Mission
We want to give fiction readers reliably entertaining experiences that reflect the sensibilities of a world in which nobody pretends one’s sex and other inborn biological characteristics are matters of personal choice. Interpret that however you like.
Guidelines
We are seeking stories that thrill in a classic pulp-fiction manner, or that amuse and/or surprise in some other way. Beyond the requirement that the reader is engaged throughout, the only restriction we place on your art is that it be art. Sex and violence happen, but spare us any pornography or other gratuitous appeals to the baser instincts.
We want flash fiction of 1,000 words or less, or short fiction up to 5,000 words. The more stimulation you can pack into the smallest word-count, the better.
Publishing Terms
All accepted work will be published as follows: all flash fiction and some short fiction, determined according to editor discretion, will appear on this Substack. We will publish all accepted stories in a tri-annual journal, to be released in print and e-book editions on April 1, August 1, and December 1.
We pay via PayPal or Venmo. Flash fiction gets $5. Add $5 for each 1,000 words thereafter, with the payment rounded to the nearest 1,000.
Simultaneous submissions are permitted. By submitting you attest that you have full rights to and ownership of the work in question, and grant us publishing rights only as described above. Please do not submit work that is already in circulation elsewhere—especially online—and upon acceptance we ask that you don’t publish the same story elsewhere for one year.
Final Note on Short Fiction
Writers should be aware that there is a limited market for short fiction, and the market is flooded. Our goal is to select, edit, and package short fiction in such a way that it actually gets read. We are paying our nominal amount to show our appreciation to those who love to read and write as much we do, but our real offer to the writer is increased exposure, and partnership in building a viable short-fiction platform.
