Sub Ops Ten

By Light Unseen Media is "currently seeking outstanding and unique manuscripts in the area of vampire fiction and non-fiction" and would like to see "dramatic fiction with a realistic tone. Vampire themed campy humor, parody, satire, "chick-lit" stories, formula romance and erotica for its own sake have all been done to excess. We also will not consider extremely violent horror fiction or stories focused "slayers," "hunters," "enforcers" and so on as the protagonists. These have been done to excess and beyond." Length: 75-150K, Payment: $100 advance; 20% net for print/audio; 50% net for e-books. Query on reprints, electronic submissions preferred, see guidelines for more details.

Daily Science Fiction is "accepting speculative fiction stories from 100 to 10,000 words in length. By this we mean science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, etc. All that fits under the broader science fiction umbrella. We have a special need for flash fiction, stories of 1,000 or fewer words. We pay 8 cents per word for first worldwide rights and for nonexclusive reprint rights. Additionally, we reserve the right to pay you more money for additional reprinting in themed Daily Science Fiction anthologies." See submission guidelines for more details.

Dark Quest is looking for novellas in the SF/F, dark fantasy, urban fantasy and (I think) historical fiction. Lenth: novella 120K or less (kind of makes me wonder how long they think a novel should be), Payment: negotiated adv./royalty for print releases; 50% royalty on ebooks. Reprints: query. Electronic submissions preferred [Note: I'm distilling all this from Ralan's market listing, the publisher's guidelines seem to be only about how, not what, to send.]

eStar Publishing has this quote at the top of their submission guidelines page: "Please note: We NEVER close our doors to submissions. We are ALWAYS taking submissions" so I already love these people. They publish only "Science-Fiction, Fantasy and Paranormal themed books. Non-fiction, children's or young adult stories, mysteries or suspense, will be immediately rejected." Length: no limits (also refreshing to see this.) Payment: no advance, 10% on print, 35% on e-books. Query on reprints, electronic submissions only, see guidelines for more details.

Golden Visions Magazine is holding a "What If?" contest for fiction based on a supplied photo (shown on submission guidelines page) as well as a premise: "Forget Global Warming...you wake up one day to find that the world is a frozen chunk of chilling death. No power. No computers. No cell phones.....all of this is useless." Editor notes: "You can use any form of speculative fiction in which to tell your tale...science fiction, fantasy, mild horror, mystery or just plain fiction--just make sure that you use character oriented stories and base your story here on Earth."
Length: 1.5-3.5K, no entry fees, winners receive (First Place) Choice of $25.00 cash and pdf copy or physical print issue and $10.00; (Second Place) Choice of $15.00 and pdf copy or physical print issue and $5.00; and (Third Place) Choice of $10.00 and pdf or physical print issue only, no cash. Submit by electronic form on guidelines page (scroll down); contest ends November 2010.

Hydra Publications has an open call for their new and as yet untitled Steampunk Anthology; length 1.2-3.5K, Payment .01 cent per word + one contributor copy upon publication (they're planning to release in Spring 2011.) No reprints, electronic submissions online, see guidelines for more details. Deadline: December 31st, 2010.

Hydra Publications also has an open call here for their Forgotten Prophecy high fantasy e-anthology, and note on the web site: "We are seeking submissions for our High Fantasy e-anthology. Think Middle Earth, Dragonlance, Forgotten Realms and other similar worlds." Length: 1.2-9K, Payment: $5.00 + one contributor copy. Reprints okay, electronic submissions only, see guidelines for more details.

Raven Electric Ink has an open call for their upcoming Jack-o'-Spec: Tales of Halloween and Fantasy anthology, and the editor is looking for "speculative short stories, flash fiction, and poetry about Halloween and the traditions and legends surrounding it. All works must contain an element of science fiction, fantasy, or supernatural horror. If it's not speculative, I'm not interested." Gotcha. Length: fiction 2.5K or less, poems 100 lines max. Pays 3¢ per word for fiction 800 words or less, $25.00 flat for fiction from 900 words to 2.5K, $5.00 per poem. Reprints okay but will be paid less, electronic submissions only, see guidelines for more details. Reading period: Opens October 11th, continues until antho is filled.

Rogue Blades Entertainment has an open call for their Assassins: A Clash of Steel anthology: "Send only your best, for the competition will be deadly, each cut decisive, each dispatch permanent. Fantasy tales of killers unleashed, be it for greed, revenge, love, faith…whatever the passion…or mischance…that drives the killing blows." Editor also notes: "This is a Clash of Steel anthology, so an emphasis on steel-bearing protagonists is a must. Pit them against equally steel-armed foes, though magic and sorcery is not completely disallowed. Make it interesting, make it dangerous, make it powerful prose—for this anthology seeks to glory in bladed death and devious minds." [Gee, kinda sounds like my last divorce.] Length: 2.5-5K, Payment: "$30.00 & 2 copies (1 print/1 electronic) upon publication, which will be May 2011." No reprints, electronic submission only (must submit first 500 words of your story), see guidelines for more details, Deadline: November 30, 2010 or when filled.

Story Portals is looking for writers-for-hire to "write one or more short stories in a medieval fantasy setting. Stories will involve magic and swordplay and will focus on strong characterization and solid action. All stories will be set in an existing universe and will be done on a Work-Made-For-Hire basis. Production bible and writing sample provided. Authors will be expected to write in the tone and voice of the sample material." Length: 5-6K, Payment: "flat fee of $300.00 per story." [Note: that translates to 5 cents per word at max length] No reprints, electronic submissions only, see guidelines for more details. [Note for those of you looking to get experience as a writer-for-hire: this sounds exactly like the kind of work we do.]

All of the above sub ops were found among the many marvelous market listings over at Ralan's place.