Paying Market: Explorers Anthology (Science Fiction)

19 September 2010
Paying Market: Explorers Anthology (Science Fiction)
Deadline: 31 December 2010

I’m pleased to announce the second anthology release from MWS Media, LLC, due in the summer or fall of 2011 through a partnership with The Dead Robots’ Society: “Explorers: Beyond the Horizon.”

The publication of “Explorers: Beyond the Horizon” celebrates the continued success of The Dead Robots’ Society podcast and community. As a frequent guest on the show and a friend to Justin, Ryan and Terry, I’m very excited that MWS Media, LLC is a partner in this project.
Gatekeeper? Me?

In addition to publishing “Explorers: Beyond the Horizon” through my own MWS Media, LLC in print and several e-book formats, I am honored to serve as the initial submission reader for the project. I’ll be the one who determines if a submission is forwarded on to Justin, Terry and Ryan. Together, we’ll choose the best submissions for the anthology.

While we’re inviting a number of professional authors to submit to “Explorers: Beyond the Horizon,” we’re also very interested in seeing submissions from amateur and semi-pro writers. Be assured: An author’s degree of “stardom” will have no bearing on their work being accepted or not. An engaging, entertaining, top-notch story from a never-before-published author has just as much chance of making the cut as one from a bestselling writer.

Basic Guidelines for “Explorers: Beyond the Horizon”

“Explorers: Beyond the Horizon” will feature stories in which “characters are forever changed by their discovery of lands and worlds beyond their own.” To expand upon that description, the stories we’re interested in must include:

* a physical location newly discovered by the protagonist
* a protagonist who experiences a profound and meaningful change as a result of that discovery

If you like, the perfect story for “Explorers” brilliantly blends internal and external discovery.

We are accepting submissions for “Explorers: Beyond the Horizon” through December 31, 2010. This is a paying market with royalty sharing: accepted authors will receive a cursory initial payment on acceptance, a complimentary copy of the book on publication, and will receive a share of royalties twice yearly.

Additional guidelines:

All submissions must be primarily science fiction or fantasy. Horrific elements are acceptable so long as the emphasis is on science fiction or fantasy. The submission period will end at 11:59PM (CST) December 31st, 2010.

NO reprints. Unpublished manuscripts only. One manuscript per author. Do not exceed 5,000 words.

Please follow standard manuscript formatting.

Submissions must be sent as e-mail attachments in .rtf or .doc format to submissions@deadrobotssociety.com.

This is a paying market with royalty sharing. Space is limited, so good luck to everyone. Please see the FAQ below for answers to most of your submissions questions.

FAQ:

If I send in a story, will it automatically get in the anthology?

* Sadly, no. Space is limited, and that means some hard choices will have to be made by the editorial staff. Work from unpublished authors will be judged alongside those of professional writers, and the quality of work that makes it through to the end must be high.

Will I be paid for my submission?

* Yes, there will be an upfront payment, as well as a semi-annual royalty sharing payment, and all payments will be made via PayPal.

Will my submission be edited?

* Possibly, though that would be a process you and the editors go through together.

I have a romance story? Does that count?

* Only if the emphasis is on the fantasy or science fiction elements.

My story is just a few words over your limit of 5,000. That’s okay, right?

* No. 5,000 words is our limit. Anything over that will be immediately disqualified.

Is it okay if my story is ready on January 1st, 2011?

* Nope. 11:59PM (CST) on December 31st, 2010. Anything submitted after that will be deleted.

More information here.
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