11 Established Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines Accepting Submissions - Paying markets

Pxfuel

Updated 9/10/23

Here are eleven well-respected science fiction and fantasy markets currently open to submissions. All of them accept submissions from previously unpublished writers. In fact, they relish discovering new talent. The majority of these are SFWA qualifying markets, which means they pay 8 cents a word or more.

Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) is the national organization for science fiction and fantasy writers. Writers who publish a story or poem in a qualifying market can become members. Membership benefits include help with contractual disputes, an emergency medical fund, promotion for your work, workshops, and networking opportunities. Nonmembers can take advantage of their resources as well. The SFWA site has an ample information center which includes Writer Beware, writing tips, sample contracts and other tools of the trade.

Happy submitting!

For a HUGE list of paying markets for speculative fiction see: Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

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Asimov’s Science Fiction

Asimov's is a big name among speculative fiction magazines. They are 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. SF dominates the fiction published in the magazine, but we also publish borderline fantasy, slipstream, and surreal fiction. 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."

Payment: Asimov’s pays 8-10 cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words, and 8 cents for each word over 7,500. They pay $1 a line for poetry, which should not exceed 40 lines. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Fantasy & Science Fiction

Like Asimov's, F&SF prefers character-oriented stories. They receive a lot of fantasy fiction, but never enough science fiction or humor. Their word count limits are generous - up to 25,000 words.

Payment: 8-12 cents per word on acceptance. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Clarkesworld

Clarkesworld Magazine is an award-winning science fiction and fantasy magazine that publishes short stories, interviews, articles and audio fiction. Science fiction does not need to be "hard" SF, but rigor is appreciated. Fantasy can be folkloric, contemporary, surreal, etc. No horror, but dark science fiction and fantasy are accepted. Length: 1000-22000 words.

Payment: 10¢ per word. Payment via PayPal or check. (International authors may request wire transfers.) No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Analog Science Fiction and Fact

Analog is a well-established magazine that exclusively publishes science fiction. Future science must be integral to the story. "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."

Payment: 8-10 cents per word for short fiction (up to approximately 20,000 words), 6 cents per word for serials (40,000-80,000 words), 9 cents per word for fact articles, and $1 per line for poetry. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Strange Horizons

Strange Horizons publishes all kinds of speculative fiction but they are particularly interested in fiction from or about diverse perspectives and traditionally under-represented groups, settings, and cultures, written from a non-exoticizing and well-researched position. Stories must be under 10,000 words. They also publish literary, SF/F, speculative, and slipstream poetry, nonfiction and reviews.

Payment: 10¢/word USD, within 60 days of contract. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Interzone

Interzone was founded in 1982 by David Pringle, John Clute, Alan Dorey, Malcolm Edwards, Colin Greenland, Graham Jones, Roz Kaveney and Simon Ounsley. The magazine is regularly shortlisted for prestigious awards, and is a winner of the Hugo and British Fantasy Awards. Many of its stories have also won awards and/or reprints in various Year’s Best anthologies. Interzone has helped launch the careers of many important science fiction and fantasy authors, and continues to publish some of the world's best known writers.

Payment: EUR 1.5¢ per word (one and one-half euro cents).

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Daily Science Fiction

Daily Science Fiction accepts speculative fiction (science fiction, fantasy, slipstream, etc.) stories from 100 to 1,500 words in length. They will consider flash series - three or more flash tales built around a common theme. Each story needs to stand on its own. They may purchase dark fantasy, but try not to publish pure horror.

Payment: 8 cents/word. No reprints. No simultaneous submissions.

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Beneath Ceaseless Skies

Beneath Ceaseless Skies publishes “literary adventure fantasy”: stories with a secondary-world setting and some fantasy feel, but written with a literary approach. "We want stories set in what Tolkien called a “secondary world”: some other world that is different from our own primary world in some way. It could be different in terms of zoology (non-human creatures), ecology (climate), or physical laws (the presence of magic)." Length: Up to 15,000 words.

Payment: 8 cents/word. No reprints. Simultaneous submissions are okay.

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East of the Web

East of the Web's new imprint is seeking science fiction and fantasy short stories. Stories should be accessible, with strong plots and compelling characters, written with a good knowledge of the science fiction or fantasy canon. Stories should be at least 7,000 words.

Payment: Starts at $0.05 per word or a mix of an advance and a royalty. Reprints accepted.

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Flash Fiction Online

Flash Fiction Online publishes all genres. "We want developed, empathetic characters and discernible, resolved plots. Please no non-fiction or poetry." Length: 500 to 1000 words.

Payment: 8 cents per word for original fiction. 2 cents per word for reprints. No simultaneous submissions. Their submission portal for original stories is open from the 1st to 21st of each month.

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Escape Pod 

Escape Pod publishes science fiction in audio and text. "We are fairly flexible on what counts as science (we’ll delve into superheroes or steampunk on occasion) and are interested in exploring the range of the genre. We want stories that center on science, technology, future projections, and/or alternate history, and how any or all of these things intersect with people." Length: 1500-6000 words. 

Payment: $0.08 per word for original fiction; $100.00 flat rate for reprints of any length.