Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Post Mortem Press - Anthology Call

Post Mortem Press has posted an anthology call for "She's Lost Control".  They're looking for stories up to 10,000 word about losing control written by writers who identify as women.  The deadline is March 31, 2018 and payment is 1/2cemt a word plus a royalty split.  You can find the details on their Submittable page.  This call came through SMFS today.

38 Paying Markets for March

Over at the Publishing,,,and Other Forms of Insanity blog Erica Verrillo has posted her paying markets list for March.  Thanks, Erica!

Small Press Publishing

Over at the Sci-fi & Scary website there's a very interesting article about "Small Press Publishing".  It takes a look at all the good and bad points of going with a small press.

Saturday, February 24, 2018

Tough - Update

Editor Rusty Barnes posted to Twitter that starting in July of this year Tough magazine will also be in print as well as online:

"Tough needs your crime stories: special attention given to stories from women writers and stories in rural or Appalachian settings. Pays $25 per story, publishes online weekly and in print beginning July 2018. ."

Ten Tips for Writing and Selling Fillers by KMorris

The Chester County Independent has an article titled "Ten Tips for Writing and Selling Fillers" by KMorris.  I remember starting out this way with letters to the editor and short fun pieces to local papers and magazines.  It's a good way to dip your toe into the world of writing and learn how to work with editors and deadlines.

B Cubed Press - Anthology Call

B Cubed Press has posted an anthology call for "Alternative Theologies for the Religious Right".  They're looking for stories, poems, and essays that are "a re-mastering of core biblical themes that will help justify, or perhaps even expose, modern evangelical theology".  Humor and good will are key.  The word count is 250 to 5000 words. The deadline is July 15, 2018, and payment is 2cents a word plus royalties.  You can find the details here.

Friday, February 23, 2018

Polically Correct Censorship is Damaging Fiction by Lionel Shriver

There is a thoughtful piece in The Guardian written by Lionel Shriver about how politically correct censorship is damaging fiction.  Read it here.

Listen, Ask, Read: A guide to Publishing and Publishers for Authors by Gabino Iglesias

Over at Clash there's a great essay by Gabino Iglesias titled "Listen, Ask, Read:  A Guide to Publishing and Publishers for Authors".  He has some wonderful advice that every writer should pay attention to when looking for a market for their work.

The Hamthology - Anthology Call

Editor David F. Schultz has posted an anthology call for "The Hamthology".  They're looking for poetry, essays, and short stories that involve a ham sandwich.  There is no word limit and they're open to all genres including erotica.  The deadline is July 1, 2018 and payment is $5 per 1000 words with a cap of $10.  The pay isn't much but it sounds like a fun project.  You can find the details here.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

An Editor Seeking Advice from Writers

Editor Oren Litwin is seeking feedback about asking writers to donate $50 to his next KickStarter in exchange for getting a one-page critique of their submission, and the chance to resubmit.  He can see the drawbacks but he also sees some advantages for the writer.  Stop on by his blog and let him know what you think after you read his post.

Wednesday, February 21, 2018

Glassing Magazine - No Fee Fiction Contest

Glassing Magazine has posted a call for their "Mermaid Fiction Contest".  They're looking for stories up to 1500 words featuring a mermaid.  The focus of the magazine is sea glass so keep that in mind when you write your story.  The deadline is March 31, 2018.  First prize is $250 and publication in their print magazine.  There are two runner up prizes of $50 each and publication in their online site.  You can find the details here.  There is no fee to enter.

Female Serial Killers

If you're looking for inspiration for your next serial killer story check out this essay by Cynthia Pelayo.  Female Serial Killers.  I expect there are many more that the world doesn't know about, after all women are the keepers of secrets and lies, aren't they?

Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Twelfth Planet Press - Advance Notice Novella Series Call

Twelfth Planet Press has posted an advance notice that they are seeking novellas of 17,000 to 40,000 words in the genres of fantasy, sci-fi, horror, or crime for their Novella Series.  The submission period opens on September 1, 2018 and closes November 30, 2018.  Payment is a $300 advance plus royalties.  You can find the guidelines here.

Fireside Magazine - Submission Period Announced

Fireside Magazine's upcoming reading period is very short so I'm posting it early so you can get started on a story if you care to submit.  They are looking for stories in any genre, though they lean toward speculative fiction.  They accept flash up to 1000 words and short stories up to 4000 words.  The reading period is April 23 to 27, 2018 and payment is 12.5cents a word.  There are a lot of stories posted on line here for you to read and get a feel for what they're looking for.

Monday, February 19, 2018

Pulp Metal Magazine - Closing

Pulp Metal Magazine will be closing up shop.

Blood Bound Books - Anthology Call

Blood Bound Books has posted a "Best Of" anthology call.  They're looking for new horror stories of 500 to 6000 words.  All the subgenres including erotica are welcome but they must be dark,  The deadline is May 31, 2018 and payment is 5cents a word (8cents if they get enough patreon supporters.  You can find the details here.

Black Mirror Press - Anthology Call

Black Mirror Press has posted an anthology call for "Poe's Shadows:  Tales of Poe for the 21st Century".  They looking for stories of 3000 to 7000 words that bring Poe's stories into the 21st century, not just a retelling but with a new world twist to it.  They are asking for a three paragraph synopsis first then they'll let you know if they want to see your story.  The deadline is until full and payment is $10.  You can find the details here.

Saturday, February 17, 2018

Solarcide - Open for Submissions

Solarcide has opened submissions for their February reading period.  They're seeking dark fiction stories of 1000 to 3000 words in any genre.  Payment is $50.  You can find the details here.

Ye Olde Magick Shoppe - Anthology Call

Editor Oren Litwin has posted an anthology call for "Ye Olde Magick Shoppe".  He's looking for fantasy stories of 3500 to 7000 words with the plot point element being the selling of magic.  The deadline is June 1, 2018 and payment will be $25 ($100 if they have a successful KickStarter).  You can find the details here.

Blue Crow Publishing - Charity YA Anthology Call - North Carolina Residents Only

Blue Crow Publishing has posted a call for a charity anthology to benefit literacy programs in North Carolina.  The anthology is titled Secrets and Lies:  A Wicked South Anthology".  They are seeking YA (ages 13 - 19) stories in any genre but they must feature a secret shared or kept.  The deadline is April 1, 2018 and payment is one copy.  This is open to North Carolina residents only.  You can find the details here.

Thanks to Michael Bracken for the link!

Friday, February 16, 2018

Cwtch Press - Erotica Anthology Calls

Cwtch Press has two open erotica anthology calls posted.  The first is "Blood in the Rain 4:  Erotica Vampire Tales".  They're looking for dark erotica vampire tales of 2500 to 7000 words.  The deadline is May 30, 2018 and payment is $75.

The second all is for "Keep Going".  They're looking for erotica stories of 2500 to 7000 words about consent.  "Make asking for permission hot."  The deadline is September 30, 2018 and payment is $25.  You can find the details for both anthologies here.

Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Yellow Mama - New Issue

The newest issue of Yellow Mama has hit the virtual streets.  You can read it here for free.

The Econoclash Review - First Issue

The Econoclash Review is now available for Kindle.  Check out the details here.

A Short History of Crime Fiction Markets

Short story writer Michael Bracken takes a look at the world of short mystery fiction markets that have come and gone and still flourish today.  You'll find his guest post over at the Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine blog Something is Going to Happen.

Saturday, February 10, 2018

Over at The Horror Tree

Over at the Horror Tree you'll find a very interesting article about giving your monsters a "heart".  Not something you think about when writing but which makes a great deal of sense.  The essay, written by Kevin Holton, is titled "Teeth, Claws, and Heart:  Creating Creatures that Want More than Blind Destruction".

Independent Legions Publishing - Anthology Call

Italy based Independent Legions Publishing has opened submissions for their anthology "Monsters of Any Kind".  They're looking for speculative fiction stories of 3500 to 5000 words.  The story must contain one non-human monster and there is a short list of monsters they don't want.  The deadline is July 10, 2018 and payment is $100.  You can find the details here.

Alfred Hitchcock Remains an Influence on Crime Writers by Hillel Italie

There's a piece in The Republic titled "Alfred Hitchcock Remains an Influence on Crime Writers" by Hillel Italie that might be of interest to some of you out there.

Friday, February 9, 2018

Dark Moon Digest - New Issue

Dark Moon Digest #30 is now available for purchase.  Check it out here.

Thursday, February 8, 2018

Shotgun Honey Books - Open for Crime Novel Submissions

Shotgun Honey Books is open for novel queries for 2018 and 2019.  They are seeking crime novels of 25,000 to 50,000 words.  Shotgun Honey is publishing under the Down & Out Books umbrella.  You can find the details here.

Monday, February 5, 2018

Twisted Publishing - Anthology Call

Twisted Publishing has opened submissions for their anthology "The Twisted Book of Shadows".  They're looking for horror stories of 3000 to 5000 words.  The deadline is February 28, 2018 and payment is 6cents a word with a cap of $300 plus a royalty split.  You can find the details here.

Sunday, February 4, 2018

Switchblade - Special Issue Call - Women Writers Only

Switchblade magazine has posted a special issue call for "Stiletto Heeled".  This one is to be by women and about women.  They're looking for noir/hardboiled stories of 2000 to 4500 words.  The deadline is September 1, 2018 and payment is $15.  The usual guidelines apply.  You can find the details here, just scroll down the page.

Nothing's Sacred - Open for Submissions

Horror magazine Nothing's Sacred is open for submissions for volume #4.  They're seeking stories up 3000 words that cover the full spectrum of the horror genre with a few of the usual exceptions.  The deadline is February 28, 2018 and payment is 5cents a word.  You can find the details here.

Friday, February 2, 2018

Switchblade - Open for Submissions

And don't forget Switchblade opened for submissions yesterday.

Midnight Hour Media - Anthology Call

Midnight Hour Media has opened submissions for volumes 1 & 2 of their anthology "Midnight Hour".  They're seeking dark stories of 1500 to 8000 words in a variety of genres including crime noir.  The deadline May 1, 2018 and payment is 2cents a word with a cap of $160.  You can find the details here.

Nosetouch Press - Anthology Call

Nosetouch Press has opened submissions for their anthology "Fiends in the Furrows:  An Anthology of Folk Horror".  They're looking for stories of 5000 to 10,000 words "that capture the essence of Folk Horror in new and terrifying ways".  The deadline is May 1, 2018 and payment is 1cent a word.  You can find the details here.

Coffin Hop Press - Anthology Calls

Canadian based Coffin Hop Press has three open anthologies for 2018.  The first is a Women of Canadian Crime anthology "The Dame was Trouble".  This features Canadian women writers only.  The deadline is April 15, 2018.  The second is "Knucklehead Noir".  They're looking for crime stories similar to Charles Willeford.  The deadline is July 1, 2018.  The third is for holiday crime stories titled "Baby It's Cold Outside".  The deadline is July 1, 2018.  There are no pay specifics listed.  You can find the details here.  Scroll down the page.

23 Paying Markets for February

Over at the Publishing...and Other Forms of Insanity blog Erica Verrillo has posted her February listing of paying markets.