These magazines and anthologies pay for fiction, and some of them also accept other genres, like nonfiction and poetry. There are some themed calls in a separate section. Deadlines are approaching quickly. – S. Kalekar

The Pig’s Back
This is an Ireland-based magazine, and you can read more about them here; they have published three issues, so far. They accept all forms of fiction and nonfiction; please do not send poetry. They pay cash, as well as contributor copies.
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Length: 2,000-5,000 words
Pay: €300
Details here.

Gallery of Curiosities
They want retropunk fiction for their podcast. “That means steampunk, dieselpunk, dreadpunk, bronzepunk, dark fantasy, the Odd, and others that haven’t even been invented yet punk … but not atompunk.” They also accept reprints.
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Length: Up to 7,500 words
Pay: $0.05/word
Details here.

Room Magazine
This Canadian magazine publishes fiction, creative nonfiction, poetry, and art only “by folks of marginalized genders including, but not limited to, women (cisgender and transgender), transgender men, Two-Spirit, and nonbinary people.” Underrepresented writers are particularly encouraged to submit.
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Length: Prose up to 3,500 words, up to 5 poems
Pay: CAD50/page up to CAD200
Details here and here.

Consequence Magazine
This magazine addresses work on the human consequences and realities of war and geopolitical violence. They accept fiction (including flash, short fiction, and excerpts), nonfiction (interviews, essays, narrative nonfiction), poetry, translations, and art (including graphic narratives, and photo and video essays). They are not accepting unsolicited reviews at the moment. They will decide whether the submission will be published in print, or online.
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose, up to 5 poems
Pay: $20-60
Details here and here.

Bourbon Penn
This is an online and print magazine and they want “highly imaginative stories with a healthy dose of the odd.  Odd characters, odd experiences, odd realities. We’re looking for genre / speculative stories and are quite partial to slipstream, cross-genre, magic realism, absurdist, and the surreal.”
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Length: 2,000-7,500 words
Pay: $0.03/word
Details here.

Lightspeed
Lightspeed publishes science fiction and fantasy. They are open to submissions from BIPOC writers only, during 23-30 April, for fantasy short fiction/novelettes, and submissions from all writers are open 1-7 May, for this genre. They also accept translations. They will open later in the year for science fiction, as well as fantasy, flash fiction (see guidelines).
Reading periods: See above
Length: 1,500-10,000 words for short fiction/novelettes (up to 5,000 words preferred)
Pay: $0.08/word
Details here.

Mud Season Review
They publish fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. For fiction, they say, “We are looking for fully realized stories that remind us of what it means to be human, that take risks, that show us something new, and that stand up over multiple reads, deepening with each encounter.” Please note, they may close submissions early if volume demands.
Deadline: 30 April 2023, or until filled
Length: Up to 6,000 words for prose, 3-5 poems
Pay: $50; and $15 for poets and artists whose work appears in The Take: Mud Season Review
Details here and here.

khōréō
They only publish works by immigrant and diaspora authors. They are open for speculative flash fiction in April.
Deadline: 30 April 2023
Length: Up to 1,500 words
Pay: $0.10/word
Details here and here.

Another magazine that will soon open for a limited demographic is Cast of Wonders; they publish young adult speculative fiction, and will open for submissions from 15 to 30 April 2023 by writers under 18 years; they pay $0.08/word for stories up to 6,000 words. Their submission portal will open for fiction submissions during the reading period. Details here and here.

Terrain.org
They welcome submissions on place, climate, and justice – fiction, non-fiction, and poetry are open through April, while art is open year-round. They also accept translations. And, “All accepted submissions by writers of color, members of the LGBTQ+ community, women, and/or other marginalized communities whose contributions explore place particularly in the context of social, environmental, or climate justice are considered for our annual Editor’s Prize of $500 per genre.”
Deadline: 30 April 2023
Length: Up to 5,000 words for prose, 2-6 poems
Pay: A minimum of $50
Details here and here.

Anterior Skies
This will be an annual anthology of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. They will publish “cosmic and weird stories, ranging from fantasy (preferably low fantasy, but high fantasy will be considered) to sci-fi to noir, as long as there’s a dab of horror somewhere in there.” The anthology will have theme-based sections, and the editor has provided guidelines for each, please read them carefully.
Deadline: Open now
Length: 100-6,000 words
Pay: $0.01/word, up to $50
Details here.

THEMED CALLS

All Women are Werewolves: An Anthology of WomanhoodThis is a fiction anthology from Erro Press and for this call, they only want submissions from women, inclusive of those who identify as non-binary and trans women. “This anthology is a collection of stories about the transformative experiences that shape womanhood; dark, uncanny, curious and captured by vivid, varied feminine voices. … We are looking for exceptional writing; think Literary fiction and magical realism. Bold, raw, beautifully written stories that may look at the nuances of life as woman at all ages and stages, explore myths and folklore, or delve into the root causes of inequality and vulnerability faced by women around the world – now, before and in the future.” Also, “Your story does not need to include werewolves – their presence in the title refers to their rich and complex symbolic history and folklore including, but not limited to, metamorphosis, persecution and expression of taboo emotions.”
Deadline: 14 April 2023
Length: 1,500-6000 words
Pay: “TBC but c.£100 plus author copies of the book”
Details here (scroll down).

The Devil Take You – Tales of Medieval Horror
This is a project by Sentinel Creatives, a publishing and production house based in Cape Town, South Africa. They want fiction submissions for their anthology, and have detailed guidelines, including, “We’re looking for original weird tales set in the medieval period that explore the human (and inhuman) experience through the lens of horror.”
Deadline: 15 April 2023
Length: 3,000-6,000 words
Pay: $125-200
Details here.

Sinister Smile Press: If I Die Before I Wake – Tales of Halloween Horror
They want stories of Halloween-themed horror for this fiction anthology.
Deadline: 19 April 2023
Length: 4,000-10,000 words
Pay: $30-50
Details here.

Inklings Press: Tales Anthology SeriesThis is a fiction anthology. “We are looking to solve murders, investigate disappearances, and find clues, but with a twist. Send us your stories of cyborg sleuths, goblin gumshoes, and enchanted investigators. We want tales of fantasy, sci fi and horror with a strong mystery or investigation theme.”
Deadline: 30 April 2023
Length: Up to 5,000 words
Pay: $100
Details here.

The First Line Journal
They want fiction (all genres) and poetry that begins with pre-set first lines, one for each quarterly issue. For nonfiction, they want critical articles about your favorite first line from a literary work. For fiction and poetry, for the Summer issue, the first line is:
‘All the lawns on Mentone Avenue are mowed on Wednesdays.’ Deadline: 1 May 2023 for the Summer issue
Length: 300-5,000 words for fiction; 500-800 words for nonfiction
Pay: $25-50 for fiction, $25 for nonfiction, $10 for poetry (less postage fee for international writers – see guidelines)
Details here.

Unnerving Books: Crime stories
The editor wants crime stories for a yet-unnamed anthology; the call was also announced on Twitter. “I want gritty stories. Think Jim Thompson, James M. Cain, Sara Gran, Jo Nesbo. I also like humorous stuff with a dark edge. Think Donald Westlake, Adam Howe, Brian Evenson. I like twists. I like oddity. I like violence.
Now, for what I don’t want: no police procedurals, no copaganda, nothing supernatural, no rape revenge stories, nothing pro-religion, and nothing cozy or soft.”
Deadline: 15 May 2023
Length: 1,500-8,000 words (2,500-4,000 preferred)
Pay: $0.01/word
Details here.
(The press is also accepting submissions, while the Unnerving Magazine is closed.)

The Saltbush Review: Fracture
This is an Australian magazine and they accept submissions of literary fiction (including flash), poetry, creative nonfiction, and works that challenge genre boundaries. They are currently reading submissions on the ‘Fracture’ theme. Creative interpretations of the theme are welcome. “Submissions are open to all, but we particularly welcome work from South Australian and regional writers, emerging writers, First Nations and POC writers, the LGBTQI+ community, and writers with a disability.”
Deadline: 16 June 2023
Length: Up to 3,000 words
Pay: AUD$150 for fiction and nonfiction; AUD$100 per poem or piece of flash fiction
Details here.

Atomic Carnival: Two antholgies
They are reading submissions for two anthologies: Greater Than His Nature, and Open All Night.
— “For Greater Than His Nature, I’m looking for short stories based around the theme of “mad science.” Cackling Victorian scientists, giant atomic monsters, and Cronenbergian body horror are all fair game. I’m even open to the right piece of nonfiction for this one.

I’m especially interested to include stories from disabled and chronically ill writers.”
— “For Open All Night, I want horror and fantasy (and all and any assorted sub- and cross-genres) based around the theme of “open all night.” While not strictly necessary, I’ll definitely be looking for retail and service industry-based stories. Give me graveyard shifts, overnight inventories gone bad, and haunted diners, shit so sordid and spooky that even the most seasoned of waitresses can’t handle what’s happening.
No nonfiction here, but if you want to deviate from the above genres, a little or a lot, that’s cool with me.”The Kickstarter for both anthologies has been funded.
Deadline: 30 June 2023 for both anthologies
Length: Up to 10,000 words (2,000-6,000 words preferred)
Pay: $0.03/word (more if Kickstarter hits stretch goals)
Details here.

Horror Story Magazine: Monster stories
This is a new horror magazine, and they’re reading submissions for their first issue. “Edition 1’s theme will be … good old-fashioned monster stories: vampires, werewolves, ghosts, ghouls, Frankenstein-style creatures, or newer creatures, including those of your creation. Give us a monster, and tell us a great story.” They also accept poetry; word limits for that do not have to adhere to fiction limits, and will be paid a flat rate. They will have a print and electronic edition, for the first issue. Also, “As long as the theme of monsters is followed, we’re pretty open. That includes a little cross-genre, comedic horror, etc.” They also accept reprints. Regarding the deadline, “There is no firm deadline. We’ll read until we have all we need, but we’d like to be wrapped up by May 1 at the latest.”
Deadline: Until filled
Length: 2,000-10,000 words for fiction
Pay: $0.02/word for fiction
Details here.

Bio: S. Kalekar is the pseudonym of a regular contributor to this magazine. She can be reached here.