Sub Ops

As a lot of writers are looking for work now, I'm going to try to list some new or updated sub ops more frequently in 2009. Because everyone is strapped, most will likely be small markets that offer minimal pay.

The way to think about a small market is primarily for the writing credit. If you write and sell a lot of short pieces to a variety of markets, however, over time those small payments can really add up and provide a good boost to your writing income.

Allegory e-zine is accepting submissions for its May '09 issue, reading period is Jan 1st through Feburary 28th. Seeks ". . . good, solid fiction. We specialize in the Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror genres. We will consider other genres, such as humor or general interest, provided that the work possesses an original, "quirky" slant in the Northern Exposure, Ally McBeal vein" to 5K (Ralan says that's not firm, so longer may be okay.) Pays $15 flat fee for stories and nonfic (2K max), will accept reviews but doesn't pay for them, reprints okay, electronic subs only, see guidelines for very specific formatting instructions.

Astropoetica webzine, which maps the stars through poetry, seeks "Poems of any length, style, or genre that explore astronomy, cosmology, astrophysics, planetary science, and/or archaeoastronomy. Scientific, mythic, historical, multicultural, and personal approaches are all welcome", no line limits, pays one-time $5 fee for one-time rights, sim subs okay, reprints okay, electronic subs only, see guidelines for more details.

Here's a nice one for those of us with permanent impairments: Breath and Shadow webzine accepts submissions ONLY from people who are disabled (a term used broadly, read their guidelines for qualifying disorders) and seeks ". . . writing on any topic for poetry, fiction, creative nonfiction, and drama; these pieces do not have to be "about" disability. However nonfiction, academic, and similar articles (profiles, interviews, opinion pieces) do have to relate to disability in some way." (They especially like disabled writers located in Maine and New England but will accept from those of us poor slobs who don't live in that beautiful region). Three poems/200 lines max per sub, fiction to 3K, creative nonfic to 3K (longer will be considered), drama to 3K. Very interested in nonfic interviews, reviews and the like, up to 3K. Pays on pub, $5 - $15 for poetry, $15 - $25 for fiction, and $15 - $25 for nonfiction, reprints okay, electronic subs only, see guidelines here for more details.

Crime and Suspense e-/audio-zine likes ". . . Golden Age crime stories, classic P.I. stories, modern detective stories, historical mysteries, spooky suspense, and cozy mysteries." Ralan says as of December 28th they've hiked up their pay rates and have no regular theme issue, so they're obviously doing well. Pays $7.50 for flash, $15 for fiction, $20 for audio, word limits to 4k, reprints okay, electronic subs only, see guidelines here.

Crossed Genres, the magazine of Science Fiction & Fantasy with a twist, has gone from a 4theLuv to a paying market, published SF/F with one random genre genre piece per month fic/nonfic/art), Pays $10 +discount on print copies, word lengths 1-8K for fiction, 1/2- 3K for nonfiction, no reprints, electronic submissions only, see guidelines here for more details.

Demon Minds is accepting submissions for its Halloween 2009 issue from Jan 1st through June 1st, and is ". . . looking for horror artwork for our cover, interesting or offbeat horror poems, and tales of horror. For this edition we are giving special consideration to tales that shed new light on a traditional monster, Vampires (e.g. Dracula), Man Made Monsters (e.g. Frankenstein), traditional cursed creatures (e.g. Wolfman or Mummy). We are reserving three publishing slots for interesting, well crafted tales about traditional monsters or variants of traditional monsters (out of an estimated 20 slots for horror tales). Anyone who submits horror on a regular basis knows that most publishers won't touch a vampire, or werewolf story with a ten foot pole--we decided to be contrarians for the upcoming issue." I love these guys already. Pays: $50 for 1 featured fiction & cover art, everyone else gets exposure only, word limits 7.5K for web, 5K for print,no reprints, electronic subs only, see guidelines for more info.

Ethereal Gazette, a speculative showcase magazine,is seeking for its eighth issue ". . . horror stories and dark contemporary fiction with a supernatural horror charm behind them but at the same time I want touches of local urban culture thrown in for good measure. Please try to avoid the vampire fiction cliches that are out there these days, or try to avoid some kind of zombie theme. I will welcome a ghost story with open arms. Authors I published in the past were part of Weird Tales and one of them made it to Analog Magazine so I want bizarro fiction with elements of real life thrown in there. I am trying to keep it a little safer with a new President in office. Make the story as convincing as possible or if you come from a faith based background I am welcoming Weird Inspirational Fiction, if you want to know a little bit about that movement of fiction talk to your nearest pastor about speculative fiction." Check out the rest of the guidelines; the editor is very candid and helpful about what he wants to see. Pays $15 via Paypal only for word lengths of 2 - 8K, reprints not sure about that, electronic subs only, see guidelines for more details. [Note 1/7/09-- I'm scratching this one off the list on the advice of one of my trusted regulars; if you'd still like to sub to this market please first check out her warning in comments -- Lynn]

Laser and Sword magazine, out to episodic short fiction, seeks "Fantasy, Science Fiction, Dystopia, Adventure/Action Hero serial fiction" stories with Christian world view (serial fic/art). Bible standards: "King James/New King James preferred, but open to most other translations (does not include the Message or other paraphrases.) Note: quoting the bible not required." Has quarterly submission deadlines; the latest is Feburary 15th. Pays $10 per story. Word lengths 2.5 - 7.5K, reprints okay, no electronic subs -- must e-query first, see guidelines here for more info.

The Magazine of Bizarro Fiction bills itself as ". . . the first magazine to thoroughly explore the Bizarro genre. Each issue will be roughly half fiction and half nonfiction. It will be perfect bound with full-color covers. It will be published on a quarterly basis starting summer 2009. Each issue will feature: A featured novelette and short fiction of only the very best the genre has to offer; A featured interview with a major figure of the genre; Analysis of one author's body of work. Exploring influences, styles, and reoccurring themes; A large book review section; News, release schedule, articles, art, comics, and much more!" They're currently seeking "Short Fiction: 100 - 6,000 words, Novelettes: 6,000 - 20,000 words. 10,000 to 15,000 words are preferred. If the story is shorter or longer than the preferred length, it better be damn good. Please query first for novelettes. Novelettes submitted without a query will not be considered for publication" and are ". . . only looking for the highest quality in Bizarro fiction. If you are planning on submitting fiction you better have read both Bizarro Starter Kits (at the very least)." Pays on pub, 1 cent per word to a max of $100.00, query on reprints, electronic subs only, see guidelines here for lots more details.

UK-based Neon is a " . . . literary magazine, published online every quarter, and featuring the kind of imaginative, stylised poetry and prose not generally found in British magazines. We focus particularly on the new, the experimental and the strange. Some themes we are interested in include: isolation, post-modernism, technology, dislocation, apathy, the apocalypse, memory, Kirk Cameron and urban decay. We have a strong, unique aesthetic that we work hard to maintain. We serve our readers by publishing the best fiction and poetry we can find. We serve our writers by making the submission process as easy and friendly as possible. Neon was previously published as FourVolts Magazine." Pays £3-5 (based on length), no word limit, query on reprints: query, electronic submissions only.

All of the above listings were found at Ralan.com, which is the online Grand Central Station of sub ops and small market information.