8 Paying Markets Open to Speculative Fiction Short Stories, Novellas and Novels - No agent required

Updated 11/6/23

Here are eight markets for speculative fiction short stories, poems, novellas, and novels. They want every subgenre of science fiction, fantasy, and horror, plus all combinations, including weird fiction, slipstream, magical realism, and more.

All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees. 

For over a hundred paying speculative fiction magazines accepting submissions see: Mega-List of Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions

Happy submitting!

(Image: Pixabay)

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Aethon Books

Aethon is open to all fiction genres with a focus on Science Fiction and Fantasy. "We don’t care what sub-genre you write in. Hard Sci-fi, Epic Fantasy, Space opera, Military SF, Alt/History, Time Travel and more." Aethon does not offer an advance, though they do give royalties. Books are published in all English-language territories – notably the US, Canada, UK and Australia – and are distributed through Ingram. Length should be between 60,000 and 80,000 words. Read their guidelines here.

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Android Press

Android Press is a small independent press that publishes science fiction, fantasy, light horror, and specializes in the various -punk subgenres. "We love stories that are full of hope and optimism, as well as stories that hold up a mirror to our society, forcing us reexamine our past and our values in order to move forward and build a better future." They publish novellas (17,000–40,000 words); short story collections [single author] (40,000–60,000 words); short story anthologies [numerous authors] (40,000–60,000 words); novels (60,000–100,000 words). Terms: $100 advance and royalties. Read their guidelines here.

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Dancing Star Press 

Dancing Star Press is seeking submissions of speculative fiction novellas. What sort of speculative fiction? Space operas, solar punk, dark fantasy, and urban fantasy. Hard science fiction with an emphasis on biology or chemistry rather than physics. Fantasy based on non-Western cultures. Optimistic futurism. Polar Tesla pop and soft science fiction. novellas should be between 17,500 and 40,000 words in length.

Reading periods are:
April 1 – June 30
October 1 – December 31

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Shorts stories and poetry

Ahoy Comics. Genre: Short fiction and social commentary. "We seek smart, weird, funny articles or stories, which run between 500 and 1,500 words." Payment. $200. 

Radon. Genre: Short stories and poetry containing elements of anarchism, transhumanism, dystopia, and/or science fiction. Payment: 1 cent per word for original work.

The Hungur Chronicles. Genre: Horror. Vampires or creatures with vampiric themes. Payment: The pay for original stories is $25.00; for reprints, $12.00. Payment for poems is $5. The pay for illustrations is $8.00. The payment for articles is $10. The pay for cover art is $25.00.

The Were-Traveler: Curst & Twysted Tarot. Genre: Short fiction. Choose an image you would like to write a story about. Payment: $10 for flash, $15 for short stories. (Open until filled.)

Three-lobed Burning Eye. "Original speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, and science fiction. We're looking for short stories from across the big classifications and those shadowy places between: magical realism, fantastique, slipstream, interstitial, and the Weird. We will consider suspense or western, though we prefer it contain some speculative element. We like voices that are full of feeling, from literary to pulpy, with styles unique and flowing, but not too experimental. All labels aside, we want tales that expand genre, that value imagination in character, narrative, and plot. We want to see something new and different." Length: Short fiction 1000–7000 words, Flash fiction 500–1000 words, (2000–5000 preferred). Payment: $100 for short fiction, $30 for flash fiction; + 1 print annual. Deadline: Open now.

Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

 

Updated 12/30/25                                                                                                                                                                                                                        Speculative fiction has a loyal fan base, so if you write science fiction or fantasy there are dozens of magazines that want your work! Here is a list of paying markets for journals accepting speculative fiction. Some have submission periods, so make sure you read their guidelines carefully. All are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

Submission strategies

This table is a bit daunting, but you can simplify your task by making a list of all the places you intend to submit. (Make a separate list for each story or article.) As you submit, make sure to keep track of where, when, and how you submitted (i.e. email, Submittable, online form, etc.).

If you want to get published fast, start with the magazines that accept simultaneous submissions, and submit to all of them. Once your work is accepted, don't forget to withdraw it immediately from the remaining magazines. (If you have used Submittable, this is very simple. Just click "Withdraw.")

I suggest you start with the pro markets. These are harder to get into, but if you get published in a prestigious magazine it will establish you as a serious writer.

Save the magazines that take reprints for last. You can submit to those after your story has been published elsewhere.
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Pay ranges are as follows:

• Semi-pro payment = 1 - 5 US cents per word
• SFWA pro payment rate = 8 cents per word and up
• Pro for poetry= $50 per poem
• Token = 1 cent per word or less

Happy submitting!

For more paying markets see: Paying Markets

Related posts:

325 Paying Markets for Short Stories, Poetry, Nonfiction

Mega-List of Paying Markets for Horror, Dark Fiction and Poetry

10 Literary Journals That Publish Multiple Genres - Paying markets

Magazine	Guidelines	Payment	Simultaneous	Reprints	Notes
Asimov's	https://www.asimovs.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/	8-10 cents per word for short stories up to 7,500 words, and 8 cents for each word over 7,500. $1 a line for poetry	No	No	They also publish borderline fantasy, slipstream, and surreal fiction
Analog Science Fiction and Fact	https://www.analogsf.com/contact-us/writers-guidelines/	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	No	They publish science fiction 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
Fantasy & Science Fiction	https://www.fandsf.com/glines.htm	8-12 cents per word	No	No	The speculative element may be slight, but it should be present.
Clarkesworld Magazine	http://clarkesworldmagazine.com/submissions/	10¢ per word	No	No	Science fiction and fantasy. No horror, but dark SF/F is permitted.
Diabolical Plots	https://www.diabolicalplots.com/guidelines/	10¢ per word	No	No	Science fiction, fantasy, and horror Has submission periods
Lightspeed	https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/lightspeed/guidelines	8¢ per word	No	No	Science fiction, fantasy 1500-10,000 words Has submission periods
Nightmare	https://adamant.moksha.io/publication/nightmare/guidelines	8¢ per word	No	No	Horror, dark fantasy 1500-7500 words Has submission periods
Strange Horizons	http://strangehorizons.com/submit/	10¢ per word $50 per poem	No	No	Speculative fiction Up to 10,000 words Has submission periods
Uncanny Magazine	https://uncannymagazine.com/submissions/	10¢ per word	No	No	SF/F fiction and poetry Novellas up to 40,000 words Has submission periods
Apex	https://apex-magazine.com/submission-guidelines/	8¢ per word	No	No	Speculative fiction
Beneath Ceaseless Skies	https://www.beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/submissions/	8¢ per word	Yes	No	Publishes “literary adventure fantasy”: stories with a secondary-world setting and some fantasy feel, but written with a literary approach
Cast of Wonders	https://www.castofwonders.org/submissions/	8¢ per word	Yes	Yes	Audio format  YA speculative fiction
The Orange & Bee	https://theorangebee.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines	Poetry: flat rate $US50.00 per poem; Flash fiction/non-fiction: flat rate $US80.00 per story (max 1000 words); Short fiction/non-fiction: $US0.08 per word (max 4000 words).	No	No	Original works of fiction, poetry, and non-fiction that engage in a significant way with the long history of fairy tales
Baltimore Review	http://baltimorereview.org/index.php/submit	$40	Yes	No	Fiction Accepts a variety of genres 5,000 words max Has submission periods
Compelling Science Fiction	http://compellingsciencefiction.com/guidelines.html	8¢ per word	Yes	No	Science fiction that is entertaining, scientifically plausible, self-consistent, and technically detailed when appropriate Has submission periods
Plott Hound	https://plotthoundmag.com/submissions/	$0.08/word for stories of 1,000-5,000 words (prefer 3,000-4,000 words), and $50 for poems.	Yes	No	Speculative fiction and poetry starring animals
Cosmic Roots and Eldritch Shores	https://cosmicrootsandeldritchshores.com/submissions/	8 cents/word for original fiction and nonfiction, 2 - 8 cents/word for reprints, $1/line for poetry, 50 cents/line for reprints	No	Yes	Science fiction and fantasy short stories poetry, nonfiction  See submission schedule
Escape Pod	https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/	8¢ per word for original stories, $100 for reprints	No	Yes	Science fiction Length: Up to 18,000 words Audio format
AE: The Canadian Science Fiction Review	http://aescifi.ca/submit/	10¢ CAD per word	Yes	No	Science fiction 500 to 3000 words in length Has submission periods
Daily Tomorrow	https://www.thedailytomorrow.com/submissions	10¢ per word	?	?	Daily serial science fiction magazine Length: 2,100-3,500 words
The Dark	https://www.thedarkmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/	6¢ per word	No	No	Dark fantasy, horror 6,000 words max
Bourbon Penn	http://www.bourbonpenn.com/submissions.php	2¢ per word	No	No	Print and online magazine featuring slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal Length: 2000 - 7500 words
Broken Antler	https://www.brokenantlermag.com/submit	$20 for print magazine, $10 for online publication	Yes	No	Horror and weird fiction, as well as sci-fi and dark fantasy
DreamForge Anvil	https://dreamforgemagazine.com/call-for-submissions/	$0.06/word Payment for reprints is $0.04/word Poems are paid at the rate of $25 to $100	Yes	Yes	SF and Fantasy Has submission periods
The Cafe Irreal	http://cafeirreal.alicewhittenburg.com/	1 cent U.S. per word	No	No	Magical Realism (2000 words max)
Escape Pod,  PodCastle Podcast	https://escapepod.org/guidelines/short-fiction/ (Science fiction) http://podcastle.org/guidelines/ (Fantasy) (Text and audio)	$0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction.  $20 flat rate for flash fiction	Yes	Yes	Adult Science Fiction and Fantasy Has submission periods
Sally Port	https://sallyportmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/	5 cents per word	No	No	Fantasy - all ages
Augur	http://www.augurmag.com/submissions/	11 cents CAD/word	Yes	No	Fantasy, Science fiction (softer side), Dystopia/utopia, Apocalypse/post-apocalypse, Slipstream, Fairytales, Fables, Fabulism, Magical realism See submission periods
Flash Fiction Online	https://ffo.submittable.com/submit	$80 for original stories; reprints $.02 (two cents) per word	No	Yes	Many genres, including speculative fiction See submission periods
khōréō	https://www.khoreomag.com/submissions/	$0.08/word for fiction, $100 for nonfiction, and  $40-300 for art	Yes	No	Speculative fiction, poetry, essays Open to writers who identify as an immigrant or member of a diaspora in the broadest definitions of the terms. Has submission periods
Visions	https://www.readvisions.com/submission-guidelines	4 to 5p (~6¢) per word	Yes	No	Science fiction and speculative short stories, from micro fictions to 3000-word pieces (5,000 words max) Has submission periods
Adventitious	https://www.adventitious.net/submission-guidelines/	$.08/word	Yes	No	Speculative, surreal, and literary fiction (up to 15,000 words) Has submission periods
Speculative Insight	https://www.speculativeinsight.com/about	AUD 5c/word up to $150	?	?	Essays that focus on science fiction and/ or fantasy from authors of Indigenous, Asian, Maori, Pacific Islander, Latinx and Black heritage
The Fairy Tale Magazine	https://www.fairytalemagazine.com/submissions	$50	Yes	No	Fairy tales (See themes) Poems can be any length, but stories or nonfiction should be between 750 and 1,000 words. Has submission periods
Grimdark Magazine	https://www.grimdarkmagazine.com/submissions/	AUD$0.07 per word Reprints: AUD$0.01 per word	No	Yes	Grimdark fantasy and sci-fi
Galactic Mindsea Empire Anthology	https://www.infernalmuseum.com/Submission.html	4 cents/word	?	?	Stories set in the Galactic Mindsea Empire up to 10,000 words in length. "The Empire uses wonderdomes for many purposes. The float pool can heal the injured and restore the (recently and not too damaged) dead to life. It can reform criminal minds and return balance to disturbed minds. It can change a person's gender and alter their appearance in countless other ways, even adding non-human organs and appendages. What can't a wonderdome do?"
Sci Phi Journal	https://www.sciphijournal.org/index.php/submission-guidelines/	3 (Euro) cents per word for original fiction and 1 (Euro) cent per word for translations of fiction into English	Yes	No	Hard SF  Has submission periods
Eye to the Telescope	https://eyetothetelescope.com/submit.html	US 3¢/word rounded up to nearest dollar; minimum US $3, maximum $25	?	No	Speculative poetry Has submission periods
Uncharted	https://www.unchartedmag.com/submit/	$200	Yes	Yes	Science Fiction/Fantasy Short Stories 1,000-5,000 words
Abyss & Apex	https://www.abyssapexzine.com/submissions/	$0.08/word	No	No	Speculative fiction, poetry
Aftermath	https://www.aftermathmag.org/submissions.html	2 cents/word for short stories; 1 cent/word for everything else	Yes	Yes	Humans are doing so much damage to the natural world that it can only end in a spate of perfect storms that will wreck our civilization. These inevitable apocalyptic events offer a wealth of inspiration.
Phano	https://www.phano.co/submissions	2 cents/word	No	No	Science fiction and nonfiction
Bracken	https://www.brackenmagazine.com/submit	$30	?	No	Fabulism, magical realism Fiction, poetry, art Has submission periods Has begun to charge $3 for submissions
OTHERSIDE	https://othersidespec.com/guidelines/	$0.08/word for prose. $50 per poem. $100 for nonfiction and reprints	?	Yes	Speculative fiction, poetry, and nonfiction by self-identified members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community
The Fantastic Other	https://fantasticother.com/submissions/	$5	Yes	No	Surrealist fiction and poetry, art Has submission periods
Hollow Oak: Acorns	https://hollowoakpress.com/submissions/	$5	?	?	Speculative flash fiction. Length: 1,000-1,500 words
Cosmic Horror Monthly	https://cosmic-horror.net/submissions/	1 cent per word for original fiction. 5k words = $50; 0.5 cents per word for reprints; 10 – 20 dollars for artwork chosen as interior content. Negotiable; 100 dollars for cover art. Negotiable.	?	Yes	Horror and dark science fiction
Electric Spec	http://www.electricspec.com/Submissions.html	$20	Yes	No	Speculative Fiction Has submission periods
James Gunn’s Ad Astra	https://www.adastrasf.com/submissions/short-fiction-submission-guidelines/	$50	No	No	Speculative fiction, Poetry
Heroic Fantasy Quarterly	http://www.heroicfantasyquarterly.com/?page_id=39	$100 for stories and $25 for poems	No	No	Heroic fantasy Up to 10,000 words Will serialize up to 50,000 words Has submission periods
Kaleidotrope	https://kaleidotrope.net/guidelines/	For fiction, $0.01/word (1 cent a word) USD. For poetry, a flat rate of $5 USD per accepted piece. For artwork, a flat rat of $60 for cover art.	No	No	Speculative fiction, poetry  Has submission periods
Shacklebound Books	https://shackleboundbooks.wordpress.com/submissions/	$10	?	?	Dark speculative fiction anthologies
Environmental Holocaust	https://www.nomadicdeliriumpress.com/ehguidelines.htm	$10 - $25	?	Yes	We are looking for stories about the future if the environment continues to decay. For the most part, we want stories that look at the grim aspects of our environmental future, but we will also consider stories that look at us overcoming our difficulties and creating a better planet.
Unidentified Funny Objects	https://alexshvartsman.com/ufo-unidentified-funny-objects/	$0.12 per word	?	?	Speculative humor
Neo-opsis	http://www.neo-opsis.ca/guidelines.htm	2.5 cents (Canadian) per word, to a maximum of $125.00	No	No	Science fiction and fantasy short stories, poetry and art See submission periods
New Myths	https://sites.google.com/newmyths.com/newmyths-com-home/submissions	3 cents/word with a minimum payment of $50 for all submissions, fiction, flash fiction, nonfiction and poetry; book reviews $50; art $80.	Yes	No	Science fiction and fantasy See submission periods
The First Line	http://www.thefirstline.com/submission.htm	$25.00 - $50.00 for fiction, $5.00 - $10.00 for poetry, and $25.00 for nonfiction	No	No	Each issue contains short stories that stem from a common first line. Have your way with it. See submission periods
Planet Scumm	https://www.planetscumm.space/submit/	2 cents a word	Yes	No	Speculative fiction, weird fiction, slipstream See submission periods
Speculative City	http://www.speculativecity.com/submissions/	$20-$55	Yes	No	Speculative stories set in a cityscape See submission periods
Tales From the Moonlit Path	https://talesmoonlitpath.com/	$10	Yes	Yes	Fiction and poetry
Three-lobed Burning Eye	http://www.3lobedmag.com/submissions.html	$100 for short fiction, $30 for flash fiction	No	No	Speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, science fiction
Underland Arcana	https://www.underlandarcana.com/submissions/	$0.01 / word—up to 5,000 words	?	No	Short fiction that veers into the numinous, the esoteric, the supernatural, and the weird See submission periods
Gemini Magazine	http://gemini-magazine.com/submit-contact/	$20	Yes	No	All genres
Mystic Mind	https://kirincomicscontact.wixsite.com/my-site/about-1	$5	?	?	Sci-fi and fantasy themed short stories (up to 5,000 words)
Wyldblood Press	https://wyldblood.com/submissions-2/	£0.01 per word for print and digital rights (to a maximum of £75)	Yes	No	Speculative fiction
Allegory	https://www.allegoryezine.com/submissions	$15	Yes	Yes	Speculative fiction See submission periods
Alien Dimensions	https://aliendimensions.com/submission-guidelines/ May return in 2027	$10	?	No	Science fiction See submission periods
Translunar Travelers Lounge	https://translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/	$0.03 per word with a minimum of $20	No	No	Speculative fiction See submission periods
The Colored Lens	https://thecoloredlens.com/?page_id=137752	$20 per short story, article, or piece of artwork, and $10 for flash. For novellas,  $20 for the first 10,000 words, and $1 per 1000 words after that	No	No	Speculative fiction
Polar Borealis & Polar Starlight	http://polarborealis.ca/submission-guidelines/	$10 for one thousand words or less. One cent a word for stories 1,000 words to 3,000 words in length, capped at $30; Poems - $10; Art $5 - $40	Yes	Yes	Science Fiction, Fantasy, Weird Fantasy, Horror with SF aspects, Lovecraftian Horror Contributors must be Canadian, or at least reside in Canada. Has submission periods
Daikaijuzine	https://daikaijuzine.org/guidelines	$10	Yes	Yes	Speculative fiction, flash fiction, articles, and poetry
Tales and Feathers	http://www.augurmag.com/submissions/	11 cents CAD/word	Yes	No	Cozy slice-of-life fantasy short stories. Has reading periods
Dream Theory	https://www.dreamtheory.media/submission-guidelines/	$30	No	No	Speculative and literary fiction, 300 to 1,000 words in length Has reading periods
State of Matter	https://stateofmatter.in/folk-tales-faux-trails-fox-tails/	CAD150	?	?	State of Matter is on a quest to define what Speculative Fiction means from a South Asian perspective. We publish fiction and poetry from international authors, with a keen eye for South Asian writing.
Luna Station Quarterly	http://lunastationquarterly.com/submissions/	$10	No	No	Speculative fiction written by women-identified authors Has reading periods
Mythaxis	https://mythaxis.co.uk/submissions.html	€0.01 per word, with a €20 minimum	Yes	No	Speculative fiction Has reading periods
Not One of Us	https://legacyliteraryservices.com/not-one-of-us/	¼¢ per word ($5 minimum); $5 for poems; $8 to $15 for art	?	No	Not One of Us considers the problem of “otherness” from every possible fictional angle: horror, SF, fantasy, noir, slipstream, Western, mainstream, whatever
Space Squid	https://www.spacesquid.com/scifi-fantasy-mag/contributorguidelines/	$5	Yes	Yes	Speculative fiction humor
Swords and Sorcery	https://swordsandsorcerymagazine.com/submissions/	$10	?	No	Original short stories of 1,500 to 6,000 words length that feature fantasy elements and pre-industrial settings
Speck Magazine	https://speckmag.com/submit	$5/page	Yes	No	Themed issues Also accepts cover art Has submission periods
TQR	http://www.tqrstories.com/guidelines	$50	?	?	If you can figure out what they publish I will give you a prize
Utopia Science Fiction	https://www.utopiasciencefiction.com/submit/	8 cents/word for fiction, $25 for poetry, $35 for nonfiction	Yes	No	Speculative fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art
Liminal	http://liminalstoriesmag.com/submissions/	6c/word	No	No	Weird fiction, magical realism, soft science fiction Has submission periods
Dreams & Nightmares	https://dreamsandnightmaresmagazine.blogspot.com/p/submission-guidelines-i-print-primarily.html	$12	?	?	Speculative poetry Print Snail mail submissions
Every Day Fiction	https://everydayfiction.com/submit-story/	$3	No	No	All genres of flash fiction
Nature Futures	http://blogs.nature.com/futureconditional/2015/04/19/how-to-write-for-nature-futures/	£85 or US$130	?	No	Near-future, hard SF 850 - 950 words
Grendel Press	https://grendelpress.com/submissions	USD $0.05 (five cents) per word	Yes	No	Dark Fantasy, Horror, and Romance 3,000-7,000 words Themed anthologies Has submission periods
Tractor Beam	https://www.tractorbeam.earth/about	$1000	Yes	No	Soilpunk speculative fiction. 6000 words max
Fiyah	http://www.fiyahlitmag.com/submissions/	$50 - $300	No	No	Quarterly speculative fiction magazine that features stories and poetry by and about Black people of the African Diaspora
Third Flatiron	https://thirdflatiron.com/2021_TF_WP/?page_id=13	8 cents/word	No	No	SFF Themed Anthologies Has reading periods
Space and Time	https://spaceandtime.net/submissions/	1 cent/word	Yes	No	Speculative fiction Has reading periods
Interzone	https://interzone.press/submissions/	1.5 euro cents/word	Yes	No	Science fiction and fantasy stories up to a maximum of 10,000 words
The Deadlands	https://thedeadlands.com/guidelines/	10 cents/word for original fiction; 1 cent/word for reprints	No	Yes	Speculative fiction that concerns itself with death–but also everything death may involve  Also accepts poetry, essays  Up to 5,000 words
Fantabulosa!	https://www.bona-books.com/submissions	$0.08/word for prose, and $50 for poetry	?	?	Speculative fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art
Stygian Lepus Magazine	https://stygianlepus.com/submissions/	$5	No	No	Dark speculative fiction
Jupiter’s Eye	https://www.hiraethsffh.com/jupiter-s-eye-guidelines	Original Stories: $30.00, Reprint Stories: $15.00, Flash Fiction: 1 cent/word, Poems: $5.00, Articles and reviews: $10.00	Yes	Yes	Speculative, fiction and poetry about the exploration and settlement of other worlds
We’re Here: The Best Queer Speculative Fiction	https://www.neonhemlock.com/were-here	$0.01/word	?	Yes	Queer Speculative Fiction published in the preceding year
Midnight and Indigo	https://www.midnightandindigo.com/write-for-us/	$50 - $100	?	No	Short Stories, Speculative Fiction, and Personal Essays written by Black women writers Has submission periods
East of the Web	https://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/Publishing.html	5 cents/word	?	Yes	Science fiction and fantasy Stories should be at least 7,000 words
All Worlds Wayfarer	http://www.allworldswayfarer.com/submissions/	$10	Yes	No	Publishes speculative fiction anthologies Has submission periods
Dragon Soul Press	https://dragonsoulpress.com/anthologies/	Royalties	?	Yes	Publishes speculative fiction anthologies Has submission periods
Samovar	http://samovar.strangehorizons.com/submit/	8 US cents per word to the author, and 8 US cents per word to the translator, up to a maximum word count of 3,750 words, based on the English language version of the text  $100 for reprints	Yes	Yes	Speculative fiction and poetry in translation (no works originally in English)
Constelación	https://www.constelacionmagazine.com/submissions	8 cents/word	No	No	Quarterly speculative fiction bilingual magazine, publishing stories in both Spanish and English See themes Has submission periods
Shoreline of Infinity	https://www.shorelineofinfinity.com/submissions/	£40/1000 words	Yes	Yes	Science fiction and fantasy Has submission periods
HYBRID Ink	https://hybrid.ink/submit/anthologies/ CLOSED ?	2½¢ per word (maximum $100 per story)	Yes	Yes	Publishes Future//Tense anthologies Has submission periods
Havok	https://gohavok.com/submission-guidelines/	Pays $10 for anthologies only	?	No	Various genres under 1000 words See submission schedule
Through the Gate	http://throughthegate.net/submissions/	$20	Yes	No	Fantastical poetry
Amazing Stories	https://submission.amazingstoriesmag.com/guidelines/	$20 for a short story (2500 words), or longer, and $10 for flash fiction, reprints, and poetry.	No	No	Speculative fiction  Has submission periods
Aurealis	https://aurealis.com.au/submissions/	A$20 and A$60 per 1000 words	No	No	Science fiction, fantasy or horror short stories between 2000 and 8000 words Has submission periods
The Arcanist	https://thearcanist.io/submit-your-work/home	10 cents/word	Yes	No	Flash speculative fiction Has submission periods
Perpetual Motion Machine	https://perpetualpublishing.com/submissions/	$25	?	No	Horror, science fiction, crime, and noir 1500 words max
Mithila Review	https://mithilareview.com/submission-guidelines/	$10 for reprints and $10-$50 for original stories between 4000-8000 words or longer	Yes	Yes	Fantasy, science fiction, nonfiction, poetry
Baffling Magazine	https://www.bafflingmag.com/submissions	$0.08/word	Yes	No	Under 1,200 words We are looking for speculative stories that explore science fiction, fantasy, and horror with a queer bent. We want queer stories and we want trans stories and we want aro/ace stories. We want indefinable stories. We welcome weird, slipstream, and interstitial writing.   See submission periods
Sci-Fi Lampoon	http://scifilampoon.com/submissions/	$5	Yes	?	Fantasy, sci-fi, and horror themed humor
100-Foot Crow	https://100footcrow.com/submission-guidelines/	$8	?	?	Speculative fiction drabbles See theme
Waystation	https://waystationmag.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html	$10	?	?	Space opera
Fusion Fragment	http://www.fusionfragment.com/submissions/	Both previously unpublished work and reprints pay 3.5 cents (CAD) per word, up to a maximum of $300 (CAD) per story.	Yes	Yes	"Feel free to send us anything that even vaguely resembles science fiction." See submission periods
Infinite Worlds	https://www.infiniteworldsmagazine.com/submissions-faqs	8 cents/word	?	No	Science fiction stories between 1500–5000 words in length Also publishes art and comics
Orion’s Belt	https://www.orions-belt.net/submissions	8 cents/word	Yes	No	All stories must be under 1200 words
Mesozoic Reader	https://farthertrees.wordpress.com/mesozoic-reader/	$10	No	Yes	Stories and poetry of any genre are welcome, so long as dinosaurs or other prehistoric creatures are a central element Has submission periods
Fairy Tale Review	https://fairytalereview.submittable.com/submit/	$50	Yes	No	Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art Has submission periods and themed issues
Hearth Stories	https://hearthstories.org/submissions.html	1 cent/word	?	?	"We publish fiction and poetry that explore connection, family, relationships, comfort, and the natural world. The stories often fall into a fantasy, science-fiction, or magical realism sort of “slice of life.”
Star Line	http://www.sfpoetry.com/starline.html	3 cents/word for poetry, 1 cent/word for articles	?	?	Speculative poetry, art, nonfiction
Spaceports & Spidersilk	https://www.hiraethsffh.com/spaceports-spidersilk	$6.00 for each accepted original story; $3.00 for each accepted flash fiction; $2.00 for each accepted story reprint; $2.00 for each accepted poem; $10.00 for the cover art; $4.00 for each accepted b&w illustration	Yes?	Yes	For younger readers Fantasy, science fiction, and a category we are going to define as ‘shadow stories’. Shadow stories are mild horror. We want spooky, not terrifying. Most of all, we want ADVENTURES! And especially SF or fantasy adventures.
The Future Fire	http://futurefire.net/guidelines/index.html	$10 - $20	No	Yes	Fiction and poetry that focuses on the social-political elements of imaginary, futuristic, fantastic, horrifying, surreal or otherwise speculative universes
Vellum Mortis	https://www.mementomoriinkmag.com/vellummortissub	$5 for stories up to 1,000 words	Yes	Yes	Dark fiction See themes
Indie Bites	https://www.silversunbooks.com/submit	£5	Yes	No	Fantasy genre, in English, no longer than 7,500 words See themes
Etherea Magazine	https://ethereamagazine.com/submissions/	$100 AUD for short stories $25 for flash fiction (1000 words max)	No	?	Fantasy and science fiction Short stories, flash fiction
Freeze Frame Fiction	https://freezeframefiction.com/write/submission-guidelines-faq/#criteria	$10	Yes	No	"We want your science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery, drama, literary works, satire, bizarre fiction, or anything else you can come up with or mix together. The more original, the better. The weirder, the better.”
MetaStellar	https://www.metastellar.com/write-for-us/flash-fiction-story-submission/	8 cents/word	?	?	Fantasy, horror, and science fiction (up to 1,000 words)
Illumen Magazine	https://www.hiraethsffh.com/illumen-magazine	2 cents per word for original poems with a minimum payment of $3.00 1 cent per word for reprints	?	Yes	Poems sci-fi and fantasy genres, with some horror. They also include various art, articles, reviews, and interviewserviews.
Haven Speculative	https://www.havenspec.com/submit	1 cent/word for fiction, $5 - $10 for poetry	Yes	Query first	Fiction, poetry, nonfiction, art See themes
Iron Faerie Publishing	https://ironfaeriepublishing.com/open-anthology-calls/	Royalties	No	Yes	Anthologies Fantasy, Dark Fantasy, Supernatural, Horror (light), Magical Realism, Mystery, Speculative Fiction
Savage Realms	https://savagerealmsmonthly.com/submissions/	$25	?	?	Sword and Sorcery up to 10,000 words Note: No recent publications
Lost Colony Magazine	https://lostcolonymagazine.com/submissions/ On hiatus	$50	?	No	Fantasy and science fiction  between 10,000 and 25,000 words in length.
Permanent Flux	https://permanentflux.com/submissions/	6 cents/word	?	No	Visionary science fiction narratives that defy conventional perceptions and immerse readers in unfamiliar realms Fiction up to 10,000 words
Tall Tale TV Podcast	https://talltaletv.com/submission-guidelines/	Not specified	Yes	Yes	Science fiction and fantasy
Baubles From Bones	https://www.baublesfrombones.com/submission-guidelines.html	$.01/word $6/poem	Yes	No	Science fiction and fantasy fiction and poetry 1,000 to 10,000 words.
Flash Point	https://flashpointsf.com/submissions/	$0.02 per word	No	No	100 - 1000 words
The Phlogiston Press	https://thephlogistonpress.substack.com/about?utm_source=menu-dropdown	Royalties	?	Yes	"We’re looking for short form speculative fiction, old style, slipstream, horror, fantasy, science fiction, literary, poetry, flash with a maximum length of 8,000 words - or even a longer story to serialise over a few newszines."
Galaxy's Edge	http://www.galaxysedge.com/submissions/	7 cents/word	No	No	Fantasy and science fiction up to 10,000 words
HyphenPunk	https://hyphenpunk.com/submissions/	$25	Yes	No	Short stories and graphic stories, art. "We want to publish your speculative fiction with some type of -Punk aesthetic. Cyber-, steam-, solar-, diesel-, ray-, bio-, street-, splatter-, arcano-, nano-, or whatever else your crazed imagination can come up with. If its -Punk then it fits."
Penumbric	https://www.penumbric.com/subs.html	$10	?	Yes, on a case-by-case basis	Speculative fiction, poetry, art, music, animation See submission periods
Folded Space	https://www.foldedspacepodcast.com/submissions/	$0.02 USD per word for original work that has never been published and $0.01 USD per word for reprints.	Yes	Yes	Speculative fiction podcast
Pressfuls	https://pressfuls.com/about/	4 cents/word	?	?	Science fiction, fantasy, horror, mystery/crime, short stories and short nonfiction
Manawaker Studio: 100 Word Project	https://www.manawaker.com/submit-100wp/	$1	No	No	Speculative fiction of exactly 100 words Themed
Speculatief	http://speculatief.be/submissions/	$0.01 per word, with a max of $25 per short story	?	N/A	Translated science fiction and fantasy short stories, poetry and audio fiction Also accepts art Translations into Dutch
Solarpunk Magazine	https://solarpunkmagazine.com/submissions/	$0.08/word for fiction, $40/poem, and $75/essay	No	No	Fiction, nonfiction, poetry See submission schedule and themes Accepts translations
Seize the Press	https://www.seizethepress.com/submissions/	£0.06/word	Yes	No	Dark, transgressive speculative fiction up to 2000 words Has submission periods
Archive of the Odd	https://archiveoftheodd.wordpress.com/submissions/	$0.01/word for short stories	Yes	Yes	“Archive of the Odd is a zine of uncanny occurrences, told in even stranger ways.”
Factor Four	http://factorfourmag.com/submissionsinfo/	11 cents/word	No	No	Science fiction, fantasy, supernatural, super hero, or any combination up to 1000 words
Wyngraf	https://wyngraf.com/submissions/	1 cent/word	Yes	No	Cozy fantasy See submission periods
Tasavvur	https://tasavvurnama.com/submissions/	2.5 cents/word	?	?	South Asian speculative fiction up to 5,000 words
Fission, the annual anthology of British Science Fiction Association	https://bsfa.co.uk/fission	£0.02/word	?	?	Science fiction You don't have to be a member to submit See deadlines
Zooscape	https://zooscape-zine.com/guidelines/	8 cents/word	No	Yes	"We love science-fiction with animal-like aliens and fantasy with talking dragons, unicorns, or witch familiars.” See submission periods
Dragon Gems	https://waterdragonpublishing.com/submissions/dragon-gems/	$0.02 per word + access to ten (10) digital contributor copies	Yes	Yes	Fantasy or science fiction (or at least contain fantastical elements) 2,000 – 6,000 words in length. See submission periods
Medusa Tales	CLOSED	1 cent/word, $10 for reprints	Yes	Yes	Speculative stories (sci-fi, fantasy, and horror) of human transformation and immobilization.
Just Keep Up	https://www.justkeepupmagazine.com/submissions	$10 a story, $10 a poem	Yes	?	Stories should be science fiction and/or horror (preferably both) and can be of any length, although we tend to accept shorter pieces. We also are looking for pieces that are more on the experimental and weirder side of the horror/science fiction spectrum.
The Sprawl Mag	https://www.thesprawlmag.ca/submissions	$20 CAD	Yes	?	Speculative poetry, short fiction, and visual art. "Whether it is utopic, dystopic, magical, or sci-fi, we look forward to seeing your work." See submission periods
Bards & Wordsmiths	http://www.augurmag.com/submissions/	$60 CAD	Yes	No	Speculative poetry
Frivolous Comma	https://www.frivolouscomma.com/submissions/	8 cents/word, with minimum of $100 for fiction; $75 for nonfiction; $40 for poetry; $200 for original artwork; $100 for work from artist's existing portfolio	?	?	Science fiction, fantasy, horror, the uncanny, or any work (fiction, nonfiction, or poetry) that orbit this genre, with a particular focus on characters in some type of transition
Old Moon Quarterly	https://www.oldmoonpublishing.com/what-we-want	5 cents/word	Yes	No	Weird sword-and-sorcery: stories of a dark and transgressive nature, set in a secondary or historical-paranormal
Sci-fi Shorts	https://www.scifishorts.co/write-with-us	Percentage of pooled royalties	?	?	Up to 1000 words Science fiction
Parallel Universe Publications	https://paralleluniversepublications.blogspot.com/p/submissions.html	£25	Yes	Yes	Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction anthologies
Nat 1 Publishing	http://nat1publishing.com/get-involved/submit/	Unspecified payment	Yes	No	Fantasy, Horror, and Science Fiction anthologies, novellas
Illustrated Worlds	https://www.illustratedworldsmagazine.com/submission-guidelines.html#/	$10 for poetry, 1 cent/word for fiction, $10 - $50 for art	?	?	Fantasy, dark fantasy and horror
Air and Nothingness Press	http://www.aanpress.com/submissions.html	8 cents/word	?	?	Speculative fiction poetry and story anthologies. Sometimes publishes books.
The Sengkang Sci-Fi Quarterly	https://sengkangsfq.carrd.co/#submission	5¢ (SGD) per word (min-$100 SGD, max-$300 SGD)(Singapore dollars)	?	?	Speculative fiction
Amazing Stories Online	https://submission.amazingstoriesmag.com/guidelines/	$20 for a short story, or longer, and $10 for flash fiction or reprints, up to $600 for art	No	No	Science fiction
SpecPoVerse	https://specpoverse.org/submission	$5	Yes	?	Speculative poetry
Calliope Interactive	https://calliopeinteractive.com/open-call	5 cents/word	?	No	Short stories (2,000 – 4,000 words) and flash fictions (100 – 1,000 words) of any type of genre fiction (i.e., romance, horror, fantasy, etc.)
ParSec	https://pspublishing.co.uk/parsec--submissions-13-w.asp	2p a word up to a maximum of £180.00	?	No	Science fiction, fantasy, horror up to 10,000 words
Omenana Magazine	https://omenana.com/omenana-submissions/	$20	No	No	Speculative art, fiction, and non-fiction from artists and writers from Africa and the African Diaspora Has submission periods
The Drop	CLOSED	$10	?	?	Dark fantasy and science fiction up to 1000 words
Habitats Magazine	https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/samuelcooke/habitats-magazine-optimistic-science-fiction/posts/3701085	10 cents/word	?	No	Optimistic and uplifting short science-fiction stories on any subject 1000-6000 words
Small Wonders	https://smallwondersmag.com/submissions/	Original flash fiction: $0.10/word Reprint flash fiction: $0.01/word or $10, whichever is more Poems: $60 Art: $125 for reprint rights	Yes	Yes	Speculative fiction and poetry with elements not of this world: fantasy, science fiction, horror 1000 words max for prose Accepts reprints
Banksia Journal	https://banksiajournal.com/submissions/	AUD $0.01 (1 cent) per word, with a minimum payment of AUD $10.	Yes	No	Speculative fiction short stories of 3,000 words or les Looking for works by new Australian, Aotearoa New Zealander, or Australasian region writers.
Upbeat Tales Podcast	https://upbeattales.com/ (They post open calls on Twitter)	1 cent per word	Yes	No	Upbeat and/or comedic fantasy, science fiction and horror stories. 100-6,000 words
Zombies Need Brains	https://www.patreon.com/posts/66268714	8 cents per word	No	No	Science fiction, fantasy, and horror, including all subgenres Submission period July 1 - 7
Impossible Worlds	https://impossibleworlds.net/submit	5 cents per word	?	?	Science fiction, fantasy Preferably PG-13 Submission periods
Imagitopia	CLOSED	1 cent per word	Yes	Yes	Fantasy reprints Submission periods
Goblins & Galaxies Magazine	https://goblinsandgalaxies.com/submissions/	6 cents (USD) per word for original fiction	Yes	No	Sword & sorcery, dark fantasy, and science fiction stories under 6,000 words Submission periods
Crimson Quill Quarterly	https://crimsonquillquarterly.com/#what-we-want	$25	Yes	No	Sword & sorcery, dark fantasy, and grimdark subgenres of fantasy fiction. Length: Up to 10,000 words. Submission periods
Reckoning	https://reckoning.press/submit/	$0.10/word for up to 15,000 words for prose, and $50 per poem	?	Yes	Speculative work on environmental justice Accepts reprints
Trollbreath Magazine	https://magazine.trollbreath.com/submissions/	4 cents a word 1/2 a word for reprints	No	Yes	Speculative fiction, poetry, and non-fiction
Black Cat Weekly	https://wildside.moksha.io/publication/black-cat-weekly-science-fiction/guidelines	$15- $50	No	Yes	1,500 to 10,000 words preferred, but can go up to 45,000 words.
House of Gamut	https://houseofgamut.moksha.io/publication/house-of-gamut/guidelines	Ten cents a word for original work, and three cents a word for reprints. Poetry is $50 per poem for new work and $25 per poem for reprints	Yes	Yes	1,000-5,000 words Speculative fiction, nonfiction, poetry Reprints accepted
Flunk Magazine	CLOSED	$50 for published short stories and visual art, and $30 for poetry suites	Yes	Yes	Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Stories, poetry, and creative non-fiction of no more than 5000 words Reprints accepted
Saros Speculative Fiction	https://sarossf.com/submissions/	$40 CAD per story and $40 CAD for cover art	Yes	No	Science fiction or SF-tinged literary stories between 2,000 and 15,000 words Has submission periods
Roses and Wildflowers	https://societyforritualarts.com/coreopsis/roses-wildflowers-submission-guidelines/	$15 - $20	Yes	No	Mythopoeic Fiction, Poetry and Art Fabulism, Fantasy, Science Fiction, and Wonder Tales
Just Keep Up	https://www.justkeepupmagazine.com/submissions	$10 a story, $10 a poem	Yes	?	Stories should be science fiction and/or horror (preferably both) and 100-10,000 words long
NonBinary Review	https://www.zoeticpress.com/submit	$0.01/word for prose up to 3,000 words, and $10 for poetry	?	Yes	Speculative fiction Themed issues
Tales From the Crosstimbers	https://thecrosstimbers.net/author-guidelines/	Payment will be the larger of $10 per story or 1 cent/word rounded to the nearest 100 words, up to a maximum of $50.	No	No	Speculative fiction between 1000 and 2500 words
Incensepunk	https://www.incensepunk.com/p/submissions	$100 for original stories, $25 for reprints	Yes	Yes	Sci-fi worlds that embrace the breadth of human religion Also accepts nonfiction
Bullet Points	https://bulletpoints.nathantoronto.com/submissions	$30 for original stories, $20 for reprints	Yes	Yes	Speculative military fiction Accepts reprints
Night Shades	https://www.nightshadesmag.com/submissions/	$65	Yes	?	Speculative fiction
Dirty Magick Magazine	https://dirtymagickmagazine.com/submission-guidelines/	$50	Yes	No	Fantasy
Quills & Tales	https://quills-tales.kit.com/signup On hiatus	€0.01/word	Yes	?	Fantasy, including dark fantasy, fairytale retellings, sword & sorcery, weird, whimsical, or lyrical tales, and light horror or gothic elements. They accept flash (500-1,000 words) and short fiction (2,000-5,000 words).
Synthesized Sunsets	https://synthesizedsunsets.substack.com/p/submission-guidelines	$50	No	No	Speculative fiction
StarShipSofa	http://www.starshipsofa.com/submissions/	$50	No	Yes	Science fiction
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18 Podcasts Accepting (Mostly) Speculative Short Stories - Paying markets

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Updated 11/27/25

People enjoy listening to stories - whether it's in person through author readings, on the radio, or on the net. Podcasts are especially popular because they are accessible on phones, and can be heard any time or place.

There is nothing quite so exciting as hearing your own story read aloud. The words you have only imagined come to life. They achieve substance, form, color. It's a thrill like none other.

On a practical level, podcasts are a wonderful way of keeping your stories in circulation. Almost all podcasts accept reprints, and quite a few of them pay. The podcasts below accept mostly speculative fiction - science fiction, fantasy, and horror. 

Note: Some of these podcasts have submission periods, but most accept stories year-round. Read submission guidelines carefully before submitting.

Happy submitting!

Note: For hundreds of paying markets, broken down by genre, see: Paying Markets.

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Creepy Podcasts. Genre: Horror. "We want to be scared. We want to see what kind of darkness you have at your fingertips." Payment: $0.02 per word with a maximum payment of $100.

Drabblecast. Genre: Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror short fiction — 500- 4,000 words. Podcast. Payment: $.06/word, with a cap of $300.00. See submission periods. Accepts reprints. 

Manawaker Studio’s Flash Fiction Podcast. Genre: Flash fiction. Payment: $10 for originals, $3 for reprints. Accepts reprints.

No Sleep Podcast. Genre: Horror. Stories between 1200 and 2499 words. "They have to be really scary. Any perspective or tense is fine for these. Single character stories are fine. Prose or script format is fine. For the most part, these stories will be appearing on the regular show, so cool soundscapes and attention to how they’ll sound in production is helpful." Payment: $60 - $500, depending on length.

StarShipSofa. Genre: Science Fiction. "From the soft, social science fiction to the weird pulpy stuff to the vigorous hard SF and YA adventure. We welcome all sub-genres and all variety of punks in all their colours. From high-octane action to quiet philosophical stories, we’re after it all.Science fiction is a rich and diverse genre, push it’s boundaries as far as you can go. We welcome translations and are very interested in stories that take place/written by authors outside the US/Anglo-sphere, as well as as alternative movements and styles. These include (but not limited to) “non-Western” science fiction, Chinese SF, Soviet speculative fiction, Afro-futurism, etc." Payment: $50 USD flat rate per story. Accepts reprints.

Escape Pod. Genre: Science fiction. "If your story isn’t centered on science, technology, future projections, alternate history, and how any or all of these things intersect with people, we’re probably not the right market for it." Payment: USD $0.08 per word for original fiction. USD $100 per story for reprint fiction. Accepts reprints.

PodCastle. Genre: Fantasy. Word count: up to 6,000 words. Payment: $.08/word USD for original fiction 6,000 words or less, $100 flat rate for reprints over 1,500 words, and $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints (stories below 1,500 words). See submission periods. Accepts reprints.

Pseudopod. Genre: Horror. Payment: $.08/word for original fiction, $100 flat rate for short story reprints, and $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints (stories below 1500 words). Accepts reprints.

Cast of Wonders. Genre: Young adult short fiction, open to stories up to 6,000 words in length. Payment: $.08/word USD for original fiction 6,000 words or less, $100 flat rate for reprints over 1,500 words, and $20 flat rate for flash fiction reprints (stories below 1,500 words). See submission periods. Accepts reprints.

Thirteen Podcast is an audio-drama/audio fiction podcast specializing in feature length (~ one hour) productions that are characterized by slow-burn, atmospheric stories, horror and ghost stories. Payment for stories 5,000 words and above is $75 and payment for stories under 5,000 words is $50.

Tall Tale TV is a podcast specializing in science fiction and fantasy. You can submit a story up to 6,000 words. Simultaneous submissions and reprints are fine. Payment is not specified, but writers will receive monetary compensation.

Tales to Terrify features short horror, dark fantasy, and other disturbing fiction. "We greatly value diversity and inclusivity, and seek to publish fiction from writers of different races, religions, nationalities, physical or mental abilities, gender identities, and sexual orientations." They hold open submissions for longer works (2,000-10,000 words) several times a year, and pay $0.02 USD per word for accepted submissions. They do not pay for flash fiction (less than 2,000 words). Reprints accepted. See submission periods.

Pillow Talking (Podcast). Genre: First person, narrative/creative nonfiction stories of real-life bedroom conversations. Payment: $25AUD.

Ursa Podcast. Genre: Literary fiction and satire, "but we will happily make exceptions if you have a character-driven genre story. We are looking for stories that take risks, that are provocative and demonstrate a unique voice. We like stories that thrill." Payment: 8 cents/word. Reprints accepted.

The Lost Poetry Club. "We aim to create a kaleidoscope of voices and materials. Chosen work will be dramatized, but you are openly encouraged to contribute to our M.A.F.P. (mind-altering frequency protocol) with your own recordings and performances for a fully collaborative  experience." Accepts: Poetry, fiction, songs and "other." Payment: Over 300 words: £0.015 per word. Under 300 words: £5 flat rate. Reprints accepted.

Just Chills. Genre: Horror. Length: 4000 – 7000 words. Payment: $25.

Nightlight (Podcast). Restrictions: At least one of your birth parents must be Black. Genre: Horror. Flash fiction (750-1,500 words), Short stories (up to 3,000). Payment: 5 cents/word for flash, $200 for short stories, $50 for reprnts.

Simultaneous Times. Genre: Science fiction short stories in the 500 to 2500 words range. We are not interested in fantasy or horror, sorry. No reprints or simultaneous submissions. Payment: 3 cents a word. Has submission periods.

10 Speculative Fiction Magazines Accepting Submissions NOW - Paying markets

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Updated 8/23/23

Speculative fiction is near and dear to my heart. It's also what I write, so I am always on the lookout for speculative fiction magazines open to submissions. All of these are paying markets, and none charge submission fees.

For over a hundred paying speculative fiction magazines accepting submissions see: 

Mega-List of Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazines - Paying markets

Happy submitting!

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Through the Gate: Fantastical poetry "We are looking for fantastical poetry of literary and emotional depth from a diversity of voices and perspectives. Our definition of fantastical is quite fluid, encompassing fantasy, magic realism, myth, folklore, surrealism and slipstream. We desire poetry that is atypically beautiful, unconventionally imaginative, and boundary-crossing. We are not interested in work that is strictly science fiction or mainstream, but poetry that blurs the lines between such genres and the fantastical is welcome." Length: Up to three poems. Payment: $20 per poem. Deadline: Open now.

The Dark The Dark publishes dark fantasy and horror. "Don’t be afraid to experiment or to deviate from the ordinary; be different—try us with fiction that may fall out of “regular” categories. However, it is also important to understand that despite the name, The Dark is not a market for graphic, violent horror." Length: 2,000 – 6,000 words. Payment: 6 cents/word for original fiction up to 6,000 words on publication for first world rights; and 1 cent/word for reprint fiction up to 6,000 words on publication for nonexclusive reprint rights. Deadline: Open now. 

Allegory. Genre: Speculative fiction and nonfiction articles about the business of writing. Payment: $15. Deadline: December 31, 2023. Accepts reprints.

Havok. Genre: Mystery, scifi, comedy, thriller, and fantasy.  Length: 300 to 1,000 words. Payment: $50 via PayPal for each story selected for an Anthology. No payment for online publication. Deadline: November 21, 2025. See theme.

Dragon Soul Press: Magick and Mystery. Genre: "All witch stories for all genres." Payment: Royalties. Deadline: September 30, 2023.

Dragon Soul Press: A Winter Promise. Genre: "All Christmas stories. As long as Christmas is involved, the story qualifies. All genres. Happily Ever After not required." Payment:  Royalties.  Deadline: September 30, 2023.

The Were-Traveler: Curst & Twysted Tarot. Genre: Short fiction. Choose an image you would like to write a story about. Payment: $10 for flash, $15 for short stories. (Open until filled.)

Hearth Stories. Genre: Speculative fiction. "We publish fiction and poetry that explore connection, family, relationships, comfort, and the natural world. The stories often fall into a fantasy, science-fiction, or magical realism sort of “slice of life.” Payment: 1¢ per word for accepted stories (with a minimum of $20 regardless of length. Deadline: October 31, 2023.

Assault Team Anthology. Genre: Military Science Fiction. Payment: "a percentage of sales divided equally between the contributing authors." Deadline: December 1, 2023.

12 Literary Journals That Publish Multiple Genres - Paying markets

You’re all jealous of my Jetpack — Graphic Novel by Tom Gauld

Updated 11/5/25

If you write genre fiction, here are ten literary magazines that will pay for your work. Some also accept poetry and nonfiction. There are no submission fees.

Genre fiction is popular fiction that falls into a well-defined category, such as fantasy, romance, science fiction, horror, thrillers, westerns, mysteries, and so on. (Fiction that doesn't fall into a neat category is "literary" fiction.) Frequently, literary magazines that accept genre fiction won't accept literary fiction, and vice versa. (Agents also follow this rubric.) This does not imply that genre fiction is any less worthy as literature. Good writing isn't limited to what is considered "literary."

For many more paying markets that accept fiction, poetry, and nonfiction, see Paying Markets.

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Bethlehem Writers Roundtable publishes all genres, except for horror and erotica. Length must be 2,000 words or fewer. They are looking for G, PG, or PG-13 rated material according to the MPAA. Poetry, fiction, and memoirs are accepted. "We are an “old fashioned” editorial crew: we love stories. We admire great writing; we swoon at beautifully worded sentences and lovely descriptions, and chuckle at clever metaphors--but we always choose a great story over all of that. We constantly receive great character sketches, serious mood pieces, wonderfully written scenes that in the end are just wonderful scenes or elegant reminiscences.… And we judge all of this by one simple standard--where is the story?" Payment: $50 for featured author stories; $20 for stories published on their &More page; $10 for poems. Read guidelines HERE.

The Forge publishes one prose piece per week, fiction or nonfiction. They are open to all genres and voices. Length: Stories under 3,000 words. They love flash and micro prose. Unpublished pieces only. They are open to fee-free submissions on the first of each month and close when they reach their Submittable limit. Payment: $100. Read guidelines HERE. 

Every Day Fiction publishes flash fiction (up to 1,000 words) in all genres, and also stories that do not fit neatly into any genre. "There’s no such thing as too short — if you can do the job in 50 words, have at it! — but our readers prefer pieces that tell or at least hint at a complete story." Payment: $3 CAD. Read guidelines HERE.

Pulp Literature  publishes any genre or between-genre work of literature, or visual art (black and white for interiors, color for covers) up to 50 pages in length. "Short stories, novellas, poetry, comics, illustrations — bring it on.  We do not publish non-fiction, memoir, or children’s stories. Aside from that we want anything entertaining and well written." Payment: $0.05 – $0.08 per word for short stories (to 7000 words),  $0.03 – $0.06 per word between 7000 and 10000 words,  and $0.02 – $0.04 per word for works over 10000 words. Poetry and interior illustrations pay between $25 – $50. Sequential art (graphic novels and cartoons) and illustrations are at a rate of $25 to $75 per page. Reprints are up to 50% of first publication rates. See submission periods. Read guidelines HERE.

The Literary Hatchet is a journal devoted to provocative fiction, poetry and prose. "We are interested in well-written but digestible works in any genre (except erotica). We will consider previously published material but prefer original works. We accept short fiction, flash fiction, first-person narratives, speculative fiction, short stories, poetry, photography, art, cartoons, and illustrations. We’re interested in new angles on old ideas, or topics that don’t get covered frequently. We like to showcase articles that don’t just sum up some issue but make us think and make us want to read further." Payment: FICTION, SHORT STORIES: 500-6,000 words — $10. INTERVIEWS and REVIEWS: compensation is paid to the person conducting the interview — $5. POETRY: we prefer poetry under 100 lines — $5. ART/ILLUSTRATIONS: in JPG or GIF format only — $5.

The Offing is an online literary magazine publishing creative writing in all genres and art in all media. "The Offing publishes work that challenges, experiments, provokes — work that pushes literary and artistic forms and conventions. The Offing is a place for new and emerging writers to test their voices, and for established writers to test their limits." Payment: Upon publication, contributors will be paid $25–$100, depending on department and number/length of works published.

Uncharted publishes crime, mystery, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and thriller short stories. All fiction categories are open year round and they do not charge any submission fees. They accept simultaneous submissions but ask that you inform them immediately and withdraw your work if your story is accepted elsewhere. Payment: $200. No pay for reprints. Read guidelines HERE.

White Cat Publications publishes mystery, romance, thrillers, suspense, ghost stories and horror stories (no slasher stories, please), westerns, steampunk and fantasy. Length: 2,500- 3,000. Payment: $.02 per word. Read guidelines HERE.

Big Pulp publishes genre fiction and poetry of all kinds, in anthology magazines, as well as in themed collections. Payment: Fiction – 1¢ per word up to 2500 words (minimum $5.00; maximum $25.00)  Poetry – $5 per poem, regardless of length. Read guidelines HERE. Has reading periods.

Et Sequitur publishes short stories from 500 to 2,500 words. "We are open to all genres, from literary to speculative and everything in between. Our only requirement is that your submission in some way connect with the latest Et Sequitur story, be that in character (minor, major, protagonist, antagonist), setting (neighborhood, world, workplace, house -- even a certain object could work, if it's featured prominently), or theme. Be creative! Continue the story, tell a side-character's story, take the theme and twist it in a new way. In the submission form, you'll be asked to identify which element of the previous story you've chosen to incorporate in your own. Submissions for the next issue will open once the previous issue is published (expected to be the first day of every-other month). They will temporarily close when a story has been chosen for the next issue." Payment: $25.

Cliffhanger! Magazine publishes pulp-inspired adventure stories in the vein of H. Rider Haggard, Edgar Rice Burroughs, Arthur O. Friel, Harold Lamb, Robert E. Howard, Theodore Roscoe, H. Bedford Jones, Louis L’Amour, and others. Westerns and speculative fiction considered. Length: 5,000 – 6,500 words. Payment: $10.

Pulp Asylum publishes a variety of traditional pulp genres. Horror, mystery, crime, science fiction, fantasy, adventure, western, and just plain weird stories are all welcome. Any genre, no genre, cross genre are all okay. Length: Up to 3,000 words. Payment: $15.