Shortwave Magazine will be open to submissions for one week, September 9-15th, 2023!

This submission call is now closed.

What Are We Looking For?

We are looking for new, unpublished short horror, dark fantasy, and sci-fi fiction between 1,000 and 4,000 words.

You may submit pieces up to 6,000 words, however, payment is capped at 4,000 words.

There is no specific theme for this call. If you browse the fiction section of our magazine, you will get a pretty good idea of what we like: psychological horror, creature features and slashers, quiet or cozy horror, sci-fi featuring retro tech, sci-fi set in the distant future, supernatural, and other weird dark fantasy.

Payment & Rights

Payment is $.05/word (HWA pro rate), paid within two weeks of a signed contract, for first world print/digital rights with one year exclusivity (exceptions will be granted for annual best-of reprints).

You must be able to accept PayPal or a paper check, we will not use any other payment processor for this call.

Requirements

• File: .docx or .doc
• Format: Double-spaced, Times New Roman, include email address and byline on the first page (address and phone number not needed)
• Emailed to: [this call is now closed]
• Include a brief intro in your email text (a third-person bio, ~100 words)
• Subject line: MAGAZINE SUBMISSION: Story Title — Word Count — Author Name
• Submissions open Saturday September 9th, 2023 and close Friday September 15, 2023. Don’t worry about time zones, use your local time. We would love to see work from writers of all backgrounds and experiences. Whether this is your first submission, or your 100,000th, please don’t self reject! 
• Stories sent before and after the submissions period will not be read. 

Simultaneous/Multiple/Reprint Submissions?

You may submit simultaneously to other markets, but please notify us right away if the story is accepted elsewhere. 

You may send up to two submissions in total.

Original, unpublished stories only. No reprints. 

Thank you! We look forward to your submissions!