Submission Guidelines
We’re going to a rolling submission process, in which each month we’ll be accepting submissions for an upcoming theme. We’ll add more information on themes and deadlines as we set them in concrete.
The Wily Writers site publishes two short stories per month in both audio and text formats. In 2010, we will have special guest editors choosing the stories along with head editor Angel Leigh McCoy.
We publish only short fiction that falls under the genre umbrella of speculative fiction: horror, fantasy, science fiction, and paranormal romance/mystery/adventure.
Reading Periods & Themes:
Submission Requirements:
Please read the Supplemental Guidelines for our July theme of “Endings & New Beginnings.” Submissions for all other themes need only follow the guidelines listed below.
- IMPORTANT:
- Put the theme you’re submitting for in the subject line of the email, along with any other information you want to put there.
- Name your file so that it makes sense. An impressive filename for a fiction submission is: (lastname)-(word from title).RTF
[like this: mccoy-darkness.rtf]
- Word count: 1000 – 4000 (Only exception is for the Flash reading period in March. Otherwise, do not query).
- Previously published writers only. You must have had at least one story published somewhere. Tell us in your email what that was. The Wily Writers was designed to assist those writers who are actively engaged in promoting themselves and their writing careers.
- Use standard manuscript formatting. (more info)
- No simultaneous submissions to other publishers.
- Multiple submissions okay, but only one story per theme.
- Story must have a supernatural, paranormal, speculative fiction, or science fiction element.
- Gore, sex, and adult language okay, but make sure it improves the story.
- We do not edit, so make sure you use good grammar, have double-checked the punctuation, and have done a spell-check. We will reject it if it’s a mess, even if it’s an amazing story.
- We will accept reprints. Make double sure that the rights have reverted to you. By submitting it to us, you affirm that it has been freed from all other commitments that conflict with the rights you give us.
- We reserve the right to change these guidelines without notice.
Response Time: We will respond within 90 days of receiving your story.
Pay:
- We pay US$50 per short story. We pay via Paypal.
- Exception: for our Flash month (reading period from March 1 – March 31), we will pay US$20 per story.
Rights: With this payment, we’re buying the exclusive right to publish an audio version (exclusive for twelve [12] months) and non-exclusive rights to publish a digital text (RTF) version. You will be asked to sign a contract.
Email your submission as an RTF file, attached, to submissions@wilywriters.com.
We’re looking forward to reading your story!
