prosaic

Speculative

Speculative — science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Lengths on this list range from about 500 words to 22,000. 15 currently open of 23 total.

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Neon Hemlock Novella Series 2026 (Oct all-writers window)
Open
paystandard contract asks authors to choose between an Advance+Royalties option or a Royalties Only option (advance amount not stated)
windowOctober 15, 2026 - October 30, 2026*
feenone listed on Submittable form
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window note"open to novella submissions from non-white folks and trans women from June 15th to June 30th, and then from writers of all backgrounds October 15th to 30th." neonhemlock.com/submissions: "now open until October 30th 2026". Submittable Ends on 2026-10-31 04:00:00Z (11:59 PM Eastern Oct 30).
pay whenunknown
genrenovella: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Slipstream, & Weird (hybrid welcome); particularly interested in queer experience; original, standalone, no reprints
words17,500–40,000 words
simultaneousyes ("Simultaneous submissions are fine, please withdraw immediately if you take another offer.")
flagPay is advance+royalties or royalties-only; no advance amount is stated.

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Haven Spec Magazine
Open
pay8 cents per word for original fiction; $20 per original poem
windowOctober 1, 2026 - November 1, 2026*
feenone stated
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteAcolyte 2026-10-19: Call for Fiction, October 2026 (Limited Demographic Window) active, Start Date 10/1/2026, Deadline 11/1/2026 (Call for Poetry, October 2026 also listed). October is reserved for authors of color, LGBTQIA+ writers, and other underrepresented groups. November: General Submissions Window; December: Closed.
pay whenunknown
genrescience fiction, fantasy, speculative horror, and weird; also poetry
wordsfiction 5000 words (sweet spot 1000-4000); poetry five poems in one file
simultaneousyes (Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please no multiple submissions for fiction)
flagOctober window is a Limited Demographic Window (authors of color, LGBTQIA+, other underrepresented groups only); general submissions open in November. Non-fiction currently closed.

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Waxen
Open
pay50 USD one-time (US contributors also get first-edition contributor copy)
window— - December 15, 2026*
feenone (not stated)
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteRolling email submissions; volume deadlines: Fall September 15 | releases November 1; Winter December 15 | releases February 1; Spring March 15; Summer June 15. No closed notice on page; current target is the Winter volume (December 15).
pay whenunknown
genreweird, experimental, and literary horror (short fiction; art also)
wordsshort fiction does not exceed 5,000 words
simultaneousyes (FAQ: "Yes, we do accept simultaneous submissions")
flagNo rejection emails are sent.

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We're Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction 2026 (Neon Hemlock)
Open
pay$0.01/word
window— - December 31, 2026*
feenone
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteReprint submissions from 2026 only. Submissions close December 31st 2026.
pay whenunknown
genrequeer speculative fiction (reprints from 2026 only)
wordsunder 17,500 words (stories published in 2026)
simultaneousunknown
flagReprints only (stories first published in 2026).

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Escape Pod
Open
payUSD $0.08 per word for original fiction; USD $100-$175 per story for reprint fiction (length-based; Moksha guidelines also state $100 flat for reprints)
windowSeptember 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027*
feenone
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteGuidelines: typically open September–May. Moksha General Submissions: Currently Open; Closes Tuesday, June 1, 2027 3:59 AM (UTC).
pay whenunknown
genrescience fiction short fiction (podcast + text)
wordsoriginal 1,500-6,000 words (sweet spot 2000-4000); reprints 1,500-7,500
simultaneousyes (except other Escape Artists podcasts: PodCastle, PseudoPod, Cast of Wonders, CatsCast)

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Analog Science Fiction and Fact
Open
pay8–10 cents per word for short fiction; 6 cents per word for serials; 9 cents per word for fact articles; $1 per line for poetry
windowYear-round*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteLive portal lists Fiction/Fact/Poetry New Submission with no close date; submit UI requires JS
pay whenon acceptance
genrescience fiction
wordsshort fiction up to approximately 20,000 words; serials 40,000–80,000 words
simultaneousno ("No simultaneous submissions, please.")

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Asimov's Science Fiction
Open
pay8-10 cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words, and 8 cents for each word over 7,500; $1 a line for poetry
windowYear-round*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteLive magazinesubmissions portal shows Fiction and Poetry New Submission with no close date
pay whenunknown
genrescience fiction; also borderline fantasy, slipstream, and surreal fiction; poetry
wordsseldom shorter than 1,000 words or longer than 20,000 words; poetry should not exceed 40 lines
simultaneousno ("we do not accept \"simultaneous submissions\" (stories sent at the same time to a publication other than Asimov's)")

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Beneath Ceaseless Skies
Open
pay8 cents US per word for standard acceptances
windowYear-round*
feenone
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteNo open/closed calendar on guidelines; recent Slush Updates (e.g. 2026-09-11) show continuous reading.
pay whenafter receipt of the final, line-edited manuscript
genreliterary adventure fantasy (secondary-world)
wordsstrongly prefer under 15,000 words
simultaneousyes (must state in cover letter and notify immediately if accepted elsewhere)

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Clarkesworld Magazine
Open
pay15¢ per word
windowYear-round*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteGuidelines: currently open for art, non-fiction and short story submissions; tracker New Submission present; submit UI requires JS
pay whenunknown
genrescience fiction and fantasy (no horror; dark SF/F permitted)
words1000–22000 words, no exceptions
simultaneousnot permitted

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Heartlines Spec
Open
pay$0.08 CAD per word for short fiction; $60 CAD flat per poem
windowUnknown*
feenone (not stated)
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteGeneral window Sept 1–30 ended. Moksha 2026-10-19: 'Short Fiction (Extended Edition for Canadians/Turtle Island Residents)' Currently Open to Submissions, no close date shown (earlier stated close Oct 19 2026 04:00 UTC has passed). Poetry / Short Fiction / Early Period: Currently Closed. Next general windows per guidelines: January 1–31 (early Dec 24–31).
pay whenunknown
genrespeculative short fiction and poetry focused on long-term relationships (platonic, romantic, familial)
wordsfiction 500–3,500 words; poetry up to 5 poems per submission
simultaneousyes (guidelines list Simultaneous submissions under What We Want)
flagOnly open path is the Short Fiction Extended Edition restricted to Canadians/Turtle Island residents; Moksha shows it open with no close date.

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Interzone
Open
pay(EUR) 1.5¢ per word (one and one-half euro cents)
windowUnknown*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window note"Interzone is open to unsolicited submissions of fiction from everyone, whoever or wherever you are." No dates stated. One story at a time (no multiple submissions).
pay whenunknown
genreshort fiction (original, unpublished; translations accepted even if previously published in another language); no AI-generated or AI-revised writing
wordsespecially keen on 2000-6000 words; no set maximum or minimum length
simultaneousyes ("We accept simultaneous submissions.")
flagNo web form: submit by email (ODT/DOC/DOCX/RTF) to submissions [at] interzone [dot] press.

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The Dark Magazine
Open
pay5 cents/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words; 1 cent/word for reprint fiction up to 6,000 words
windowYear-round*
feenone stated
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteFiction guidelines give email submissions with no dated open/close sentence. Artwork: currently closed to all art submission.
pay whenoriginals on publication; reprints on acceptance
genrehorror; dark fantasy
words2,000 – 6,000 words
simultaneousno (We will not consider simultaneous submissions.)
flagReprint rule still says past two years 'which would cover January 2021 onwards' — stale date language on the guidelines page; originals are this row.

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Uncharted Magazine (Science Fiction/Fantasy)
Open
pay$200 for original fiction; reprints considered but We do not pay for reprints.
windowYear-round*
feenone (we do not charge any submission fees)
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteAll fiction categories are open year round (Submittable SFF Short Story category live 2026-10-19).
pay whenunknown
genrescience fiction and fantasy short stories
words1,000-5,000 words
simultaneousyes (We accept simultaneous submissions)

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Fusion Fragment
Closed
pay4 cents (CAD) per word, up to a maximum of $400 (CAD) per story
windowNovember 1, 2026 - November 30, 2026*
feenone stated
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteSubmission Status: Closed. Opening November 1st. Moksha: Fusion Fragment is currently closed to submissions. Next periods: November 1–30, 2026; January 1–31, 2027; March 1–31, 2027.
pay whenafter the contract is signed (page: payment a day or two after signing)
genrescience fiction or SF-tinged literary fiction
words2,000 to 15,000 words
simultaneousyes (Simultaneous submissions are fine)

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Adventitious
Closed
pay$0.08 USD per word (originals); $.01 per word for reprints
windowDecember 1, 2026 - December 5, 2026*
feenone
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteGuidelines: 'Closed to fiction submissions. Opens in December 1, 2026 at 11:00 AM (EST)'; open 1st–5th of Feb/Apr/Jun/Aug/Oct/Dec or until 300-submission cap. Duosuma: Quota Met, 'check back on or after Sunday, November 1, 2026'.
pay whenunknown (paid by PayPal or Venmo)
genrespeculative / surreal / literary fiction (flash through novelette)
wordsflash/micro up to 1,000; fiction 1,000–6,000; novelette 6,000–17,000
simultaneousyes
flagWindows often fill within hours (300-submission cap).

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Exoplanet
Closed
payone cent ($0.01 USD) per word for prose ($5 minimum); $10 flat for poetry
windowJanuary 1, 2027 - January 15, 2027*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteSeptember 2026 window cancelled (Sep 1 update). Also May 1–May 15, 2027. Page still lists Sep 1 - Sep 15, 2026 among upcoming windows despite cancel notice.
pay whenunknown
genrespeculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, weird, hybrid); also poetry
wordsprose up to 5,000 words
simultaneousacceptable

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Abyss & Apex
Closed
payUSD $.08/word up to 1,000 words, and a flat payment of $80.00 for longer stories
windowFebruary 1, 2027 - February 7, 2027*
feenone stated
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteFiction reading periods Eastern 12:01 AM: February 1 thru 7, 2027 will be OPEN; August 1 thru 7, 2027 will be OPEN. Poetry next: November 2026 then May 2027 — poetry is not this row.
pay when30 days after publication
genrespeculative fiction including flash; not horror
wordsup to 10,000 words; flash 1,000 words or less (flash must be in the email body)
simultaneousno (We do NOT accept simultaneous submissions for either fiction or poetry)
flagPage: "We are currently open for holiday stories only" — mark the subject HOLIDAY SUB (the Closed autoresponder still runs). General fiction next opens February 1–7, 2027.

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Apex Magazine
Closed
pay$.08 per word up to 9,000 words; minimum of $50; additional $.01 per word up to 9,000 words if podcasted
windowUnknown*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteOdd-month reading; closed February, April, June, August, October, and December 2026. Moksha 2026-10-19: Fiction temporarily closed (October). No reopening date printed.
pay whenunknown
genrescience fiction, fantasy, and horror
wordsfirm 9,000 words maximum
simultaneousallowed ("Simultaneous submissions are allowed, but we ask you to withdraw as soon as possible if it is accepted elsewhere.")

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Strange Horizons
Closed
pay9¢/word USD
windowUnknown*
feenone
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteOpened October 1, 2026 at 3 p.m. UTC until 1,000-story cap; max 5,000 words; 9¢/word. Moksha 2026-10-19: 'Submissions are closed for Strange Horizons : Fiction' (cap presumably reached).
pay whenunknown
genrespeculative fiction
wordsup to 5,000 words (this window)
simultaneousno

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Uncanny Magazine (essays)
Closed
pay$100 per essay
windowUnknown*
feeunknown
verified2026-10-26
sourceSource
Details
window noteMoksha and magazine: closed to all submissions
pay whenon acceptance
genrenonfiction essay
wordsunknown
simultaneousunknown

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