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abracanabra) wrote2021-08-25 06:13 pm
I hate my webhost, oh yes I do 🎶
Their customer service is basically non-existent, as this is a relic company. They used to be a real webhost, and then when they went out of business, this part was sold off to some investor somewhere who kind of just keeps the servers running and cashes the automatic deposits but doesn't actually ever make any updates. For example, I can't even use a captcha because they don't support them.
And now, thanks to "migrating servers," I haven't been able to update my website for 15 days and counting. I really, really need to move my website. Anyways, that's a long-winded explanation for why my whole market list newsletter is posted here, instead of the personal/editorial bit as usual.
The next update of Aswiebe's Market List will be after 8/15/2021.
Thoughts in Passing
My apologies for this month's newsletter being extra late--I had it all written up and ready to go, and then my website host announced that they were updating and weren't allowing changes for 11 days. It has now been 15 days. My website host still isn't allowing me to change my website, but at least I was able to upload the spreadsheets, so those links are good. Gah! Yes, I need a new website host. And a new website, but that's a whole 'nother kettle of worms. ;)
What is this newsletter about? This is for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers. Once a month, I send out this newsletter with some thoughts on writing, a list of upcoming virtual events, links to writing articles, and updates on the changing publication markets for fantasy, science fiction, and horror short stories.
Oh no, I'm in the wrong place! No worries. You can respond to this email with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line. If you want to subscribe to a different newsletter, you can respond with "Unsubscribe and Add" in the subject line and then tell me in the email what you want to subscribe to. I do read every email response to this newsletter, though I might not always have time to respond individually!
What else is there? In life, lots of things! Personally I recommend a good salsa con queso while watching procedural mysteries. But for newsletters and other places you can join me, here's the rundown. If you're interested, just respond to this email with "Add" in the subject line and then tell me what you want to join. (If you signed up at Minicon for my author newsletter but haven't gotten an email yet, don't worry.)
Abra's Author Newsletter - For readers! An infrequent email with breaking news about new stories that are available and events I have coming up. I also recommend books and stories that I've enjoyed reading (on sale or free) and weird science news that I love.
Abra's Teaching Newsletter - For writers! From time to time, I run free workshops or teach a paid class, and this is just notifications about when this happens. Since you're already subscribed to this newsletter, it will also be mentioned here.
MinnSpec: Minnesota Speculative Fiction Writers - A Minnesota-based writers' organization for science fiction, fantasy, and horror writers. All are welcome, whether you're a seasoned author or just starting out! Right now all our events are virtual, so you can join from anywhere. I host a monthly writing sprint (coworking session) and there are also monthly craft discussion and critique groups. You need to join Meetup (free) to participate, and we also have a writers' discussion group on Facebook.
(Do you have a writing question? Send it to me, either by replying to this email or by using the comment form on my website, and it may get answered in the next newsletter.)
What I've been up to lately, writing-wise:
Oh, you know...all the revisions in the world ever. Or at least it feels that way! I took a break from revising my novel, to revise a short story. I cut a 7,600+ word story down to under 6,000 words. In the short story world, 6,000 is the magic number that opens up a lot more publishing options, including some of the top in the field. Mostly I'm counting the days (14) until my kids are theoretically back in in-person school and I theoretically can work full-time on writing again.
Things Shiny or Useful
Archive of all shiny or useful links: http://www.aswiebe.com/writing/shiny.html
Unusual Governments to Take Inspiration From: https://www.sfwa.org/2021/08/10/unusual-governments-to-take-inspiration-from/
The Samuel R. Delany Fellowship (application due May 1st - Oct 31, $10,000 for marginalized spec-fic authors): https://catstonebooks.com/fellowship/?v=400b9db48e62
The Rambo Academy for Wayward Writers: http://www.kittywumpus.net/blog/academy/
Everything I’ve Learned About Being a “Professional” Writer in One Post: https://countercraft.substack.com/p/everything-ive-learned-about-being
Podcasts for writers: https://twitter.com/FondaJLee/status/1419401675534606338
Six Rape Tropes and How to Replace Them: https://mythcreants.com/blog/six-rape-tropes-and-how-to-replace-them/
6 Principles for Writing Historical Fiction: https://www.janefriedman.com/dos-and-donts-of-writing-historical-fiction/
Upcoming Virtual Conventions/Workshops
(Any registration fees are noted.)
Writer’s Digest University Annual Science Fiction & Fantasy Virtual Conference, August 27-29, 2021 ($199.99): https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/annual-science-fiction-fantasy-virtual-conference
CoKoCon, September 3-6, 2021: http://www.cokocon.org/2021/index.html
FutureCon, September 3-5, 2021: https://www.futureconsf.com/
Humans to Mars Summit, September 13-15, 2021: https://www.exploremars.org/summit/
The Nebula Conference has ended, but you can still register for recorded panels and year-round special events ($125): https://nebulas.sfwa.org/2021-nebula-conference-online-registration-is-now-open/
Featured Market
The LeVar Burton Reads Contest wants science fiction, fantasy, and horror themed to origins & encounters, awards $500 for 1st place, open to submissions until August 31st!
Some things to consider as you think about the guidelines. How is it that blended civilizations and cultural exchanges might impact the following categories:
gods
faiths, religious traditions
food traditions
language
gender recognition
concepts of community
concepts of identity
race prejudice (human vs. other species)
We welcome works of the Indigenous fantastic, the other-worldly, and alternative histories. Works must include speculative or fantastical elements.
Basics: SF, fantasy, and horror, 2,800-5,200 words, prizes $500, $250, and $100, no reprints, due 8/31/2021.
Guidelines: https://www.levarburtonpodcast.com/contest
Market List Updates
To see all the details about these new listings and what they're looking for, as well as hundreds of other listings, download the latest version of the spreadsheet:
AswiebedotcomMarkets.xls | AswiebedotcomMarkets.ods
Name | What they want | Pay Per Word USD (originals) | Flat Pay USD (originals) | Website | Notes |
Deadlands, The | Death-themed speculative fiction | $0.100 | |||
Diabolical Plots | Science fiction, fantasy, and horror | $0.100 | ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: 10/7/21 - 10/21/21 themed to food | ||
Uncanny | SF/F | $0.100 | Fast response time. SUBMISSION PERIOD: Historically opens for subs in August. ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: Open until 8/31/21 | ||
Fantasy Magazine | Fantasy and dark fantasy | $0.080 | OK to submit even if previously rejected by sister publications Nightmare Magazine or Lightspeed. SUBMISSION PERIODS: Please only submit the 1st - 7th of each month. | ||
Zooscape | Furry (anthropomorphic animal) fiction | $0.080 | Original fiction < 5,000 words, reprints up to 10,000 words. | ||
Silence in the City ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 9/15/21 | Contemporary post-apocalyptic fiction | $0.060 | https://www.foundershousepublishing.com/2021/07/silence-in-city-open-call-for.html | ||
Bleeding Edge Books ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD - DUE 10/01/21 OR UNTIL FULL | Dark fiction | $0.050 | |||
Sciencefictionery | SF | $0.040 | |||
Bloody Rock (Scary Dairy Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 12/01/21 | Creepy horror related to a rock song theme | $0.030 | |||
Fusion Fragment | SF | $0.023 | |||
Horror Library Volume 7 (Dark Moon Books) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 9/5/21 | Horror, dark fantasy, and weird fiction | $0.020 | |||
In the Shadows of the Horns (Gravely Unusual) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 9/1/21 | Death metal themed extreme horror | $0.020 | |||
Beyond the Veil (Ghost Orchid Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 9/1/21 - 10/31/21 | Themed to queer supernatural love | $0.010 | |||
Felis Futura ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 12/31/21 | Cat-themed SF | $0.010 | |||
Tales to Terrify PODCAST | Horror and dark fantasy | $0.010 | |||
Utopia Science Fiction | SF | $0.010 | |||
Centropic Oracle, The (PODCAST) | SF and Fantasy | $0.008 | No audio reprints. | ||
Dream Foundry ANNUAL CONTEST - DUE 8/10 - 10/11 | Speculative fiction by non-pro authors | $1,000.00 | |||
LeVar Burton Reads Writing Contest (Fiyah, Stitcher, Tor.com) ONE-TIME CONTEST - DUE 8/31/21 | Speculative fiction themed to origins and encounters, no extreme horror | $500.00 | |||
What Remains: Margaret Garner (Firbolg Publishing) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 8/20/21 | Content themed to grimoires | $200.00 | |||
No Sleep Podcast, The | Horror | $125.00 | Long response time. Also accepts audio reprints (not given preference). | ||
Buckmxn Story Service | Exciting stories, all genres incl. SF, horror, etc. by USA authors | $120.00 | https://www.buckmanpublishing.com/submissions-buckmxn-story-service | ONE-TIME SUBMISSION PERIOD: DUE 8/19/21 | |
Weird Christmas Flash Fiction ANNUAL CONTEST - DUE 11/15 | All genres, themed to "weird Christmas", plus special prompt categories | $75.00 | https://weirdchristmas.com/2021/08/01/4th-annual-weird-christmas-flash-fiction-contest/ | ||
Etherea Magazine | All speculative fiction, short stories and flash fiction lengths | $73.26 | Length: 500 - 1,000 words (paid AU$25), and 2,000 - 5,000 preferred (but will accept longer) | ||
Heroes (Lost Boys Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 10/31/21 | Legend retellings in an alternate setting | $50.00 | https://lostboyspress.com/2021/07/heroes-spring-2022-anthology/ | ||
Monstroddities (Sliced Up Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 12/31/21 | Horror themed to unusual monsters | $50.00 | |||
Save the World ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 10/31/21 | Hopeful climate change SF | $50.00 | |||
StarShipSofa PODCAST | SF | $50.00 | |||
TFF Noir ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY (Future Fire) - DUE 11/1/21 | Noir speculative fiction | $50.00 | |||
War (Black Hare Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 10/31/21 | Dark fiction, themed to war | $50.00 | |||
His Soul's Still Dancing ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 10/31/21 | Nicolas Cage-inspired fiction, all genres | $34.72 | https://horrortree.com/taking-submissions-his-souls-still-dancing-a-nicolas-cage-inspired-anthology/ | CAUTION: All guideline links are 2nd-party; no publisher website link. | |
Anotherealm | SF, fantasy, and horror | $25.00 | Accepts subs year-round until October 1st, for publication next year. Subs received later will be considered the next year’s submission period. | ||
Black Hare Press Short Reads | Dark fiction | $25.00 | |||
Hunger of Old Stars, The (Splatter Ink Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE TBD (OCTOBER?) | Cosmic horror | $25.00 | https://www.facebook.com/SplatterInkPublishing/posts/225511296139189 | ||
Future Fire, The | All speculative fiction | $20.00 | Prefers under 10,000 words. | ||
TexArcana! ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 9/1/21 | PG-13 fantasy set in Texas | $10.00 | |||
Chlorophobia (Ghost Orchid Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 8/31/21 | Eco-horror | $5.00 | |||
Cold and Crisp (Pub 518) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 12/31/21 | All genres, themed to the title | $5.00 | |||
Dark Moments (Black Hare Press) | Dark fiction drabbles, monthly theme | $4.00 | |||
Parenting Stories Gone Speculative (Alternating Current Press) ONE-TIME ANTHOLOGY - DUE 9/1/21 (submit early) | Speculative flash fiction themed to parenting | $2.00 | |||
Ghost Orchid Press Novellas | Horror novellas, including with fantasy and SF elements | $0.00 | |||
Aggregate - DEAD MARKET | All genres, esp SF/H | $0.010 | |||
We Will Remember Freedom PODCAST - DEAD MARKET | All genres, themed to anti-authoritarianism | $0.010 | |||
Citadel Magazine - DEAD MARKET (indefinite hiatus) | Literary fantasy and SF | $75.00 | |||
Monsters Out of the Closet PODCAST - DEAD MARKET | Horror by LGBTQ+ creators | $0.020 | |||
Crypt Online (Ghost Orchid Press) - DEAD MARKET (indefinite hiatus) | Dark flash fiction | $0.010 | |||
Addition Magazine - DEAD MARKET | All genres, themed, esp. inl. SF | $0.080 | |||
Typewriter Emergencies - DEAD MARKET | Furry fiction | $0.010 | |||
Blood Bath Literary Zine - DEAD MARKET | Horror, themed issues | $41.14 |