Pro SF/F mags for November 2021 (w/ some into early Dec)

As ever, cobbled together from the SFWA market list, the Submission Grinder, and the markets' posted guidelines. Some more this time!

Apex

Open: now
Format: Shunn Standard Manuscript Format (https://www.shunn.net/format/story/). Use .docx.
Cover letter: they want one
Submissions: no simultaneous, no multiple
Length: 7,500 words max
Payment: $.08; minimum of $50
Preferences:

• “Mind-bending short fiction,” dark and spectacular
• Emphasizes top pros in field

Query: try to respond within 30 days

Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Open: now, according to SFWA
Format: Standard Manuscript Format, with name, address, and email on the first page, and running header with last name, title, and pg # on every subsequent page. Attachment should NOT be .docx but .doc or .rtf. Paste the manuscript into the email if those don’t work. Send to submissions@beneath-ceaseless-skies.com with subject line Submission: [Title].
Cover letter: type cover letter into the body of email and mention title of story.
Submissions: no multiple; simultaneous is okay if you state it in the cover letter and withdraw if you get accepted/choose to go with another market.
Length: 15,000 words max
Payment: $.08
Preferences:

• Emphasizes new and/or unpublished writers
• Lots, but core: stories w/ a secondary world setting and some fantasy feel, with a literary approach
• Secondary world w/ qualities bearing on the setting + no urban fantasy or modern/futuristic tech
• Focus on characters
• “Literary but readable”
• Close/limited POV preferred
• Originality; don’t want familiar tropes
• Nothing beyond “R” and no sex/sadistic violence be acted upon children
• Fairy tales/fables don’t really work for them
• No famous people unless it’s really different
• Humor is hit and miss

Query: check slush updates

Brave New Worlds

Open: until 31 Dec
Format: attachment w/ the title of the story as the file name in .doc or .docx. The header of the email should include the name of the anthology the submission is for (i.e., Brave New Worlds), along with the title of the submission. The content of the email should also include the anthology. Manuscript format: double-spaced, 12 pt font, standard margins, numbered pages, Times New Roman, w/ the title, author’s name, address, email, word count, and pseudonym on the first page. Italics and bold should be marked by italics and bold.
Cover letter: ?
Submissions: multiple is fine (as many as you like), simultaneous—?
Length: no more than 7,500 words
Payment: .08/word advance + royalties
Preferences:

• Science fiction stories set along the pathway of us leaving Earth for the stars. Stories can be set during our departure from Earth, on the long journey to reach a new planet, or upon arrival at said planet. Generation ship or colony ship stories are allowed, as well as terraforming stories once the new planet is reached. Stories featuring the human element to these types of journeys will receive more attention than strictly plot-based stories. Be creative and come up with an unusual and unexpected take on this “pathway to the stars” story. They’re looking for a range of tones, from humorous all the way up to dark.

Query: ?

Cast of Wonders

Open: 15 Nov-20 Dec
Format: here; it’s customized to the podcast—in particular, no identifying information in body, headers, and file name; word, Google Docs, or .rtf. No pdfs!
Cover letter: please do not supply a full covering letter or summary of the story, either on the submission form or the manuscript. The information we’re after includes: reprint information (if applicable), if the author is a Young Author or previously unpublished, if the author is part of an under-represented demographic, if the story is #ownvoices, or if it skirts our content guidelines in any way/touches on sensitive topics. For this last point, this allows us to assign appropriate readers. We’d also ask that you don’t include any identifying personal information here.
Submissions: reprints are fine; no multiple submissions, but simultaneous is fine unless the specific submission call says otherwise—just let them know if you get accepted elsewhere.
Length: maximum of 6,000 words; preference for 3,000-4,500 for short stories and under 1000 for flash fiction.
Payment: .08/word for original of any length; $100 for short fiction reprint, $20 for flash fiction reprint.
Preferences:

• Intersectional feminist YA podcast
• 12-17 age range: sophisticated, non-condescending stories with wide appeal, and without gratuitous or explicit sex, violence or pervasive obscene language.
• Audio format, so there’s no skimming past boring bits; strong pacing, well-defined characters, engaging dialogue, and clear action.
• We like a proper narrative structure and a prose style not laden with clichés and over-worn idioms. We like fiction that makes us think, but the main elements should be thrilling entertainment, adventure and emotional connection.
• We like all forms of fantasy — high, modern, urban, alternative history, etc. We’re less fond of the complex, intricate or cerebral forms of fantasy more common in novel markets; short stories rarely offer enough room to sufficiently develop.
• We like all forms of science fiction — far-future, near future, space opera, “hard” sci-fi — but it must be accessible to our target audience, meaning a minimum of technical jargon.
• More here.

Query: 3 months.

( Read more... )

Tumblr crosspost (1 April 2020)

In response to this post, peredain corrected me about my statement that Elladan means "Elf-Númenórean," on the grounds that adan means human and not Númenórean specifically.

I replied:

Tolkien said in his letters that Elladan meant Elf-Númenórean. Perhaps adan narrowed in meaning by the Third Age, or had that meaning for Elrond’s family, or something—it’s an interesting change, but that’s his translation.

Tumblr crosspost (1 April 2020)

I crossposted this section of pro patria, with additional footnotes for Tumblr:

Ch 11 note:

1) The gods, as usual, weren’t listening: the silence of the Six Gods is a major component of humanity’s current struggle for survival.

Ch 12 note:

1) Kormir had blessed me all my life: the human PC is always blessed from childhood by one of the gods.

Ch 13 note:

1) It’s Lady Gwen, isn’t it?: the original Althea and Gwen were probably the two most iconic Ascalonian women of the Searing era, with the saintly Althea burned alive, and Gwen enslaved before embarking on a path of bloody vengeance. So Logan actually does know the name at some level, enough for a vague association with the Searing, even though he selects the wrong namesake. The implacable Gwen just comes to mind more immediately in connection with this Althea, particularly as she’s his own ancestress.

Ch 14 note:

1) here in the very heart of Krytan politics: the storyline is officially called “Krytan politics.”

Tumblr crosspost (1 April 2020)

to-kill-a-mockinggirl replied to this post:

okay but which novel?

I said:

Caleb Williams!

Tumblr crosspost (1 April 2020)

Tonight’s D&D was amazing. We decided to follow our impulsive goblin wizard into a café and our DM had to spontaneously people it while said wizard ineptly investigated a crime between trying to figure out what bagels are.

(My lawful neutral war cleric legionnaire was trailing after like a very obvious puppy until she encountered a bunch of things antithetical to her legion’s principles, had an anxiety attack, and got calmed down by the usually incompetent-at-people-skills wizard. Then we both got inspiration. :D)

Tumblr crosspost (1 April 2020)

heckofabecca  tagged me in the ‘describe yourself in four pictures from your camera roll’ meme!