SUBMIT

FEB / MAR 2024

Themes for Volume V

We have a different theme for each issue, so submissions that relate to those themes are more likely to be accepted, though this isn't always strictly the case. If you have a good story, send it to us even if you're not sure it will fit the theme! For Volume V (2023-2024), the themes for the issues are as follows:

August 2023 — No theme. Anything goes.

October 2023 — First Contact. In memory of Carl Sagan (born November 9th) we're looking for first contact stories that challenge the usual tropes. Since it's nearing Halloween, bonus to stories and poems that have a bit of spookiness to them

December 2023 — Special Art Issue! Artists, send us your work for us to exhibit and show the world!

February 2024 — Relationships (platonic, romantic, family, etc). We're looking for work that really develops and explores character relationships.

Submit Before 01/10/2024

April 2024 — Cli-Fi (climate science fiction) with a preference for maritime themed stories..

Submit Before 03/01/2024

June 2024 — Xeno-olympics. Tell us tales of alien sports and competitions

Submit Before 05/01/2024

August 2024 — No theme. Anything goes

Submit Before 07/01/2024.

We usually look for stories about 2-4 months out from a themed issue, so don't delay!

We welcome solicited and unsolicited submissions for fiction, poetry, non-fiction, and art. Please read and follow our submission guidelines carefully. Incorrectly submitted material may not be read or replied to. Works submitted for themes after the dates listed will not be read or replied to.

We are especially in need of science and non-fiction articles for our Science Corner. Articles can be on any subject in any style, but must be accessible to a non-academic audience.

Our next issue release is April 30th.

Fiction Guidelines

We're looking for enthralling stories set in a future we want to believe in, one we would fight to make a reality.

We want:

Captivating world-building
Character-rich, diverse settings
Well-written engaging plots that steer away from common tropes
Tension, conflict that leaps out of the page and grabs us
A good ending.
Hard science fiction, stories based in explained, well researched science

We're open to:

Inventive narrative structures, unusual, but readable writing styles
Non hard science fiction as long as it includes incredible world-building or captivating characters
Longer stories for serialization

LENGTH:

100-5,000 words is preferred. For longer works, please query with the first ten pages.

PAY:

We pay 4¢/word for a story upon publication.

Submissions must be in PDF or docx form and in proper manuscript format (our system can't process .rtf files!). Please allow 15 weeks for a response. If you have not received a response by then, feel free to contact us with the word "Query" in the subject line.

Poetry Guidelines

We publish science-fiction poetry. There's no style or content we're looking for in particular, though we prefer more lyrical and evocative poetry.

Please submit up to five short poems OR one long poem.

LENGTH:

A short poem is one page or less in size 12 Garamond font with 1.5 spacing.

If the total length of two (or more) poems does not exceed one-page they will be counted as a single poem.

PAY:

$25 for each accepted poem

Non-Fiction Guidelines

We're Looking for:

Articles on new discoveries
Articles on new or developing technologies
Science fact sheets or trivia articles
Teach us how to calculate Schwarzschild Radius, tell us about Hubble's Constant or quantum chemistry
Teach us about strange creatures from Thor's Hero Shrew to Detnocaccus radtoduraus

LENGTH:
6,000 words or less

PAY:
$30 for a non-fiction piece upon publication

Artwork Guidelines
We're looking for artwork in any medium, in any format (jpeg is preferred).

We seek reproduction rights for limited one time use as internal artwork. For this use we pay $35 per accepted piece.

We accept pre-existing pieces. Please submit a sample of up to five works that fit the science-fiction/fantasy theme in some way. Please give up to 3 months for a response to any art submissions sent.

We also plan to have an exposé of artists and their work this December (2024). If we do not accept your work for publication as internal art, you are still invited to submit work for the exposé issue. We charge nothing, and the expose may be used as a free portfolio for you to display and advertise your work. We will conduct a 3 to 5 question interview and give you the chance to talk about your work, your inspiration, and share links to any professional website or store that you have and let people know how best to support you. If you're expressly interested in submitting work for the exposé, please mention this when you submit.

What we're looking for:

Sci-fi art of any kind (realism is a plus, but surreal works too). We are likely to pass on photography, but will consider it.

PAY:
$35 per accepted piece.

FAQs without the Questions

We buy First North American Serial Rights and First Electronic Rights with two-year archival rights.

Simultaneous submissions are fine. Please tell us immediately if your story is accepted elsewhere.

If a story is rejected. Do not resubmit it unless it has gone through such drastic editing that it no longer resembles the first submission in any way, shape, or form.

Multiple submissions are not accepted. Please send only one submission at a time.

If your piece has been accepted, please wait one month from the date of acceptance to submit again. If your piece has been rejected, please wait one week from the date of the last rejection before resubmitting.

We will not accept translated or reprinted old stories. No exceptions. We do not accept fan fiction (even incredibly well-written fan fiction).

We can help advertise your newest book or project. Go to the Advertise page under Support for more information. We will work with you to make sure your advertisement is precisely how you want it. It's a great way to reach a targeted audience.
We do not accept AI generated artwork, poems, or stories - those found submitting these types of manuscripts to us will be rejected immediately without feedback. Give us your own original work!