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EZ Access to E-zines
by Angel Leigh McCoy
Online fiction magazines (fiction e-zines) have popped up all
over the Internet and are flourishing. Electronic publishing remains
a new enough medium that many writers haven’t yet explored the
potential of e-zines. The expanding Internet, however, offers many
amazing opportunities for the writers willing to add a few new
tricks to their bags.
Initially, these online magazines had to fight the stigma that
came with not being printed on paper, and they faced an uphill
battle. They had to earn the respect of writers and readers in order
to gain credibility. They’ve done it.
In addition to e-zines that print stories as downloadable
text, many publishers (such as Ellery Queen’s Mystery Magazine)
make audio recordings (called fiction podcasts) of the stories they
purchase. People are downloading these audio recordings and
listening to them while they work, drive, and relax with a margarita
by the pool. They’re listening on their computers, MP3 players,
phones, and other mobile devices.
Literary awards (such as the Nebula, the Hugo, and the Bram
Stoker) nominate and award stories from electronic publications
without prejudice. The Parsec Awards honor superiority in
speculative fiction podcasting. As the first decade of the 21st
century comes to a close, not only is it possible to publish short
stories in the electronic arena, it’s necessary. Readers are
migrating online. The publishing industry is changing. Newspapers
and print magazines are closing their doors in record numbers. A
successful writer will evolve as well.
Tips for E-zine Submissions
If you’re submitting to e-zines for the first time, take a
quick spin through the following tips. They’ll give you a feel for
pitfalls that could stand in the way of your getting published.
1. If there’s a chance your story will be voiced and
recorded, read it aloud to yourself and make sure it works. Listen
for the places where your own tongue stumbles.
2. Don’t rely on fancy layout or unnatural words to tell
your story if it’s headed for a podcast. Indents, italics, and
symbols will not translate easily into the audio medium.
3. When using an online submission form, read the directions
carefully before you fill out the form so you know what files
and information they want. For example, many online forms have
anti-virus security programs that won’t allow certain file types. In
addition, it’s easy to hit the “send” button too soon or
accidentally cancel when working in an online form, so thoroughness
is its own reward.
4. Pay close attention to the e-zine’s accepted level of
profanity and adult content. Nothing will get you rejected faster
than material that blows through their sensibility ceiling. Be aware
of the e-zine’s intended audience.
5. Put links on your own webpage to every story you publish
in an e-zine. This is a great way to share your work with your fans
without having to self-publish the story on your own site. It
fleshes out your website nicely.
A Dizzying Array of E-Zines
The following e-zines have established themselves or are new
publications to watch. Click on the name of the e-zine to visit
their submission guidelines page. Don’t think for a moment that
because it’s just an e-zine they don’t take their guidelines
or editing responsibilities seriously. The editors for these
periodicals are professionals.
Pro E-zines
The following markets pay professional rates (≥US$.05/word). I
always recommend that a writer submit first to the pro markets.
Apex Magazine publishes science
fiction, fantasy, and horror fiction and poetry. [http://www.apexbookcompany.com/submissions/]
Asia Literary Review buys fiction,
non-fiction, reportage, memoir, travel writing, literary essays,
humor, documentary and themed photographic essays, photography, art
and poetry from and about Asia. [http://www.asialiteraryreview.com/web/en/aboutUs/submissionsPolicy]
Beneath Ceaseless Skies wants
“literary adventure fantasy.” They publish text and sometimes audio
versions of the stories they buy. [http://beneath-ceaseless-skies.com/page.php?p=submissions]
Electric Literature posts five
stories per month in varying media. Literary fiction only. [http://www.electricliterature.com/electric-literature-submit.html]
Flash Fiction Online wants short
short fiction of between 500 and 1000 words. They accept genre and
literary fiction. [http://www.flashfictiononline.com/submit.html]
Orson Scott Card’s Intergalactic
Medicine Show
accepts stories under the broadest definitions of fantasy and
science fiction, including paranormal, horror, far future, near
future, and alternate history. [http://www.intergalacticmedicineshow.com/cgi-bin/mag.cgi?do=content&article=submissions]
Pedestal Magazine buys poetry, book
reviews, interviews, and high-quality literary and genre fiction,
including traditional and experimental works. [http://www.thepedestalmagazine.com/submitguidelines.php]
Podcastle records fantasy fiction
as an audio podcast, while Pseudopod does the same for horror
stories. There’s nothing much cooler than the first time you hear
your story read by a stranger. [http://podcastle.org/guidelines/] [http://pseudopod.org/guidelines/]
Tor.com publishes original science
fiction and fantasy short stories of exceptional quality. [http://www.tor.com/blogs/2010/05/our-fictional-offerings-expanded-staff-new-procedures-same-old-quirky-fiction]
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Semi-Pro E-Zines
The following markets pay less than professional rates, but
more than nothing. If you’ve exhausted appropriate pro markets and
have filed your rejections in the appropriate bin, try these
publications next.
Andromeda Spaceways In-flight Magazine publishes
fantasy, horror, and science fiction. [http://www.andromedaspaceways.com/submissions/what-we-want-and-don’t]
Cabinet des Fées limits its purchases to folk and
fairytales, though the stories can be written in any genre (fantasy,
science fiction, dark fantasy, horror, mystery, romance, steampunk,
western, and literary). [http://www.cabinetdesfees.com/submissions/]
Café Irreal buys surreal speculative fiction of
less than 2000 words. [http://cafeirreal.alicewhittenburg.com/guidelin.htm]
Contrary prefers stories of less than 1500 words.
They’re looking for fiction that is concise and surprising. [http://www.contrarymagazine.com/Contrary/Submissions.html]
Horror Garage is looking for horror fiction,
non-fiction, and interviews with horror writers. [http://www.horrorgarage.com/horror/submission.php]
Hunger Mountain publishes literary fiction, young
adult and children’s fiction, poetry, stage and screenplays, and
interviews. [http://www.hungermtn.org/submit/]
Story Station wants short fiction in any genre for
children aged 6-12. [http://www.viatouch.com/learn/Storystation/Storystation
Storystation_guidelines.jsp]
Wily Writers posts audio recordings of short
speculative fiction: fantasy, science fiction, and horror. [http://www.wilywriters.com/blog]
ZYZZYVA seeks literary fiction by writers working
on the West Coast of the United States. [http://www.zyzzyva.org/zy-subs.htm]
For the Love E-Zines
Not all e-zines pay for the stories they post. That doesn’t
mean they’re unworthy of your time, however. There are several
reasons you may want to go with a particular e-zine, even if they
don’t pay. For example, an e-zine can bring a particular fan base to
your story. Some are prestigious and known for their high quality
fiction. Or, you may have a story that simply doesn’t fit anywhere
else. Here are a few good e-zines that are “for the love.”
Absent Willow Review publishes horror, fantasy,
and science fiction. [http://absentwillowreview.com/submissions]
Bull: Fiction for Thinking Men is looking for
fiction that addresses men’s issues, challenges, and interests.
[http://www.bullmensfiction.com/submit.html]
Camera Obscura chooses one story per issue to
receive a hefty cash award. They are looking for literary and genre
fiction. [http://www.obscurajournal.com/guidelines.php]
Crime Factory takes only stories that have an
element of crime in the plot. They welcome any genre. [http://www.crimefactoryzine.com/main/SUBMISSION_
GUIDELINES.html]
Evergreen Review accepts literary fiction, poetry,
and non-fiction. [http://www.evergreenreview.com/123/submissions.html]
Istanbul Literary Review publishes literary and
mainstream fiction and poetry. [http://www.ilrmagazine.com/submissions/]
Midwest Literary Magazine posts literary short
fiction and poetry. [http://www.midwestliterarymagazine.com/submit/terms.php]
Moon Milk Review likes stories and poetry that
have a fantastic quality. [http://www.moonmilkreview.com/submit/]
Pine Tree Mysteries takes…wait for it…mysteries.
[http://www.pinetreemysteries.com/PTguidelines.html]
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