Learn more at http://thecoloredlens.com/?page_id=137752
The Colored Lens - Speculative Fiction Quarterly (Winter, Spring, Summer, Autumn)
Speculative fiction featuring good storytelling, characters we enjoy reading about and a solid plot.
Speculative fiction, from alternate history, to high fantasy, to hard science fiction, to dark fantasy.
A few things to keep in mind when submitting:
- Stories should have a plot. Although we want stories that comment on our world and society, stories should also have a hook, rising action, climax, and resolution, although the handling of those elements can be experimental.
- Flash fiction is great, but make sure it has a fully developed plot.
- Stories must have a speculative element. It can be slight, but must be present.
- Present tense will be a harder sell than traditional past tense. We have published stories in the present tense, and undoubtedly will continue to do so, but stories in the past tense tend to have a higher chance of acceptance.
- Sex, violence, and related themes are fine, but those elements should not be the main focus of the story.
Length & Format
We publish stories up to 10,000 words, although we prefer stories in the 500-5000 word range. We also publish novellas up to 20,000 words, serialized over multiple issues.
Payment
We pay $20 per short story, article, or piece of artwork, and $10 for flash. For novellas, we pay $20 for the first 10,000 words, and $1 per 1000 words after that. Unless otherwise specified, purchases are for first world electronic and print rights, exclusive for 3 months, and non-exclusive reprint rights. Payments will be made upon publication.
Acceptance of a submission does not guarantee a publication date. Payments will be made via paypal upon publication. Other forms of payment can be arranged if necessary.
