CALLIHOO Newsletter ----------------------------------------------------------------- Vol. 6 No. 16 Editor: Julia West September 8, 1998 ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS Check out the new CALLIHOO web page at http://www.sff.net/people/ julia.west/CALLIHOO/index.htm. I'll put the updated market list on it when it's done (it's getting there), the CALLIHOO index, and the newsletter in ASCII and Acrobat .pdf files to download. If there's anything else you'd like to see there, let me know. DEADLINES Let me know if you need more information on the contests, anthologies or magazines listed below. UPC Science Fiction Award 1998, deadline 14 September 1998. [SF in Catalan, Spanish, English or French, 70 to 115 pages (25,000 to 40,000 words), first prize of 1,000,000 PTA (abt. $8,000), perhaps a special mention of 250,000 PTA. Winning novella published by the UPC through Ediciones B, in its collection "NOVA ciencia ficcion." Consell Social de la UPC, Edifici NEXUS, Gran Capita 2-4, 08034- Barcelona (SPAIN). (GLs in Vol. 5, No. 30)] =The Alsop Review= Short Story and Poem Contest, deadline 30 Sept 98. [literary e-mag, no entry fee, submission must be E-mail, send to competition@alsopreview.com, no mult. subs.; $100 prize. (GLs in Vol. 6 No. 13)] =Cemetery Sonata= and untitled Civil War ghost anthologies, deadlines 30 September 1998. [Ghost stories and "things that go bump in the night" and Civil War ghost stories or ghost stories relating to that era. 500-6,000 words, 3 cents/wd. Reprints OK. No E-mail subs. E-mail WZTT67B@Prodigy.com for more information. Jane Hubbard, editor, Chameleon Publishing, 3430 Salem Drive, Rochester Hills, MI 48306. (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 10)] =Glimmer Train= Short Story Award for New Writers, must be postmarked between 1 Aug and 30 Sept 1998. [Short fiction contest, 1st place $1,200 and publication; 2nd place $500, 3rd place $300. For writers whose fiction hasn't appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a circ. over 5,000. $12 entry fee per story. Short Story Award for New Writers, Glimmer Train, 710 S.W. Madison, #504C, Portland, OR 97205-2900. (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 16)] =Writers of the Future=, 4th quarter 1998, deadline 30 September 1998. [$1000 first, $750 2nd, $500 3rd place. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest, P.O. Box 1630-JBW, Los Angeles, CA 90078. (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 10)] =Star Trek: Strange New Worlds II= contest/anthology, deadline 1 October 1998. [Star Trek stories, non-pro writers over 18, to 7500 wds, 1st prize $1000, 2nd prize $600, 3rd prize $400, all plus 10 cents/wd. for pub. in antho.; hon mention pub in antho for 10 cents/wd. No reprints or E-mail subs. Strange New Worlds II, Star Trek Department, Pocket Books, 1230 6th Avenue, New York, NY 10020. (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 13)] The next reading period for =Tales of the Unanticipated= (issue #20) is tentatively set for 1 September to 1 October 1998. Eighteenth Annual Science Fiction/fantasy Short Story Contest Sponsored by Science Fiction Writers of Earth, deadline 30 October 1998. [SF/F 2,000 - 7,500 wds, $5.00 entry fee 1st subm, $2.00 thereafter, unpublished writers. $200 1st prize, $100 2nd, $50 3rd. SFWoE, P.O. Box 121293, Fort Worth, Texas 76121. (GLs in Vol. 5 No. 34)] =Dark Annie= issue #2 deadline 31 October 1998. [Genre E-zine, to 5,000 wds, 1/2 to 1 cent/wd. on accept. Reprints okay, snailmail or E-mail submissions. E-mail darkannie@aol.com Editors: Eva Harstein and Elizabeth Watts, P.O. Box 566, East Brunswick, New Jersey 08816. (GLs in Vol. 6, No. 10)] =Altair= Issue #3 competition, deadline 1 Nov 1998. [SF/F 2,000 to 10,000 wds, entry fee $5.00 U.S./each, mult. subm. okay, 1st $400, 2nd $200, 3rd $100. E-mail subm. okay to altair@senet.com.au (pay entry fee by credit card) or mail to Altair Publishing, PO Box 475, Blackwood 5051, South Australia, Australia. (GLs in Vol. 5 No. 32)] =Scaremongers 3=, British horror anthology, deadline 31 Dec 1998. [non-trad. H to 6,000 wds, œ15/1000 words on pub., E-mail subs fine. Anthony Barker, Editor, 1st Floor, Alpha House, Countesthorpe Road, South Wigston, Leicester LE18 2PJ ENGLAND, E-mail jennie@tanjen.demon.co.uk, Web site: http://www.tanjen. demon.co.uk. (GLs in Vol. 6 No. 12)] CONTESTS =Glimmer Train Short Story Award for New Writers= First place $1,200 and publication; 2nd/3rd $500/$300. Open to writers whose fiction hasn't appeared in a nationally distributed publication with a circulation over 5,000. $12 entry fee per story. Name, address, phone on check and on first page of story. Winners called by January 2. All entrants receive free Spring issue in which winning story is published. Sample: $10. More info: www.glimmertrain.com or SASE. Entries must be postmarked between August 1 and September 30 to Short Story Award for New Writers, Glimmer Train, 710 S.W. Madison, #504C, Portland, OR 97205-2900. [Editor's note: =Glimmer Train= doesn't seem to like science fiction, but has seemed interested in literary fantasy--not sword and sorcery!--in the past.] [From the =Poets and Writers Magazine= classified website at http://www.pw.org/mag/cl9809.htm] =ByLine Magazine Contests= All dates listed are postmark deadlines. Enter your own work only. Type your name, address, phone number and the contest category on the first page of the manuscript (no cover sheet). Prepare in standard manuscript format. Entries will not be returned, so there's no need for SASE. You may send multiple entries to any contest, but each entry requires an entry fee. Entries should be unpublished when entered. A list of winners in each category will be printed in the issue of =ByLine =dated three months after deadline. Winning manuscripts are not published so that authors retain all rights. Mail entries to: Contests, ByLine Magazine, PO Box 130596 Edmond, OK 73013 (These are not all the contests available; check the website for others if you're interested.) October Deadlines CHRISTMAS SHORT STORY - Deadline October 5, 1998. Short fiction that touches the magic of the season, 3,000 words maximum. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $15. FLASH FICTION - Deadline October 30, 1998. A sudden short story or vignette under 1,000 words, which nevertheless feels complete. These usually depend on atmosphere and technique more than plot. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $10. November Deadlines NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY - Deadline November 5, 1998. Open to any writer who's never won a cash prize in a ByLine fiction contest. Maximum 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $40, $30, $20, $10. December Deadlines SHORT-SHORT STORY - Deadline December 5, 1998. Short story of any type or subject, up to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $25, $15. [From the =ByLine= contest website at http://www.bylinemag.com/ contests.htm] MARKET GUIDELINES =Back Brain Recluse= [British printzine, spec. fiction, pays L10/1000 wds, no E-mail subs] Chris Reed, editor/publisher P. O. Box 625, Sheffield, S1 3GY, UK E-mail: magazine@bbr-online.com (no E-mail submissions) =Back Brain Recluse=, the award-winning British fiction magazine, actively seeks new fiction that ignores genre pigeonholes. We tread the thin line between experimental speculative fiction and avant-garde literary fiction. We are currently reading for issue #24, for which we will pay L10 ($15) per 1,000 words on publication for first English Language rights. Familiarity with the magazine is strongly advised. Enclose a stamped, self-addressed envelope for the return of your manuscript if it is not accepted. We recommend two International Reply Coupons (IRCs) plus disposable copy for non-UK submissions. One US$ is an acceptable (and cheaper!) alternative to IRCs. If you wish us to reply by e-mail, send disposable copy and no return postage. We are unable to reply to writers who do not send return postage or provide a valid e-mail address. E-mail submissions will not be considered. Illustrations of stories are commissioned, and artists are invited to send samples of their work for consideration. From BBR #24, payment will be L20 ($30) on publication per black and white full page used. We aim to reply to all submissions within two months, but sometimes circumstances beyond our control may cause us to take longer. Please enclose an SAE if enquiring about a manuscript's status. No responsibility can be accepted for loss or damage to unsolicited material, howsoever caused. (Guidelines dated 30 March 1998) [From =Back Brain Recluse= website at http://www.bbr-online.com/ magazine/guidelines.html] =Carpe Noctem= [Printzine, 5 times/yr., DF to 3000 wds, pays 3 cents/wd., prefers E-mail subs.] 260 S. Woodruff Avenue Suite 105, Dept. W., Idaho Falls, ID 83401 E-mail: carpenoc@carpenoctem.com Due to the volume of submissions we receive each week, we regret that we cannot reply to every submission. You will be contacted within 6 weeks if we are interested in publishing your work, or seeing more samples. You must sign a release form stating that the piece has never before been published or we cannot include it in =Carpe Noctem=. PLEASE DO NOT CONTACT OUR OFFICE TO CHECK ON THE STATUS OF YOUR SUBMISSION. (Yes, we are yelling this!) Thank you! Submission Guidelines: All the details you ever wanted. (We hope!) 1. =Carpe Noctem= is interested in Dark Alternative/Darkly Romantic subject matter. Submissions will be accepted based on originality, quality and professionalism. 2. All submissions must be typed using double spacing. Hard copies (paper) are accepted however, electronic format is ideal. We use Microsoft Word for Macintosh or Windows. TEXT submissions via Internet are acceptable; you MUST include it in the body of an E-mail. We will not consider submissions longer than 5000 words, (3000 is ideal.) Please do not E-mail submissions larger than 500k!. We will be angry! If you have a web page please post images and send the URL. 3. Photo and artwork dimensions must be between 4"x6" and 8"x10". 4. Original artwork must be inked; no pencil sketches will be considered. (They transfer poorly.) 5. Submissions must be original and unpublished with no reference to Vampires (unless is really good.) This is due to the overwhelming number of fanzines which currently feature this type of material. 6. Write your name, address and telephone number on all typed pages and/or backs of photos/art. Sorry, we cannot return unsolicited originals without proper packaging and postage. [From =Carpe Noctem= website at http://www.carpenoctem.com/ enlightenment/submission.shtml] =Maelstrom Speculative Fiction= [Printzine, SF/F/H to 5000 wds, pays $20, no E-mail submissions] David L. Felts, editor P.O. Box 10906, Goldsboro, NC 27532 E-mail: maelstrom_sf@bigfoot.com MISSION I believe there are a lot of good stories out there, especially by newer authors, that deserve to be read. My mission is to publish good speculative fiction, be it science fiction, fantasy, horror, or any mixture thereof. I want the stories in =Maelstrom Speculative Fiction= to make people think, to make them feel and wonder. I want stories that stand out. I want people to know when they open an issue of =Maelstrom Speculative Fiction= that they are going to be transported to another place and end up changed by the journey. Most of all I want them to enjoy it. Write your best stuff and send it to me and I'll do my best put it in print and get it in front of people who want to read it. PRINTING SCHEDULE AND ISSUE STATUS I plan on publishing =Maelstrom Speculative Fiction= quarterly, with a Summer, Fall, Winter, and Spring issue. The first issue, Summer 1998, is now available. FICTION SUBMISSION GUIDELINES TYPE I'm looking for science fiction, fantasy, horror, or any combination of these you can pull off. I'm more into characters than tech and more into atmosphere than gore. I've nothing against adult language and situations, but I'm not publishing erotic fiction. If sex and profanity are integral to your story, fine, but don't use it for the sake of using it. I'm not interested in reprints at this time unless you are an established pro and the story was not widely circulated (please query first). LENGTH I'm limited on space, so 5,000 words is the limit. It's not set in stone, but you'd have to write a zinger for me to take anything much longer. If you're going to exceed this, please query first with some background on the story and I'll get back to you. No bottom limit, but be forewarned -- short-shorts or vignettes are very hard to do. PAYMENT One contributor's copy and a flat rate $20 (regardless of length) on acceptance (i.e. return of signed contract). REPLY My goal is to reply in under four weeks. If you haven't heard anything by six weeks, feel free to query by letter or E-mail. FORMAT Standard manuscript format (check out manuscript preparation guidelines at www.sfwa.org/writing/writing.htm if you don't know what this is). Please, no multiple submissions (more than one story per envelope) and no simultaneous submissions (more than one magazine at a time with the same story). Enclose an SASE* for a reply. No SASE*, no reply. Disposable manuscripts are fine. Cover letters are optional, but preferred. Sorry, but I'm not accepting E-mail submissions and will not be replying via E-mail*. *No SASE required for foreign submissions. I will reply via E-mail to save on international postage. Send all fiction submissions via snail mail. David L. Felts, Editor and publisher Maelstrom Speculative Fiction [From website at http://members.xoom.com/maelstrom_sf/] =Outside: Clocktower Fiction's Speculative and Dark Fiction Magazine= [Printzine, DF and spec. fic. 1500-4000 wds, pays 3 cents/wd. on accept., no E-mail subm.] Brian Callahan, editor Clocktower Fiction, 6549 Mission Gorge Road Box 260, San Diego, CA 92120 E-mail: outside@clocktowerfiction.com Submission Guidelines for Outside: Clocktower Fiction's Speculative and Dark Fiction Magazine. Who We Are: Outside is a paying professional magazine of SF and dark imaginative fiction, aimed at people who love to read well-plotted, character-driven genre fiction. We are interested in fiction that transcends the limitations and ventures outside the stereotypes of genre fiction. What We Publish: short (1500-4000 words) Science Fiction, Horror, and darkly imaginative fiction. We seek well-written, professionally executed fiction, with attention to basics-- grammar, punctuation, usage. We do not accept Sword & Sorcery, pornography, or excessive violence and gore beyond the legitimate needs of a story. Also no derivative works (e.g., emulating TV shows and movies - no Star Trek stories, for example). Our goals: We strive to be both writer-friendly and reader-friendly. We eagerly look forward to receiving top quality, professional material from you. Requirements: All stories must be typed double-spaced, on only one side of each sheet with sheets loose -- no fasteners of any kind. The author's full name and address should appear in the upper left-hand corner of page one; an approximate word count should appear in the upper right-hand corner. Each page should be numbered and include the title and author's last name. We will accept letter quality 24-pin dot-matrix computer print-- please separate the pages. If you choose to submit photocopies, they must be clear and readable. No simultaneous submissions, please. Grammar, punctuation, spelling, and usage weigh heavily as we consider the story. You must master these essentials to be a professional writer. We expect that a professional writer owns, and regularly uses, a dictionary and at least one or two usage books (e.g. Strunk & White, Fowler). To be a successful writer, you should be a voracious but discriminating reader. Many books are available about the craft of writing -- read them all for free through your public library. Join a writers' group. Write constantly to improve your craft -- it's a tough discipline, as difficult and time consuming as learning to play symphony-quality violin or piano. Finally, despite all these somewhat dire words, we wish you a passionate and successful love affair with writing. We pay three cents per word upon acceptance of your manuscript. Acceptance constitutes final editorial approval of content. We strive to pay as promptly as possible, but please allot a reasonable amount of time (6-8 weeks after acceptance) for your check to arrive. Manuscripts must be sent by postal mail only. E-mail submissions will be deleted without being read. Please include an appropriately sized, self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE). (Contributors residing outside the United States should use international reply coupons.) Even if you do not want your manuscript returned, we require a letter-size SASE for our response; manuscripts without an SASE will not be returned. If you have an e-mail address, please furnish it on your hardcopy. Our e-mail address is outside@clocktowerfiction.com. We usually respond within six weeks after receiving a submission. Depending on many variables, however, it can sometimes take longer. Please give us ample time before you begin writing to inquire about a submission's status. Please do not send us the only copy of your manuscript (accidents happen and mail gets lost). No simultaneous or previously published work. All submissions should be sent to: Clocktower Fiction, 6549 Mission Gorge Road Box 260, San Diego, California 92120 [From the website at http://www.clocktowerfiction.com/ Outside/guidelines.html] =Space & Time= [Printzine, SF/F, biannual, under 10,000 wds, pays 1 cent/wd., no E-mail subs.] Writers' Guidelines We are currently reading, very selectively, for #90. Because of our cashflow situation, even if we love your stuff we can't pay for it until shortly before publication. The last checks for text material for #88 only went out the end of July. S&T is a bi-annual magazine of science-fiction & fantasy. We publish supernatural horror, hard s-f, swords & sorcery, and our favorite: that-which-defies-categorization. If you're not sure your manuscript is right for us, send it in and let us decide. For fiction, we prefer under 10,000 words; more than that has to be very good indeed. Poetry of any type is fine, as long as it falls within the sf/fantasy genre; strong narrative poems are welcome here. We're generating pretty much all the non-fiction we want right now, so hold off on that. Payment is 1 cent per word ($5.00 minimum) for First North American Serial Rights, with a non-exclusive option on subsidiary rights, plus two copies on publication and a 40% discount on additional copies. Normally we pay on acceptance; because of our current cash-flow problems, though, we probably can't issue checks until after #88 comes out. Manuscripts must be typed double-spaced, with your full name and address in an upper corner of the first page. Legible photocopies are okay; also dot-matrix of near-letter quality with a dark ribbon. We prefer no simultaneous submissions. We do not take electronic submissions at present, although if we accept your work we will ask if it is available in that form. You must include a self-addressed envelope with sufficient return postage (or IRCs outside of the U.S.), or use disposable manuscripts and a stamped business-size envelope for our response. Address fiction to Tom Piccirilli, and poetry to Lawrence Greenberg (for poetry submissions only, you may if you choose address material directly to Mr. Greenberg at Box 41, New York NY 10034). Mixing poems and stories delays our response. You needn't read our magazine before submitting material, but we're not about to discourage you from trying to psyche us out or ingratiate yourselves. We could use the sale, especially now. A sample issue is $5.00 plus $1.50 handling charge. Order from: Space & Time, 138 West 70th Street (4B), New York, NY 10023-4468. Outside U.S., please use U.S. postal money order or check payable against any U.S. bank. Gordon Linzner, Editor-in-chief (GLs last updated March 8, 1998) [From the website at http://www.bway.net/~natalia/ s&t_writer.html] MARKET INFORMATION =Crank!= The webpage URL I had for Crank! (http://world.std.com/~bmpress/) is no longer extant; it seems there is no longer a web page for =Crank!= (although there is one for Bryan Cholfin at http://www.sff.net/people/linn/cholfinpage.html which seems to be maintained by his agent). =Exodus E-zine= =Exodus= has moved in order to become part of the new project, =Conflicting Spectrums=. =Exodus= is closed to all submissions at this time. All submissions currently being held are in the process of being returned unread. As soon as details are worked out on the development of =Conflicting Spectrums=, the submission guidelines will be updated. =Conflicting Spectrums= will be themed, so all submissions that were being held for =Exodus= no longer fit the themes, and are being returned. [From website at http://www.blindside.net/Spectrums/Exodus/, read 8 Sept 98] =The Fractal= =The Fractal= can be contacted via the Internet at fractal@gmu.edu. They are no longer accepting submissions sent to TheFractal@aol.com. [From website at http://www.gmu.edu/org/fractal/, read 8 Sep 98] =HorrorNet= The submissions page for =HorrorNet= website say, "We are not currently accepting unsolicited manuscripts for HorrorNet." [From website at http://www.horrornet.com/originalfiction.htm] =Millennium Science Fiction and Fantasy= The E-zine =Millennium Science Fiction and Fantasy=, "The only science fiction magazine published in Roswell, NM, the home of the 1947 UFO crash site," has a new URL: http://209.150.135.101/ and a new E-mail address: msfandf@yahoo.com. They'll be sponsoring a contest soon: "Millennium Science Fiction & Fantasy Magazine, the only science fiction magazine published in Roswell, New Mexico, the home of the 1947 UFO crash site, is looking for writers with fresh ideas about what really happened. Almost everyone is familiar with the "Alien Crash Cover Up Theory." We want to know what alternate theories you have. Write about it and win $$$. The top three winners receive cash prizes!!! AND Publication in a special Anthology to premier at the 1999 Roswell, UFO Festival. Contest rules and deadlines will be available on 11 September 1998! So drop a note in the letter box, check your guns at the door, fasten your seat belts and explore The New Millennium." Millennium no longer pays $25.00 per story; the rate has dropped to $10.00 per story. [From the website at http://209.150.135.101/guidelin.htm] =Night Terrors= Night Terrors is not reading at this time but will be reading again starting November 1, 1998, according to the website at http://members.aol.com/NTMagazine/GUIDEL.HTML =Place E-zine= The E-zine that used to be at http://www.cranepub.on.ca, Place, is no longer there. It's now just a web design site. =ShadowFall E-zine= The Australian horror and dark fantasy magazine =ShadowFall= has become an E-zine, to debut on October 31, 1998. The URL is http://www.ozemail.com.au/~darkpath/shadweb/shadow01.htm As of 25 July 98, they are closed to submissions. =End of CALLIHOO newsletter for 8 September 1998==