10 Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions NOW — Paying Markets
Here are ten literary magazines currently open to submissions of speculative fiction and poetry. They are seeking a wide variety of subgenres: Cyberpunk, Steampunk, Dark Fantasy, Horror, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Myth, Folklore, Surrealism, Slipstream, and Weird Fiction.
All of these are paying markets. Some accept reprints. None charge a submission fee.
For an extensive list of paying markets organized by genre see: Paying Markets.
_____________________
The Society of Misfit Stories. Genre: All speculative genres (horror, fantasy, science fiction, slipstream, steampunk, magical realism, etc.), as well as mysteries, thrillers, and action-adventure stories. Stories should be between 5,000–20,000 words in length. Payment: Previously published short stories: $25. Original, unpublished short stories: $50. Reprints accepted.
Grandpa’s Deep-Space Diner. Genre: Speculative food stories. “Whether you’re growing your produce in a magical garden, storing your rations in your lunar bunker, or enjoying a delightful picnic in the outer rings of Saturn, we want your speculative fiction food stories!” Payment: $5 per thousand words. Deadline: Open until filled. Reprints accepted.
Phantasmical Contraptions. Genre: Steampunk, Dieselpunk, Decopunk, Biopunk, Steelpunk, Islandpunk, all kinds of punk. Story lengths should be anywhere from flash-length to about 15k words. Payment: $5 per thousand words. Deadline: Open until filled. Reprints accepted.
The Were-Traveler: Curst & Twysted Tarot. Genre: Short fiction based on a Tarot card image. Length: 750–2,500 words. Payment: $10 for flash, $15 for short stories. Deadline: Open until filled.
A Coup of Owls. Genre: Fiction: All genres, styles and themes. “We especially love stories that are outside the box in their telling. Ambiguous endings? Non-linear storytelling? Antagonist’s point-of-view? A story told in just one scene? We love it all. Payment: Flash — £5; Short Stories 1001 to 4000 words — £10; Short Stories 4001 to 8000 words — £15. Deadline: Open until filled.
Creepy Podcast. Genre: Horror. (Audio format) “We want to be scared. We want to see what kind of darkness you have at your fingertips.” Length: Under 3,000 words. Payment: Not specified.
Penumbric. Genre: Fiction, poetry, illustration, graphic narrative, animation, music, or combinations of these. “Penumbric is an online magazine dedicated to riding that ever-changing edge of new and original fiction and art and sound and everything into tomorrow. To us, this edge is best exemplified by two things: speculative works that look at our world (or other worlds) in new ways, whether that be peering into the future, a look sideways at an alternative or fantastic past or present, or a hard stare into the face of horror or madness (does that sound like old eps of The Twilight Zone? Well, if that’s the comparison, I’m fine with that) a diversity of viewpoints, representing not only multiple cultures but subcultures, exploring issues of race, ethnicity, gender, and orientation.” Payment: $10.
The Arcanist. Genre: Fantasy, sci-fi, and horror flash fiction. Length: Up to 1,000 words. “We are open to simultaneous submissions. Please do not send more than one story to us at a time. As soon as a story is accepted or rejected, feel free to send us another. Stories should be actual stories. They need to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. We do not publish poetry, non-fiction essays, or anything that isn’t a proper flash fiction story.” Payment: 10 cents/word.
StarShipSofa. Genre: Science-fiction. “From the soft, social science fiction to the weird pulpy stuff to the vigorous hard SF and YA adventure. We welcome all sub-genres and all variety of punks in all their colours. From high-octane action to quiet philosophical stories, we’re after it all. Science fiction is a rich and diverse genre, push it’s boundaries as far as you can go.” Audio format. Payment: $50. Reprints accepted.
The Vanishing Point. Genre: Speculative Fiction. “Welcome to the Vanishing Point, that place on the horizon where the lines of reality and imagination intersect. In that place is a promise of excitement, dread, intrigue and suspense. The Vanishing Point is a literary magazine for works that bend reality. Horror, Sci-fi, Dark Fantasy, and all things speculative are welcome here.” Length: 1500 to 6000 words. Payment: $25.
Like this article? For more articles about the publishing world, useful tips on how to get an agent, agents who are looking for clients, how to market and promote your work, building your online platform, how to get reviews, self-publishing, as well as publishers accepting manuscripts directly from writers (no agent required) visit Publishing and Other Forms of Insanity.
