Fantasy Markets

[Medesha]

Science-Fiction and Fantasy Markets

How to use this thread: Each of the links below should take you to a magazine’s submission guidelines page. Please read the submission guidelines carefully! Remember, editors hustle to get through their days. If they pull out your story and you haven’t formatted it correctly, the editor might not even read it. The easiest way to give your submission an edge is to read and follow the guidelines exactly.

If you have a question on formatting your manuscript, check out the technical forum. If you don’t understand a particular market’s requirements, or you find a dead or outdated link, post about it here.

Obviously this thread requires constant updating. I appreciate any help in adding to or refining our list. After each link I’ve typed a short description of the kind of work the market seeks, to help speed up your search.

Markets

Analog Science Fiction Science Fact. “Basically, we publish science fiction stories. That is, stories in which some aspect of future science or technology is so integral to the plot that, if that aspect were removed, the story would collapse...The science can be physical, sociological, psychological. The technology can be anything from electronic engineering to biogenetic engineering. But the stories must be strong and realistic, with believable people (who needn't be human) doing believable things–no matter how fantastic the background might be.”

Asimov’s Science Fiction. “In general, we're looking for "character oriented" stories, those in which the characters, rather than the science, provide the main focus for the reader's interest. Serious, thoughtful, yet accessible fiction will constitute the majority of our purchases, but there's always room for the humorous as well. Borderline fantasy is fine, but no Sword & Sorcery, please. Neither are we interested in explicit sex or violence. A good overview would be to consider that all fiction is written to examine or illuminate some aspect of human existence, but that in science fiction the backdrop you work against is the size of the Universe.”

Leading Edge Magazine. “We accept science fiction and fantasy short stories, novelettes, novellas, and poetry, as well as scholarly articles, book reviews, and interviews that deal with current popular authors. We do accept unsolicited submissions. We will not consider stories with sex, profanity, or excessive violence, or stories belittling traditional family values or religion.”

Planet Magazine. “SF or fantasy themes, such as hard SF, retro SF, weird SF, sword-and-sorcery, and weird fantasy. We rarely accept horror stories, fairy tales, magical realism, or science fantasy (i.e., clearly impossible science). We like humorous SF, but it’s rarely done well.” [Adult writers only; doesn’t pay.]

Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction. “We have no formula for fiction. We are looking for stories that will appeal to science fiction and fantasy readers. The SF element may be slight, but it should be present. We prefer character-oriented stories. We receive a lot of fantasy fiction, but never enough science fiction or humor.”

Realms of Fantasy. “Stories should be no longer than 10,000 words, and can address any area in the realms of fantasy: heroic, contemporary, traditional, feminist, dark, light, and the ever-popular "unclassifiable." What we do not want to see is standard SF‹this means no alien worlds, no hard-edged technology, no FTL drives, etc. Additionally, ROF is not a market for poetry. What we do want to see is the very best in the field‹Realms of Fantasy is a highly competitive market.”

Fantasy Magazine. “We're looking for stories that deal with the fantastic and that take both language and story values seriously. Fantasy is entertainment for the intelligent genre reader...Fantasy is not looking for cookie-cutter fantasies. While any sort of fantasy content is allowed, the execution must be superb. We certainly do not want any "fan fiction" or story that depends on the use of media characters. Some sexual content is acceptable, but the title Fantasy does not refer to sex fantasies.”

Ideomancer. “Ideomancer publishes science fiction, fantasy, horror, slipstream, and flash fiction. We are looking for stories that explore the edges of ideas, stories that subvert, refute and push the limits. We want unique pieces from authors willing to explore non-traditional narratives, take chances with tone, structure and execution, and take risks. Our aim is to showcase speculative stories in all categories which provoke, reflect, and marry ideas to resonance and character.”

On Spec. “The ON SPEC editors are looking for original, unpublished speculative fiction (SF) and poetry -- fantasy, horror, ghost stories, fairy stories, magic realism, etc.”

Weird Tales. “Please keep in mind our magazine’s title. We almost never buy a story or a poem which lacks significant fantasy content; we hardly ever buy science fiction which lacks supernatural elements; we never buy stories in which the weird elements turn out to be nothing but a dream.”

[Darakonis]

I know that it is frowned upon for writers to send in the same novel manuscript to multiple editors simultaneously; does the same apply for short stories? Can you send in a short story manuscript to a number of magazines at once?

[Medesha]

Not unless their publishing guidelines say they accept simultaneous submissions, to the best of my knowledge.

[Meatball]

Any suggestions on which of the magazines would be best suited for submissions for new writer work?

[Medesha]

I would try the top markets, Asimov's and Analog, first, and then work your way down the list.

[ridin gaijin]

Hello all. Med, I wonder if the following fits in with your list at top: Dark Horse.

As publishers of Frank Miller's works and holders of Star Wars & Sin City franchises--not to mention makers of movies like Hellboy and The Mask (remember--?), DH is among the most stable of operations. They accept submissions for graphic novels and for books--though the books look like mostly genre (eg, Star Wars). Get this: according to the guidelines (here, and carefully spelled out too), if submitting for a graphic novel, you don't need a script and the art. You can send one or the other. I'm reformatting the first half of a novel into the graphic novel guidelines. It's hard.

Cheers--rg

[Darakonis]

I'm going to be submitting a short story manuscript to Asimov's. This is my first time sending out a hard-copy manuscript - do I enclose anything other than the manuscript?

And I am not supposed to bind the pages in any way, not even with a paper clip, correct?

Also, I presume I mail it to:

Our Editorial Address:
Sheila Williams
Editor
475 Park Ave. South, 11th Floor
New York, NY 10016

?



Thank you.

[Meatball]

By the way...I just noticed this. Asimov's & Analog have the exact same mailing address, just different editors.