CALLIHOO Newsletter Market News for Writers of Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror Julia West, Editor Vol. 10, No. 36 8 April 2003 Website: http://www.sff.net/people/julia.west/CALLIHOO/index.htm ----------------------------------------------------------------- IN THIS ISSUE News Deadlines Anthologies Historical Fantasy antho (gls) Humorous Fantasy antho (gls) Market Guidelines Dark Legacy (gls) Fables (gls) Paradox (gls) S1ngularity (gls) Market Information 3SF (hiatus) Artemis Black Gate Brutarian Century Dark Legacy Fantastic Stories Ideomancer Polyphony 3 Realms of Fantasy S1ngularity Strange Horizons TriSpec Weird Tales ----------------------------------------------------------------- NEWS PUBLICATION NOTES K.L. Morgan's novel =Castledance=, Volume 1 in the Chronicles of Fiarah, is out in a second edition from TriQuest. Congratulations, Kris! ----------------------------------------------------------------- DEADLINES Check out the CALLIHOO website, listed above, for more information on these contests, magazine issues, and anthologies. (Where it says "GLs in Vol. X No. Y," these are volume and issue of the CALLIHOO newsletter.) NEW MOON NOV./DEC. 2003 ISSUE: SHHH! IT'S A SECRET! Deadline 1 May 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND SUMMER 2002 ISSUE: BONESTELL Deadline 1 May 2002 [PDF mag, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. Stories in this issue inspired by Chesley Bonestell painting Exploring the Moon by Earthlight [picture shown on website]. Stories needn't take place on Moon, but should relate to the painting. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] BYLINE NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 May 2003 [Open to writers who have never won cash prize in ByLine fiction category. Max 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $35, $25, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E- mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] HIDDEN TALENTS SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 31 May 2003 [Canadian contest, short stories to 5,000 wds. Prizes: 1st $500C, 2nd $250C, 3rd $100C, HM $25C; Junior 1st $200C, 2nd $100C, 3rd $50C, HM $10C. Winners pub. Entry fee $10C ($5C for Junior Writers--under age 17). No E-mail subs, reprints. Mult subs okay with separate entry fee & form. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 30)] BYLINE SHORT-SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 June 2003 [General short story to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $35, $20. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE JUVENILE SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 25 June 2003 [Fiction for ages 5 to 8; 9 to 12; or 13 to 16. State targeted age group on ms.; length appropriate for intended audience (3,000 words max). Entry fee $4. Prizes: $40, $30, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] WRITERS OF THE FUTURE, 3RD QUARTER 2003 Deadline 30 June 2003 [$1000 first, $750 2nd, $500 3rd place. No entry fee. L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future Contest, P.O. Box 1630-JBW, Los Angeles, CA 90078. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] MAIDEN OF PAIN Deadline 1 July 2003 [Novel proposal, Forgotten Realms, Loviatar (Maiden of Pain) priest/ess. Include 10 p. DS writing sample: scene from your version of Maiden of Pain, 1 p., SS story synopsis (whole story), and 1 p. cover letter about you. No E-mail subs. Final novel to be 90,000 wds, due June/July 2004. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 31)] NEW MOON JAN./FEB. 2004 ISSUE: MAMA SAID THERE'D BE DAYS LIKE THIS Deadline 1 July 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 July 2003 [Fiction on any topic, to 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $35, $20. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND FALL 2003 ISSUE: SCIENCE FICTION MYSTERIES Deadline 1 August 2003 [PDF magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. Mysteries. Robbery, murder, piracy, locked room. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6- 8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] BYLINE 1ST CHAPTER OF A NOVEL CONTEST Deadline 5 August 2003 [Opening chapter of unpub novel. Mainstream or genre; adult or YA audience. Max 25 pages. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $70, $40, $25. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BORDERLANDS 5 ANTHOLOGY Deadline 1 September 2003 [Non-theme antho, dark spec fic to 5,000 wds. Pays 5-7 cents/wd. Sim and E-mail subs okay. No reprints. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 31)] NEW MOON MAR./APR. 2004 ISSUE: FEELIN' GROOVY (MUSIC & DANCE) Deadline 1 September 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE GENRE FICTION CONTEST Deadline 5 September 2003 [Short story that fits category: romance, sci-fi, confession, mystery, western, etc. No children's stories. Max 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] BYLINE FLASH FICTION CONTEST Deadline 10 October 2003 [Short story or vignette under 1,000 words, which nevertheless feels complete. These often depend on atmosphere and technique more than plot. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $30, $15. GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] NEW MOON MAY/JUN. 2004 ISSUE: 25 BEAUTIFUL GIRLS Deadline 1 November 2003 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND WINTER 2003: AUSTRALIAN WRITERS Deadline 1 November 2003 [PDF magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] BYLINE NEW-TALENT SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 November 2003. Open to writers who have never won cash prize in a ByLine fiction contest. Maximum 5,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $50, $35, $25, $15. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] DAIKAIJU ANTHOLOGY Deadline 30 November 2004 [Antho, giant monster stories to 12,000 wds. Pays Aus$30/story. Enquire for E-mail subs. GLs in Vol. 10 No. 31)] BYLINE SHORT-SHORT STORY CONTEST Deadline 5 December 2003 [Short story of any type or subject, to 2,000 words. Entry fee $5. Prizes: $60, $30, $20. Winners not printed; no rights taken. No reprints or E-mail subs. Mult subs okay with separate entry fees. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] NEW MOON JUL./AUG. 2004 ISSUE: IT'S NOT EASY BEIN' GREEN (THE ENVIRONMENT) Deadline 1 January 2004 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND SPRING 2004 ISSUE: COLONIES Deadline 1 February 2004 [PDF themed magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. Science Fiction stories about colonies. How they do or don't survive, the challenges and rewards. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] NEW MOON SEPT./OCT. 2004 ISSUE: IF I HAD A HAMMER Deadline 1 March 2004 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] NEW MOON NOV./DEC. 2004 ISSUE: WHAT A GIRL WANTS (READERS' CHOICE AWARDS) Deadline 1 May 2004 [Bimonthly printzine, fiction for girls 8-14. Fiction about girls/women 900-1200 wds (prints 3 to 6 per year). Occasionally serializes longer fiction. Buys all rts. Sim subs and reprints okay if notify. Prefer E-mail subs. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 33)] OCEANS OF THE MIND SUMMER 2004: SPIRITUAL SCIENCE FICTION Deadline 1 May 2004 [PDF themed magazine, SF to 8,000 wds. Pays from 5 cents/wd. No H/F/S&S. Prefers E-mail subs. Sim subs okay. RT E-mail 4-5 wks, snail 6-8 wks. (GLs in Vol. 10 No. 29)] ----------------------------------------------------------------- ANTHOLOGIES HISTORICAL FANTASY ANTHOLOGY [Electronic antho, Hist F 3,000-6,000 wds. Pays portion of royalties. No reprints, sim or mult subs. E-mail subs only.] Megan Powell, Editor Submissions: cp_antho@hotmail.com Stories should be set in a period before 1900 and must contain some element of fantasy. I'd like to see a broad range of settings (geographically and temporally), and I'm fond of character-driven stories. I'll be looking for historical accuracy, but not a slavish recitation of minutiae; avoid jarring anachronisms (unless they're the point of the story). No reprints, simultaneous or multiple submissions for this anthology, please. Electronic submissions only, with "Historical" and story title in the subject line. RTF attachments are preferred, but DOC and TXT are also acceptable. Please avoid "smart" quotes or anything else that might be garbled in transit. Bios are welcome but not necessary. All submissions (cover letters and manuscripts) should include the following information: author's name (and pseudonym), address, e-mail, story title, word count and setting (a brief description is fine: Tudor England, Tokugawa Japan, etc.--this is for my filing convenience only). The anthology will be published electronically by Cyber-Pulp; contract details are available on the publisher's site [http://come.to/cyberpulp]. Word count: 3,000 - 6,000 (not particularly firm) Deadline: When filled Payment: Royalty split E-mail submissions to: cp_antho@hotmail.com [http://www.meganpowell.net/editor/] HUMOROUS FANTASY ANTHOLOGY [Electronic antho, Humorous F 3,000-6,000 wds. Pays portion of royalties. No reprints, sim or mult subs. E-mail subs only.] Megan Powell, Editor Submissions: cp_antho@hotmail.com Stories for this anthology should combine fantasy and humor. Like everything else, humor is subjective, but I enjoy a broad range from the absurd to lite & fluffy to black humor. (More specific likes include =Good Omens=, =Bridge of Birds=, =The Last Unicorn=, =The Princess Bride=, Terry Pratchett, Connie Willis, Douglas Adams, Neal Stephenson, Black Adder, South Park, The Daily Show, The Onion and Monty Python.) Electronic submissions only, with "Humor" and story title in the subject line. RTF attachments are preferred, but DOC and TXT are also acceptable. Please avoid "smart" quotes or anything else that might be garbled in transit. Bios are welcome but not necessary. All submissions (cover letters and manuscripts) should include the following information: author's name (and pseudonym), address, e-mail, story title and word count. No reprints, simultaneous or multiple submissions for this anthology, please. The anthology will be published electronically by Cyber-Pulp; contract details are available on the publisher's site [http://come.to/cyberpulp]. Word count: 3,000 - 6,000 (not particularly firm) Deadline: When filled Payment: Royalty split E-mail submissions to: cp_antho@hotmail.com [http://www.meganpowell.net/editor/] ----------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET GUIDELINES DARK LEGACY [Biannual printzine, Lovecraft-inspired material to 3,000 wds. Pays $5.00/story 1,000-3,000 wds, $2.00/story under 1,000 words, on pub. Reading periods Feb 1-Mar 31 and Aug 1-Sep 30. No E- mail subs.] Lee Clark Zumpe, Editor Half-Crazed Monks Press Dark Legacy 11343 113th Ave. N. Largo, FL 33778 E-mail (queries only): clark1@gte.net http://blindside.net/leeclarkzumpe/dark_legacy.html =Dark Legacy= has returned from the brink of the abyss once more. Originally edited by Ron Shiflet and later by Ran Cartwright, =Dark Legacy= is resurfacing from the murky depths in 2003. Lee Clark Zumpe will serve as both reanimator and editor for the forseeable future. =Dark Legacy= will produce two issues per year. Submissions =Dark Legacy= has two reading periods each year: February 1st through March 31st (for publication in July issue), August 1st through September 30th (for publication in January issue) [See note below] =Dark Legacy= publishes fresh, innovative material inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft. We do not want pastiches. We do not want subtle variations of familiar stories without new twists. We do not want stories relying solely on name-dropping to establish a link to Lovecraft. Read Lovecraft. Study his style, examine his tone, research his sources, consider his themes. Reflect upon his work in relation to his environment, and to the time period in which he created his mythos. Once you have done all that, extrapolate. =Dark Legacy= welcomes short stories up to 3,000 words. We also welcome poetry. =Dark Legacy= pays a flat fee of $5.00 for short stories over 1,000 words, $2.00 for poetry or short-short fiction (under 1,000 words). Payment upon publication. Contributors will also receive one copy of the issue in which their work appears. Queries can be sent to the editor at clark1@gte.net. Please, positively no submissions by e-mail. Submissions can be mailed to: Lee Clark Zumpe, Editor, Half-Crazed Monks Press, Dark Legacy, 11343 113th Ave. N., Largo, FL 33778 Half-Crazed Monks Press =Dark Legacy= is the first endeavor of the newly-formed Half-Crazed Monks Press. Initially, we will focus on producing a compelling heir to the former incarnations of =Dark Legacy=, which we hope will exceed the expectations of our readers. If all goes well, Half-Crazed Monks Press may branch out into new ventures in the future. Needless to say, we do not at present employ any monks, half-crazed or otherwise. Our name was inspired by a line penned by H.P. Lovecraft: "No printing-press, but the hand of some half-crazed monk, had traced these ominous Latin phrases in uncials of awesome antiquity." H.P. Lovecraft, =The Book= [http://blindside.net/leeclarkzumpe/dark_legacy.html] FABLES, THE HOME FOR FOLKLORE AND SPECULATIVE FICTION ON THE INTERNET [Quarterly webzine. Great Hall: F/SF/H, no word limit (currently closed). Crown & Thistle: folktale retellings, no word limit (currently closed). Pays: Great Hall, $10 (reprint $5)/story, Crown & Thistle $5/story. E-mail subs only. Reprints, mult and sim subs okay.] Megan Powell, editor http://www.fables.org/ Submission Guidelines If you sent a submission for the Great Hall or Crown & Thistle on March 25, please resend. I accidentally deleted a couple of messages. --Megan Great Hall: Closed Poetry: Open Crown & Thistle: Closed Gallery: Closed Audio: Open Commentary: Open [The website] is the authoritative page for guidelines and addresses; information posted here supercedes market listings available in other publications or on other sites. All submissions must be sent electronically to the appropriate editor. Multiple submissions are allowed, but please keep it reasonable. Simultaneous submissions are also okay, but please note that fact in your e-mail. If the work has been previously published please tell us where and when. ("Previously published" applies to public dissemination in print or electronic format. Submitting work to a critique group is not considered publication provided the circulation is limited to others in the group, as with groups that meet physically or utilize password-protected sites. Posting work on your homepage is considered publication.) Please include the following information in the e-mail and attachment (if applicable) of all submissions: Legal name Pseudonym (if applicable) Snail mail address E-mail address Approximate word count (fiction) Line count (poetry) Publication history of the work (if applicable) Bio and URLs (optional) Great Hall =Fables= publishes speculative fiction of all varieties: fantasy, science fiction, horror, sword and sorcery, urban fantasy, magical realism, science fantasy, time travel, alternate history, and so forth. There are no taboos as far as content or theme, and both serious and humorous stories are welcome, as are cross-genre tales. For a sense of the editor's tastes you can read previous issues. Word count is open. Most works published on the site are shorts (under 1,000 words) or short stories (1,000-7,499 words) but we have published longer works in the past. Novelettes (7,500-17,499 words) are published in their entirety in one issue. Novellas (17,500-39,000 words) and novels (40,000 words and up) will be considered for serialization. Attachments in .rtf are preferred. Attachments in .txt or .doc format are also acceptable, as are submissions in the body of the e-mail. Please keep formatting simple; even such apparently minor enhancements as curly quotes have a tendency to get garbled in transit. The Great Hall is currently closed to submissions. Poetry Both traditional and free form poetry with a fantastical or folklorish subject; light verse may also be accepted on occasion. Submissions should be text only, embedded in the body of the e-mail; no attachments, please. Submissions for the Poetry section should go to Abigail Friedman at poetry@fables.org. Crown & Thistle This section contains retellings of traditional folktales from around the world. Please include the cultural source of the folktale as well as any reference materials you may have used (we maintain a list and like to include references in the Marketplace). Word count is open, though stories of this type seem to work best as shorts (under 1,000 words) or short stories (1,000-7,499 words). Attachments in .rtf are preferred. Attachments in .txt or .doc format are also acceptable, as are submissions in the body of the e-mail. Please keep formatting simple; even such apparently simple things as curly quotes have a tendency to get garbled in transit. The Crown & Thistle is currently closed to submissions. Gallery Work may be sent attached to the e-mail (.jpg or .gif format), or the artist may provide the URL for an online gallery. Images should be sent at a web-standard resolution of 72 dpi. The Gallery is currently closed to submissions. Audio If you are interested in submitting a recording, please query first. Queries should be sent to Lawrence D. P. Miller at audio@fables.org. Commentary If you are interested in submitting work for review or joining our pool of reviewers, please see our review guidelines. Articles, interviews and other nonfiction pieces may be submitted individually. If you have an idea for a recurring column, please query. Commentary queries and submissions should be sent to Lawrence D. P. Miller at commentary@fables.org. Payment =Fables= is a semi-professional market with the following pay rates. Serials, individual illustrations and other exceptions are negotiated on a case-by-case basis. Great Hall, first rights: $10, reprint: $5 Poetry (short): $2, (30+ lines): $5 Crown & Thistle: $5 Gallery: $15 Audio: $5 Commentary: non-paying Rights For previously unpublished Great Hall stories, we ask for exclusive rights for 90 days (one issue). =Fables= acquires non-exclusive rights for all other works for a minimum of 90 days (one issue). After that period, works will be archived indefinitely and removed at the creator's request or the editors' discretion. Creators retain their copyright. General Information =Fables= is published on a quarterly schedule. Depending on our current backlog, it may be a year or more before accepted work is published; the section editor will have a better idea about a prospective publication date. Contributors will have the opportunity to review their work and bio prior to publication. =Fables= assumes that those who submit work have the legal right to do so. We do not accept work based on copyrighted material (no fan-fic). Contributors agree to having their work published on our website, the pages of which may be viewed online or downloaded or printed for personal use. The contents of the site may not be redistributed, resold or repackaged. [http://www.fables.org/submissions.html] PARADOX, THE MAGAZINE OF HISTORICAL AND SPECULATIVE FICTION [New triannual printzine (plus one pdf issue/yr.). Hist fic/F/SF/H and mix 2,000-9,000 wds (not firm). Pays 3-5 cents/wd.(max. $450) on pub. No e-mail or sim subs or reprints. RT 1-4 mo.] Christopher M. Cevasco, Editor Paradox, P.O. Box 22897 Brooklyn, NY 11202-2897 http://home.nyc.rr.com/paradoxmag/index.html The debut issue of =Paradox= is scheduled for release on April 15, 2003, and will be published in printed form three times a year thereafter. Plus, an electronic PDF issue will be published annually every January. In each issue, you will find the very best of short historical fiction, as well as fantasy, science fiction, and horror, most of which will also have some historical twist--e.g., alternate history, time travel, Arthuriana. If you've written a story you would like us to consider, please send it our way. =Paradox= welcomes submissions from established writers as well as unpublished newcomers, and pays competitive, professional rates for those stories it accepts. Please read our Submission Guidelines for additional details. If you would like to subscribe to =Paradox=, a one-year subscription (three print issues plus one PDF issue) can be purchased for $15 in U.S.A. ($18 in Canada, $24 elsewhere), and a two-year subscription (six print issues plus two PDF issues) for only $27 in U.S.A. ($33 in Canada, $45 elsewhere). Or, you can pre-order a single copy of our debut print issue for $6 in U.S.A [$5 cover price plus $1 shipping] ($7 in Canada, $9 elsewhere). [http://home.nyc.rr.com/paradoxmag/index.html] NEW! 3/26/03 =Paradox= is expanding! Now, in addition to three print issues of the magazine, subscriptions will include a fourth PDF issue of the magazine that will be published each January and sent electronically to the subscriber's e-mail address. All submissions will be considered for publication either in one of the print issues or in the annual PDF issue. For writers who submitted prior to April 15, 2003, and are still awaiting a response: if your story is accepted for publication, your letter of acceptance will indicate the issue in which your story would appear. In the event that your story is accepted for a PDF issue (rather than a print issue) and you do not wish it to be published therein, you are free to decline Paradox's offer to publish. SUBMISSION GUIDELINES =Paradox= publishes historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, and horror, with a mixing of the genres preferred, as well as articles, news and reviews. While any well-written story stands a chance of being accepted, the following sorts of stories will be given preference: Historical Fiction: Any time period is fair game, but we are particularly interested in pre-Industrial tales, especially those set in the Middle Ages and the ancient world and told from a broad spectrum of geographic and cultural perspectives. We would also like to see material set during human pre-history as long as it is believable (i.e., no sexy cavegirl stories). Historical accuracy is, of course, a wholly inflexible prerequisite to acceptance of any piece of pure historical fiction, but we want stories that are also artfully crafted, have engaging, fully-developed characters, interesting plots, and satisfying (though not necessarily happy) endings. If your story explores or illuminates some aspect of human nature, all the better. We will also consider historical mysteries that fit these guidelines. Speculative Fiction: We are primarily looking for Alternate History, Time Travel, Arthuriana, stories in which archaeology, history, literature, art, or music plays a prominent role, historical retellings with a fantasy or sci-fi twist, classical mythology settings, retellings of classic fantasy/sci-fi/ mythology from an alternate character's perspective, "religious" fantasy/sci-fi, sci-fi exploring evolution (human or otherwise), and anything else you think might fit this overall theme. We will also consider other sorts of dark fantasy, cyberpunk, "soft" (or sociological) science fiction, and horror (frightening rather than gory), but such stories must be highly literate material, rich in atmosphere, with engaging characters and unique settings, and should steer clear from overworked genre conventions. Lovecraftian Mythos tales are welcome, but as with all good Mythos stories, yours should be rich in its historical context. High fantasy and S&S is also acceptable, but the world in which your story is set must feel as richly developed as those in Tolkien, Jordan, Feist, etc., which is no small feat in a short story. Do not send us any ultra-technical sci-fi, space opera, vampires, werewolves, gratuitous erotica, or children's stories. A word on Tense: Stories told in the present verb tense already have one strike against them and will very rarely be accepted for publication in =Paradox=. Again, these guidelines are only meant as a guidepost but are not meant to stifle anyone's creativity. If we receive a truly great story, we will give it serious consideration even if it doesn't seem to fit any of these listed preferences. The best way to get a feel for the type of story likely to be accepted for publication is to read an issue of the magazine by ordering a sample copy or subscribing. =Paradox= welcomes stories from both established and unpublished writers. Non-fiction Articles: Non-fiction articles for =Paradox= should be approximately 4,000 words in length and should deal with innovative historiography, historically relevant literary analysis, or cutting-edge historical research of wide interest. Black-and-white illustrations (if any) should be provided by the author in scan-ready form. It is important to bear in mind that =Paradox= readers possess a keen interest in the subject of history but represent a very wide diversity of backgrounds. Thus, specialized jargon and statistical detail should be kept to a necessary minimum. As =Paradox= readers are reading this magazine primarily for entertainment purposes, a suitable style for articles is far more informal than that in many professional journals. We will also consider "what if" essays considering alternate paths history might have taken, analyzing where we would be had history unfolded in a fashion other than that in which it did, and answering those alluring questions of why, how and when our collective destiny became reality. Proposals for non-fiction articles and CV (or letter detailing your personal or professional qualifications for writing on the given subject) may be sent as an e-mail attachment in RTF (Rich Text Format) to paradox@nyc.rr.com (note: fiction submissions will not be accepted at this e-mail address). If you have a completed article you would like to submit for consideration, please do so by mailing a hard copy along with a CV or cover letter. News columns and book or movie reviews are assigned, and we do not accept freelance submissions in those areas. If you would like to be considered for an assignment, you may e-mail a CV (or letter detailing your qualifications) as an attachment in RTF (Rich Text Format) to paradox@nyc.rr.com. Nuts and Bolts =Paradox= pays 3 to 5 cents per word (maximum $450) on publication for stories of any length (within reason), 2000 to 9000 words preferred. We will consider serializing novels. Payment for non-fiction articles is at the rate of 3 cents per word. We buy First World English language rights and an option on anthology rights; all other rights are retained by the author. You can expect a response one to four months after submission, and a personal critique will be provided for every story submitted. Send a hard copy of your story to Christopher M. Cevasco, Editor, Paradox, P.O. Box 22897, Brooklyn, NY 11202-2897. Use standard manuscript format (e.g., double-line spaced, 12-point Courier or other nonproportional font, underline rather than italicize when needed). Include name, address, e-mail, and approximate word-count on title page and name, shortened form of title, and page number on top of every subsequent page. Do not staple or fold. Include a SASE for response (or SAE & IRC for international submissions). Manuscripts will not be returned unless sufficient postage and envelope is provided along with submission. No electronic fiction submissions will be accepted (only non-fiction proposals and CV's will be accepted by e-mail as outlined above). We are only looking to publish previously unpublished work. No simultaneous submissions please. A Word on Word Count: When calculating payment, word count for stories will be calculated as follows: 250 x No. of Pages (for US submissions on 8.5x11 paper) 270 x No. of Pages (for international submissions on A4 paper) [this assumes 12-point, Courier font, double-spaced with 1-inch margins] Each contributor will receive four contributor copies of the issue of =Paradox= in which his or her work appears and will be eligible to purchase additional copies of that issue at one-third off the cover price. Artwork All interior artwork in =Paradox= will be assigned. To be considered for an assignment, send samples of your work to Editor Christopher M. Cevasco at the story submission address (preferably non-returnable photocopies). Or, if you have a website gallery featuring your artwork, you can simply e-mail a link to the site. Payment is $20 and up (on publication) for black-and-white interior illustrations. We are not looking for any cover artwork at this time, but that may change, so check back in the future. Poetry? Cartoons? Although =Paradox= will focus on fiction rather than poetry, if you've written a poem you think will fit the theme of the magazine, please send it along, and it will be considered for possible publication (payment is a flat rate of $10 per poem). The same holds true for cartoons--dealing with historical figures or themes only please (payment for cartoons is in contributor copies). [http://home.nyc.rr.com/paradoxmag/submissions.htm] S1NGULARITY [Bi-weekly webzine; new fiction posted monthly. Fiction that challenges and experiments, no length limit. Pay negotiable. E- mail subs only. Reprints okay.] Gabe Chouinard, Editor/Publisher Submissions: singularityzine@aol.com http://www.sfsite.com/singularity/ Launched March 15, 2003 Submitting to =S1ngularity= =S1ngularity= is an online journal of fiction, criticism and interviews. Our mission is a simple one: bring exemplary fiction to the masses, and complement it with serious critical reviews and probing, insightful interviews. Our mission is a simple one; its execution is not. Fiction: We're seeking fiction that blurs genre boundaries, singular in its execution, bold in its ideas and style. It is our goal to provide not only the best online source for fiction, but to provide stories that challenge our readers and play with the literary form itself. We have no genre guidelines, no mapped terrain to point you to. We seek experimentation and excitement--authors should be having fun above all. We live in exciting times, and our fiction should reflect that. Length is unimportant, but should be a reflection of what the story needs. We read everything onscreen, which reflects our dedication to the Internet as a viable form of media. If we can't get through it onscreen, we don't want it. We're especially interested in exploring the possibilities of flash fiction, which should not exceed 800 words. Linked stories are welcomed. Criticism: Only serious critics need apply. We have no interested in regurgitated press releases. We have no interest in staid book report styles. What we want is thoughtful, highly individualized criticism that relates not only a work's strengths and weaknesses, but also the reviewer's personal response to the work. We call this type of review "exploratory essays," which relates a work to a reviewer's idiosyncratic tastes and situations. In short, make it personal. Interviews: We accept interviews that are interesting and in-depth. Query singularityzine@aol.com with past credits or proposed interviews. Articles: We will accept articles that are not criticism. Critical guidelines above still apply. Blogging: We are looking for talented, interesting bloggers to join our site. Please query singularityzine@aol.com for more information. A Note About Format: We accept e-submissions. We work primarily on Microsoft Word 2000 for Windows or RTF format. Submissions may be sent as text, HTML, .docs, or in the body of an email. We don't care what it looks like; just get it to us! Gabe Chouinard, Site Editor [http://www.sfsite.com/singularity/submissions.php] Our Philosophy =S1ngularity= is the literary equivalent of a heroin spike in the eye. They have said the novel is dead. They have said the short story is dead. They have said reading is dead, techno-progress taking it out with glam imagery and fancy slithering style. Bullshit. Literature--all literature--is alive and well. There is no death, there is no decay, and there is no shortage of either writers or readers. The problem does not come from this end. The problem comes from shortsighted publishers controlled by media giants that couldn't give a staggering fuck about what gets published. Literature is in a state of flux; on the one hand devastating as editors jump around like fools in motley, taking no stance on what gets published and watching passively as cartload after cartload of inane crap gets pushed onto the shelves in the hope that something will Make It Big; on the other hand, more and more writers are being published every day, producing not only a glut of short-lived product, but also the hope of good writers being available to the masses--if the masses know where to look. It is an exciting time in publishing, no matter what the doomsayers blather. Still, there is an air of defeat in publishing these days. Tired writers, tired editors, and tired readers overwhelmed by uncaring publishers. Welcome to the new literature. =S1ngularity= is our guerrilla attack on the corporate drones that do not care about literature. It is a shot in the dark, a reflection and recombination of traditional Editorial Interference and new media. It's a middle finger aimed straight at the major corporate publishers, proving that literature drips vitality. Slapping labels on books and shuffling them off to overflowing bookshelves isn't going to work. That will kill the novel and bury the short story. Readers are overwhelmed by the selection available, and are pissed off that they cannot find the Good Stuff. At heart, all readers are the same, and are all seeking the Good Stuff. Categorization is an attempt by the uncaring conglomerates to direct readers toward what they supposedly "like." So what can we accomplish with a single ezine? A cry in the dark. A call for help. A place to find good writing. That is what we are doing. We are not out to redefine fantastic fiction; we are out to shove a stick up the collective ass of corporate publishing; the success of singularity will break the stick off and lodge it in for the duration. We do not like labels. We are not looking for "fantasy" or "science fiction" or "mainstream" or "horror" fiction. We're looking for GOOD fiction. This is not a stance. This is a belief. This is not an attitude. This is a way of life. Publishing should be a reflection and a compliment to writing; if a writer eschews genre labels, so should the publishers. It is a hand-in-hand relationship, not a category management system. That is precisely what mainstream publishing is missing, and that is precisely what we can offer as our cry in the dark. That is what singularity means to us. Not avoiding genre labels, but revoking their importance. Not attacking publishers in a rebellious fit of adolescent anger, but slithering in under the radar in a guerrilla anti-category performance of quality and vitality. That is what =S1ngularity= is all about. Gabe Chouinard, Site Editor [http://www.sfsite.com/singularity/philosophy.php] ----------------------------------------------------------------- MARKET INFORMATION 3SF Ben Jeapes (ben@bigengine.co.uk), publisher of Big Engine in the UK (parent company that published 3SF), said the following, giving more information about the company's problems: FOR GENERAL RELEASE I'm sorry to break the sad news that Big Engine is going down. I'm seeking insolvency as the response to two stages of reasoning. (1) BE is running out of capital and won't be able to keep going as it is. This is not insuperable, and it could be overcome with reinvestment and a renewed spurt of time and energy on my part. But this brings me to (2), which is that I don't really want to reinvest. Over the last couple of years I've had to accept that my strengths are as a writer, not as a businessman. I base this on the facts that my writing has (a) been more enjoyable and (b) paid me more than Big Engine since I started in 2000. I would feel awkward seeking reinvestment as I couldn't put my hand on my heart and say I would do the best that could be done with the money. So, best not to. This also means that =3SF= will be suspended, at least pro tem. The ideal situation would be to find someone who will take on the books and/or the magazine. I'm putting out feelers but would welcome suggestions. Finally, some FAQs. 1. Does this mean =3SF= also vanishes? At least pro tem. If it re-emerges it will be under someone else's aegis. [But, as editor Liz Holliday noted, not a different editor.] 2. What will you do for money? Exactly what I've been doing all along, i.e. combining my portmanteau career of part-time for someone else and freelance. I haven't paid myself out of Big Engine for a couple of years now. [sff.writing.response-times, 1 Apr 03] ARTEMIS MAGAZINE Ian Randal Strock, editor of =Artemis Magazine=, said, "I think some of you may have heard that, among other results, =Artemis Magazine= has been woefully delayed in part due to my efforts on the day-job front. Or, to be less circumspect: I've spent the last five months studying, and have been unable to do much of anything else. Wednesday two weeks ago (the 19th), I passed the Series 63 exam, and last Wednesday, I passed the Series 7 (I got a 90 on it). On Friday, my licenses had come through, and today, I started the new day-job to support my three main habits (the magazine, rent, and food). "So I'm now a stock trader during the days, and after this weekend, I'll go back to being a magazine editor and publisher at night. Thanks, all, for your continuing patience and understanding during the past months. We'll be back on track real soon now." [sff.publishing.artemismagazine, 2 Apr 03] BLACK GATE A writer on the =Speculations= Rumor Mill got a note from =Black Gate= saying "We're not looking for light fantasy at the moment." [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=201&m=15507&sh ow_all_topics=0, 1 Apr 03] BRUTARIAN The =Brutarian= web site was back up as of 25 March 2003. [www.ralan.com] CENTURY A writer on the Rumor Mill got a note from =Century= magazine saying they're returning, unread, all the submissions currently burying them. "When we are again open for submissions, we will announce it prominently in every available venue." [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=201&show_all_t opics=0, 4 Apr 03] DARK LEGACY A writer on the Rumor Mill says, "The recently revived =Dark Legacy= will extend the current reading period to April 30, 2003." [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=178&show_all_t opics=0, 3 Apr 03] FANTASTIC STORIES A writer on SFF.NET asked, "The guidelines for =Fantastic Stories= at Ralan Conley's excellent market listing site (www.ralan.com) gave the length limit for submissions as 8k words. The submission guidelines at the DNA site, however, still gave the old figure of 15k words. Does anyone know what the actual figure currently is?" The answer came back, "15k, it turns out, in case anyone was wondering." [sff.publishing.dnapublications, 18 Mar 03] IDEOMANCER A writer on the Rumor Mill says that =Ideomancer= has "a self- admitted aversion to stories in which Death is a character." [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=201&m=15387&sh ow_all_topics=0, 17 Mar 03] POLYPHONY 3 Jay Lake, fiction editor for the (closed) =Polyphony 3= anthology, says, "Well, I've now looked at 293 stories, only about 150 more to go. (First read...) "Lots of folks from the UK submitting, lots of folks from Massachusetts, lots of folks with HWA memberships and horror credits--when did we become a horror market? Not that we wouldn't buy it, but that's probably the toughest =Polyphony= sell. "A few people with epigrams or quotes from, ahem, major contemporary authors, or performers. Come on, guys, buy a clue about that stuff. We're not going to open Wheatland Press up to statutory damages on copyright infringement, and you shouldn't be doing it either. Take inspiration where you find it, but for Pete's sake, leave the actionable stuff off the page. "Quality's still holding up pretty well. Somebody told me that when we get listed in Writer's Market we'll start seeing the whole wonderful range of slush. "Things I'm a sucker for: 1) A really neat title. 2) A really great lead-off line 3) Something really weird "Things I'm tired of: 1) Stories I've read many times before (every editor says this) 2) Unattributed dialog on the first page 3) Weird manuscript formats 4) Really weird manuscript formats 5) Cover letters explaining the story "With any luck, I'll get through the last batch tonight or tomorrow. Then Deb and I will do a quick pass through the second read pile, try to winnow it down to 30 or so from which to make our final selections. At that point, we'll send our primary round of rejections out (400+). She's out of town next week, so it will be at least 4/7 before that happens. I think we'll still make our 4/15 goal of acceptances, but it might be a squeaker. "Good work, people. "Oh, and we just got the press proof on P2. It looks fabulous. Got a couple of first timers in there, including one we liked so much that we broke the Anthology 101 rules and put it last in the book, batting clean up. I have my favorite story, and anybody who knows how I feel about airships will be able to figure out which one it is when they read the book. [sff.publishing.polyphony, 22 Mar 03] Jay Lake continued, "423 submissions all told, plus a half dozen or so floating around in my email inbox for various reasons. My eyes are spinning. "St. Peter seemed to be a recurring theme in this batch. Again, very little that was dreadful, lots of competent stuff. Shaking out the gold is the trick..." [sff.publishing.polyphony, 22 Mar 03] And then, "Argh. Horrors, horrors. I found an extra box I had overlooked, another 52 mss. Read 'em. Second reads starting this week--we'll be getting back to folks soon." [sff.publishing.polyphony, 30 Mar 03] Finally, "Another pass through the mss. We're about to start sending out first round rejections, closing in on second/third round reads." [sff.publishing.polyphony, 7 Apr 03] REALMS OF FANTASY Carinal Gonzalez, Editorial Assistant for =Realms of Fantasy=, said, "The latest batch is in (postmarks from 2/1/03 and on) and the website is being updated daily accordingly." [sff.publishing.realms-of-fantasy, 7 Apr 03] S1NGULARITY A writer on the Rumor Mill said she received a note from =S1ngularity= saying they don't want horrific tales. [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=201&m=15347&sh ow_all_topics=0, 14 Mar 03] STRANGE HORIZONS Jed Hartman, one of the fiction editors of =Strange Horizons=, said, "Status update: the =Strange Horizons= fiction department has now responded to everything submitted before 3/2/2003. If you sent us a story on or before 3/1 and haven't heard back from us, please query. (If you submitted on or after 3/2, and you received an autoresponse saying that we'd received the story, then please don't query yet.)" [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=291&show_all_t opics=0, 3 Apr 03] TRISPEC John Garrett, editor of proposed magazine =Tri-Spec=, had the following to say on the magazine's website: March 17, 2003: Shortly after my last update, I was involved in a serious accident that left me in critical condition. I have spent most of the intervening months in recovery and was given a full bill of health today. I am deeply sorry for all of you who have submitted art/stories/ poetry and have been patiently waiting for a reply. My hotmail account was deactivated and I unfortunately lost all of my submissions since December (I have a hard copy of the submissions before that). These "hard copy" people will be contacted. I would also like to apologize to the few people who sent money for =TriSpec= subscriptions. Please don't worry; no money was spent and no cheques have been cashed. Finally, a heartfelt apology must be given to the two people who were offered payment for their works. I will personally reply to each of you. In other news... I am going to change the name (the editorial staff at "On Spec" were concerned about the name "TriSpec") and possibly change the publication schedule (the current options are 3, 6, and 12 issues a year). I noticed that many market sites (eg. Ralan, Spicy Green Iguana) have listed me as a dead market. I suppose this was true. In fact, I need to get my personal life back in order before I tackle this again (first on my agenda: find a job!). I will make every effort to keep people updated on the magazine's status, but this will take some time. Optimistically, I can be back on my feet by June and have the first issue out by October 1st. However, I won't swear by this. Even if there's no significant news to report, I will update this site at least once a week. Please check back frequently. I am still going to accept submissions for the first issue, as well as subscriptions -- if I get enough subscription money ($20 US a year -- payable by cheque, money order, or PayPal), I will publish the first issue ASAP. March 20, 2003: I've been slugging through my old submissions and trying to get things back on track. I sent out some old poetry acceptances but, because they were originally submitted in October 2002, I suspect that many of them have already sold. So, if you submitted a poem in October and have not found a publication offer in your email this morning, consider it rejected. I'll be going through my November submissions today and tomorrow. If you submitted a poem AFTER November 21, please resubmit it here. I'll be sending out my old fiction acceptances over the weekend. To leave on a positive note... Ralan has resurrected me. Yay! It feels good to be back. April 5, 2003: Just letting everyone know I'm still around and trying to get things back on track (I still haven't sent out any fiction acceptances yet). It's been hard lately because... I GOT A JOB (does happy dance). I'll be responding to everyone ASAP, but it may take a bit longer. [http://www.geocities.com/z4ho.rm/TriSpec-Updates.html] WEIRD TALES A writer on the Rumor Mill got a note from =Weird Tales= saying that stories that try to trick the reader are not for them. [http://www.speculations.com/rumormill/index.php?t=201&m=15387&sh ow_all_topics=0, 17 Mar 03] ==End of the CALLIHOO Newsletter for 8 April 2003==