Speculative Fiction - Publications which Accept Submissions

What does speculative fiction include?

Collins dictionary describes speculative fiction as a ‘broad literary genre encompassing any fiction with supernatural, fantastical, or futuristic elements; the main three being science fiction, fantasy and horror.’ Having said that, there are a huge number of subgenres within speculative fiction. For a comprehensive list you might want to read Jill Williamson’s blog – Speculative Fiction Subgenres.

Why are some publications missing?

I deliberately chose not to include some publications. Reasons included: websites that appeared to be inactive; publications that appeared to have stopped publishing sometime in the recent past; publications that didn’t specifically mention speculative fiction; and, well, I probably just missed some.

Won’t submission details constantly change?

Yes. So, my advice is to check each publication for current submission deadlines, copyright and formatting guidelines. This list is a guide only – and one which I shall try to add to when I have the time.

How competitive is the market?

Very, so most publications advise writers to read a current issue to find out the kind of stories they prefer. Many of them have sample stories online so this isn’t as hard as it might at first appear.

A List of Publications that Accept Speculative Fiction

Albedo One – Ireland’s Magazine of speculative fiction; Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror.

Reading period	During the first month of every quarter only
Word Limit/Response time	2,500 – 8,000 words/2 – 4 months
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6 euros per 1,000 words/No
How do I submit?	Email or post
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Analog – Science Fiction and Science Fact magazine since 1930. ‘Analog remains the unparalleled literary magazine in the genre. We publish science fiction stories in which some aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse.’

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	See website/2 – 3 months
Payment to author/Fees to submit	8-10c for short fiction/No
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/Unknown
Multiple submissions	Unknown

Andromeda Spaceways – Australia’s magazine of speculative fiction. ‘We like to think of ourselves as “Australia’s Pulpiest SF Magazine,” and are proud to publish fiction, non-fiction and artwork from around the world.’

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	10,000 (20,000 if from Aus. or NZ/ < 3 months
Payment to author/Fees to submit	AUD 1c/word/No
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/No
Multiple submissions	No

Another Realm – A free monthly magazine featuring SF, fantasy and horror.

Reading period	Check their website
Word Limit/Response time	< 5,000 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	USD $25/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/Unknown
Multiple submissions	Unknown

Apex Magazine – USA. ‘Is an online prose and poetry magazine of science fiction, fantasy, horror, and mash-ups of all three. Works full of marrow and passion, stories that are twisted, strange, and beautiful. Creations where secret places and dreams are put on display.’

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	7,500 words/30 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c/word or podcast 1c word/Unknown
How do I submit?	online
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/only if solicited
Multiple submissions	No

Ares – Science Fiction, Alternative History, Fantasy, Horror, Mythology, Pulp Adventure – All subgenres and cross-genres of the above are welcome.

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	2,500 – 8,000 words/8 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	Paid but amount unknown/Unknown
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/Unknown
Multiple submissions	Unknown

Asimov – ‘From its earliest days in 1977 under the editorial direction of Isaac Asimov, Asimov’s Science Fiction Magazine has maintained the tradition of publishing the best stories, unsurpassed in modern science fiction, from award-winning authors and first-time writers alike.’

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	Between 1,000 – 20,000/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	8 – 10c/word < 7,500. 8c/word over 7,500/
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Aurealis Magazine – Australian speculative fiction magazine. Aurealis produces ten issues per year, from February to November.

Reading period	From Aus. & NZ 1.Feb – 30.Sept. All others 1.8 – 30.9
Word Limit/Response time	2,000 – 8,000 words/2 months
Payment to author/Fees to submit	$20 – $60 per 1,000 words/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Beneath Ceaseless Skies – USA. A fantasy adventure online magazine. ‘We love traditional adventure fantasy, including classics from the pulp era and the new wave of post-Tolkien fantasy.’

Reading period	During the first month of every quarter only
Word Limit/Response time	> 14,000 words/> 7 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c per word/No
How do I submit?	Email or post
Simultaneous/Reprints	Yes/No
Multiple submissions	No

Challenger – is an amateur publication for science fiction fandom – a fanzine.

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	Unknown/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	No/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Clarkesworld – is a monthly science fiction and fantasy magazine.

Reading period	See website
Word Limit/Response time	1,000 – 16,000 words/2 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	5c < 5,000 words. 8c over 5,000 words/No
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores – Sci fi, Fantasy, Myths, Legends, Fairy Tales.

Reading period	Four times per year – see website for periods
Word Limit/Response time	Flash < 1,000. Anything above/1-12 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c per word. 2c per word reprints/Unknown
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/Yes
Multiple submissions	No

Daily Science Fiction – ‘is a professional publication of science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, and more.’

Reading period	During the first month of every quarter only
Word Limit/Response time	100 – 1,500 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	8c per word/Unknown
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No (flash series of 3 or more on the same theme OK)

Diabolical Plots ‘is a Sci-fi/Fantasy zine that covers virtually every media related to the genre from books to movies to video games.‘

Reading period	Check the website (will be open July 2018)
Word Limit/Response time	< 3,500 words/30 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	8c per word/No
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	< 2 submissions

Escape Artists publishes over 200 speculative fiction stories a year in digital print and audio; most episodes lasting 30 minutes. EscapePod produces science fiction, PseudoPod publishes horror and PodCastle publishes fantasy.

Reading period	Check the website for each genre guidelines
Word Limit/Response time	1,500 – 6,000 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c per word + $100 for reprints/No
How do I submit?	Submittable
Simultaneous/Reprints	Yes/Yes
Multiple submissions	No

Fantasy and Science Fiction – ‘We are looking for stories that will appeal to science fiction and fantasy readers.’

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	< 25,000 words/8 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	7 – 12c per word/Unknown
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Galaxy Edge – Galaxy’s Edge is a bi-monthly online magazine published every January, March, May, July, September and November. They accept sci fi and fantasy but not horror.

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	< 7,000 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	7c per word/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Giganotosaurus – webzine that ‘publishes one longish fantasy or science fiction story monthly‘.

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	5,000 – 25,000 words/30 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	$100 per story/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

GUD – (USA) is published twice a year. It accepts many genres, including speculative fiction.

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	20 – 15,000 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	Writers get a cut of sales/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Heroic Fantasy Quarterly – They are a ‘quarterly ezine dedicated to publishing heroic fantasy‘.

Reading period	March, June, September and December
Word Limit/Response time	< 10,000 words/60 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	$100 or $25 if less than 1,000 words/Unknown
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/Invitation only
Multiple submissions	Unknown

InterGalactic Medicine Show is an online fantasy and science fiction magazine. ‘We are a bi-monthly publication featuring content from both established as well as talented new authors.’

Reading period	During the first month of every quarter only
Word Limit/Response time	< 17,500 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c per word/Unknown
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/Unknown
Multiple submissions	No

Interzone (UK) – ‘The speculative fiction magazine is regularly shortlisted for prestigious awards, and is a winner of the Hugo and British Fantasy Awards. Many of its stories have also won awards and/or reprints in various Year’s Best anthologies.’ Interzone also publishes Black Static – dark/horror stories; submissions via submittable on Interzone.

Reading period	Check their website – rolling
Word Limit/Response time	< 10,000 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6 euros per 1,000 words/No
How do I submit?	Online system
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Kasma Magazine – (Canadian) A free, monthly online magazine of speculative fiction.

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	2,500 – 8,000 words/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	Canadian $25 flat rate/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown/Unknown
Multiple submissions	Unknown

Lightspeed – is a science fiction and fantasy magazine. Currently closed.

Reading period	Check their website – they were closed
Word Limit/Response time	Unknown/Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	Unknown/Unknown
How do I submit?	Unknown
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown
Multiple submissions	Unknown

Mad Scientist Journal – They are looking for science fiction, fantasy and horror. ‘We are committed to publishing work by authors belonging to marginalised groups.’

Reading period	Check website for limited reading periods
Word Limit/Response time	500 – 8,000 words/after 1 month email them
Payment to author/Fees to submit	Between $10 – $20, reprints are less/Unknown
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/Yes
Multiple submissions	Yes

PseudoPod and PodCastle – see Escape Artists. PseudoPod is looking for horror. PodCastle accept fantasy.

Shimmer – ‘We publish contemporary fantasy short stories, with a few ventures into science fiction or horror, and the stories tend to be tinged with sorrow (though we’re not averse to the occasional funny tale).‘

Reading period	Check their website
Word Limit/Response time	7,500 words/2 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	5c per word/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Space and Time Magazine – has been going since 1966. The magazine is published 4 times a year. and is looking for SF, fantasy and horror.

Reading period	Check their website – currently closed
Word Limit/Response time	They prefer 500 – 7,500 words/3 – 4 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	1 penny per word/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/Query first
Multiple submissions	No

Strange Horizons – is a weekly magazine. They publish speculative fiction. ‘Our definition of speculative fiction includes science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and all other flavors of fantastika.‘

Reading period	Between Mon and Tues every week – see website
Word Limit/Response time	< 10,000 words – under 5,000 preferred/< 40 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	8c per word/No
How do I submit?	Moksha
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	Wait 7 days before submitting again

The Dark – an online magazine published monthly. They are looking for horror and dark fantasy, but not gore.

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	2,000 – 6,000 words/< 1 month but usually 24hrs
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c per word and 1c per word if reprints/
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/Yes but only from established print markets
Multiple submissions	No

The Magazine of Science Fiction and Fantasy – Founded in 1949 it is an award-winning bi-monthly SF magazine. ‘We prefer character-oriented stories. We receive a lot of fantasy fiction, but never enough science fiction or humor.’

Reading period	Rolling
Word Limit/Response time	25,000 words/8 weeks
Payment to author/Fees to submit	7 – 12c per word/No
How do I submit?	Email or post
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Uncanny Magazine – ‘is an online Science Fiction and Fantasy magazine featuring passionate SF/F fiction and poetry, gorgeous prose, provocative nonfiction, and a deep investment in the diverse SF/F culture.‘

Reading period	Check their website
Word Limit/Response time	750 – 6,000 words/< 45 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	8c per word/No
How do I submit?	Online
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/No
Multiple submissions	No

Waylines – ‘publishes original speculative fiction – from science fiction to fantasy, from the wonderful to the weird (and all the way to the weirdly wonderful). And we show short films!‘

Reading period	Check their website
Word Limit/Response time	1 – 6,000 words/30 days
Payment to author/Fees to submit	6c per word/No
How do I submit?	Email
Simultaneous/Reprints	No/Unknown
Multiple submissions	No

Weird Tales – Began publishing in 1923. Their facebook page looks active but I can’t find any details about submitting from the website.

Reading period	Check the website
Word Limit/Response time	Unknown
Payment to author/Fees to submit	Unknown
How do I submit?	Unknown
Simultaneous/Reprints	Unknown
Multiple submissions	Unknown