Tides of Impossibility - Anthology Call

I ran across this call for fantasy flash over at SFSignal.  Editor KJ Russel is putting together a fantasy anthology called "Tides of Impossibility".  He's looking for multiple pieces from each author that blend together as a whole.  Flash should be 500 to 600 words.  Payment is 1/2cent a word and the deadline for flash is August 15.  He's also looking for longer stories up to 8000 words with a deadline of August 1 and payment of 1/2cents also.  You can find the call here.  And submission guidelines are here.

Grey Matter Press - Flash Masters 2 Contest

Grey Matter Press has posted the prompt for their July Flash Masters contest.  You have exactly 100 words to tell your story and you have to use these five words in your story - sift, gentle, sidewalk, disgorge, and agonize.  You can find the details here.  No fees to enter and books are the prize.

Untreed Reads - Anthology Call

Untreed Reads has posted an anthology call for "Haystacks and Homicide:  Short Tales of Farmland Crime".  They're looking for mystery stories of 1500 to 5000 words that take place in the country.  The deadline is December 31 and payment is royalties plus a print and ebook copy.  You can find the details here.

Grey Matter Press - Anthology Call

Grey Matter Press has posted an anthology call for "Savage Beasts: An Anthology of Primal Screams".  They're looking for dark and terrifying tales of 3000 to 7000 words "that have been scratched into the inside of our skull by the musical earworms to which you listen".  The deadline is September 5 and payment is 2cents a word.  You can find the details here.

Paperback Writer - Calls for Submissions

Paperback Writer is another site that lists submission calls.  Today she has a list of ten calls.

Tiny Owl Workshop - Anthology Call - Australian Writers Only

Tiny Owl Workshop has posted an anthology call for "Krampus Crackers".  This one is for Australian writers only.  They are looking for Christmas flash stories of 300 to 500 words that feature the myth of Krampus.  The deadline is September 5 and payment is $60AUD.  You can find the details here.

Hat tip to the Literarium blog!!

Queer Sci Fi - Anthology Calls

In searching for anthology calls I ran across a site called Queer Sci Fi that has a list of anthology calls for LGBT sci-fi, fantasy, and supernatural stories.  You can check out the calls here.

On Writing

Max Booth has an interesting take on POV over at the LitReactor site.

Solarwyrm Press - Anthology Call

Solarwyrm Press has posted an anthology call for "Marked by Scorn".  This will be an anthology featuring non-traditional relationships - "any romantic/sexual in nature relationships that deviate from society's stereotype of 'normal'".  Any genre is acceptable and the stories don't have to revolve around the relationship, it just has to be a part of the story.  1000 to 8000 words for shorts, they're also looking at poetry and non-fiction for this one.  The deadline is January 15, 2015 and payment is 1/2cent a word plus one print copy.  You can find all the details here.

Home is the Hangman by Roger Zelazny

I've never been much of a science fiction reader except for short stories.  I can take the technology in short doses, but in reading the shorts I've discovered that the best sci-fi isn't about the gadgets but the people who inhabit the worlds created by the authors.  "Home is the Hangman" is a perfect example.  The story is about a rogue robot called the Hangman, but everything comes back to the humans involved in creating him.  What also drew me to this book is the combining of a detective story with science fiction.

What really surprised me in reading this novella was how back in 1975 Zelazny very nearly has described the world we're living in today.  Such imagination!  Well worth the read if you can find a copy.  My copy is a hardback from the Science Fiction Collection Book Club that I found at a recent book sale.

I first discovered Zelazny through a short story called "Kalifriki of the Thread" and I've been on the lookout for other work by him ever since.  Any recommendations?

On Writing

Friend of the blog Jacquline Seewald has posted a listing of resources for writers, including lots of links to market resources, on her blog.  Check it out here.

Betty Fedora - New Crime Market

Hey, Hey, Hey, we've got a new crime fiction market opening in the online zine community.  "Betty Fedora" is looking for crime fiction with kickass women.  Shorts should be 1000 to 6000 words.  They're also looking for reviews, essays, and non-fiction articles.  Deadline for the fist issue is November 14.  There's no payment.  You can find the details here.

Burnt Offerings Books - Anthology Call

Burnt Offerings Books has posted an anthology call for "Blood Red Wet Dreams".  They need stories of 1000 to 7500 words that use the theme of at least one of the words in the title.  The deadline is September 1 and payment is a royalty split.  You can find the details here.

Midnight Breakfast - Open for Submissions

Midnight Breakfast is an online zine that's looking for short stories, non-fiction, and interviews.  Short stories should be 1000 to 10,000 words.  They're open to most genres but "skew more towards literary and speculative fiction".  Payment is $50.  You can find the details here.  They've already published several issues so you can check out what they're looking for in a story.

Horror Novel Review - Call for Submissions

The Horror Novel Review site has posted a call for short stories for their "Horror Story of the Week" Column.  There's no payment except having your story featured on the site for a week.  You can check out the details here.  They're also running a "Horror: Told in 100 Words" contest.  Horror stories of 100 words or less must be submitted by the end of September.  The top two stories will receive $50.  All stories will be considered for their anthology (no payment).  There no fee to enter.  Contest details here.

Pop Seagull Publishing - Anthology Calls

Pop Seagull Publishing has opened submissions for two anthologies.  The first is for a Sci-fi Romance anthology (no title listed).  Stories should be 500 to 10,000 words and the deadline is December 20.  The second is "Robotica".  They want sci-fi or steampunk stories of 500 to 10,000 words that mix robots with erotica.  The deadline for this one is March of 2015.  For both anthologies the payment is 1cent a word plus 3 free copies.  They're also open for novel submissions.  You can find all the details here, just scroll down the page for the anthology details.

Cane Hollow Press - Call for Submissions

The markets for Westerns is pretty small but I ran across Western Trail Blazer today.  It is an imprint of Cane Hollow Press.  They are looking for short stories of 4000 words and up for a series of anthologies in various Western sub-genres (weird, romance, traditional, steampunk, etc).  Since the anthologies are ongoing ebooks there is no deadline.  Payment is royalties.  You can check out the details here.

Cane Hollow Press also has several other imprints (horror and mystery) in need of stories from short to novel length which you can check out here.

JWK Publications - Anthology Calls

James Ward Kirk Publications has been around for a while but I haven't mentioned it here because only two stories are paid $25 in each anthology.  But they seem to be good about getting their anthologies published and at present they have four calls up for horror anthologies.  If you're interested in taking a chance you can find the details here.

The Molotov Cocktail - Flash Monster Contest - Fees

I don't usually post fee based contests but this one sounded like fun.  The Molotov Cocktail online flash zine is sponsoring a Flash Monster Contest.  They're looking for flash stories up to 1000 words that feature a monster of any type.  The fee is $6 to enter and the deadline is July 31.  Submissions through Submittable.  Prizes are $200, $50, and $25 plus publication in their Halloween issue and a possible print anthology.  You can find the details here.

Brash Books - Open for Crime Novel Submissions

Brash Books has opened submissions for crime novels.  This is an ebook publisher.  You can check them out here.

Blaster Books - New Market

I ran across the new market Blaster Books over at Ralan.com this morning.  They're looking for science fiction stories in all the sub-genres including mystery.  Shorts of 1000 to 5000 words will be published on their blog and payment is $50.  They're also looking for novelettes of 7500 to 17,499 and novellas of 17,500 to 39,999.  The advance for novelettes is $100 to $250 and for novellas $300 to $950 plus a 50% royalty split.  You can find the details here.

Now, while this is a paying market you'll find that there are many grammar and spelling mistakes on the site so submit with that caution in mind.

When the Dead Books - Anthology Call

When The Dead Books has posted an anthology call for "Give - An Anthology of Anatomical Entries".  What they're looking for is dark stories of organ donations in the Horror and Sci-fi genres.  Stories should be 500 to 2500 words and the deadline is September 30.  Payment is $10 plus two copies.  You can find all the details here.

Hat tip to darkmarkets.com

Science Fiction Trails - Closed

The print magazine Science Fiction Trails has closed its doors due to lack of good stories.  You can find the details here.  Sad to see this market fold as there are very few markets for Weird Westerns.

Hellnotes - Help Wanted

Hellnotes has two positions they're looking to fill for their blog/website.  They need a Social Media Coordinator and an Interviews Editor.  These are non-paying jobs.  You can check out the details here.

An Observation

I'm reading Pat Conroy's Beach Music.  His prose is beautiful and full of descriptions of the South Carolina coast and the people who live there.  One of my major writing weaknesses is description.  I have to force myself to write down the images that I see in my head, yet I love reading them, especially those by Southern writers.

While reading this morning I came across this sentence as he's describing the home of a friend - "Four vehicles were parked around the yard, one permanently.".  It made me stop reading, not because it's a particularly beautiful sentence but because of what it accomplished.  I saw that old wreck of a car without him having to paint me a picture.

It was a perfect example of a writer trusting a reader to fill in the blanks. We're told, especially with short stories, to trust the reader, now I understand how.

Angie's Desk - Anthology Calls

Angie has posted her July anthology calls list.  Thanks, Angie!!

Dead Gun Press - Anthology Calls

Dead Gun Press currently has two anthologies open for submissions.  "Hardboiled: Crime Scene" is looking for crime stories of 1500 to 5000 words and "A Glimpse of Heaven and Hell" is looking for true stories of "your own glimpse into heaven or hell".  This one has no word count listed.  There are no deadlines listed for either so assume they are open until filled.  Payment for both is one print copy.  You can find all the details here, just scroll down the page.

Cohesion Press - Anthology Call

Australian Publisher Cohesion Press has posted an anthology call for "Blurring the Line".  They're looking for horror stories up to 5000 words that "blur the line between what is fiction and what is non-fiction".  And yes, they have examples.  The reading period opens on August 1 and runs to October 31.  Payment is AUD 8cents a word.  You can find all the details here.

BiG Pants! Me Publishing - Comic Anthology Call

Occasionally when I'm searching for anthology calls I come across a call for comics.  BiG Pants!  Me Publishing has issued a call for stories from writers for their anthology Mutants, Monster, n' Mayhem.  They would like to see teams of writer/artists, but will find an artist if your story is accepted.  The payment is a copy.  You can find the call here.  They refer you to their tumbler account and twitter feed for more information about them. 

Phobos - Theme for Issue 3 Announced

Phobos magazine has posted their theme for issue #3 - Troublemake.  With this theme they're looking for stories of "biters of the hands that feed".  Stories can be in any genre but with strong elements of the macabre.  They take flash up to 1000 words and shorts to 2500 words.  Payment is 5cents a word.  The reading period for this issue is August 15 to September 30.  You can find the details here.

World Weaver Press - Open for Anthology Submissions

World Weaver Press has opened submissions for two anthologies - Corvidae and Scarecrow.  Both need stories up to 7500 words and the deadline is October 31.  Payment is $10.  You can find all the details here.

Wake Up and Smell the Shit - Non-fiction Anthology Call

Editor Kirsten Koza has posted a call for humorous travel stories for the anthology "Wake Up and Smell the Shit".  She needs true stories of outrageous travel misadventures.  Stories should be 1000 to 8000 words in length.  The deadline is September 1 and payment is $100.  You can find call here with a link to the submission site.

World Encounters - Anthology Call

I mentioned this back in May when the call first went up and a reminder is always helpful.  Submissions have now opened for the anthology "World Encounters".  Editor Bryan Thomas Schmidt has an open call for stories of 3000 to 7000 words that show "the culture clash between aliens and people of earth".  Payment is 6cents a word and the deadline is September 15.  This will be funded by a Kickstarter.  You can find all the details here.

Sirens Call - Open for Submissions

The online zine Sirens Call has posted a call for submissions for their 16th issue.  The theme is Apocalyptic fiction.  They want stories that focus on the apocalypse itself and not the aftermath.  Stories should be 1000 to 2500 words, flash 300 to 500, and drabbles of exactly 100 words.  The deadline is July 31.  They're also accepting reprints for this one.  There's no payment except for a pdf copy of the zine.  You can check out the details here. 

What Makes a Story Dark?

The other day Patti Abbott asked a question on her blog that has kept me mulling over the idea of what is dark fiction.  She asked "What is the darkest book you've ever read?".  There was a great variety of answers covering several genres.

When thinking about what my choices would be I thought about the novel "No Human Involved" by Barbara Seranella.  There was a sadness in the book that made me feel sorry for the main character and the life that she'd been forced to live.  The other book is one that I'm currently rereading, "Beach Music" by Pat Conroy.  And here, too, there's an overwhelming sense of sadness in the book.  For me, these two book are dark fiction.

Some readers might consider dark fiction to be something psychologically horrifying or pages of victims soaked in blood.  Even fantasy can be dark.  I recently read "Sandman Slim" by Richard Kadrey and found that very dark indeed.

So I guess I'm wondering what exactly makes a story dark?  Is it the dark feelings that create a sadness in the reader or is it just an atmosphere you drop the reader into (I read a lot of Gothics and they always stirred a feeling of dread inside me.)?

I expect every reader has a different idea of what is dark and why.  What makes a story dark for you?

The Big Click - New Issue

The Big Click has hit the virtual streets with a special Bizaro Crime issue.  You can purchase the entire magazine for your Kindle or read it online over the next couple of months.

Phoenix Fire Publishing - Anthology Calls

Phoenix Fire Publishing has four open anthology calls (scroll down the page).  All stories should be 800 to 7000 words.  Payment is split royalties.  And the open calls are:

Blood Games - deadline September 12 - Vampires
Serrated - deadline October 1 - horror
Wicked Enticements - deadline October 8 - erotica
Mystic Moon - deadline November 20 - dark fantasy

One thing bothered me about the guidelines - "editing will be provided unless author prefers their own editor".  I've never seen a statement like this in any guidelines.  They provide editing services on their site, but don't really say that you have to pay to have your story edited for the anthology.  So something to check out if you decide to submit.  You can find the details here.

One Eye Press - Open for Novella Queries

One Eye Press has opened for queries to their Singles line.  They're looking for novellas of 20,000 to 45,000 words in the genres of crime, western, and horror.  The deadline for all queries is August 8.  Submissions are online at their website.  You can check it out here.

Hellnotes - Horror in a Hundred Changes

Hellnotes has made some guideline changes to their Horror in a Hundred series.  Stories must be 100 words or less and the top three stories in each quarter of submissions will be published in their print magazine Dark Discoveries.  You can check out the new guidelines here.

A Murder of Storytellers - Anthology Call

A Murder of Storytellers has posted an open anthology call for "Beyond the Nightlight".  They're looking for stories of 500 to 13,000 words that dip into the monsters of your childhood.  While the theme is childhood monsters, the anthology is for adults.  The deadline is October 13 and payment is $15.  Submissions are through Submittable.  You can find the details here.

Harren Press - Anthology Call

Harren Press has posted an anthology call for "In Shambles".  They're looking for horror stories of 2500 to 7500 words.  The deadline is July 31.  Payment is $100 for the best story, $50 for two honorable mention stories, and everyone else will receive $25.  You can find all the details here.  The anthology will include an original Dan Shamble story by Kevin J. Anderson.

Dragon's Haul - New Market

Dragon's Haul is a new market that will be published for the Apple app.  They're looking for fantasy stories of 2500 to 5000 words.  Payment is $10 plus a royalty share.  Submissions are upload through their site.  You can find all the details here.

A Quote

"I have written a great many stories and I still don't know how to go about it except to write it and take my chances."   -- JOHN STEINBECK

Saw this quote on Twitter today and felt it was well worth repeating.  Nice to know the greats felt the same anxiety when staring at that blank page.

Dark Corners Magazine - New Market

Dark Corners magazine is a new market which will be publishing in both Kindle form and print.  They're looking for pulp stories in the genres of crime fiction, sci-fi/fantasy, and westerns.  Stories should be 2000 to 5000 words long.  The deadline for the first issue is September 1.  Payment is in copies.  You can find the details here.

This one came through the SMFS group from the Women of Mystery blog.

Mozark Press - Anthology Call Reminder

I posted this call back a few months ago but a reminder is always helpful and the deadline is July 25 so you have plenty of time.  Mozark Press has a call for "A Shaker of Margaritas:  That Mysterious Woman".  They're looking for mystery stories of 2000 to 3500 words with a female protagonist.  Payment is $20.  This link will take you to the call, the submissions details are on a pdf link within the call.

The 'Zine Scene

Over at the In Reference to Murder blog BV Lawson has a roundup of The 'Zine Scene.  While you're there be sure to check out the links - there's a massive amount of information for everything crime fiction related.

Betwixt - Open for Submissions

Online zine Betwixt has opened for submissions of speculative fiction stories of 4000 to 7000 words.  The deadline is August 31 and payment is 2cents a word with a $150 cap.  You can find the details here.

Firbolg Publishing - Anthology Call

Firbolg Publishing has posted a call for the fifth in their Enter at Your Own Risk anthology series.  This one is "Enter at Your Own "Risk: Dreamscapes into Darkness".  They're looking for stories of 3000 to 5000 words that take you into the darkness beyond "be careful what you wish for".  The deadline is September 30 and payment is $50.  You can find all the details here.

ThugLit - New Issue

Issue 12 of ThugLit is ready for Kindles for a mere 99cents!  Also available in print.

Freeze Frame Fiction - Open for Submissions

And Freeze Frame Fiction has opened for flash stories in any genre up to 1000 words.  The deadline for this quarter is September 15 and payment is $10.  Submissions are through Submittable.  You can find all the details here.

Third Flatiron Press - Open for Submissions

Third Flatiron Press has opened submissions for their Fall/Winter anthology call.  The theme for this one is "Abbreviated Epics".  Stories should be 1500 to 3000 words in length.  The deadline is August 31 and payment is 6cents a word.  You can find the call here (scroll down the page) with more on their submissions page.

Grift - Open for Submissions

Grift has opened for submissions today for their third print edition.  Personally I thought this market had closed up shop but the editor has posted the new call here.  They're looking for crime stories of 1000 to 5000 words that include some element of music for their theme.  The deadline is July 31, there's no mention of payment.  Submissions through Submittable.  You can find the details here.

Issues 1 and 2 are available at Lulu if you'd like to take a look.