The Word in Writing with BJ Muntain

The latest in publishing news for fiction writers including short story markets, novel markets, as well as recent market updates.

Find out who's accepting, who's closed for submissions, and who is really interested in what you do.

Get the inside secrets, the latest rumors, in publishing here!

SUBSCRIBERS AREA

Published by zentao7.com writers group in their January 12, 2005 newsletter

The Word in Writing by B.J. Muntain
Vol 2, Issue 23, January 12, 2005

A busy week. Let's get right to it.

I do not guarantee any markets

New Markets:

The Radiant Press is a new publisher of "fiction, metafiction, science fiction, pulp fiction, cyberpunk, hard-boiled detective stories, soft-boiled detective stories, elegiac reveries, nocturnal fugues, surreal adventure stories, random observations, odd speculations, vagrant fantasies, and other forms of the written word that may or may not fit in any of the above categories." CLICK HERE

Market Changes:

Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction has upped their pay rates. They now pay 6 to 9 cents per word on acceptance for first North American and foreign serial rights and an option on anthology rights. CLICK HERE

Flesh & Blood reopened to submissions on January 1, 2005, under editor and publisher Jack Fisher. CLICK HERE

Tangent Online is still having problems with its website due to a server software upgrade. It is unclear whether this problem will be fixed. Much depends on whether a new managing editor can be found. CLICK HERE

Damned Nation, a Hellbound anthology, has moved up it's release date from October 2006 to January 2006. CLICK HERE

Futurismic is once more open to submissions. Unfortunately, the web site seems to be having security problems right now.

City Slab: Urban Tales of the Grotesque, is also suffering computer problems. Due to hard drive problems, submissions to the magazine dated before December 5, 2004, have been lost. If you sent a submission before that date, please resend, noting this submission as having been previously sent. CLICK HERE

AnotheRealm will begin paying $25 for short fiction beginning in 2006. They do not pay for flash fiction or fiction sent as part of a contest. CLICK HERE

Hadrosaur Tales is now Tales of the Talisman. Check their site for reading periods. CLICK HERE

Horror Carousel has re-opened to new submissions and has a new web site: CLICK HERE.

Mouseion will be closing on June 1, 2005 with issue #5. Submissions for this final issue will be paid in contributors' copies only. CLICK HERE

Some notes on what Harlequin (CLICK HERE) is looking for:

• Harlequin Intrigue is looking for romance in "a compelling, complex and convincingly mysterious story." Senior Editor Denise O'Sullivan is particularly interested in stand-alone books, contemporary thrillers, and first-person female sleuths.
• Silhouette Romance's Associate Senior Editor, Ann Leslie Tuttle, looks for "positive, hopeful stories that celebrate the magical experience of falling in love." Will accept some paranormal stories.
• Sheila Hodgson, Senior Editor for Medical Romance, would like to see more North American authors writing these romances set in medical environments.

Closed Markets:

The Evermore anthology, to be edited by Stephen Mark Rainey and published by Arkham House, is full and closed to submissions. CLICK HERE

Darkness Rising, an annual anthology, will publish its 2004 edition, but the 2005 and future editions are uncertain. Submissions are currently closed. CLICK HERE

Irregular Quarterly has been closed by its editor.

Night to Dawn is temporarily closed to new submissions. CLICK HERE

Dated Markets (Anthologies, Contests, Special and Themed Issues):

The Ninth Annual Erma Bombeck Writing Competition is accepting entries of humourous essays. Entry fee: None. Deadline: February 18, 2005. CLICK HERE

Neverary has opened a new reading period from January 1 to February 28, 2005. CLICK HERE

The Murder In The Grove Mystery Writers' Contest is open to unpublished mystery authors and those who have not been published within the last five years. "All participants will receive detailed scoring sheets on aspects of their submission such as characterization, dialogue, setting, plot and synopsis." The contest is limited to 75 participants. Deadline: February 28, 2005. Entry fee: $25. CLICK HERE

HAWK Publishing is sponsoring the Heartland Authors Workshop and Contest, with many categories of fiction, non-fiction and poetry. "All entries must have a connection to America’s Heartland, either in character, plot, theme, or setting." Winners will be published and first place winners will also receive a cash prize. Entry fee: none given. Deadline: April 1, 2005. CLICK HERE

Iota Poetry Competition. Entrance fee: Subscribers can submit their first two poems for free. For subscribers' subsequent poems, and any non-subscribers' poems, the entry fee is 2 pounds. Deadline: April 15, 2005. CLICK HERE

The Telluride IndieFest 2005 is open to entries of screenplays, films and videos, of all genres. For the month of January, entrance fees are: "Films & Videos (61-120 mins.) $50.00, (31-60 mins.) $45.00, (11-30 mins.) $40.00, (1-10 mins.) $35.00. Screenplays (61-120 pages) $50.00, (31-60 pages) $45.00, (11-30 pages) $40.00, (1-10 pages) $35.00."
From February 1 to April 30, add $10 to these fees.
During the month of May, add another $10 to each fee. Deadline: May 31, 2005.
CLICK HERE

The Paradox Historical Fiction Contest is looking for entries of non-speculative historical fiction. "Pick up a copy of the latest issue of Paradox (Issue 6), and write a piece of short historical fiction inspired by the image appearing on page 2 of the issue." Entry fee: None given. Deadline: June 15, 2005. CLICK HERE

News:

Canadian 'futuristic fantasy' author Margaret Atwood has invented a remote autographing machine which will allow authors to sign books from a distance via a computer connection. CLICK HERE

Our Losses:

Will Eisner, June 3, 1917 - January 3, 2005. A legendary comic book illustrator, Eisner also created and wrote the comic The Spirit and a number of graphic novels. CLICK HERE
AND HERE
AND HERE

Author's Note

As stated above, I do not guarantee any markets. If you find that any of the markets I mention seem less than honest, let me know HERE.