Expressions 95

May 2008

A Newsletter for Creative People Worldwide

A Product of Sam’s Dot Publishing

Editor - Cathy Buburuz

Table of Contents

How to Participate in Expressions

Hopscotch To Be Banned - Fiction by John Bushore

Scifaiku by Terrie Leigh Relf

Tanka by Terrie Leigh Relf

Depression’s Darkness - Poetry by Michael Lee Johnson

Rainbow in April - Poetry by Michael Lee Johnson

News Flashes

Carole Hall’s Cover Art for Potter’s Field 2 Wins the Covey Award

The Midnight Library

Sam’s Dot Publishing Update by Tyree Campbell

Paying Markets

 

 

How to Participate in Expressions

 

Expressions is published monthly and open to submissions all year round. I welcome your participation and anything you’d like to contribute. Editors are invited to send their guidelines, readers are invited to share their news and views, writers and artists are invited to share their work, and news about successes. If you’d like your book or magazine featured in The Midnight Library section of Expressions, please get in touch.

 

I welcome poems (under 20 lines preferred), flash fiction (under 500 words preferred), articles (less than 1,000 words preferred), interviews (less than 1,000 words preferred), book or magazine reviews (under 700 words preferred), and art (jpeg under 30k).

 

Include a fascinating bio of three or four sentences (written in the third person) at the end of your submission. Science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, crime, and seasonal type work are most appreciated, but I will consider all genres.

 

Send each submission in the body of the email - no attachments please - with "Expressions" in the subject line.

 

Send only one submission per email. 

 

Submit to editor Cathy Buburuz at cathyartist@hotmail.com    The payment offered for contributions to Expressions is sincere gratitude and free ad space for whatever it is you’re selling, especially if you’re selling your own work or want to promote your own website. In most cases, your submissions will be responded to within 48 hours or less, longer if I’m extremely busy. The deadline for each issue is the 15^th of the month. Everything received after the 15^th will be included in Expressions the following month.

 

Hopscotch To Be Banned
 by John Bushore

The Research Society for Liberalism in Science, located in
Hoospoofinhoo, Sweden, has released the results of their extensive
research study into Global Wobbling. This study was conducted to
examine the long-term effects of humans populating the outermost layer
of the globe. It confirms that human activity relates to increased
seismic activity around the world, which will result in the earth
wobbling out of orbit.
 
Advanced computer-simulation techniques have revealed that the “boom”
in human population and technology has set up a resonance within the
planet. Recent events also point to the severity of this problem: the
violent quake of Tangshan, China in 1976, closely followed by the
eruption of Mount St. Helens in 1980, the 1999 tremor that shook
Taiwan, and Indonesian earthquakes and tsunamis of 2004 & 2005.
 
The society’s report included methods of reducing global wobbling:
 
Today’s steel-belted automobile tires must be replaced by wheels with
wooden rims. Wood, being a natural substance, will create vibrations
harmonic with the earth’s structure.
 
Trucks and locomotives must be banned. Unicycles and boats, however,
are encouraged.
 
Airplanes will be allowed to fly; however, landing will be prohibited
because of the shock of touchdown. Helicopters will be granted
clearance to land--softly--but must be fitted with wooden landing
skids. Production of blimps and dirigibles is encouraged.
 
Despite the lesser population density in the developed countries, more
disharmonic resonance is created there. This is due to the wearing of
shoes in the more affluent nations. Shoes should be outlawed in all
areas of the world. (with the exception of flip-flops, which leave a
smaller tectonic footprint.)
 
Track and field events, football, rugby, and all other competitions
that involve running and violent contact with the ground must cease.
Shuffleboarding and other non-violent sports are okay, with the
exception of horseshoes and hopscotch.
 
Dancing is to be permitted, but only the waltz. Those wishing to “cut
a rug,” must buy “vibration credits.” The proceeds from these credits
will be used to purchase virgins, who will be thrown into volcanoes to
appease the Ancient Gods within the earth.
 

John Bushore, who lives on the edge of the Great Dismal Swamp, began
submitting in 2002, has had dozens of stories and poems published both
on-line and in print magazines. He is a three time winner of the James
Award and one of his stories has been published in an
anthology/textbook to be used Gothic Horror and Literature
International Studies Courses. John is the author of the SF/Suspense
novel, "Friends in Dark Places," from Sam's Dot Publishing, 2006. He
maintains a website at http://www.johnbushore.com 
 

Scifaiku
by Terrie Leigh Relf

package returned--
stamped "rejected by recipient"
terran gods


Tanka

by Terrie Leigh Relf

 

hearing the color blue
the various scents of red
tasting green
evolutionary by-products
of terra-forming Mars

Terrie Leigh Relf met a chemist today who told her about things that move
faster than the speed of light. Picoseconds, she thinks it was. If only she
could think as fast . . .

 

 

Depression’s Darkness
by Michael Lee Johnson

I'm trapped inside
a ripped artery inside my chest
and inside my brain;
I can't disengage from my grief
with only my words.
The bills mount,
my business drops,
and aging hangs around
my neck like a visible
doggie name tag
and I fall into disarray--
my brain disassociates
and scatters my thoughts.
I feel alone.
It's at times like these I just want
to slouch down, visit the bedroom
siesta--seemingly the only answer.
But no one dances with a live partner
in bed; this is where the devil does his whittling--
builds his cages, practices his cult,
dangles his echelon of drugs, alcohol,
and fortifies them with negative thinking
whets the razor, suggests the fearful suicide dark.
I force my decanting self
to transfer these liquid lines
to solid white paper and black ink,
bully myself to be a spectator,
a review critic of my own
circus creation--
a day traveler between
Harlem, Hades,
heaven and hell.
I filtrate myself these cycles
and feel better, long be the night.

 

Rainbow in April

by Michael Lee Johnson

 

April again,

the wind

falls in love with itself

skipping across asphalt

and concrete bare

with the breaking weather.

A rainbow

is half arched,

broken off deep

into the aorta

of the sky.

It hangs

from elastic

rubber bands

of mixed colours

dipped in God's

inkwell,

airbrushed

by the fingertips

of Michelangelo.

April again,

the wind steps high.

 

 

Michael Lee Johnson is a poet and freelance writer from Itasca, Illinois.  He is the author of The Lost American: From Exile to Freedom, and  two chapbooks of poetry. He has been published in USA, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Scotland, Turkey, Fuji, Nigeria, Algeria, Africa, India, United Kingdom, Republic of Sierra Leone, Nepal, Thailand, Kuala Lumpur, and Malaysia. He is also publisher and editor of four poetry, flash fiction sites--all presently open  to submissions:

http://birdsbywindow.blogspot.com

http://www.poetriclegacy.mysite.com

http://atendertouch.blogspot.com
http://wizardsofthewind.blogspot.com

Michael Lee Johnson’s website can also be found here:

http://poetryman.mysite.com

 

News Flashes

 

A Public Space is a new magazine that pays pro rates for fiction, poetry and art. Visit the website for guidelines and to learn more about the online submission form:  http://www.apublicspace.org/submit

Work published has been awarded, nominated for, or received honourable mention in the following: Best American Fantasy and the Pushcart Prize.

COSMOS pays pro rates for science fiction and welcomes pitches and approaches from professional writers, illustrators and photographers worldwide. You can read a digital copy of the magazine online, and find out more about the editors’ needs by visiting their submissions page: http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/contact/submissions

 

Faces magazine is a new publication that pays pro rates for fiction. The magazine takes kids on a journey across the continents as it brings articles about the cultures of the world to their mailboxes. Each issue focuses on a different culture—from Laos to Morocco to Jamaica—including stories about daily life, folk tales, and engaging articles about the history and traditions of the people and places. For Ages 9 to 14. Lively, original approaches to the subject are the primary concerns of the editors in choosing material. Writers are encouraged to study recent back issues for content and style. Fiction includes: Retold legends, folktales, stories, and original plays from around the world, etc., relating to the theme. Visit the website for details on Faces and the many other publishing projects under way at Carus Publishing: http://www.cricketmag.com/pages_content.asp?page_id=6 

 

Flash Fiction Flash The Newsletter for Flash Literature Writers (Edited by  Pamelyn Casto) is devoted to markets, contests, publishing news for short-short literature 1,500 words or fewer (including short-short stories, prose poetry, creative non-fiction, haibun, flash memoirs, flash plays).  Find out more by visiting this web page: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/FlashFictionFlash  

Horror Genre is a website with links to all things horror: http://horrogenre.com/home.php  

 

JacketFlap is a social networking community where you can connect with more than 2,000 published authors and illustrators of books for Children and Young Adults:  http://www.jacketflap.com

 

On the Premises hosts writing contests with cash prizes.  For each contest, the following prizes are awarded in American dollars: 1st prize: $140;
2nd prize: $100; 3rd prize: $70; Honourable mention: $25.  For details on how to enter, visit: http://www.onthepremises.com/contests/guidelines.html
There are no fees for entering the contests.

 

Potter’s Field 2 remains open to story submissions.  Visit the guidelines page here at Sam’s Dot Publishing for details.

 

Science Fiction Trails - Update from the Editor:  Issue #3 is now available. Current contributors will receive their copies shortly. I've now dropped the reading periods. Writers will be able to submit stories on an ongoing basis. As always, the latest info is at http://www.sciencefictiontrails.com  where you can take a peak at the awesome cover by Laura Givens. This is a whole different critter from the clip art covers and side stapled photo copies the old Trails came in. Order info is also on the website.

Joy V. Smith’s latest interview can be read on Writers Manual: The Bragging Zone for Writers Worldwide: http://www.jacketflap.com

 

Sniplits is about stories, story lovers and storytellers. Specifically, we’re about audio short stories  that can be downloaded to virtually any device capable of playing digital music. Sniplits stories are published DRM-free, so you don’t need to worry about compatibility. To learn more about Sniplets, visit http://www.sniplits.com/about.jsp

 

Spec House of Poetry is looking for poems for a few broadside projects. Please e-mail medium-length single poem submissions to spechouseofpoetry(at)yahoo.com Spec House publishes speculative poetry chapbooks, postcards, broadsides, and other various formats. Query us with your book ideas by e-mail and please include a bio, list of publication credits, and a short synopsis of your project. We are interested in small short run projects, single poem projects, and short chaplets (2-6 poems).  We will contact you if we are interested in pursuing your project.

 

Story Station: The Finest Children's & Young Adult Stories of Fun & Adventure can be found here: http://www.viatouch.com/learn/Storystation/Storystation_main.jsp

 

The Market Maven:  Cynthia Ward, who wrote the long-running (14 years+) Market Maven market-news column for the cancelled writers' magazine Speculations http://www.speculations.com   is now the publisher of the new, monthly Market Maven electronic newsletter, which focuses on magazine and publisher guidelines and updates from the professional and semi-professional markets in the speculative fiction genres (science fiction, fantasy, horror, paranormal romance, cross-genre, etc).

Subscriptions are $20/year. If interested, you can learn more by visiting the Speculations website.  The Market Maven #1 was e-mailed to subscribers on Monday, April 8, 2008. However, many e-mails have bounced. Subscribers should check their e-mail and, if they have not received it, they should contact publisher Cynthia Ward at market.maven.subscriptions(at)gmail(dot)com

Editors and publishers should send her their guidelines and updates to the same e-address.

 

The Vile Vineyard is the place to learn more about Sam Dot's Publishing's horror related magazines and books:  http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/vineyard/Vineyard.htm 

 

The Virginia Quarterly Review pays pro rates for fiction, and semi-pro to pro rates for poetry. To learn more about this literary magazine and the online submission form, visit  http://www.vqronline.org/submission 

 

The Writer Gazette can be found here: http://www.writergazette.com/freebies.shtml#fun

 

Zazzle features pen and ink art by Cathy Buburuz on travel mugs, greeting cards and t-shirts.  It’s free to virtual window shop:  http://www.zazzle.com/pd/find/qs-cathy%20buburuz  

 

Carole Hall’s Cover Art for Potter’s Field 2

Wins the Covey Award

Potter's Field 2, featuring fantastic cover art by Carole Hall, has been selected by the Covey Award judges as the Most Artistic Cover of March 2008. To nominate book covers for the Covey Awards, and to cast your vote, visit: http://thenewcoveycoverawards.blogspot.com/2008/03/march-2008-new-covey-cover-award.html

 

Congratulations, Carole Hall!  We hope to see more of your work here at Sam’s Dot Publishing.

 

The Midnight Library

 

I Remember the Future

by Michael A. Burstein

Apex Publications and award-winning writer Michael A. Burstein are pleased to announce that Apex Books is now ready to take pre-orders for "I Remember the Future: The Award-Nominated Stories of Michael A. Burstein," which will be published in September.

 

The book will be published in a simultaneous hardcover and trade paperback edition. All pre-ordered hardcover copies of the book will be autographed by the author. In addition, however, Apex and Burstein are announcing a Tuckerization raffle.

 

Everyone who pre-orders a hardcover copy of the book by June 15 will be entered into a raffle. Two lucky winners will have their names used as names of characters in the two new stories, "Empty Spaces" and "I Remember the Future."

 

Tuckerization, or the naming of characters in stories for real people, is a tradition credited to Wilson Tucker, who named many of the characters in his books for his friends. More information on the practice can be found at the Wikipedia page on Tuckerization

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tuckerization

 

As announced previously, "I Remember The Future" will be the first bound collection of Burstein's fiction, containing all of Burstein's award-nominated stories plus two new stories. Each story will be accompanied by an afterword.

 

The cover art is by Bob Eggleton, and Analog editor Stanley Schmidt will provide an introduction.

 

Michael A. Burstein, winner of the John Campbell Award for Best New Writer, has been publishing award-nominated and award-winning science fiction stories since 1995. He has been nominated for the Hugo Award ten times and for the Nebula Award three times.

 

The book can be pre-ordered on the Apex Books website catalogue

http://www.apexbookcompany.com/cart.php?m+product_detail&p+30

Quondam

An Ancient Mirrors Tale

by Jayel Gibson

Published by Synergy Books May 2008

Cover Art, Maps & Illustrations  by Michele-lee Phelan

368 Pages - Cover Price $14.95

A murderous queen:

Bound in mortal flesh by an angry god, a once ethereal nymph murders Quondam’s king and seizes the throne. All who do not bow before her die in the agony that is dragons’ breath. But, there is threat of a challenger to this brutal reign, a legend’s promised savior. Fearful, Queen Karid has the suspect captured, condemned and sentenced to an eternity alone.

A condemned dragonspawn:

Born of man and magick, cursed at birth by his terrified mother, a young
dragonspawn is branded a demon, a threat to Quondam’s queen, and sentenced to a millennium of solitude. His only freedom now found in dreams, he searches among a universe of sleepers for a woman born beneath the sign of the dragon, a woman believed to hold the key to his release.

And the woman thrust between them:

Her family and homeland destroyed by an otherworldly assassin’s fire, Cwen of Aaradan, niece of the Dragon Queen, escapes through a mysterious portal into Quondam. There, Cwen discovers her fate and an imprisoned dragonspawn’s are intertwined in ways that will drag her, heartbroken and vengeful, into the midst of a devastating war.

 

About the author:

Jayel Gibson is the author of the Ancient Mirrors fantasy series. The book featured here is the fourth and final installment in her series.

 

From the tip of her Marto of Spain sword to the hem of her fifteenth century reproduction Italian gown, her effervescent enthusiasm encourages a belief in enchantment.  A student of Celtic history, folklore, and faith, she spins the magic of timeless adventure throughout her tapestry of tales.  Gibson has led the way in the newly dubbed “sci-fi chick lit” genre with her fantasy fiction books featuring women who are not afraid to fight off evil and save their ancient world.  Gibson lives on the Oregon coast with her husband, Ken.  They share their home with a Molluccan cockatoo and five sugar gliders.  She is currently at work on her next book. 

 

To learn more about this exciting fantasy series, visit: http://www.ancientmirrors.com

 

Sam’s Dot Publishing Update

by Tyree Campbell

 

Hello, and welcome to the Expressions portion of our monthly update. One of the exclusives that Expressions Newsletter presents is the announcement of the James B. Baker Award winners. This annual award, called the James, is bestowed upon the creators of the best short story, poem, art piece, and article published by Sam's Dot Publishing. Inasmuch as SDP publishes several hundred pieces annually, being nominated for a James represents a considerable achievement.

 

Let us review, therefore, the nominees:

 

Short Story

The Martian Wave: Oh, Mallary! by Rick Novy

The Fifth Di...: Portrait of a Weeping Soldier, by John Bushore

Aoife's Kiss: 416175, by Laura Sanger Kelly

Champagne Shivers: Gray, by Tom Moran

KidVisions: Eli #7, by Angela Hunt

Beyond Centauri: A Charcoal Exchange, by Kurt Kirchmeier

Scifaikuest: Haibun, by Lisa Bradley

Sounds of the Night: Cutbank Over Polecat, by Gwyn Henry

Hungur Magazine: Singer, by Melissa Mead

Between Kisses: Siren of Rain, by Edward Cox

 

Poem

The Martian Wave: Sagan's Seed, by Theodora Fair

The Fifth Di...: Patriot's Day, by Marge Simon

Aoife's Kiss: The Delicate Nature of Poisons, by Leah Bobet

Champagne Shivers: Transformation, by Lane Adamson

KidVisions: In the Fall, by Robert E. Porter

Beyond Centauri: The End of Magic, by Amy M. Smith

Scifaikuest: Long Slumber scifaiku, by Drew Morse

Sounds of the Night: Night Call, by Janet Butler

Hungur Magazine: Star Gypsies, by Marcie Lynn Tentchoff

Illumen: Clear Blue Skies, by CP Campbell

Between Kisses: They Came from the Sky, by Ed Higgins

Expressions Newsletter: Neck Traction, by Michael Lee Johnson

 

Art/Illustration

The Martian Wave: At Twilight, by Laura Givens

The Fifth Di...: After the Fall, by Mitchell Davidson Bentley

Aoife's Kiss: Dragon Brothers, by Laura Pinelli Brown

Champagne Shivers: Fortuneteller, by Tom Moran

KidVisions: Best Friends, by Ron Leming

Beyond Centauri: Game Over, by Mitchell Davidson Bentley

Scifaikuest: Futura, by Lawrence Hollien

Sounds of the Night: Candle Dream, by Marge Simon

Hungur Magazine: Captured, by Teresa Tunaley

Illumen: Masked Girl Interprets the Signs, by Chamindika Wanduragala

 

Article

Aoife's Kiss: The Guardener's Tale, reviewed by Edward Cox

KidVisions: Dung, It's What's for Dinner, by Tara Robbins

Beyond Centauri: Fairy Conservation, by Mary Cook

Scifaikuest: Rhyme in Haiku, by J. Bruce Fuller

Hungur Magazine: Unusual Vampire Lore, by Scott Virtes

Illumen: Illuminating the Prose Poem, by Bruce Boston

 

And now the decisions, rendered by our anonymous judge whose identity will be revealed presently:

 

In the category of short story, the winner is:

416175, by Laura Sanger Kelly

 

In the category of poem, the winner is:

They Came from the Sky, by Ed Higgins

 

In the category of art, the winner is:

Best Friends, by Ron Leming

 

In the category of article, the winner is:

Unusual Vampire Lore, by Scott Virtes

 

Congratulations to these four, and to the nominees, and to everyone who was published in SDP in 2007.

 

We award each winner a trophy--and these will be mailed out at the end of May.

 

The judge this year was David Lee Summers, the Rootin' Tootin' Editor of Tales of the Talisman, a subscription to which is always a good idea. David was last seen at NorwestCon, and you can probably catch him at other conventions in the Southwest [CopperCon and BuboniCon, to name two possibles . . . ].

 

Moving right along . . .

 

The Walpurgisnacht 2008 issue of HUNGUR MAGAZINE is now available from The Genre Mall. Featuring the works of David Lee Summers, Valerie Cunningham, Dev Jarrett, Ann K. Schwader, and many more, this issue abounds with tales of the Other world and Other Worlds. And check out the killer cover art by Dan Skinner! To order your copy, or better yet, a subscription, just click on the cover icon below.

 

 

Continuing in that vein [pun intended], Sam's Dot Publishing is pleased to announce the release of Cover of Darkness 2008, a perfect bound magazine anthology featuring dark urban fantasy and horror and killer cover art by Bruce Boston. The feature writer in this issue is Stoker Award winner Scott Nicholson [of "The Farm" and "They Hunger"], who contributed his "Beggar's Velvet." Other writers include Michael Merriam, L. Catherine Rollosson, Tyree Campbell, Cathy Buburuz, David Kopaska-Merkel, Pam Clements, and many more! Helpful hint: read this publication with all the lights on. To order your copy today, click on the cover icon below.

 

 

Switching over to an artery, Sam's Dot is also pleased to announce the publication of a collaborative effort by David Lee Summers [he of the aforementioned Talisman] and Lee Clark Zumpe, who has rediscovered his love of writing late at night [having a newborn in the house contributes to insomnia, don't you know?]. Titled Blood Sampler: Subtle Sips and Spicy Shots, and with some fantastic art and cover by Caroline O'Neal, this volume contains flashfic vampire tales that fit everywhere between Typo O positive and Type AB negative. This publication is still in print stage, and probably will not be available until the middle of May, but we are accepting pre-orders. Featured below is the art cover icon. To order your transfusion, just sink your teeth into it.

 

 

But wait! There's more!

 

Last year we started something called the Infradead Project. It was to be a themed anthology of novella-length stories, and poems--the full title was INFRADEAD: Tales of Human Extinction. Unfortunately, we did not receive submissions that were suitable to what we wanted, so we closed the project to revamp it. It has now been revamped. We are reopening to submissions on 1 May 2008. The editors are Tyree Campbell, J Alan Erwine, and Scott Virtes. Guidelines can be found at http://samsdotpublishing.com/infradead. Please read them carefully, and give us your best shot.

 

And finally, we have yet another project going--an anthology of short stories and poems, titled The Book of Tentacles. The editors are Scott Virtes, Edward Cox, and Susan R. Campbell. We're looking for science fiction, fantasy, and horror stories and poems that are in some way associated with tentacles. Guidelines can be found at http://samsdotpublishing.com/tentacles.htm. Please read them carefully, and show us whatcha got.

Now, then: Sam's Dot has more going on. Just go to this link when you're done with Expressions: http://www.samsdotpublishing.com/currentevents.htm

 

See you next month.

 

Tyree Campbell

Managing Editor

Sam's Dot Publishing

 

Paying Markets

 

BRAND

Pays £30 per contributor plus a free copy of the magazine

 

BRAND is published twice a year. We focus on the short form (no extracts please) and are looking for writing that takes risks; has a strong voice; is engaged and challenging. We welcome international work and translations.

 

We publish:

·        Short stories (max. 2,500 words)

·        Short plays or performance texts (max. 10 minutes)

·        Micro-fiction (send up to three pieces)

·        Poetry (send up to three poems and max of 40 lines each)

·        Creative non-fiction (max 2,500 words)

·        Artwork (send up to three pieces).

Send only one item per genre for stories, plays, creative non-fiction and please make sure your name, e-mail and phone number are on every page. For house style you can refer to the current edition of BRAND. Please send your submissions (two copies) to:

Michael Langan
Managing Editor, BRAND
King William Building
University of Greenwich
Park Row, London SE10 9LS.
Note: E-mail submissions will not be considered.

Winter issue deadline: 31st September

We currently pay £30 per contributor plus a free copy of the magazine.

 

Note: We are only publishing work that has not been published before in the United Kingdom

 

Any queries e-mail:  info(at)brandliterarymagazine.co.uk

BRAND Literary Magazine © 2007 ISSN:1754-0593

 

Dead Jester Press

All Net Profits to be Shared with Contributors

Reading Period Closes July 29, 2008

 

Anthology Guidelines

Working title: The Crossroads Theater

Editor: Rodney J. Smith

 

Dead Jester Press is seeking high-quality works of dark fiction for inclusion in its debut anthology.

The Crossroads Theater will feature stories from varied time periods and settings -- from the urban to the fantastic, and all the weird places between.
Theater won't be your ordinary anthology; it will present its collected stories in a new and unique way.

 

General guidelines

Stories should be dark and/or surreal; they need not be full-blown 'horror', but they must contain creepy/unsettling narratives. Stories focusing on evil deeds in disturbing places are especially sought.

Open to all settings/periods (and hope to see a wide variety of time periods), however please note that no story should date later than the 1980s-90s. They can take place as far back as you care to go, but stories set in the future won't fit the book's overall framework.

Stories must be written in third-person for the same reason. Omniscient narration is preferred.

People and places can be as weird and fanciful as you please, but they must be 'real' within the story (ie. not merely a character's delusion/hallucination).
Length should be between 500 and 7000 words.

No reprints. No poetry. No multiple or simultaneous submissions, please.
And NO vampires. Seriously.

Rights
Exclusive Worldwide Print rights for 1 year from date of publication, and non-exclusive Print rights thereafter.

 

Payment
All net profits will be shared with contributors, for as long as the book is commercially available.

 

Deadline
The reading period closes July 29, 2008. Publication is tentatively expected to be late 2008.

 

Response Time
All decisions will be made on or by July 31, 2008.

 

Submitting
Send all submissions as .doc or .rtf attachments to submissions[at]deadjesterpress.com. Stories should be in standard manuscript format. Please don't, however, put two spaces after each sentence.


Questions? Send to: editor[at]deadjesterpress.com

 

DesiLit

Pays $100/Story

 

Editors:

·        Anita Kesavan, Senior Editor

·        Anjali Goyal

·        Lakshmi Juneja

 

About Us

DesiLit magazine, an online journal of South Asian writing and art, seeks original and innovative works of fiction that capture the essence of South Asia or its diaspora, as well as pieces inspired by South Asia.

 

What We Want

·        We want to publish fiction that pushes the boundaries of current South Asian literature. We are interested in writers that transcend traditional "literary" or "genre" fiction, and seek new and hybrid forms of creating insightful and innovative fiction.

·        We want fiction that is simultaneously entertaining and enlightening; that experiments with language and form as long as the story is more than just a pile of pretty or inventive words or a creative gimmick.

·        We seek fiction without an agenda, fiction whose purpose exists beyond spreading a particular message or political viewpoint. However, we encourage you to explore politics in your fiction as long as the subject matter is treated in a sensitive and complex manner. What we do not wish to publish is "message art."

We accept all types of stories, including excerpts from longer pieces, i.e. a chapter from a novel, but it must stand alone as a complete work. We will not publish incomplete stories. We strongly prefer stories under 5000 words, but will consider longer pieces. There is no minimum word requirement. We pay a flat fee of $100 per piece.

 

How to Submit

 

To submit, send your story both as a MS Word attachment and in plain text format in the body of an email to fiction@desilit.org  Please include your complete contact information with email address, phone number, and a short bio about yourself (around 100 words), including previous publications if applicable. In the subject line of your email please use the following caption: Fiction Submission: [Insert Your Story Title]. We accept simultaneous submissions provided that you let us know immediately if it has been accepted for publication elsewhere. All submissions must be original and previously unpublished. Submissions are accepted on a rolling basis, and the editorial board reserves sole discretion to choose publication date.

 

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine

(Pays 5 to 8 Cents/Word or Higher)

Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine welcomes submissions from both new and established writers. We publish every kind of mystery short story: the psychological suspense tale, the deductive puzzle, the private eye case-the gamut of crime and detection from the realistic (including the policeman's lot and stories of police procedure) to the more imaginative (including "locked rooms" and "impossible crimes"). We need hard-boiled stories as well as "cozies," but we are not interested in explicit sex or violence. We do not want true detective or crime stories. With the exception of a regular book review column and a mystery crossword, EQMM publishes only fiction. We are especially happy to review first stories by authors who have never before published fiction professionally. First-story submissions should be addressed to EQMM's Department of First Stories.

 

EQMM has been in continuous publication since 1941. From the beginning three general criteria have been employed in evaluating submissions: We look for strong writing, an original and exciting plot, and professional craftsmanship. We encourage writers whose work meets these general criteria to read an issue of EQMM before making a submission. EQMM's range in the mystery genre is extensive: Almost any story that involves crime or the threat of crime comes within our purview. However, like all magazines, EQMM has a distinctive tone and style and you can only get a sense of whether your work will suit us by reading an issue. To receive a sample copy send a check or money order for $5.00 to the address below.

EQMM uses stories of almost every length. 2,500-8,000 words is the preferred range, but we occasionally use stories of up to 12,000 words and we feature one or two short novels (up to 20,000 words) each year, although these spaces are usually reserved for established writers. Shorter stories are also considered, including minute mysteries of as little as 250 words. Our rates for original stories are from 5 to 8 ¢ a word, sometimes higher for established authors. EQMM does not accept stories previously published in the United States.

 

It is not necessary to query EQMM as to subject matter or to ask permission to submit a story. All manuscripts should be printed on one side of the paper and double-spaced. If you would like the manuscript returned in the event that we cannot use it, please enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope of suitable size. If you do not want the manuscript returned, please indicate this and enclose a self-addressed stamped envelope for a reply; if you live outside the U.S., please use International Postal Reply coupons for return postage.

 

We regret that we cannot provide criticism with returned stories. Response time is up to three months.

 

Manuscripts should be sent to:
Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine
475 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10016

USA

 

Espresso Fiction

Pays $30/Story

(Publishes Stories & Flash Fiction)

 

Can you write a great short story? Something that will captivate our busy subscribers?

If so, we’d love to hear from you. We are ALWAYS looking for entertaining stories. We want stories that challenge, intrigue, provoke, stimulate and resonate. Our subscribers enjoy reading fiction but rarely find time to read a novel or go looking for interesting short stories. If the story that we send them is the only bit of fiction they read all week, it has to be a great read - satisfying, refreshing, just like a good cup of coffee.


What are we looking for?

We are expanding into different markets and now require a broader range of fiction, including fiction for children.

Stories will be classified under 5 brands:

 

Bubacino (suitable for 7-12 years) – stories must be between 1,000-2,000 words. The stories for this group can cover a range of genres and topics (such as humor, fantasy, adventure etc) but no heavily moralistic or didactic stories will be accepted. The stories must primarily be entertaining. This does not limit submissions to those that are purely humorous but all stories should appeal to the child’s sense of fun, their need for adventure, and their desire to make sense of the world around them.

Requirements for stories

·        Must be strong on adventure

·        Need to be about the reader’s world or a world that they can believe in

·        Readers have to be able to find ‘themselves’ in the story

·        The voice telling the story has to sound like a person close to their age

·        Have a storyline that is intrinsically interesting

·        Reader needs to be able to see what is going on, story can’t be too mysterious.

 

Hot Chocolate (13-17 years) – stories in this category must be between 1,000-2,500 words. Again the preference here is for stories that are entertaining rather than instructional.

Requirements for stories

·        This age group can observe things happening to others but still have to be able to relate to the story

·        Stories can be a bit more mysterious than for younger readers

·        Deal with problems that this age group face, either directly in everyday stories or indirectly through different genres like science fiction, horror, fantasy etc.

·        Must be pitched so that the reader feels they are being treated as an equal.

 

Mocha (18-24 years) and Espresso (25+ years) - the word count is between 1,000-3,500 words. For this category we will consider ANY genre (except science fiction or fantasy) as long as it is WELL WRITTEN and ENGAGING.

We want to publish something different each week - we don't want all stories about relationships or children or all set in one particular country - a bit of everything is the idea, just like if you choose novels to read (although some people do choose the same genre each time, we are catering to the general market rather than specific categories at this stage).

 

Short Black (18+ years) – Flash fiction - the word count is 200 words or less. The aim of this category is to provide satisfying and entertaining snippets that people can read while they wait for something (could be a plane or bus or bank teller or child etc).

You can submit up to 3 stories in one category at any time.

To get a feel for the quality we want, REGISTER with us and we will email you two espresso stories that have already been published. You can also fill in your details on the sample story page to receive ‘Wheels’.

What’s in it for you?

*Feedback
At the bottom of each email story, readers are asked to vote on the story and make comments. Subscribers can also discuss each week’s story through our discussion board. Voting results and any feedback we receive will be forwarded to you approximately three weeks after your story is sent to subscribers.

*Payment
As of 30 September 2003, we are paying a flat rate of US$30 per story published. Payment is via Paypal. This flat rate replaces our commission based structure. Once we get our subscription numbers up then we will go back to the commission arrangement. For more details on how this will work, click on the rights and conditions link on the registration page (click on the icon below to enter your details and register).

*Membership
Published authors also receive a FREE 6 month Double Shot Membership to espresso FICTION™ valued at US$149.70. If your story is selected you are also eligible for all the existing member bonuses available at the time you story is accepted. If you subscribe to espresso FICTION™ and then have a story accepted for publication, we’ll give you a FREE 6 months Double Shot subscription bonus on top of your existing subscription.

Is that it?

As well as publishing e-books of past stories, we are also planning to publish and distribute stories offline and will use previously published online stories for this.


When will you hear from us?

After you submit a story you should receive an email confirmation. If you do not then either our email is not getting through your spam filters or the story was not lodged into our system.

 

Our normal turnaround time for evaluating stories is between 4-6 weeks. If after submitting a story, you haven’t heard on the status of your story within that time, let us know by sending an email to editor@espressofiction.com 

What else do you have to do?

If your story is chosen, we want to know all about YOU. Well, not everything but you will need to fill in a questionnaire about yourself and your story so our subscription members can read it online.

Got any suggestions on how we can improve our site?

Let us know. We'd like to hear what you have to say. Please email us at suggestions@espressofiction.com

 

 

Fictitious Force

(Pays $5/Story unless you’ve won a Hugo)

 

Only unpublished work will be accepted.

No simultaneous submissions.

Speculative fiction means it must have a speculative element. We can get creative in finding one from time to time, but there's gotta be a thread for us to hang on. While we're on the subject of genres and fields... after two years, we can tell you that military sf and any straight horror will have the devil's own time swimming to the top of the sludge. No offense - we like shooting sentient beings and getting the slush scared out of us as much as the next editors. Our parole officers have put some limits on what we do is all. That limitation bothers us less than the anklets...

To submit, paste your dulcet prose into a clunky email to book laden(at)gmail.com, or attach a file.

Don't worry about formatting. Your story's inner beauty will overcome the ugly outer shell we've imposed upon it.

If we accept your story for publication, we may request it be sent in standard manuscript format, except that the editors prefer Times New Roman to other fonts. Fie on Courier!

We will accept multiple submissions from the same author. Do realize that we're exceedingly unlikely to accept more than one story from you for an issue. (Ignore issue #4, you fool. I've never known how exceptions could possibly prove rules, but pretend for a moment that this one does.)

Lengths: All lengths are in actual Microsoft Word word count. By fiat of the management.

Featured Stories for the magazine: 2,000-7,500 words. 1 cent/word. It's a token payment. More than we can afford, less than you deserve. Welcome to the worst of both worlds.

Short-shorts used to fill the space between featured stories in the magazine: up to 1,999 words (preferred length under 750 words). $5. Unless you've won a Hugo. Then we'll negotiate. (The current premium for Hugo and Nebula winners is $.91. Given recent experiences with those scurvy dogs, we're thinking of charging them for the privilege of entering our pages.)

Neglected Novellas and Nebulous Novelettes for the website: Fugget about it, for now. We haven't quite found the free time and inclination to move into the realm of virtual magazining in a big way. Dirty ink and tree pulp for us luddite sciffies, every time.

If your 2,000-7,500 word story is accepted by us, we won't ask you to tell us about who you're dating, where you grew up, or any of that "David Copperfield crap." Our readers care about your writing not about you. Hey, it's a cold cruel world, we thought we should be the first to let you know. So, since we care about your writing - and specifically about your writing of the story printed in Fictitious Force - you will be required to provide a short essay, 250-500 words, about your story. What inspired you to write it, what difficulties did you have along the way, what superstitious rituals keep you writing and succeeding.

Email your story to book laden(at)gmail.com.

Flash Fiction Online

Pays $50/Story

 

As of 3/25/2008, we are no longer accepting submissions for stories of fewer than 500 words. All submissions must be between 500 and 1,100 words. (Stories of greater than 1000 words, if accepted, will be edited to 1,000 words.)

 

Stories submitted before 3/25/2008 will be reviewed for possible inclusion even if they are smaller. We had originally said that we favored the high end of the flash range, and that continues, but we still may accept smaller stories for the May and June 2008 issues.

 

Also as of 3/25/2008, we will be paying a flat $50 for all stories. Since the stories we publish will range from 500-1,000 words, this implies a per-word rate of five to ten cents.

 

What We Look For

We publish stories from 500 to 1,000 words in length. We look for previously unpublished material, with the exception of our Classic Flash selections. (Classic Flash stories are old: the copyright must have expired on them. If you would like to recommend one, please email the editor.)

They’re very short, but they are still stories. That means the best ones have common characteristics.

 

Strong, interesting characters. Even in flash fiction, we want to care about the characters.

 

Plots. A goal, a conflict, a change, a realization, a death, a birth, an “a-ha!” moment—something that happens, something that matters, even if it only happens in the mind of the reader.

 

Settings. Settings are important; that said, it’s less important than the characters and plot, so we will accept stories with mundane or undescribed settings as long as the characters and plots are compelling.

You can read more about this aspect of what we’re interested in on our website.

 

We’re not that concerned about genre. Many of us, including the editor, have a fondness for science fiction and fantasy, but great flash stories aren’t always easily classified. If you wrote it, and you love it, then submit it.

We want our publication to be accessible to all ages, so please, no erotica, porn, or superfluous graphic sex or violence.

 

What To Send

 

At the moment, we only accept submissions by email. We accept Microsoft Word, rich text, and plain text attachments, as well as plain text in the body of an email.

 

Fonts, margins, and other formatting don’t matter and won’t be noticed, for better or for worse; your submission will be automatically reformatted upon opening. Only boldface, italics, and underlining will remain.

 

Send your story to submissions@flashfictiononline.com  (If that fails, use Jake’s alter ego’s email, oliverhouse@gmail.com  Some people with att.net email addresses are reporting problems.) Please include the genre of your work. This will change which readers get a first look at your story. (You don’t want someone who dislikes Westerns to read your Western flash. It won’t get a fair shake.) We only publish stories consisting of 500-1,000 words. We know that writing flash is hard; authors can submit stories of up to 1,100 words. If we are amazed by the story, we’ll work with the author to cut the extra words. (We will probably use Jake’s cutting blog to show how these stories were cut, as a good exercise in writing concise prose.) If we can’t cut it to 1,000 words, we won’t publish the story.

 

Submissions with fewer than 500 or more than 1,100 words will be deleted unread and without acknowledgment.

 

We accept multiple submissions (more than one story from you to us). We do not want simultaneous submissions (a story sent to us and other publications at the same time). We do not accept previously published works, unless the copyright has expired (for our “Classic Flash” series).

Our response times currently range from 3 – 8 weeks.

 

Payment and Rights

 

A sample contract is can be found on the website (PDF format). NOTE: it’s somewhat outdated because the editor hasn’t rewritten it to change the pay rate yet. All other aspects are correct, but it is only a sample.

 

We pay fifty dollars ($50) per story.

 

This payment provides us with first electronic rights, including HTML, PDF, plain text, and MP3 (audio) formats. Distribution will be through this Web site and a variety of other electronic means — as of this writing, we expect podcast, email, and RSS. This only means that we can publish in those formats; once we publish in one format, the author can do what she wants. For example, if we publish in HTML only, and later the author wants to publish a PDF, she maintains that right. We still have the right to create a PDF ourselves, but we have no right to stop the author from republishing.

This payment also provides us with a non-exclusive one-time right to publish the stories in a hard copy anthology. No timelines have been identified for this project.

 

All other rights for the work remain with the author.

 

 

Heliotrope Magazine

Pays 10 Cents a Word/Fiction; $50/Poem; $90/Non-Fiction

Fiction:

Heliotrope Magazine is looking for exceptional fiction that does not exceed 5,000 words. We are most interested in Science Fiction, Fantasy, Mystery and Horror. If your story is somewhere in between or is something you can’t label – we are interested in that as well. We pay $.10 ( 10 cents) a word for fiction.

Payment will be made upon publication and in U.S. currency. Any submissions received exceeding that word count will not be considered or responded to. Please do not query us with 'deals' on accepting longer pieces of fiction

Poetry:

Heliotrope Magazine will publish one poem per issue. We will pay $50 for this piece (same genres of interest apply). The poem in most cases will be
commissioned, thus if interested in submitting for future issues please contact Heliotropeditor@gmail.com for consideration.

Non-Fiction:

At times, articles will appear in Heliotrope but they will not be staples in each issue. If you have an interest in writing an article, we are looking for
opinions of 2000 words or more. The pay rate is $90 flat. Note that most such feature slots will be commissioned - we still will accept unsolicited
submissions for consideration. Feel free to query.

What We Are Paying For:

In all cases, Heliotrope is purchasing the First World Electronic Rights with 120 day exclusivity, first print rights for a series of chapbooks we will be
introducing, and anthology rights (non-exclusive). In addition, we request that the electronic version can remain permanently published in our online archives although this is negotiable.

Submission Format/Process:

-Send all submissions to Heliotropeditor@gmail.com  Any submissions sent in any other manner will simply be deleted.

- At this time we only accept electronic submissions. Please send these submissions via RTF. Please also include your publishing history/bibliography.

Do not send me a link to your website. I don't want to visit your website
- I want to read your cover letter
- You will be responded to within 30 days – please do not query before then regarding the submission.
- No simultaneous submissions please.
- If rejected, please do not resubmit another story for a period of one week after receiving said rejection. Any submissions that don’t comply will not be considered or responded to.
- If your submission is accepted you have the choice of being paid via check or Paypal and will be paid shortly prior to publication and shortly after our
contract is received back to us.

Art:

- We want to accompany both the online and print versions of Heliotrope with different art for each issue. If you are an artist motivated to gain exposure for your work and this sounds like something you be interested in, please contact Damon (who will handle this matter) at admin@fantasybookspot.com

Advertisers: For information please visit here. If you have any questions, email me heliotropeditor@gmail.com 

 

 

Horror Literature Quarterly

Pays 5+ Cents a Word

 

Horror Literature Quarterly (HLQ) is a quarterly fiction and non-fiction web based magazine. We publish three fiction stories a quarter and will begin publishing one non fiction piece per quarter in the near future. The current issue is free to read to the public and previous issues will be free to read with registration at the site. HLQ is set on publishing the best in horror fiction and horror fiction analysis, essays, and critiques. HLQ will be a web based journal and will eventually move to a print format in the coming years.

 

Submission Guidelines

 

HLQ is seeking submissions of short stories of no more than 4000 words in length. HLQ will pay rates of at least $.05 per word. We accept simultaneous submissions. We do not accept multiple submissions. We pay on acceptance with publication occurring within two quarters of acceptance unless other arrangements are made.

 

Since horror is the first word of this quarterly journal we are expecting horror stories.

 

Horror, however, is a broad term and has multiple definitions so let us tell you what we are not looking for in a submission.

 

Nothing that can be considered fantasy. If your story contains fairies, dragons, other worlds, and/or anything that can be placed in the fantasy section of a bookstore then don't submit it.

Science fiction. Both space opera and hard SF. I like reading SF but it isn't for this publication. If the main elements of your story are based around science fiction themes, characters, or plots please do not submit.

Poetry. Right now no poetry will be accepted. Though maybe in the future but right now no poetry

Reprints. We want original stories.

Stories over 4000 words. They won't even be read. And do not query for longer than 4000 word stories. We aren't entertaining publishing them at all.

 

HLQ is interested in quality stories. If you think your vampire story is good then send it along. The odds are against us accepting it. But take a chance. We are not going to say we don't want vampires, werewolves or any other cliched horror stories. There still may be some good stories out there about these genre mainstays. However, submitting a cliched topic and you fail to do something new or original or even exciting with them then expect to be turned down.

 

In general we are looking for horror, dark mystery, and dark suspense short stories. We would like stories that are creepy, chilling, disturbing, and moody. Both supernatural and psychological stories are fine. As are intelligent extreme horror stories. If you rely too much on gore or sex without developing anything else in your story it will be rejected. Violence and gore for their own sakes maybe be fun to write but they are boring to read.

 

HLQ is looking for well thought out stories, rounded characters, good plots, interesting ideas, great writing and imagination. Though plot and characters are important aspects of a good story, we also expect excellent stylistic qualities in your prose. The way those words are put together are just as important as the character development and plot. Theme is very important as well. We expect the entire package, believable characters, good plots, well crafted prose, and exploration of thematic elements

 

Non-fiction Submissions

 

Right now we are not accepting unsolicited non-fiction essays.

Response Times

We try to get to our submissions as fast as we can and still give everyone a fair shake. That being said, the Publisher also runs another business that is a priority over HLQ and at times we cannot get to submissions as regularly as we hope. Expect responses between 2 months and 6 months. Please query after 6 months.

 

Format

Please email your story as a .Doc attachment In the email body please include your contact information. This means your name, address, phone numbers you can be reached at, and your email address. Send your submission with HLQ Submission in the header to paul (at) gentlymadpress (dot) com.

 

Document Format: Please format your Word Doc with the following parameters: 11 point Garamond, 1.5 Line spacing, and .5 margins for all sides. Since we are printing out the submissions this format both conserves paper and it is easier to read.

 

Hungur Magazine

Pays $10.00/Story; $4.00/Poem; $5.00/Illustration; $12.50/Cover Art

 

HUNGUR is edited by Terrie Leigh Relf and L. A. Story Houry, and is published by Sam's Dot Publishing.

 

HUNGUR is an 8 1/2 by 11 magazine devoted to original vampire stories, poems, and illustrations, with special and extreme emphasis on alien vampires. HUNGUR is published twice a year, on All Souls Night [1 November] and on Walpurgisnacht [30 April]. The first issue will be released on All Souls Night, 2005.

 

HUNGUR is looking for original works in a rich, decadent, literary artery...er, vein. Blood may be drunk, sucked, siphoned, or otherwise imbibed, but that drinking is only tangential to the successful HUNGUR story. The relationships between characters, and especially between vampires and their milieux, are of primary importance here. It is not necessary that the vampire be killed. He, or she, may be abated, or lionized, as the writer wishes. The successful HUNGUR story considers motivations, of the vampire and his, or her, victims and pursuers, including psychological, emotional, and sociological, among others. The successful HUNGUR story seeks to understand the vampire in his or her milieux.

 

MOST IMPORTANT NOTE: The really really successful HUNGUR vampire story deals with ALIEN or EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL vampires, in whatever form, and their relationships, or lack thereof, with Earthlings. In other words, we really want to see science fiction and fantasy vampires, more than horror Earth vampires. The really really successful HUNGUR story seeks to understand the ALIEN vampire in his or her milieux.

For example: red blood is iron-based, but not all blood is red. Some, like that of arthopods, is copper-based, and greenish. What would be the effect of copper-based blood on an alien vampire? What would be the blood's nutritional value? Would it produce weaker vampires, or vampires with special skills?

 

See what I mean? And that's just one possibility . . .

 

LAST IMPORTANT NOTE: If you can set your story convincingly in Roman times, Etruscan times, or in settings of some other ancient civilizations, such as Maya, Aztec, Hittite, Egyptian, Sumerian...we'd really like to see it. Really.

 

Guidelines:

Stories for HUNGUR should be between 1500 and 4000 words long. Poems for HUNGUR should be no more than 100 lines long. Illustrations for HUNGUR must be black and white. The cover illustration for HUNGUR can be color or black and white.

 

Response Times:

Because of the length of time between publications, response times could be up to about 4 months. However, we will send you an acknowledgement of receipt of your submission within 4 days of receipt. If you haven't heard anything after seven days, query!

 

Payment:

You will be paid $10.00 for your accepted story; $4.00 for your accepted poem; $5.00 for your accepted illustration; and $12.50 for your accepted cover illustration. All payments will be made on publication, and include a contributor's copy of the issue in which your work appears.

 

How to submit:

Submit all works to hungurmagazine@yahoo.com  . Please put "HUNGUR Submission" in the subject line of your e-mail, plus the title of your work [if you don't, your submission could be deleted without notice]. All submissions must include your snail mail address and a brief [100-150 word] bio written in the third person, more about you, less about where you've been published--we're buying your story, not your bibliography.

Submit all stories as RTF attachments or in the body of the e-mail. If you submit a story in the body of the e-mail, be sure to indicate italics with underscores, like _this_, and be sure to mention any other special formatting requirements. If you submit your story as an RTF attachment, be sure to include your snail mail address and e-mail address on the attachment as well as in the submission e-mail.

 

Submit all poems in the body of the e-mail.

 

Submit illustrations as jpeg attachments. If you are submitting more than one illustration, please submit one illustration at a time, thank you.

Final note: Peeves--pet and undomesticated.

 

1. Do not send first drafts. Do not send second drafts, or fifth drafts. Send us a polished, final story. Workshop it if you wish. Have friends, Romans, and countrymen critique it if you wish. Do whatever it takes to send us your best effort, not your first effort.

 

2. Do not begin your story with "He" or "She" unless there is some clear and present reason for concealing the identity of this individual from the reader [and from the editor]. And in 99.44% of the cases, there is no such reason.

 

2a. Pronouns require . . . nay, demand . . . antecedents. Please. Do not make your editors any crazier than they already is. Are.

 

3. Do not overuse dialogue tags. A simple "he said" or "she asked" usually suffices.

 

4. Use dialogue, not conversation. Dialogue conveys information to the reader. Conversation is what you hear in a tavern. Sometimes.

 

5. Use a spellchecker. Proofread. Also, read the story aloud. Often this helps you catch errors. Better yet, have someone else read it aloud while you listen to it. This really helps you catch errors.

 

Okay, off you go. And if you have any questions about any of this, please query. The only stupid question is the one that didn't get asked.

 

 

Labyrinth Inhabitant Magazine
Pays $5/Poem & $10-$20/Story

Labyrinth Inhabitant Magazine is looking to publish well-written fiction dealing with characters who find themselves trapped in ancient, labyrinthine and/or baffling artificial environments. Relevant articles and poetry are also welcome. It's my hope that by focusing on a very specific theme, Labyrinth Inhabitant authors will create a dialogue with each other through their stories and perhaps make some original observations about humanity's relationship with our increasingly artificial world. Labyrinth Inhabitant offers $10 US via PayPal for accepted short stories over 1,500 words, $20 over 5,000 words, and $5 for poetry, articles and short-shorts. In exchange, I'd like the nonexclusive right to publish and archive your work on the Labyrinth Inhabitant website, and also the nonexclusive right to include your work in a print or web-based Labyrinth Inhabitant anthology. Reprints and simultaneous submissions are acceptable. Accepted works will be displayed freely on the site along with any author bio and links you submit, not locked behind a pay wall.

 

Send submissions to labyrinthinhabitant@gmail.com  . Query if you get no response in a month.

 

Fiction

I'd like a variety of labyrinth stories that would be categorized as science fiction, fantasy and horror. There's no firm word limit, but try to stay in the range of a short story. The central characters should live (at least for the time being) in some kind of artificial structure that they don't fully understand and which they find difficult or impossible to escape. Be imaginative in your conception of what type of labyrinth your characters might find themselves in, but please don't submit stories with no connection or only a tenuous connection to the Labyrinth Inhabitant subgenre. A good Labyrinth Inhabitant story will usually be about the characters' relationship to the setting, and will always have a setting that is memorable and interesting.

Examples of potentially good Labyrinth Inhabitant settings:

·        the ruins of an extinct advanced civilization, inhabited by the civilization's descendants who no longer know how to leave

·        an environment that seems to be designed as a trial or test for the people living inside

·        a world that is plainly a computer simulation, but which the users do not know how to turn off

·        an advanced prison or zoo, from the point of view of the people stuck inside

·        a labyrinth designed to protect some secret or valuable object hidden within

·        an inexplicable world that nonetheless seems to be governed by some consistent rules, such as The Library of Babel.

·         

Elements I would prefer not to see:

·        anything that would be more appropriately presented in a video game or role-playing game

·        fan fiction or copyrighted elements

·        blank or featureless settings

·        characters who are in a labyrinth, dungeon, fortress or other strange environment only temporarily, to execute some kind of mission

·        a sensitive, brooding guy who roams around a labyrinth for the whole story thinking about things, and then at the end he looks in a mirror and it turns out he's the minotaur. This is Labyrinth Inhabitant Magazine. I am not going to be surprised by that twist ending.