, reviews, interviews, editorial columns, news, and opinion pieces (Perspectives) on relevant topics. Learn more here: http://www.easystreetmag.com/submit/
4. Bewildering Stories
This very approachable journal publishes all genres of writing. They do prefer to publish reprints only of hard to find elsewhere work (such as print only). Learn more here: http://www.bewilderingstories.com/
5. East Coast Review
This journal publishes poetry and prose. They have a relatively high acceptance rate. To learn more, visit their website here: http://www.eastcoastliteraryreview.com/
6. Slick Lit Magazine
This is an approachable publisher of a wide variety of genres. Learn more at their website here: https://sicklitmagazine.com/
7. Avatar Review
Avatar Review is an electronic journal that publishes poetry and fiction. They have a fairly high acceptance rate. To learn more, visit their website here: http://www.avatarreview.net/
8. The Stray Branch
This is an electronic journal that is open to submissions of genre work. They publish fiction and poetry and have a rather high acceptance state. To learn more, visit their website here: http://www.thestraybranch.org/
9.Haggard and Halloo
Haggard and Halloo is an online and print journal that accepts poems and short stories, including reprints. Learn more here: http://www.haggardandhalloo.com/submit-writing/
10. Nice Cage
Nice Cage is a literary journal open to a variety of work. They are open to previously published work as long as the original publisher allows it. Learn more here: https://www.nicecage.com/guidelines.html.
x x x
* excerpted from the free online newsletter of, Author's Publish *
Publishers Always Open to New Submissions
These publishers are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. All of them are respected publishers with good reputations. They are listed in no particular order.
* Excerpted from, the free, online newsletter of, Authors Publish. Subscribe for the complete list with links and reviews *
Quirk Books
This Philadelphia-based press publishes 25 books a year in a whole range of genres, including children’s books, nonfiction, and science fiction. Unlike most publishers that tackle a large range of topics, Quirk Books has a clear marketing plan for all of their books. To a certain degree their books have a cohesive feel, because they all are quirky.
Baen
Baen is one of the best known publishers of science fiction and fantasy books. They are one of the few established publishers that will accept full-length manuscripts from authors who do not have an agent. They do not need to see any history of publication either. As long as your book is science fiction or fantasy, they will consider publishing it.
Source Books
A large independent publisher based out of Illinois, they also have offices in Connecticut and New York. They are open to unsolicited submissions of a wide range, including nonfiction and romance manuscripts.
Turner Books publishes books in a wide range of categories and formats—fiction and nonfiction. They publish mainly in print but have electronic options as well. They are a major independent publishing house and have a number of imprints.
Tor/Forge publishes science fiction and fantasy books. Run by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, Tor/Forge is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the big five publishers. Tor is one of the most established science fiction publishers and they have won the Locus Award for best SF publisher 27 years in a row. They offer advances. Read the full review here.
The Totally Entwined Group
The Totally Entwined Group is a romance eBook and print publisher that was successful in its own right, before being purchased by the Bonnier Publishing group. There have been some shifts in focus since Bonnier purchased it in 2015, but the group still has a good reputation and its focus is still on its two flagship established imprints – Pride and Totally Bound. Read the full review.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Founded in 1911 and located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is an independent publisher of religious books. They have a large range, including academic books and reference works in theology, biblical studies, and religious history to popular titles in spirituality, social and cultural criticism, as well as literature. They are primarily a print publisher with excellent distribution.To learn more, read our full review.
Harlequin
Harlequin is easily the most famous romance-only publisher out there. They have wide distribution, from grocery stores to bookstores. Multiple sub-genres from traditional and 'ripped bodice' to steamy and contemporary.
Bellevue Literary Press publishes works of narrative nonfiction and literary fiction geared towards a general readership. They are open to unsolicited submissions of both kinds of work. The work they publish explores the intersection between arts and science. Many of the characters in the fictional work that they publish are doctors and scientists, but many of their books also focus on the natural world. They seem to publish about four novels for every work of non-fiction they publish.
These publishers are always open to submissions from writers without agents or previous publishing experience. All of them are respected publishers with good reputations. They are listed in no particular order.
* Excerpted from, the free, online newsletter of, Authors Publish. Subscribe for the complete list with links and reviews *
Quirk Books
This Philadelphia-based press publishes 25 books a year in a whole range of genres, including children’s books, nonfiction, and science fiction. Unlike most publishers that tackle a large range of topics, Quirk Books has a clear marketing plan for all of their books. To a certain degree their books have a cohesive feel, because they all are quirky.
Baen
Baen is one of the best known publishers of science fiction and fantasy books. They are one of the few established publishers that will accept full-length manuscripts from authors who do not have an agent. They do not need to see any history of publication either. As long as your book is science fiction or fantasy, they will consider publishing it.
Source Books
A large independent publisher based out of Illinois, they also have offices in Connecticut and New York. They are open to unsolicited submissions of a wide range, including nonfiction and romance manuscripts.
Turner Books publishes books in a wide range of categories and formats—fiction and nonfiction. They publish mainly in print but have electronic options as well. They are a major independent publishing house and have a number of imprints.
Tor/Forge publishes science fiction and fantasy books. Run by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, Tor/Forge is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the big five publishers. Tor is one of the most established science fiction publishers and they have won the Locus Award for best SF publisher 27 years in a row. They offer advances. Read the full review here.
The Totally Entwined Group
The Totally Entwined Group is a romance eBook and print publisher that was successful in its own right, before being purchased by the Bonnier Publishing group. There have been some shifts in focus since Bonnier purchased it in 2015, but the group still has a good reputation and its focus is still on its two flagship established imprints – Pride and Totally Bound. Read the full review.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Founded in 1911 and located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is an independent publisher of religious books. They have a large range, including academic books and reference works in theology, biblical studies, and religious history to popular titles in spirituality, social and cultural criticism, as well as literature. They are primarily a print publisher with excellent distribution.To learn more, read our full review.
Harlequin
Harlequin is easily the most famous romance-only publisher out there. They have wide distribution, from grocery stores to bookstores. Multiple sub-genres from traditional and 'ripped bodice' to steamy and contemporary.
Bellevue Literary Press publishes works of narrative nonfiction and literary fiction geared towards a general readership. They are open to unsolicited submissions of both kinds of work. The work they publish explores the intersection between arts and science. Many of the characters in the fictional work that they publish are doctors and scientists, but many of their books also focus on the natural world. They seem to publish about four novels for every work of non-fiction they publish.
Approachable Literary Journals.
All of the literary journals in this list accept around half of what is submitted to them. So the odds of your work being accepted is about 50/50.
All of the information used to ascertain if the market is approachable or not was found through research done at the websites Duotrope and The (Submission) Grinder.
The Plum Tree Tavern
They only publish poetry about nature and ecology. They publish a little under half of the work they receive.
The Moon Magazine
They publish poetry, nonfiction, and fiction online. Every issue is themed, but they read for several themes at once.
Scarlet Leaf Review
They publish a wide variety of poetry and prose, including genre work. They accept about 80% of what they receive.
Peacock Journal
They publish poetry, nonfiction and fiction.
50-Word Stories
As their name suggests, they publish only 50-word stories. They read submissions every month between the 1st and the 15th. They publish over 50% of what is submitted to them.
Down in the Dirt
Down in the Dirt publishes fiction and poetry. They have an acceptance rate of 70%.
Eskimo Pie
If you are a poet who really hates rejection, submit to this online literary journal. They accept almost 100% of what is submitted. They only publish poetry.
Anti-Heroin Chic
Anti-Heroin Chic publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction. As they put it,
“Send us your observations.
Send us your heart.
Send us your honesty.”
Page & Spine
Page & Spine is an online literary journal that focuses on publishing the work of emerging authors. They accept poems, limericks, micro flash fiction (under 150 words), flash fiction (up to 1,000 words), short stories, articles, essays, and poems. They accept approximately half of the work they receive. They pay.
Mused
This is an online journal of upbeat and warm fiction, poetry, art, and essays. They accept over half of their submissions.
Literary Yard
Literary Yard is an e-journal that aims at widening literary horizons. They publish well over half of what they receive.
Quail Bell
They publish a wide variety of writing and visual art. They have a well-designed website and a rather high acceptance rate.
Califragile
This online poetry market accepts about half of they receive.
Ekphrastic Review
An Ekphrastic work is writing or art about another work of art. The Ekphrastic Review publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
What Rough Beast
They publish a poem a day by a different poet exploring and responding to the US’ political reality.
Spelk
This UK-based publication focuses on flash fiction.
Corvus Review
A literary journal dedicated to the strange, wonderful, and downright weird, they publish fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, and poetry.
copied from the free, online newsletter of : Authors Publish
All of the literary journals in this list accept around half of what is submitted to them. So the odds of your work being accepted is about 50/50.
All of the information used to ascertain if the market is approachable or not was found through research done at the websites Duotrope and The (Submission) Grinder.
The Plum Tree Tavern
They only publish poetry about nature and ecology. They publish a little under half of the work they receive.
The Moon Magazine
They publish poetry, nonfiction, and fiction online. Every issue is themed, but they read for several themes at once.
Scarlet Leaf Review
They publish a wide variety of poetry and prose, including genre work. They accept about 80% of what they receive.
Peacock Journal
They publish poetry, nonfiction and fiction.
50-Word Stories
As their name suggests, they publish only 50-word stories. They read submissions every month between the 1st and the 15th. They publish over 50% of what is submitted to them.
Down in the Dirt
Down in the Dirt publishes fiction and poetry. They have an acceptance rate of 70%.
Eskimo Pie
If you are a poet who really hates rejection, submit to this online literary journal. They accept almost 100% of what is submitted. They only publish poetry.
Anti-Heroin Chic
Anti-Heroin Chic publishes poetry, fiction and nonfiction. As they put it,
“Send us your observations.
Send us your heart.
Send us your honesty.”
Page & Spine
Page & Spine is an online literary journal that focuses on publishing the work of emerging authors. They accept poems, limericks, micro flash fiction (under 150 words), flash fiction (up to 1,000 words), short stories, articles, essays, and poems. They accept approximately half of the work they receive. They pay.
Mused
This is an online journal of upbeat and warm fiction, poetry, art, and essays. They accept over half of their submissions.
Literary Yard
Literary Yard is an e-journal that aims at widening literary horizons. They publish well over half of what they receive.
Quail Bell
They publish a wide variety of writing and visual art. They have a well-designed website and a rather high acceptance rate.
Califragile
This online poetry market accepts about half of they receive.
Ekphrastic Review
An Ekphrastic work is writing or art about another work of art. The Ekphrastic Review publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry.
What Rough Beast
They publish a poem a day by a different poet exploring and responding to the US’ political reality.
Spelk
This UK-based publication focuses on flash fiction.
Corvus Review
A literary journal dedicated to the strange, wonderful, and downright weird, they publish fiction, nonfiction, flash fiction, and poetry.
copied from the free, online newsletter of : Authors Publish
All of these publishers accept submissions directly from authors. No agent or previous publishing experience required.
For the complete list including additional info and links to the publishers, subscribe to the free, online newsletter of:
Authors Publish.
xxx
Some of the publishers only publish romance, but many are also open to erotica. The list is in no particular order.
Harlequin
Many famous romance writers, including Mercedes Lackey, Nora Roberts, and Christopher Rice got their start at Harlequin. Their submission process is very user friendly.
Entangled Publishing
Entangled Publishing is an independent publisher of adult and young adult romantic fiction. Since its first release in July 2011, Entangled has published more than 970 titles. This number includes 14 titles that have made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers list and 42 titles that have placed on the USA Today Bestsellers list.
Speaking Volumes
Blushing Books
Blushing Books started out as a romance print publisher in the 90’s. It has since shifted entirely into the eBook market. Books are released to all major distributors, including the Barnes and Noble Nook, Kobo, Apple, All Romance eBooks, and Smashwords.
Lyrical Press
Lyrical Press is an electronic only imprint of Kensington, a large independent publisher. Kensington and Lyrical both publish mainstream novels and seem to put a fair amount of pressure on the author to promote their books. They publish a large number of books per year.
eXtasy
Carina Press
Carina Press is Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction imprint, publishing first in digital, and then depending on the numbers releasing audio and print versions as well. Unlike most of Harlequin’s imprints they don’t just focus on romance, although they are open to all subgenres of romance, including contemporary, paranormal, LGBTQ+, and science fiction. They also publish mysteries of all flavors— from cozies to thrillers, with and without romantic elements.
Forever Yours
Forever is the romance imprint of Grand Central Publishing. Grand Central Publishing is an imprint of the Hachette Book Group, one of the big five publishers. Forever Yours is the digital sister of Forever, they focus on publishing unagented authors, and often publish authors without a publication history. They publish eBooks, but they have an option to print on demand any book over 50,000 words in length.
Pelican Book Press
A print and eBook publisher of Christian romance novels. They have a number of imprints and accept unsolicited submissions for all but one of them.
Fiery Seas
Boroughs Publishing Group
Boroughs Publishing Group is an e-publisher that focuses on publishing romance novels, novellas, and short stories.
Siren-BookStrand
Siren-BookStrand is a popular publisher of romance and erotica. They only publish books that end happily ever after. They publish many books every year and most authors seem happy with the work that the Siren-BookStrand editors do. They are primarily an electronic publisher but they also have print editions.
BelleBooks/BelleBridge
A successful independent print publisher of genre books, including romance novels.
Avon Impulse
Avon Romance is a romance imprint of HarperCollins. Avon Impulse is their digital first imprint and they publish primarily new authors. If a book is successful, Avon publishes a print edition of it. They have an excellent marketing team.
Red Sage Publishing started as a traditional print publisher in 1995. They have a long list of published books covering diverse genres ranging from contemporary to science fiction.
SMP Swerve
St Martin’s Press is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the big 5 publishers. SMP Swerve is the digital first romance publishing imprint of St Martin’s.
Black Lyon Publishing
Black Lyon Publishing is a small but established publisher of romance novels, eBook and printed.
Evernight Publishing
Evernight is an ebook publisher of romance and erotica novels that is currently open to submissions from writers. They also publish print versions of some books. A number of the books they have published have been on the Amazon Bestseller list.
ImaJinn Books
ImaJinn books is a print and electronic publisher of a wide spectrum of romance novels. They publish everything from new adult to contemporary to fantasy. Their print books are published on demand, and they seem to sell most of their books through Amazon, so don’t expect a distributor.
Beachwalk Press
They largely publish romantic eBooks, but some of their books have been released in print as well. Most of the books they publish are on the sensual side. They are open to romances in all sub-genres except for young adult romances.
Black Opal Books
Black Opal Books accepts submissions between 1 June and 31 December each year. They publish all romance genres, including paranormal and erotic, as well as YA, Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit, Historicals, Mysteries, and Thrillers.
The Wild Rose Press
The Wild Rose Press is an established small press that publishes full length manuscripts, primarily in the romance genre.
Solstice Publishing
Solstice is a mid sized publishing house based out of the US that publishes eBooks. They have published over 200 authors and have started to buy small publishing houses.
For the complete list including additional info and links to the publishers, subscribe to the free, online newsletter of:
Authors Publish.
xxx
Some of the publishers only publish romance, but many are also open to erotica. The list is in no particular order.
Harlequin
Many famous romance writers, including Mercedes Lackey, Nora Roberts, and Christopher Rice got their start at Harlequin. Their submission process is very user friendly.
Entangled Publishing
Entangled Publishing is an independent publisher of adult and young adult romantic fiction. Since its first release in July 2011, Entangled has published more than 970 titles. This number includes 14 titles that have made it onto the New York Times Bestsellers list and 42 titles that have placed on the USA Today Bestsellers list.
Speaking Volumes
Blushing Books
Blushing Books started out as a romance print publisher in the 90’s. It has since shifted entirely into the eBook market. Books are released to all major distributors, including the Barnes and Noble Nook, Kobo, Apple, All Romance eBooks, and Smashwords.
Lyrical Press
Lyrical Press is an electronic only imprint of Kensington, a large independent publisher. Kensington and Lyrical both publish mainstream novels and seem to put a fair amount of pressure on the author to promote their books. They publish a large number of books per year.
eXtasy
Carina Press
Carina Press is Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction imprint, publishing first in digital, and then depending on the numbers releasing audio and print versions as well. Unlike most of Harlequin’s imprints they don’t just focus on romance, although they are open to all subgenres of romance, including contemporary, paranormal, LGBTQ+, and science fiction. They also publish mysteries of all flavors— from cozies to thrillers, with and without romantic elements.
Forever Yours
Forever is the romance imprint of Grand Central Publishing. Grand Central Publishing is an imprint of the Hachette Book Group, one of the big five publishers. Forever Yours is the digital sister of Forever, they focus on publishing unagented authors, and often publish authors without a publication history. They publish eBooks, but they have an option to print on demand any book over 50,000 words in length.
Pelican Book Press
A print and eBook publisher of Christian romance novels. They have a number of imprints and accept unsolicited submissions for all but one of them.
Fiery Seas
Boroughs Publishing Group
Boroughs Publishing Group is an e-publisher that focuses on publishing romance novels, novellas, and short stories.
Siren-BookStrand
Siren-BookStrand is a popular publisher of romance and erotica. They only publish books that end happily ever after. They publish many books every year and most authors seem happy with the work that the Siren-BookStrand editors do. They are primarily an electronic publisher but they also have print editions.
BelleBooks/BelleBridge
A successful independent print publisher of genre books, including romance novels.
Avon Impulse
Avon Romance is a romance imprint of HarperCollins. Avon Impulse is their digital first imprint and they publish primarily new authors. If a book is successful, Avon publishes a print edition of it. They have an excellent marketing team.
Red Sage Publishing started as a traditional print publisher in 1995. They have a long list of published books covering diverse genres ranging from contemporary to science fiction.
SMP Swerve
St Martin’s Press is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the big 5 publishers. SMP Swerve is the digital first romance publishing imprint of St Martin’s.
Black Lyon Publishing
Black Lyon Publishing is a small but established publisher of romance novels, eBook and printed.
Evernight Publishing
Evernight is an ebook publisher of romance and erotica novels that is currently open to submissions from writers. They also publish print versions of some books. A number of the books they have published have been on the Amazon Bestseller list.
ImaJinn Books
ImaJinn books is a print and electronic publisher of a wide spectrum of romance novels. They publish everything from new adult to contemporary to fantasy. Their print books are published on demand, and they seem to sell most of their books through Amazon, so don’t expect a distributor.
Beachwalk Press
They largely publish romantic eBooks, but some of their books have been released in print as well. Most of the books they publish are on the sensual side. They are open to romances in all sub-genres except for young adult romances.
Black Opal Books
Black Opal Books accepts submissions between 1 June and 31 December each year. They publish all romance genres, including paranormal and erotic, as well as YA, Women’s Fiction, Chick Lit, Historicals, Mysteries, and Thrillers.
The Wild Rose Press
The Wild Rose Press is an established small press that publishes full length manuscripts, primarily in the romance genre.
Solstice Publishing
Solstice is a mid sized publishing house based out of the US that publishes eBooks. They have published over 200 authors and have started to buy small publishing houses.
Confused about paying an invoice, a successful young businessman decided to ask his secretary for some mathematical help.
He called her into his office and said, “You just graduated from college and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?”
The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, “Everything but my earrings.”
He called her into his office and said, “You just graduated from college and I need some help. If I were to give you $20,000, minus 14%, how much would you take off?”
The secretary thought a moment, and then replied, “Everything but my earrings.”
It's no fun to submit a story or poem then not hear back for months. These poetry journals all respond in a month or less.
For links, google the journals or subscribe to the free, online newsletter of 'Authors Publish'.
The American Poetry Journal,
publishes only poetry and respond to all submissions within a month.
Softblow, an online poetry journal, responds to most submissions in les than three days.
Radar Poetry
Radar electronic poetry journal responds within two weeks to submissions.
Red Eft Review focuses on publishing accessible poems. Their turnaround time is a couple of days.
The New Verse News presents politically progressive poetry on current events and topical issues. Because of the nature of what they publish, they have fast response times and then generally publish work within a few days of accepting it.
Amaryllis, responds within a week.
Thrush, a highly respected poetry journal responds to most submissions within 10 days.
For links, google the journals or subscribe to the free, online newsletter of 'Authors Publish'.
The American Poetry Journal,
publishes only poetry and respond to all submissions within a month.
Softblow, an online poetry journal, responds to most submissions in les than three days.
Radar Poetry
Radar electronic poetry journal responds within two weeks to submissions.
Red Eft Review focuses on publishing accessible poems. Their turnaround time is a couple of days.
The New Verse News presents politically progressive poetry on current events and topical issues. Because of the nature of what they publish, they have fast response times and then generally publish work within a few days of accepting it.
Amaryllis, responds within a week.
Thrush, a highly respected poetry journal responds to most submissions within 10 days.
Lady, James Patterson is one remarkable writer. BTW, his next release will be a fictional political thriller he co-authored with, Bill Clinton.
Just finished re-reading, "The Last Picture Show" by Larry McMurtry. Left me wondering why I hadn't done so much sooner. Highly recommended.
Just finished re-reading, "The Last Picture Show" by Larry McMurtry. Left me wondering why I hadn't done so much sooner. Highly recommended.
Ms Elizabeth, your are correct, as usual, about that post by, Youbeient.
The lady who left the original post on my FB page, Celina Summers, an oft-published fantasy writer, and editor, left another one today I'm gonna share.
"For some reason, it's far easier for me to self-edit right AFTER I edit someone else's work. That seems to be the only way I spot unnecessary adverbs, for example. Sure--in first draft form, "eased slowly" or "sipped carefully" makes sense. But in final form, the adverb is implied in the stronger verb choice, which renders the adverb unnecessary.
Evidently, I need more clients."
The lady who left the original post on my FB page, Celina Summers, an oft-published fantasy writer, and editor, left another one today I'm gonna share.
"For some reason, it's far easier for me to self-edit right AFTER I edit someone else's work. That seems to be the only way I spot unnecessary adverbs, for example. Sure--in first draft form, "eased slowly" or "sipped carefully" makes sense. But in final form, the adverb is implied in the stronger verb choice, which renders the adverb unnecessary.
Evidently, I need more clients."
Mega-congrats on achieving this milestone in your literary career. ;) Your link is working, at least for me. Just a suggestion -- you might want to consider linking to the 'All Stories' list on your profile instead of the one you're now using.
Now carry on in a most Shameless manner. ;)
Now carry on in a most Shameless manner. ;)
The Old-Timer's Lament 
Now that I've reached the point in my life where I pretty much know my way around, there ain't a helluva lot of places left for me to go..... During the
course of my travels, somewhere along the way I was able to participate in a miracle--somehow I managed to get over the hill without ever reaching the top.
Now that I've reached the point in my life where I pretty much know my way around, there ain't a helluva lot of places left for me to go..... During the
course of my travels, somewhere along the way I was able to participate in a miracle--somehow I managed to get over the hill without ever reaching the top.
All of the publishers on this list sell thousands of copies of physical books. All of them have books that are available not just at stores near you, but at libraries as well, because they have good distributors.
If you want your novel or book to have a good chance of being placed on bookshelves and you don’t have an agent, the following publishers are all good options. All of them publish print books (with digital options) and all of them have a good distribution system.
Not all of the publishers are open to submissions at all times, but most are. This list is in no particular order.
Quirk Books
This Philadelphia based press publishes just 25 books a year in a whole range of genres, from children’s books to nonfiction to science fiction. Unlike most publishers that tackle a large range of topics, Quirk books has a clear marketing plan and to a certain degree their books have a cohesive feel, because they all are quirky.
Bellevue Literary Press
Bellevue Literary Press publishes works of narrative nonfiction and literary fiction geared towards a general readership. They are open to unsolicited submissions of both kinds of work. The work they publish explores the intersection between arts and science. Many of the characters in the fictional work that they publish are doctors and scientists, but many of their books also focus on the natural world. They seem to publish about four novels for every work of nonfiction they publish.
Gibbs Smith
Gibbs Smith is an established publisher with good distribution and a focus on cook books, interior design and architecture books, and board books for children. They have published a number of bestsellers, including a board book version of Pride & Prejudice. Gibbs Smith is primarily a nonfiction publisher which is just now entering the fiction market for adults and middle readers.
Harlequin
Harlequin is easily the most famous romance only publisher out there. In fact, their name was synonymous with romance novels when I was growing up. They have wide distribution, from grocery stores to bookstores. They are everywhere.
DAW
DAW is an imprint of Penguin that is open to manuscript submissions from authors without an agent. This is unusual and a great opportunity. DAW is a highly respected publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy. They have published authors such as Marion Zimmer Bradley and Roger Zelazny, as well as many bestselling books and Hugo award winning books. They are respected and popular.
Triangle Square
Triangle Square is an imprint of Seven Stories Press that focuses on publishing young adult novels and children’s books. Their books are distributed by Random House. Triangle Square focuses on publishing high quality writing that is educational.
Seven Stories
Seven Stories Press is an independent publisher that has been around for over twenty years. They have published a number of highly respected books. Their books are distributed by Random House. They take their name from the seven authors whose work has influenced and impacted Seven Stories Press the most.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Founded in 1911 and located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is an independent publisher of religious books. They have a large range, including academic books and reference works in theology, biblical studies, and religious history to popular titles in spirituality, social and cultural criticism, as well as literature. They are primarily a print publisher with excellent distribution. My local independent bookstore regularly carries a number of their titles.
Holiday House
Holiday House is an established and reputable children’s book publisher. Holiday House has been around for over 75 years. They publish picture books and books aimed at children in grades 1-3, grades 4-6, and grades 7 and up. They are based out of New York City. They have published many well known books and authors, including Kenneth Grahame. The books that they have published have won numerous respected awards and honors.
Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge publishes high quality books for children and young adults with the goal of creating lifelong readers and lifelong learners. In 2010 Charlesbridge acquired Imagine Publishing, which expanded what they were able to offer. They now have extensive audio offerings. They also publish adult nonfiction, cookbooks, and puzzle books.
Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books is a reputable publishing house that publishes many wonderful books. However for the sake of this list, I am just focusing on their children’s line. They have published a number of books that have been nominated for the Caldecott, the most prestigious children’s book award. They publish a large number of children’s books every year and have excellent distributors.
Free Spirit Publishing
Baen
Baen is one of the best known publishers of Science Fiction and Fantasy books. They have published many of the classic genre novels. They have excellent distribution, their books are found in libraries and bookstores everywhere.
Arthur A. Levine Books
An imprint of Scholastic Inc., Arthur A. Levine Books was founded in 1996. They publish hardcover literary fiction and nonfiction for children and teenagers (and discerning adults). They have published many award winning and nominated books, as well as a number of very well known and respected authors (including J.K. Rowling).
Chicago Review Press
Chicago Review Press was founded over 40 years ago. They are an established independent publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction and memoir. They also publish books for children (but not picture books). They were founded by Curt Matthews and his wife, Linda Matthews.
Omnific
Omnific Publishing is romance publishing company that started out publishing digital books. However, they have turned into a successful publishing company, regularly landing books on the Kindle bestsellers lists. In July 2014, Gallery Books entered a co-publishing agreement with Omnific Publishing. Because of that agreement the Gallery Books and Pocket Books imprints co-publish with Omnific a select number of titles in print and electronic formats. Simon & Schuster now serve as the exclusive distributor of all other Omnific titles.
Tor/Forge
Tor/Forge publishes science fiction and fantasy books. Run by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, Tor/Forge is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the big five publishers. Tor is one of the most established science fiction publishers and they have won the Locus Award for best SF publisher 27 years in a row. They offer advances.
Hard Case Crime
Hard Case Crime is a well respected and established niche publisher of hard boiled crime novels. The publisher has been featured in a number of respected publications including Time Magazine and The Stranger. They are distributed by Random House.
* Excerpted from the free, online and highly recommended (by me) newsletter of 'Authors Publish'
If you want your novel or book to have a good chance of being placed on bookshelves and you don’t have an agent, the following publishers are all good options. All of them publish print books (with digital options) and all of them have a good distribution system.
Not all of the publishers are open to submissions at all times, but most are. This list is in no particular order.
Quirk Books
This Philadelphia based press publishes just 25 books a year in a whole range of genres, from children’s books to nonfiction to science fiction. Unlike most publishers that tackle a large range of topics, Quirk books has a clear marketing plan and to a certain degree their books have a cohesive feel, because they all are quirky.
Bellevue Literary Press
Bellevue Literary Press publishes works of narrative nonfiction and literary fiction geared towards a general readership. They are open to unsolicited submissions of both kinds of work. The work they publish explores the intersection between arts and science. Many of the characters in the fictional work that they publish are doctors and scientists, but many of their books also focus on the natural world. They seem to publish about four novels for every work of nonfiction they publish.
Gibbs Smith
Gibbs Smith is an established publisher with good distribution and a focus on cook books, interior design and architecture books, and board books for children. They have published a number of bestsellers, including a board book version of Pride & Prejudice. Gibbs Smith is primarily a nonfiction publisher which is just now entering the fiction market for adults and middle readers.
Harlequin
Harlequin is easily the most famous romance only publisher out there. In fact, their name was synonymous with romance novels when I was growing up. They have wide distribution, from grocery stores to bookstores. They are everywhere.
DAW
DAW is an imprint of Penguin that is open to manuscript submissions from authors without an agent. This is unusual and a great opportunity. DAW is a highly respected publisher of Science Fiction and Fantasy. They have published authors such as Marion Zimmer Bradley and Roger Zelazny, as well as many bestselling books and Hugo award winning books. They are respected and popular.
Triangle Square
Triangle Square is an imprint of Seven Stories Press that focuses on publishing young adult novels and children’s books. Their books are distributed by Random House. Triangle Square focuses on publishing high quality writing that is educational.
Seven Stories
Seven Stories Press is an independent publisher that has been around for over twenty years. They have published a number of highly respected books. Their books are distributed by Random House. They take their name from the seven authors whose work has influenced and impacted Seven Stories Press the most.
Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company
Founded in 1911 and located in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company is an independent publisher of religious books. They have a large range, including academic books and reference works in theology, biblical studies, and religious history to popular titles in spirituality, social and cultural criticism, as well as literature. They are primarily a print publisher with excellent distribution. My local independent bookstore regularly carries a number of their titles.
Holiday House
Holiday House is an established and reputable children’s book publisher. Holiday House has been around for over 75 years. They publish picture books and books aimed at children in grades 1-3, grades 4-6, and grades 7 and up. They are based out of New York City. They have published many well known books and authors, including Kenneth Grahame. The books that they have published have won numerous respected awards and honors.
Charlesbridge
Charlesbridge publishes high quality books for children and young adults with the goal of creating lifelong readers and lifelong learners. In 2010 Charlesbridge acquired Imagine Publishing, which expanded what they were able to offer. They now have extensive audio offerings. They also publish adult nonfiction, cookbooks, and puzzle books.
Chronicle Books
Chronicle Books is a reputable publishing house that publishes many wonderful books. However for the sake of this list, I am just focusing on their children’s line. They have published a number of books that have been nominated for the Caldecott, the most prestigious children’s book award. They publish a large number of children’s books every year and have excellent distributors.
Free Spirit Publishing
Baen
Baen is one of the best known publishers of Science Fiction and Fantasy books. They have published many of the classic genre novels. They have excellent distribution, their books are found in libraries and bookstores everywhere.
Arthur A. Levine Books
An imprint of Scholastic Inc., Arthur A. Levine Books was founded in 1996. They publish hardcover literary fiction and nonfiction for children and teenagers (and discerning adults). They have published many award winning and nominated books, as well as a number of very well known and respected authors (including J.K. Rowling).
Chicago Review Press
Chicago Review Press was founded over 40 years ago. They are an established independent publisher of literary fiction, nonfiction and memoir. They also publish books for children (but not picture books). They were founded by Curt Matthews and his wife, Linda Matthews.
Omnific
Omnific Publishing is romance publishing company that started out publishing digital books. However, they have turned into a successful publishing company, regularly landing books on the Kindle bestsellers lists. In July 2014, Gallery Books entered a co-publishing agreement with Omnific Publishing. Because of that agreement the Gallery Books and Pocket Books imprints co-publish with Omnific a select number of titles in print and electronic formats. Simon & Schuster now serve as the exclusive distributor of all other Omnific titles.
Tor/Forge
Tor/Forge publishes science fiction and fantasy books. Run by Tom Doherty Associates, LLC, Tor/Forge is an imprint of Macmillan, one of the big five publishers. Tor is one of the most established science fiction publishers and they have won the Locus Award for best SF publisher 27 years in a row. They offer advances.
Hard Case Crime
Hard Case Crime is a well respected and established niche publisher of hard boiled crime novels. The publisher has been featured in a number of respected publications including Time Magazine and The Stranger. They are distributed by Random House.
* Excerpted from the free, online and highly recommended (by me) newsletter of 'Authors Publish'
These are themed calls for fiction, nonfiction and poetry submissions. Themes include: shared-universe dinosaur stories, Halloween, crackers (not just the Christmas kind), the future of the internet and artificial intelligence, retellings of classic folklore, heirs and spares, dirty money, the looking glass, Galileo’s theme park, LGBTQIA-inclusive writing for children, romance of various shades (including romance adventure), military horror, race, class and gender, stories about pirates and crusaders, crime noir, and speculative masculinities. Many of these pay writers, from token to pro rates.
* For more info and links, check out the free, online newsletter from, Authors Publish.
x x x
Uncanny Magazine: Special Shared-Universe Dinosaur Issue
The premise is this: “The year is 2069. Rumors of monsters haunt three abandoned islands in the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by dangerous waters from which visitors are warned away, few have dared visit and fewer still have returned to tell the tale. The three islands, linked via now-decrepit tunnels and bridges, were intended to create and experiment on Dinosaurs. Though many of their creations and experiments remain, The Owen Corporation mysteriously disappeared, never getting a chance to show off their work. A rich ecosystem developed in the absence of the organization—a mixing of abandoned facilities, technology, eccentric people, and amenities with the ancient wilderness of surrounding waters, labyrinthine caves, and highest treetops.
On the largest island sits a shimmering crater filled with mysterious energies, where dinosaurs sometimes wander and often end up elsewhere… or elsewhen. The portal, accidentally created by The Owen Corporation for unknown reasons, is a gateway to other worlds, times, and dimensions, and it is growing. Soon, the experimental dinosaurs may very well overwhelm the entire multiverse. Writers are encouraged to play with this island setting, or to simply write a story featuring dinosaurs who wandered through the portal to whatever setting works best for the story (outer space, throughout history, alternate dimensions, etc.).” They will accept two stories from the open submission call, so it will be extremely competitive.
Deadline: 29 March 2018
Length: 750-6,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.
Corpus Press: 2018 Halloween Anthology
They want horror stories that have a central theme associated with Halloween. Stories can be frightening, thought-provoking, atmospheric, humorous or satirical (or any combination thereof), but must contain a complete tale. See guidelines for further clarifications on the editors’ preferences.
Deadline: 30 March 2018
Length: 4,500-8,500 words
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here.
Bridge House Anthology: Crackers
They want short stories about crackers for their annual anthology, and not just the Christmas sort. They want stories that amuse – “It would be good to have a few that give us great big belly laughs, but also welcome those that just make you smile.” Another interpretation of “crackers” might be madness.
Deadline: 31 March 2018
Length: 1,000-5,000 words
Pay: Royalties
Details here.
Paper Dog Books: The Internet is Where the Robots Live Now
They want speculative fiction that considers the future of the internet, artificial intelligence, the mind, and robots; optimistic, fantastic, bittersweet stories of fantasy and science fiction. The editors are not looking for YA dystopian, robots will destroy the world, or high fantasy tropes, but want more nuanced stories for this anthology.
Deadline: 1 April 2018
Length: 1,500-5,000 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
The Agorist Writers Workshop: The Clarion Call – Retellings of Classic Folklore, Fables and Fairytales
What makes classic folklore, fables and fairy stories endure is their ability to be translated across time, geography and culture. The editors are looking for retellings of these classics to the here and now (wherever that may be for the writer). “These tales, universal in so many ways, are our moral guideposts, our maps to the greater world, and our will-o-the-wisps that seduce us into the unknown…. So tap into the zeitgeist of today and offer our readers a new guidepost, map, and will-o-the-wisp.” Stories should be plot-driven, stand-alone and should fulfil the role of mythology in the past; that is, to offer wisdom and moral guidance, to lay the groundwork for an individual’s place in the world.
Deadline: 1 April 2018
Length: 1,000-8,000 words (preferred length; will take shorter than 1,000 and up to 18,000 words)
Pay: Two free copies
Details here.
Splickety Magazine: Heirs and Spares
Think family feuds, political thrillers, trouble in paradise. Life as a teenage royal is flashy and glamorous… until trouble strikes in the palace. They want stories of royal drama among the monarchy’s younger members—contested thrones, unwilling heirs, coups, and intrigue. The stakes are kingdoms, and the loser stands to lose his (or her) head.
Deadline: 6 April 2018
Length: Under 1,000 words (see guidelines)
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here.
Shooter Literary Magazine: Dirty Money
They want literary fiction, creative non-fiction, narrative journalism and poetry on the theme. They want to read about playboys and playgirls, corrupt bankers, hard-up students, entrepreneurs, gamblers, thieves and grafters – anyone affected by money in any compelling way. Are riches really the root of all evil, or the key to the world’s delights?
Deadline: 8 April 2018
Length: 2,000-7,500 words
Pay: £25 for prose, £5 for poetry
Details here.
Harper’s Bazaar Short-story Competition 2018: The Looking Glass
They want a short story on the theme, The Looking Glass, for this competition. The contest does not have a cash prize.
Deadline: 9 April 2018
Length: Up to 2,500 words
Pay: For the winner, a two-night stay and a three course dinner for two in Amberley Castle, a 900-year-old retreat in rural Sussex, and publication in Harper’s Bazaar.
Details here.
Third Flatiron: Galileo’s Theme Park
The publisher’s focus is on science fiction and fantasy, and anthropological fiction. Light horror is acceptable, provided it fits the theme. For this anthology, think space opera, SF, physics. The great Italian scientist is famous for standing up for science in the face of the Inquisition, doing his best work while under house arrest. They want stories that take readers on a journey to the lands beyond Earth revealed to us by Galileo and other space scientists. See guidelines for suggested reading. For each of their anthologies, they also accept a few very short humor pieces on the order of the “Shouts and Murmurs” feature in The New Yorker Magazine (600 words or so). These can be written from a first-person perspective or can be mini-essays that tell people what they ought to do, how to do something better, or explain why something is like it is, humorously. An SF/Fantasy bent is preferred.
Deadline: 15 April 2018
Length: 1,500-3,000 words; query for longer
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
Cricket Media: Over the Rainbow
Spider (for ages 6-9) and Ladybug (for ages 3-6) are looking for LGBTQAI+ inclusive fiction, poetry, and non-fiction manuscripts. They want warm family stories, an entire story without gender pronouns, children with different gender expressions, and gentle realistic or metaphorical coming out stories. They are especially interested in matter-of-fact stories where being different isn’t the heart of the story, but part of the character’s identity.
Deadline: 15 April 2018
Length: 300-1,000 words for stories for Spider; up to 20 lines for poetry, 300-800 words for non-fiction
Pay: Up to $0.25/word for prose; up to $3/line for poetry, $25 minimum
Details here.
Galli Books: Speculative Masculinities
The editors want work that interrogates, problematises and questions the forms of toxic male masculinities that have dominated speculative fiction since the beginning of the 20th Century. They want fiction, essays and poetry that explore other possible models of mansculinity, models not centred on violence and dominance and repression of feelings. They welcome work from writers of marginalised backgrounds and identities, especially where those identities complicate the author’s relationship with mascilinity.
Deadline: 15 April 2018
Length: 1,000-7,000 words for fiction; 1,000-3,000 words for nonfiction
Pay: £0.08/word for fiction; £30/poem; £50/essay
Details here.
Evernight Teen: Kissed – A Young Adult Anthology
They want young adult contemporary romance. Stories should have an HEA. Plus, the stories must begin and end in a kiss. The first kiss may be planted on the top of a stray dog’s head, a lipstick-stained kiss on a car windshield, the final kiss after a breakup, for instance.
Deadline: 20 April 2018
Length: 15k-25k words
Pay: Unspecified for the anthology; their regular submissions have royalty split
Details here.
Cohesion Press: SNAFU – Resurrection
This is a military horror anthology. Think Doom, Resident Evil, Terminator – anything that can be called a high-action monster story. They want extreme action of the military or paramilitary kind.
Deadline: 30 April 2018
Length: 2,000-10,000 words
Pay: AUD0.04/word
Details here.
Less Than Three Press: Happiness in Numbers
This is a call for a polyamorous LGBTQIA+ anthology — non-erotic polyamorous stories that explore the idea of ‘Family’. They want to see non-monogamous family having picnics in the park, relationship anarchists being greeted by the gods in Asgard, maybe an open married family having a gathering with their tribe. They want polyamorous families of all sorts. Closed groups (like triads, poly fidelity, etc) as well as completely open relationships are all welcome. Stories must feature romance between a number of greater than two people. Extra consideration will be given to stories where the polyamorous elements are not the source of story conflict. Stories must have a happily ever after (HEA) or happy for now (HFN) end. Any sub-genre is accepted: sci-fi, mystery, contemporary, steampunk, etc.
Deadline: 30 April 2018
Length: 10,000-20,000 words
Pay: $200
Details here.
The Almagre Review: Issue Five – Race, Class and Gender
The editors of this Colorado-based journal want fiction and art on the theme of race, class and gender for their Spring issue. They want stories that illuminate that which divides us in society, how people engage in conflict with others, and sometimes build bridges across the divides. The editors do not want the kind of writing that is typically found on blogs, or the kind of expression one hears on politically oriented talk shows, or on TV news interviews. They are looking for something deeper and more sensitive. They welcome diverse writers. Their goal is to promote writers and illustrators from the mountains and the prairies but they also welcome work that is outside these geographies. The journal also accepts non-fiction, memoir and poetry and they consider themselves a friendly home for veterans.
Deadline: Currently open
Length: Various; see guidelines
Pay: None
Details here.
Rogue Blades Entertainment: Crossbones & Crosses
For this anthology, they want pirates’ and crusaders’ stories; more of the age of steel than shot, though rudimentary gunpowder is acceptable. No fantastical elements or grimdark nihilism. The submission system only accepts the first 500 words of the story for potential selection and allows for 100 submissions per month across open calls.
Deadline: Open through Fall of 2018
Length: 4,000-9,000 words
Pay: $30
Details here.
Rogue Blades Entertainment: Crazy Town
They want fantastical crime noir stories for this anthology. Think Sam Spade meets Roger Rabbit in Karl Edward Wagner’s story “Into Whose Hands.” Speculative elements are required, though this will not be a book of private eye magicians or grumpy superheroes battling werewolves and vampires on the streets of the local Gotham. They want urban fantasy hardboiled crime suspense mortal-against-the-world/system thriller noir. The submission system only accepts the first 500 words of the story for potential selection and allows for 100 submissions per month across open calls.
Deadline: Open through Fall of 2018
Length: 3,000-7,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Rogue Blades Entertainment: Somebody Kill the Prince!
This is a fantastical romance adventure anthology. A classical fairy-talish homage to The Princess Bride. The theme is that of diabolical machinations defeated by ‘Last Boy Scout’ good-guy/gal-ism. Authors should write all the mostly ‘good parts’ of fun heroic family entertainment, and include authorial asides, rhyming, inconceivable conceits, memorable characters, unique creations, and importantly, true love and loyalty.
Deadline: Open through Fall of 2018
Length: The full anthology length is 65k words and they will accept 10 stories for the anthology
Pay: $42
Details here.
* For more info and links, check out the free, online newsletter from, Authors Publish.
x x x
Uncanny Magazine: Special Shared-Universe Dinosaur Issue
The premise is this: “The year is 2069. Rumors of monsters haunt three abandoned islands in the Pacific Ocean. Surrounded by dangerous waters from which visitors are warned away, few have dared visit and fewer still have returned to tell the tale. The three islands, linked via now-decrepit tunnels and bridges, were intended to create and experiment on Dinosaurs. Though many of their creations and experiments remain, The Owen Corporation mysteriously disappeared, never getting a chance to show off their work. A rich ecosystem developed in the absence of the organization—a mixing of abandoned facilities, technology, eccentric people, and amenities with the ancient wilderness of surrounding waters, labyrinthine caves, and highest treetops.
On the largest island sits a shimmering crater filled with mysterious energies, where dinosaurs sometimes wander and often end up elsewhere… or elsewhen. The portal, accidentally created by The Owen Corporation for unknown reasons, is a gateway to other worlds, times, and dimensions, and it is growing. Soon, the experimental dinosaurs may very well overwhelm the entire multiverse. Writers are encouraged to play with this island setting, or to simply write a story featuring dinosaurs who wandered through the portal to whatever setting works best for the story (outer space, throughout history, alternate dimensions, etc.).” They will accept two stories from the open submission call, so it will be extremely competitive.
Deadline: 29 March 2018
Length: 750-6,000 words
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.
Corpus Press: 2018 Halloween Anthology
They want horror stories that have a central theme associated with Halloween. Stories can be frightening, thought-provoking, atmospheric, humorous or satirical (or any combination thereof), but must contain a complete tale. See guidelines for further clarifications on the editors’ preferences.
Deadline: 30 March 2018
Length: 4,500-8,500 words
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here.
Bridge House Anthology: Crackers
They want short stories about crackers for their annual anthology, and not just the Christmas sort. They want stories that amuse – “It would be good to have a few that give us great big belly laughs, but also welcome those that just make you smile.” Another interpretation of “crackers” might be madness.
Deadline: 31 March 2018
Length: 1,000-5,000 words
Pay: Royalties
Details here.
Paper Dog Books: The Internet is Where the Robots Live Now
They want speculative fiction that considers the future of the internet, artificial intelligence, the mind, and robots; optimistic, fantastic, bittersweet stories of fantasy and science fiction. The editors are not looking for YA dystopian, robots will destroy the world, or high fantasy tropes, but want more nuanced stories for this anthology.
Deadline: 1 April 2018
Length: 1,500-5,000 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
The Agorist Writers Workshop: The Clarion Call – Retellings of Classic Folklore, Fables and Fairytales
What makes classic folklore, fables and fairy stories endure is their ability to be translated across time, geography and culture. The editors are looking for retellings of these classics to the here and now (wherever that may be for the writer). “These tales, universal in so many ways, are our moral guideposts, our maps to the greater world, and our will-o-the-wisps that seduce us into the unknown…. So tap into the zeitgeist of today and offer our readers a new guidepost, map, and will-o-the-wisp.” Stories should be plot-driven, stand-alone and should fulfil the role of mythology in the past; that is, to offer wisdom and moral guidance, to lay the groundwork for an individual’s place in the world.
Deadline: 1 April 2018
Length: 1,000-8,000 words (preferred length; will take shorter than 1,000 and up to 18,000 words)
Pay: Two free copies
Details here.
Splickety Magazine: Heirs and Spares
Think family feuds, political thrillers, trouble in paradise. Life as a teenage royal is flashy and glamorous… until trouble strikes in the palace. They want stories of royal drama among the monarchy’s younger members—contested thrones, unwilling heirs, coups, and intrigue. The stakes are kingdoms, and the loser stands to lose his (or her) head.
Deadline: 6 April 2018
Length: Under 1,000 words (see guidelines)
Pay: $0.02/word
Details here.
Shooter Literary Magazine: Dirty Money
They want literary fiction, creative non-fiction, narrative journalism and poetry on the theme. They want to read about playboys and playgirls, corrupt bankers, hard-up students, entrepreneurs, gamblers, thieves and grafters – anyone affected by money in any compelling way. Are riches really the root of all evil, or the key to the world’s delights?
Deadline: 8 April 2018
Length: 2,000-7,500 words
Pay: £25 for prose, £5 for poetry
Details here.
Harper’s Bazaar Short-story Competition 2018: The Looking Glass
They want a short story on the theme, The Looking Glass, for this competition. The contest does not have a cash prize.
Deadline: 9 April 2018
Length: Up to 2,500 words
Pay: For the winner, a two-night stay and a three course dinner for two in Amberley Castle, a 900-year-old retreat in rural Sussex, and publication in Harper’s Bazaar.
Details here.
Third Flatiron: Galileo’s Theme Park
The publisher’s focus is on science fiction and fantasy, and anthropological fiction. Light horror is acceptable, provided it fits the theme. For this anthology, think space opera, SF, physics. The great Italian scientist is famous for standing up for science in the face of the Inquisition, doing his best work while under house arrest. They want stories that take readers on a journey to the lands beyond Earth revealed to us by Galileo and other space scientists. See guidelines for suggested reading. For each of their anthologies, they also accept a few very short humor pieces on the order of the “Shouts and Murmurs” feature in The New Yorker Magazine (600 words or so). These can be written from a first-person perspective or can be mini-essays that tell people what they ought to do, how to do something better, or explain why something is like it is, humorously. An SF/Fantasy bent is preferred.
Deadline: 15 April 2018
Length: 1,500-3,000 words; query for longer
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
Cricket Media: Over the Rainbow
Spider (for ages 6-9) and Ladybug (for ages 3-6) are looking for LGBTQAI+ inclusive fiction, poetry, and non-fiction manuscripts. They want warm family stories, an entire story without gender pronouns, children with different gender expressions, and gentle realistic or metaphorical coming out stories. They are especially interested in matter-of-fact stories where being different isn’t the heart of the story, but part of the character’s identity.
Deadline: 15 April 2018
Length: 300-1,000 words for stories for Spider; up to 20 lines for poetry, 300-800 words for non-fiction
Pay: Up to $0.25/word for prose; up to $3/line for poetry, $25 minimum
Details here.
Galli Books: Speculative Masculinities
The editors want work that interrogates, problematises and questions the forms of toxic male masculinities that have dominated speculative fiction since the beginning of the 20th Century. They want fiction, essays and poetry that explore other possible models of mansculinity, models not centred on violence and dominance and repression of feelings. They welcome work from writers of marginalised backgrounds and identities, especially where those identities complicate the author’s relationship with mascilinity.
Deadline: 15 April 2018
Length: 1,000-7,000 words for fiction; 1,000-3,000 words for nonfiction
Pay: £0.08/word for fiction; £30/poem; £50/essay
Details here.
Evernight Teen: Kissed – A Young Adult Anthology
They want young adult contemporary romance. Stories should have an HEA. Plus, the stories must begin and end in a kiss. The first kiss may be planted on the top of a stray dog’s head, a lipstick-stained kiss on a car windshield, the final kiss after a breakup, for instance.
Deadline: 20 April 2018
Length: 15k-25k words
Pay: Unspecified for the anthology; their regular submissions have royalty split
Details here.
Cohesion Press: SNAFU – Resurrection
This is a military horror anthology. Think Doom, Resident Evil, Terminator – anything that can be called a high-action monster story. They want extreme action of the military or paramilitary kind.
Deadline: 30 April 2018
Length: 2,000-10,000 words
Pay: AUD0.04/word
Details here.
Less Than Three Press: Happiness in Numbers
This is a call for a polyamorous LGBTQIA+ anthology — non-erotic polyamorous stories that explore the idea of ‘Family’. They want to see non-monogamous family having picnics in the park, relationship anarchists being greeted by the gods in Asgard, maybe an open married family having a gathering with their tribe. They want polyamorous families of all sorts. Closed groups (like triads, poly fidelity, etc) as well as completely open relationships are all welcome. Stories must feature romance between a number of greater than two people. Extra consideration will be given to stories where the polyamorous elements are not the source of story conflict. Stories must have a happily ever after (HEA) or happy for now (HFN) end. Any sub-genre is accepted: sci-fi, mystery, contemporary, steampunk, etc.
Deadline: 30 April 2018
Length: 10,000-20,000 words
Pay: $200
Details here.
The Almagre Review: Issue Five – Race, Class and Gender
The editors of this Colorado-based journal want fiction and art on the theme of race, class and gender for their Spring issue. They want stories that illuminate that which divides us in society, how people engage in conflict with others, and sometimes build bridges across the divides. The editors do not want the kind of writing that is typically found on blogs, or the kind of expression one hears on politically oriented talk shows, or on TV news interviews. They are looking for something deeper and more sensitive. They welcome diverse writers. Their goal is to promote writers and illustrators from the mountains and the prairies but they also welcome work that is outside these geographies. The journal also accepts non-fiction, memoir and poetry and they consider themselves a friendly home for veterans.
Deadline: Currently open
Length: Various; see guidelines
Pay: None
Details here.
Rogue Blades Entertainment: Crossbones & Crosses
For this anthology, they want pirates’ and crusaders’ stories; more of the age of steel than shot, though rudimentary gunpowder is acceptable. No fantastical elements or grimdark nihilism. The submission system only accepts the first 500 words of the story for potential selection and allows for 100 submissions per month across open calls.
Deadline: Open through Fall of 2018
Length: 4,000-9,000 words
Pay: $30
Details here.
Rogue Blades Entertainment: Crazy Town
They want fantastical crime noir stories for this anthology. Think Sam Spade meets Roger Rabbit in Karl Edward Wagner’s story “Into Whose Hands.” Speculative elements are required, though this will not be a book of private eye magicians or grumpy superheroes battling werewolves and vampires on the streets of the local Gotham. They want urban fantasy hardboiled crime suspense mortal-against-the-world/system thriller noir. The submission system only accepts the first 500 words of the story for potential selection and allows for 100 submissions per month across open calls.
Deadline: Open through Fall of 2018
Length: 3,000-7,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Rogue Blades Entertainment: Somebody Kill the Prince!
This is a fantastical romance adventure anthology. A classical fairy-talish homage to The Princess Bride. The theme is that of diabolical machinations defeated by ‘Last Boy Scout’ good-guy/gal-ism. Authors should write all the mostly ‘good parts’ of fun heroic family entertainment, and include authorial asides, rhyming, inconceivable conceits, memorable characters, unique creations, and importantly, true love and loyalty.
Deadline: Open through Fall of 2018
Length: The full anthology length is 65k words and they will accept 10 stories for the anthology
Pay: $42
Details here.
At the moment, there are three first-rate, multi-chapter series with stories on the main page. With winter still hanging around in many places, these would make great long winter night type reads.
The links are 'supposed' to take you to the first chapters of the frirst two series. Please note that most indefinite term, 'supposed'.
xxx
http://www.storiesspace.com/stories/romance-/the-secrets-of-another-part-1.aspx
The Secrets of Another pt 1 of 4, romance/supernatural, ZMahnke,
This series begins as a a slightly odd romance, then pivots into suspense. and to think it's only had four chapters posted.
xxx
http://www.storiesspace.com/stories/supernatural/black-dog-chapter-1.aspx
Black Dog - Chapter 1 of 8, supernatural, DearStarling
What you have here is eerie, gothic, suspenseful, and just plain creepy with spooky characters, ghosts (both human and feline) and werewolves. Enjoy.
xxx
Kindred Spirits, Distant Hearts 1 of 19, drama, Anna May Zing
The Nurses 1-19, drama, Anna Morgan
two well-written, entertaining series by Anna May Zing (aka Anna Morgan) Both focus on the life of a German nurse in the days prior to and the early days of World War II. Both are rich in details of her work both in civilian and military settings and events surrounding her life. Speaking as a writer who's the husband and father of nurses, and a life-long student of history, I recommend both series.
BTW, 'Kindred Spirits' has chapters on the main page. For links to all of her stories, check out the profile of, Anna May Zing.
The links are 'supposed' to take you to the first chapters of the frirst two series. Please note that most indefinite term, 'supposed'.
xxx
http://www.storiesspace.com/stories/romance-/the-secrets-of-another-part-1.aspx
The Secrets of Another pt 1 of 4, romance/supernatural, ZMahnke,
This series begins as a a slightly odd romance, then pivots into suspense. and to think it's only had four chapters posted.
xxx
http://www.storiesspace.com/stories/supernatural/black-dog-chapter-1.aspx
Black Dog - Chapter 1 of 8, supernatural, DearStarling
What you have here is eerie, gothic, suspenseful, and just plain creepy with spooky characters, ghosts (both human and feline) and werewolves. Enjoy.
xxx
Kindred Spirits, Distant Hearts 1 of 19, drama, Anna May Zing
The Nurses 1-19, drama, Anna Morgan
two well-written, entertaining series by Anna May Zing (aka Anna Morgan) Both focus on the life of a German nurse in the days prior to and the early days of World War II. Both are rich in details of her work both in civilian and military settings and events surrounding her life. Speaking as a writer who's the husband and father of nurses, and a life-long student of history, I recommend both series.
BTW, 'Kindred Spirits' has chapters on the main page. For links to all of her stories, check out the profile of, Anna May Zing.
“When a woman looks upon one’s scars with wonder, and sees not the glory of battles won, but sheds tears for the pain of injury suffered, then is love born. When she pities a man’s history and wishes away his past troubles with present comforts, then is love awakened. When that which makes a warrior hard is met with beauty offered most tender, then can he find love.”
Christopher Moore “The Serpent of Venice”
Christopher Moore “The Serpent of Venice”
Keith, how did you manage to have only one b-day a year? From my spot over here on the shady side of 70, it sometimes feels like they're coming around about once a month for me. (sigh) However you managed it, here's hoping your one and only, annual b-day was, as the multitudes always shot, a most 'HAPPY BIRTHHDAY!
Here's a list of places to submit your fiction and poetry in the weeks to come. For more details and even more entries, check out the free, online newsletter of, Author's Publish.
X X X
ID Press: Crime
They want crime stories for this issue, but with a difference. They suggest one way to do it is by shaking up the tropes and layering the story with a different genre like science fiction, horror, mystery, war or historical. They welcome diverse stories and characters.
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Sword & Sonnet: An Anthology of Battle Poets
They want stories on the theme – fantasy, science fiction or horror. Stories must feature a woman or non-binary battle poet as a main character. The editors are looking for lyrical shimmery stories, epic fantasy tales, and gritty poetpunk. Stories could feature secondary, historical or contemporary settings. Translations are accepted.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: Up to 5,000 words; ideally 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
Litro Magazine: The Back of the Bus
They want short fiction, flash fiction and nonfiction on the theme. “The back of the bus is where the cool, popular kids sit … it’s the top of the social pecking order … but then there’s an older meaning, harking back to segregation … so what will this issue be? You show us.”
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: Up to 4,000 words
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
Hex Gunslinger: A Weird Western Anthology
The editors want speculative, mysterious, and romantic weird western tall tales. Framed as an unearthed secret library years after the civil war, each story should hold the ethos of western expansion beginning in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase, and ending around the 1850s not necessarily restricted to a North American audience. This anthology is inspired by Preacher (TV) and Jonah Woodson Hex (the comic). They are also accepting a spotlight story, involving a person of color serving as an officer of the law (officially or unofficially) as a central element of the plot.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: 1,000-1,500 words for spotlight stories; 1,000-40,000 words for others
Pay: $0.02-0.03/word for spotlight stories; $0.01/word for others
Details here.
Priestess & Hierophant Press: Darkness and Light
They want fiction and poetry on the theme, in the following areas: speculative, literary, esoteric works, fine artwork and cross-genre work. They lean towards dark and macabre, strange and illuminating, wicked and spectacular. All marginalizations, in work and author, are strongly encouraged. Read the guidelines for the aesthetic, editor preferences, and other details.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: 3-5 poems, 2,000-3,500 words for fiction, up to 1,500 words for flash fiction
Pay: Anthology copy
Details here.
Iota Magazine: Mind, Body and Medicine
For their second print issue, they want to explore the theme of mind, body and medicine through art, literature and culture. They accept short stories, poems, life writing, memoir, travel writing, food writing and more. These forms can be combined, played with, deconstructed and all can be completely fictive – the editors ask for the writing to be bold and original.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: 500-2,000 words for prose, up to 4 poems
Pay: None
Details here.
ChiZine: War on Christmas
This speculative fiction magazine is looking for stories and poems on the theme. They want deranged and demented stories and poems that snap back against all that holiday schmaltz. They lean toward the dark, the speculative (SF, fantasy, horror), the flat-out weird, the humourous. The editors also caution that there will likely be a lot of Santa stories submitted. They urge authors to think more widely, especially outside the white, Judeo-Christian canon. They are open to reprints.
Deadline: 4 March 2018
Length: 500-5,000 words for stories; up to 2 pages for poetry
Pay: CAD0.08/word
Details here.
Mslexia: Weather; Cooking
Twice annually the magazine seeks themed poetry and prose for the Showcase section (previously New Writing). There are two upcoming themes: Weather, and Cooking. They publish writing by women.
Deadline: 5 March for Weather, 4 June for Cooking
Length: Stories of up to 2,200 words, poetry of 40 lines and scripts of 1,000 words
Pay: £25
Details here.
Fundead Publications: Non-traditional Gothic
They want traditional literary gothic stories with a non-traditional spin. The main spin they want to see is non-traditional characters in this genre (they want characters who aren’t straight, white young cis women or straight, white brooding cis men). They do want large houses, brooding main characters or brooding in general if it works well in the story, well-researched literary stories with a pulp gothic feel and dark themes. No modern sci-fi, steampunk, splatter-porn, erotica, trashy-romance or cozy mystery. See guidelines for further specifications and editor preferences.
Deadline: 11 March 2018
Length: 6,000-15,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Arachne Press: An Outbreak of Peace
This anthology seeks fiction and poetry celebrating the centenary of the end of World War I. They would particularly like to include something from each of the countries involved in WWI, not just the victors. It is up to the writers how they respond to the theme, and it doesn’t need to be specific to WWI. They find nothing to celebrate in war, and want a good balance for the book between appropriate commemoration of the dead, relief that it’s over and hope for the future. No erotica, horror, gore, sexist stereotypes, romance or chick-lit. Deaf writers may submit by video in BSL. Blind writers may submit audio files.
Deadline: 31 March 2018
Length: 1,000-2,000 words; poems up to 1,000 words
Pay: Royalties
Details here.
Force of Nature Anthology (working title)
Stories for this anthology should involve nature and the weird at their core, and is open to all fiction genres. The guidelines say, “At an ever-advancing tipping point, humanity persists in its war against the natural world. Running a trail of extinction and cutting down vast swathes of oxygen-producing forests, we breed at an alarming pace, overpopulating a planet we seem hell-bent on reigning in – but at what cost? …There is something inherently weird in our behaviour toward Nature. Two distinct energies, two conscious mentalities, humanity and the natural world find themselves at loggerheads. Can we be held accountable if – as part of nature ourselves – we are driven by the need for survival, the way all species are? And if the answer is no, should we not anticipate that Nature will do the same?”
Deadline: 31 March 2018
Length: 2,500-10,000 words
Pay: $0.07/word up to 7,000 words; $0.05/word for stories longer than 7,000 words
Details here.
SHANTIH Journal: Politics/Social Justice/Human Rights
They accept fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, drama and poetry that reflects the theme. The work should emphasize the current political moment. They are especially interested in work that reflects America’s moment of national and global crises. They want work ranging from the subtle to the overt, but which expresses the pain and strife caused by the obvious barriers confronting all those who seek personal, communal, national and global peace in an atmosphere that glorifies selfishness, greed, violence, supremacy, and domination of the powerful over the weak. They welcome underrepresented voices.
Deadline: 4 May 2018
Length: 1,000-10,000 words for fiction and nonfiction, up to 1,000 words for flash, up to 7 poems, 20 pages of drama
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
X X X
ID Press: Crime
They want crime stories for this issue, but with a difference. They suggest one way to do it is by shaking up the tropes and layering the story with a different genre like science fiction, horror, mystery, war or historical. They welcome diverse stories and characters.
Deadline: 28 February 2018
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Sword & Sonnet: An Anthology of Battle Poets
They want stories on the theme – fantasy, science fiction or horror. Stories must feature a woman or non-binary battle poet as a main character. The editors are looking for lyrical shimmery stories, epic fantasy tales, and gritty poetpunk. Stories could feature secondary, historical or contemporary settings. Translations are accepted.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: Up to 5,000 words; ideally 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: $0.06/word
Details here.
Litro Magazine: The Back of the Bus
They want short fiction, flash fiction and nonfiction on the theme. “The back of the bus is where the cool, popular kids sit … it’s the top of the social pecking order … but then there’s an older meaning, harking back to segregation … so what will this issue be? You show us.”
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: Up to 4,000 words
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
Hex Gunslinger: A Weird Western Anthology
The editors want speculative, mysterious, and romantic weird western tall tales. Framed as an unearthed secret library years after the civil war, each story should hold the ethos of western expansion beginning in 1803 with the Louisiana Purchase, and ending around the 1850s not necessarily restricted to a North American audience. This anthology is inspired by Preacher (TV) and Jonah Woodson Hex (the comic). They are also accepting a spotlight story, involving a person of color serving as an officer of the law (officially or unofficially) as a central element of the plot.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: 1,000-1,500 words for spotlight stories; 1,000-40,000 words for others
Pay: $0.02-0.03/word for spotlight stories; $0.01/word for others
Details here.
Priestess & Hierophant Press: Darkness and Light
They want fiction and poetry on the theme, in the following areas: speculative, literary, esoteric works, fine artwork and cross-genre work. They lean towards dark and macabre, strange and illuminating, wicked and spectacular. All marginalizations, in work and author, are strongly encouraged. Read the guidelines for the aesthetic, editor preferences, and other details.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: 3-5 poems, 2,000-3,500 words for fiction, up to 1,500 words for flash fiction
Pay: Anthology copy
Details here.
Iota Magazine: Mind, Body and Medicine
For their second print issue, they want to explore the theme of mind, body and medicine through art, literature and culture. They accept short stories, poems, life writing, memoir, travel writing, food writing and more. These forms can be combined, played with, deconstructed and all can be completely fictive – the editors ask for the writing to be bold and original.
Deadline: 1 March 2018
Length: 500-2,000 words for prose, up to 4 poems
Pay: None
Details here.
ChiZine: War on Christmas
This speculative fiction magazine is looking for stories and poems on the theme. They want deranged and demented stories and poems that snap back against all that holiday schmaltz. They lean toward the dark, the speculative (SF, fantasy, horror), the flat-out weird, the humourous. The editors also caution that there will likely be a lot of Santa stories submitted. They urge authors to think more widely, especially outside the white, Judeo-Christian canon. They are open to reprints.
Deadline: 4 March 2018
Length: 500-5,000 words for stories; up to 2 pages for poetry
Pay: CAD0.08/word
Details here.
Mslexia: Weather; Cooking
Twice annually the magazine seeks themed poetry and prose for the Showcase section (previously New Writing). There are two upcoming themes: Weather, and Cooking. They publish writing by women.
Deadline: 5 March for Weather, 4 June for Cooking
Length: Stories of up to 2,200 words, poetry of 40 lines and scripts of 1,000 words
Pay: £25
Details here.
Fundead Publications: Non-traditional Gothic
They want traditional literary gothic stories with a non-traditional spin. The main spin they want to see is non-traditional characters in this genre (they want characters who aren’t straight, white young cis women or straight, white brooding cis men). They do want large houses, brooding main characters or brooding in general if it works well in the story, well-researched literary stories with a pulp gothic feel and dark themes. No modern sci-fi, steampunk, splatter-porn, erotica, trashy-romance or cozy mystery. See guidelines for further specifications and editor preferences.
Deadline: 11 March 2018
Length: 6,000-15,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Arachne Press: An Outbreak of Peace
This anthology seeks fiction and poetry celebrating the centenary of the end of World War I. They would particularly like to include something from each of the countries involved in WWI, not just the victors. It is up to the writers how they respond to the theme, and it doesn’t need to be specific to WWI. They find nothing to celebrate in war, and want a good balance for the book between appropriate commemoration of the dead, relief that it’s over and hope for the future. No erotica, horror, gore, sexist stereotypes, romance or chick-lit. Deaf writers may submit by video in BSL. Blind writers may submit audio files.
Deadline: 31 March 2018
Length: 1,000-2,000 words; poems up to 1,000 words
Pay: Royalties
Details here.
Force of Nature Anthology (working title)
Stories for this anthology should involve nature and the weird at their core, and is open to all fiction genres. The guidelines say, “At an ever-advancing tipping point, humanity persists in its war against the natural world. Running a trail of extinction and cutting down vast swathes of oxygen-producing forests, we breed at an alarming pace, overpopulating a planet we seem hell-bent on reigning in – but at what cost? …There is something inherently weird in our behaviour toward Nature. Two distinct energies, two conscious mentalities, humanity and the natural world find themselves at loggerheads. Can we be held accountable if – as part of nature ourselves – we are driven by the need for survival, the way all species are? And if the answer is no, should we not anticipate that Nature will do the same?”
Deadline: 31 March 2018
Length: 2,500-10,000 words
Pay: $0.07/word up to 7,000 words; $0.05/word for stories longer than 7,000 words
Details here.
SHANTIH Journal: Politics/Social Justice/Human Rights
They accept fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction, drama and poetry that reflects the theme. The work should emphasize the current political moment. They are especially interested in work that reflects America’s moment of national and global crises. They want work ranging from the subtle to the overt, but which expresses the pain and strife caused by the obvious barriers confronting all those who seek personal, communal, national and global peace in an atmosphere that glorifies selfishness, greed, violence, supremacy, and domination of the powerful over the weak. They welcome underrepresented voices.
Deadline: 4 May 2018
Length: 1,000-10,000 words for fiction and nonfiction, up to 1,000 words for flash, up to 7 poems, 20 pages of drama
Pay: Unspecified
Details here.
Story Writing for BEGINNERS
by MorganHawke
* copied with permission from the Morgan Hawke advice forum on another site
So when you wanna write a story, where do you begin? With your PASSION!
Write what you KNOW & LOVE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you KNOW, really? What do you love to Do, to Study, to Think About, to Talk About...? Whether it's cave-diving, model trains, skate-boarding, sewing, horses,
mythology, ghost legends, or particle physics your passion is where you will find your most unique and powerful work.
Make a list of all the things you know well and all the things you've done -- seriously! Mythology, history, any retail jobs you might have had -- anything you might have
seen, done, or studied.
Sticking with your passions and your personal experiences also keeps you from making the fewest MISTAKES.
Case in point, someone who has never kissed isn't going to be able to write a kissing scene as well as someone who Has. Worst of all, someone with experience will know
IMMEDIATELY when the writer doesn't know what they're talking about. Once that happens, they're closing your story -- never to look at it again.
If you insist on writing about something outside of your personal experience, do your RESEARCH thoroughly. Google.com & Wikipedia.com are your friends!
Next?
Character Creation 101
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The easiest way to make an original character is by modeling your character on one you already know.
Out of all the movies you have seen, what fictional character is most like what you need for your story? You want a movie or animated character because you need to PICTURE
your character as they move through your stories. This is ESSENTIAL for Active Writing.
Favorite characters I like to use:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Trinity from the Matrix
- Keiffer Sutherland from the Lost Boys & 24
- Robert Carlyle from Ravenous and Plunkett & McLean
- Wolverine from the X-Men
- Sandra Bullock from Miss Congeniality and Speed
- Johnnie Depp from Sleepy Hollow and Sweeny Todd
- Selene from Underworld
- Riddick from Pitch Black
The trick is to change their names and appearance enough to disguise them while leaving their base character traits -- and dialogue style -- intact!
"Wait! Isn't using someone else's characters' Plagiarism?"
-- Only if the character still has the Same Name and the Same Physical Description. Change those and it's not. Think! If no one ever borrowed characters, there'd only be ONE
vampire novel in existence--and it wouldn't be "Dracula".
You should have THREE Main Characters to tell a whole story:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proponent (Hero): The one trying to Keep things the way they are.
Antagonist (Villain): The one trying to Change things from the way they are.
Ally (buddy or lover): The one caught in the Middle, and usually telling the story.
-----Original Message-----
"But what if I only want to use two characters?"
Then use only Two:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proponent (Hero): The one trying to Keep things the way they are.
Antagonist (Villain): The one trying to Change things from the way they are.
However, using only Two main characters will make it harder to tell the whole thing. Don't be surprised if a Third character sneaks their way in to help you!
WORLD BUILDING 101
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay now that you have your Characters, you need to make a world to put them in.
The easiest place to put your characters is a place you already know. For all other places, there's RESEARCH. Google.com is invaluable for finding pictures of places you've
never been and journals posted by people living there. Find them and READ them.
If you're building a fantasy world, a historical world, or a sci-fi world for your first story, CHEATING is your best option.
There are a million and one Gaming Books and Gaming Sites featuring all kinds of historical, fantastical, and scientific data it would take you YEARS to uncover. Just make
sure you separate Fact from Fiction! And for God's sake, CHANGE what you Can! You don't need people screaming at you for copyright violation.
If you're determined to build your world from scratch, then here is the absolute best guide on world building there is:
Patricia C. Wrede's Worldbuilder Questions
http://www.larseighner.com/world_builder/index.html
Making your story HAPPEN!
PLOTTING 101
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rather than make this complicated, let's go the simple route. Once you have all three (or two) characters, ask each one these Three Questions:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Who am I and what do I do?
• What do I want?
• What is the worst thing that could happen to me?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once you know the answers to all of these questions, you pretty much have your whole story.
• "Who am I and what do I do?" is your introduction.
• "What do I want?" is what puts your characters in opposition. Your hero has a Goal. Your Villain doesn't want them to have it because it gets in the way of their Goal.
• Your main character's 'Worst Thing' is the REVERSAL to your story dead center in the Middle.
• The Villain's 'Worst Thing' is the main CLIMAX close to the end. It's the turning point that allows your Main Character to win. The End.
Simple, ne?
So where do you begin Writing?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOT at the beginning!
Open the story within one page of Hero meets Villain, (or Lover meets Beloved) with the story already in progress. Action scenes and snappy dialogue are the best hooks for
snaring your reader, but hints of Mysterious things yet to happen works well too. I also set the stage for the story about to begin with a few lines of Description so that the
reader can SEE everything as it happens.
The trick to not boring them is: Don't Tell them ANYTHING!
Give broad hints, but don't Info-dump. Use Dialogue to hint at clues to the secondary character’s back-story. This way you make the reader an eavesdropper who MUST read on to
find out, "What the heck is going on?"
The easiest way to keep your reader from figuring out what's going on -- and how your story will end -- is by telling the whole story from One POV (point of view.) MAKE the
reader discover from INSIDE your main character why this vampire hunted this particular guy down, and why he isn’t running in screaming terror. MAKE your readers put two and
two together and try to come up with the right answer.
Tricks to keeping your story SHORT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keep the number of characters to a Minimum!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The larger the cast -- the longer the story.
This is because each and every character you use must have their story problem FIXED by the end of the story. If you don't, you create a PLOT HOLE that your readers WILL
notice, and call you on.
Keep the Point of your story firmly in mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are you trying to Show with your story?
Love Conquers All
Greed makes one Greedier
Love = Insanity
Love doesn't always mean Happiness
Love isn't always Nice
You Reap what you Sow
Destiny is a Bitch
You can't escape Yourself
A Snake will always be a Snake
Sometimes, Love means Letting Go
Sometimes, Love means Giving In
Appetites will find a way to be Filled
Revenge only brings Misery
In short, know what you want to say and how you intend to END the story before you begin!
Only put in what you intend to USE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If it doesn't affect the Plot, the Characters or the Point of your story, you don't need it.
This includes Description.
In a short story, everything is pared down to the minimum, so you only need to describe the characters your character directly interacts with, and their immediate
surroundings, no more, but no less either. You want to make sure that your Reader can SEE what's happening, but you don't need to go into detail about every babbling brook and
tree.
Once you've finished your story, Read it OUT LOUD to yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This will allow you to catch most of your mistakes before anyone else sees them.
• If you have to stop to take a breath before you finish a sentence -- the sentence is Too Long.
• If you have to read a line twice to figure out what you just said, so will your Readers. Any time you have to reread anything, something is WRONG.
• If you find your attention drifting from the story you are reading out loud -- so will your Readers.
• If you find yourself skipping parts to get to better parts -- so will your readers.
• If YOU don't find what you're reading interesting enough to keep reading, neither will your Readers.
In Conclusion...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing a story isn't all that hard or even complicated. It's what you put into your story that makes it complicated -- and uniquely yours.
Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMER: As with all advice, take what you can use and throw out the rest. As a multi-published author, I have been taught some fairly rigid rules on what is publishable
and what is not. If my rather straight-laced (and occasionally snotty,) advice does not suit your creative style, by all means, IGNORE IT.
Morgan Hawke
by MorganHawke
* copied with permission from the Morgan Hawke advice forum on another site
So when you wanna write a story, where do you begin? With your PASSION!
Write what you KNOW & LOVE
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What do you KNOW, really? What do you love to Do, to Study, to Think About, to Talk About...? Whether it's cave-diving, model trains, skate-boarding, sewing, horses,
mythology, ghost legends, or particle physics your passion is where you will find your most unique and powerful work.
Make a list of all the things you know well and all the things you've done -- seriously! Mythology, history, any retail jobs you might have had -- anything you might have
seen, done, or studied.
Sticking with your passions and your personal experiences also keeps you from making the fewest MISTAKES.
Case in point, someone who has never kissed isn't going to be able to write a kissing scene as well as someone who Has. Worst of all, someone with experience will know
IMMEDIATELY when the writer doesn't know what they're talking about. Once that happens, they're closing your story -- never to look at it again.
If you insist on writing about something outside of your personal experience, do your RESEARCH thoroughly. Google.com & Wikipedia.com are your friends!
Next?
Character Creation 101
~~~~~~~~~~~~
The easiest way to make an original character is by modeling your character on one you already know.
Out of all the movies you have seen, what fictional character is most like what you need for your story? You want a movie or animated character because you need to PICTURE
your character as they move through your stories. This is ESSENTIAL for Active Writing.
Favorite characters I like to use:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
- Trinity from the Matrix
- Keiffer Sutherland from the Lost Boys & 24
- Robert Carlyle from Ravenous and Plunkett & McLean
- Wolverine from the X-Men
- Sandra Bullock from Miss Congeniality and Speed
- Johnnie Depp from Sleepy Hollow and Sweeny Todd
- Selene from Underworld
- Riddick from Pitch Black
The trick is to change their names and appearance enough to disguise them while leaving their base character traits -- and dialogue style -- intact!
"Wait! Isn't using someone else's characters' Plagiarism?"
-- Only if the character still has the Same Name and the Same Physical Description. Change those and it's not. Think! If no one ever borrowed characters, there'd only be ONE
vampire novel in existence--and it wouldn't be "Dracula".
You should have THREE Main Characters to tell a whole story:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proponent (Hero): The one trying to Keep things the way they are.
Antagonist (Villain): The one trying to Change things from the way they are.
Ally (buddy or lover): The one caught in the Middle, and usually telling the story.
-----Original Message-----
"But what if I only want to use two characters?"
Then use only Two:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Proponent (Hero): The one trying to Keep things the way they are.
Antagonist (Villain): The one trying to Change things from the way they are.
However, using only Two main characters will make it harder to tell the whole thing. Don't be surprised if a Third character sneaks their way in to help you!
WORLD BUILDING 101
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Okay now that you have your Characters, you need to make a world to put them in.
The easiest place to put your characters is a place you already know. For all other places, there's RESEARCH. Google.com is invaluable for finding pictures of places you've
never been and journals posted by people living there. Find them and READ them.
If you're building a fantasy world, a historical world, or a sci-fi world for your first story, CHEATING is your best option.
There are a million and one Gaming Books and Gaming Sites featuring all kinds of historical, fantastical, and scientific data it would take you YEARS to uncover. Just make
sure you separate Fact from Fiction! And for God's sake, CHANGE what you Can! You don't need people screaming at you for copyright violation.
If you're determined to build your world from scratch, then here is the absolute best guide on world building there is:
Patricia C. Wrede's Worldbuilder Questions
http://www.larseighner.com/world_builder/index.html
Making your story HAPPEN!
PLOTTING 101
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Rather than make this complicated, let's go the simple route. Once you have all three (or two) characters, ask each one these Three Questions:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
• Who am I and what do I do?
• What do I want?
• What is the worst thing that could happen to me?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once you know the answers to all of these questions, you pretty much have your whole story.
• "Who am I and what do I do?" is your introduction.
• "What do I want?" is what puts your characters in opposition. Your hero has a Goal. Your Villain doesn't want them to have it because it gets in the way of their Goal.
• Your main character's 'Worst Thing' is the REVERSAL to your story dead center in the Middle.
• The Villain's 'Worst Thing' is the main CLIMAX close to the end. It's the turning point that allows your Main Character to win. The End.
Simple, ne?
So where do you begin Writing?
~~~~~~~~~~~~
NOT at the beginning!
Open the story within one page of Hero meets Villain, (or Lover meets Beloved) with the story already in progress. Action scenes and snappy dialogue are the best hooks for
snaring your reader, but hints of Mysterious things yet to happen works well too. I also set the stage for the story about to begin with a few lines of Description so that the
reader can SEE everything as it happens.
The trick to not boring them is: Don't Tell them ANYTHING!
Give broad hints, but don't Info-dump. Use Dialogue to hint at clues to the secondary character’s back-story. This way you make the reader an eavesdropper who MUST read on to
find out, "What the heck is going on?"
The easiest way to keep your reader from figuring out what's going on -- and how your story will end -- is by telling the whole story from One POV (point of view.) MAKE the
reader discover from INSIDE your main character why this vampire hunted this particular guy down, and why he isn’t running in screaming terror. MAKE your readers put two and
two together and try to come up with the right answer.
Tricks to keeping your story SHORT!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Keep the number of characters to a Minimum!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The larger the cast -- the longer the story.
This is because each and every character you use must have their story problem FIXED by the end of the story. If you don't, you create a PLOT HOLE that your readers WILL
notice, and call you on.
Keep the Point of your story firmly in mind.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
What are you trying to Show with your story?
Love Conquers All
Greed makes one Greedier
Love = Insanity
Love doesn't always mean Happiness
Love isn't always Nice
You Reap what you Sow
Destiny is a Bitch
You can't escape Yourself
A Snake will always be a Snake
Sometimes, Love means Letting Go
Sometimes, Love means Giving In
Appetites will find a way to be Filled
Revenge only brings Misery
In short, know what you want to say and how you intend to END the story before you begin!
Only put in what you intend to USE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
If it doesn't affect the Plot, the Characters or the Point of your story, you don't need it.
This includes Description.
In a short story, everything is pared down to the minimum, so you only need to describe the characters your character directly interacts with, and their immediate
surroundings, no more, but no less either. You want to make sure that your Reader can SEE what's happening, but you don't need to go into detail about every babbling brook and
tree.
Once you've finished your story, Read it OUT LOUD to yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
This will allow you to catch most of your mistakes before anyone else sees them.
• If you have to stop to take a breath before you finish a sentence -- the sentence is Too Long.
• If you have to read a line twice to figure out what you just said, so will your Readers. Any time you have to reread anything, something is WRONG.
• If you find your attention drifting from the story you are reading out loud -- so will your Readers.
• If you find yourself skipping parts to get to better parts -- so will your readers.
• If YOU don't find what you're reading interesting enough to keep reading, neither will your Readers.
In Conclusion...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Writing a story isn't all that hard or even complicated. It's what you put into your story that makes it complicated -- and uniquely yours.
Enjoy!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
DISCLAIMER: As with all advice, take what you can use and throw out the rest. As a multi-published author, I have been taught some fairly rigid rules on what is publishable
and what is not. If my rather straight-laced (and occasionally snotty,) advice does not suit your creative style, by all means, IGNORE IT.
Morgan Hawke
note: Odds are the links will not work. If so, google, Carina Press, and check it out. RdW
xxx
Carina Press is Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction imprint, publishing first in digital, and then depending on the numbers releasing audio and print versions as well. Unlike most of Harlequin’s imprints they don’t just focus on romance, although they are open to all subgenres of romance, including contemporary, paranormal, LGBTQ+, and science fiction. They also publish mysteries of all flavors—from cozies to thrillers, with and without romantic elements.
The same authors often write for them over and over again, which is generally a good sign. They are also open to publishing series. They are open to various levels of commitment too as they regularly have anthology submission calls, where authors can just submit a short story, usually to match a theme. At the top of their submission guidelines page there is even an option to sign up for emailed updates on their anthology calls.
Their submission guidelines are very detailed and you should read them carefully before proceeding. They also have a very helpful page called what the editors want, which was updated in the spring of 2017. You can learn more about the individual editors here. All submissions are made through the submission manager Submittable.
They say they respond to all submissions in around two months but based on feedback in this thread (which I did not read all 52 pages of), a longer wait period is to be expected. Carina Press is also very active on social media, and you can learn about all the places you can follow them here.
xxx
* Copied from the free, online, 'Authors Publish' newsletter.
xxx
Carina Press is Harlequin’s digital-first adult fiction imprint, publishing first in digital, and then depending on the numbers releasing audio and print versions as well. Unlike most of Harlequin’s imprints they don’t just focus on romance, although they are open to all subgenres of romance, including contemporary, paranormal, LGBTQ+, and science fiction. They also publish mysteries of all flavors—from cozies to thrillers, with and without romantic elements.
The same authors often write for them over and over again, which is generally a good sign. They are also open to publishing series. They are open to various levels of commitment too as they regularly have anthology submission calls, where authors can just submit a short story, usually to match a theme. At the top of their submission guidelines page there is even an option to sign up for emailed updates on their anthology calls.
Their submission guidelines are very detailed and you should read them carefully before proceeding. They also have a very helpful page called what the editors want, which was updated in the spring of 2017. You can learn more about the individual editors here. All submissions are made through the submission manager Submittable.
They say they respond to all submissions in around two months but based on feedback in this thread (which I did not read all 52 pages of), a longer wait period is to be expected. Carina Press is also very active on social media, and you can learn about all the places you can follow them here.
xxx
* Copied from the free, online, 'Authors Publish' newsletter.
Our very own, Larry F Nye, has been recognized as 'AWESOME' over on the red site. Read this write-up by Sprite and you'll understand why the honor was so well deserved.
Quote by Sprite
Sometimes you just can't ignore the love - a lot of people have suggested that Green Man should get this award since I first mentioned it. A lot, and so, without further ado, here's what his fans, and he has many, have to say...
Larry (Green_Man) is a talented and prolific poet and author with 476 poems and stories to his credit, an incredibly generous donation of his time and talents to make Lush more attractive to our readers. His contributions to Lush over the years go far beyond that, however. He has also read and supported many other authors with generous and helpful comments, perhaps a word of praise here or a gentle nudge there, something any author (and especially we amateurs!) comes to appreciate as they polish their craft.
A good and loyal friend to many, he's built a strong following for his work and is always a friendly, insightful, and interesting contributor in the forums.
The first to achieve the still-rare Omnium Award for writing stories across all Lush categories, his energy is what first made the award necessary. In retrospect, we probably should have named it "The Larry". With eight Famous Stories and over a million (two million, maybe? math is not our forte'...) views on his works, he has brought countless hours of pleasure and entertainment to our members and visitors alike. Still furnishing fantastic fiction and prolifically publishing poetry (porn also works in the latter alliteration) Larry can often be found these days at Rumplations Honky Tonk & Cyber Bar. Stop by and say hello and let him buy you a drink... which surely anyone this awesome would be happy to do!
Congratulations Larry, and thank you for helping to make Lush what it is today by being awesome. Big Hugs