Queer Submission Calls for Writers
Illustration by Dall-e
Updated April 2024.
Do you have stories in your pocket? Have you promised yourself you’ll send them into a publisher in 2024? Here are a few queer calls for submission that will help you get going.
Some of the deadlines below have passed but we’ll leave the information up as an archive - you can revisit the publishers periodically to see if they have any new submission calls.
NEW CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: - To the end: Divorce narratives from queer, trans, non binary, gay, bisexual, lesbian, two-spirit, gender-expansive, and intersex writers
VANCOUVER PRIDE MAG 2024 SUBMISSIONS ARE OPEN!
Calling all 2SLGBTQAI+ writers and poets! Submit your work for a chance to be featured in the Annual Vancouver Pride Magazine. We're accepting pitches for short articles, features, and poetry
Deadline for submissions: Friday, May 3.
For guidelines and submissions, check out the link in our bio or visit vancouverpride.ca/pridemag.
IndigiQueer Anthology
Call for Submissions for IndigiQueer Two Spirit Anthology Inseparable from Our Land and Our Love: IndigiQueer and Two Spirit Voices
We are soliciting original, unpublished, short fiction, critical essays, memoir, creative nonfiction, and poetry by indigenous LGBTQ2S authors on the broad topic of IndigiQueer and Two Spirit identities for an anthology tentative titled Inseparable from Our Land and Our Love: IndigiQueer and Two Spirit Voices. Prose should be 2,000 to 4,000 words. Multiple submissions permitted. 12-pt. Times New Roman double-spaced .doc or .docx submissions to IndigiQueer2S@gmail.com before June 1, 2024. If you do not have access to word, please reach out to the above email to make other arrangements to submit your work. The book launch will be part of the IndigiQueer Weekend in Provincetown, MA, the weekend of Oct 25-27, 2024, in conjunction with panels, workshops, and readings.
Rough Cut Press: Dream
They publish short prose from the LGBTQIA community, and have monthly themed submission calls. Send short prose on the ‘Dream’ theme.
Deadline: 27 March 2024
Length: Up to 650 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
Misti Media: Do You Really Want to Hurt Me? – Crime Fiction Inspired by the Music of Boy George and Culture Club
This is a fiction anthology. “In the 1980s, the world had never seen anything quite like Boy George and Culture Club. English pop met fashion and androgyny to usher in the New Romantic era of music. … what better way to celebrate them than with outstanding crime fiction inspired by their music? … Your work must be based on a song that’s an original Boy George and/or Culture Club song and cannot be a cover performed by them …(and) must relate strongly to the song it’s inspired by, whether that’s by the lyrics or the name.” And, “LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC characters and authors very, very strongly encouraged. Be authentic! Remember that this anthology is for Pride Month.”
Deadline: 31 March 2024
Length: Prefer 3,000-5,000 words
Pay: $25
Details here.
My Galvanized Friend
They is a print publication and they seek submissions of prose and poetry from LGBTQ+ writers in the US. You can read about them here and here and here. “Each 40-page issue includes fiction, nonfiction, and essays between 500 and 3,500 words as well as works of poetry and original works of art by queer artists across the United States. Submissions must be LGBTQIA+ content created by LGBTQIA+ identified submitters.” The theme for their first issue is ‘Firsts’, and the deadline is 1 March 2024. They pay $25 for prose of 500-3,500 words and $10/page for up to 2 pages of poetry. They read year-round, with cut-off dates for issues. Details here.
Tiny Ghost Press is a small press that focuses on publishing YA fiction that centers LGBTQIA+ characters.
Blind Eye Books publishes science fiction, fantasy, mystery, and romance novels featuring LGBTQ protagonists. If you scroll to the bottom of the submissions page you can also see a list of tropes that the publisher is not interested in.
just femme & dandy: Time Travel
just femme & dandy is a biannual literary & arts magazine for and by the LGBTQIA+ community on fashion; they want work on the ‘Time Travel’ theme. They have detailed guidelines, including, “We want to hear about the historical figures that informed your developing queer/trans styles, what you imagine for our queer future. Think Queerasures & Queertopias: Past, Present, and In Futurity! We’re particularly interested in receiving submissions that considers queer fashion, past, present, or future in terms of climate change and fashion’s role in (un)sustainability. We would love to hear from up and coming drag artists and independent fashion designers. You are welcome to send us submissions outside of the theme, but submissions that relate to the theme are highly encouraged. We accept anything that can be displayed on a website: poetry, fiction, nonfiction, tutorial, illustration, comix, photography, painting, video, drag, costume/fashion designs, hot takes, interviews, and so on!”
Deadline: 15 January 2024
Length: Varies
Pay: $50 per text-based submission and up to $150 per multimedia submission (video, photography, image + text, fashion spread + interview, etc.)
Details here.
Terrain.org
They welcome submissions on place, climate, and justice – fiction (short story, flash fiction series, novel excerpt, radio play, or other fiction piece), nonfiction, and poetry. They also accept translations, and art. Payment is a minimum of $50. 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.” Certain sections, like Letter to America and ArTerrain, are open year-round, and other sections have submission periods, or are open periodically.
Deadline: 31 January for poetry; 31 March 2024 for fiction and nonfiction
Length: Up to 5,000 words for fiction and nonfiction, 2-6 poems
Pay: Minimum of $50
Dragonblade Publishing: Write Track Competition for Historical Romance
This is a contest for a historical romance manuscript, and they want submissions from all writers, including those writing LGBTQ+ romance.
Deadline: 1 February 2024
Value: First prize $1,000 and publishing
Details here.
Poet Lore
This is a biannual print journal of poetry, and their tagline is ‘America’s Oldest Poetry Journal’. They publish both established and emerging poets. They’re currently reading submissions of love poetry from queer poets; the deadline for this call is 5th January 2024. Send up to 3 poems for this special feature; they pay $50 per poem. Their next reading period for unthemed poetry translations is 1 January-30 June 2024, and it is 1 April – 31 May 2024 for general poetry submissions. Details here (general guidelines) and here (Submittable and theme details).
And 40 Literary Journals Accepting Poetry - these aren’t queer specific but it’s a good list nonetheless!
https://authorspublish.com/40-literary-journals-accepting-poetry-submissions/
OLDER POSTS
Tree and Stone: Queer as F*. Restrictions: Open to writers/artists who self-identify as queer/LGBTQIA/pan/non-binary. Our cishet/ cisallohet allies, are welcome to submit, but we ask that the story center around a character who self-identifies as queer/LGBTQIA/pan/non-binary. Genre: Short fiction, CNF, art. This issue is to celebrate queerness in all its forms, experiences, and expressions.
JMS Books. Genre: LGBTQ romance stories, 12,000 words minimum. See theme. Payment: Royalties. Deadline: August 31, 2023
Queens in Wonderland. Genre: Fiction. This is an LGBTQ+ Alice in Wonderland themed anthology. 1,500-5,000 word count. Payment: $20. Deadline: August 31, 2023.
New Smut Project: Erato II
They want flash fiction and prose poetry for this anthology. “Send us your most seductive flash fiction and prose poetry! We’re seeking super short writing in any subgenre, featuring characters of any and every orientation and gender, so long as they’re 18+ and express their consent to all erotic activities. Whether they find pleasure through BDSM, fetish, or vanilla encounters; in long-term romances or one-night stands; with one person, a roomful of people, or just themselves, it’s all good. …Usually at least half the stories in our anthologies feature characters who are LGBTQIA+, including the ace spectrum.” Their website says their project name is “kind of funny…for people very serious about quality, diverse erotica”.
Deadline: 31 August 2023
Length: Up to 1,500 words
Pay: $25-45
Details here.
Apparition Lit: Reclamation
Apparition Lit is a quarterly speculative fiction and poetry magazine. “Speculative fiction is weird, almost unclassifiable. It’s fantasy, sci-fi, horror, and literary.” They will be reading submissions on the ‘Reclamation’ theme during the last two weeks in August 2023 (August 15-31st) by all writers; also see the note about their equity initiative in the guidelines here (scroll down) – “Our submission window will remain open for an additional week each quarter for writers who identify as BIPOC and self-identify in their cover letter.
We will also accept simultaneous submissions from writers who identify as BIPOC or LGBTQIA+. Please just note how you identify in your cover letter, that it is a simultaneous submission.”
Reading period: 15-31 August for all writers; an additional week for BIPOC writers (see guidelines)
Length: 1,000-5,000 words for fiction, up to 5 poems
Pay: $0.05/word for fiction, and $50/poem
(They also publish flash fiction online on monthly prompts, during the first fortnight of every month.)
Many thanks to AuthorsPublish.com for the listing below
A bi monthly zine that pays their contributors $40 for creative work, and priortizes BIPOC and LGBTQ+ creatives. Their submission guidelines are here.
Tangled Laces
A magazine focused on publishing writing by queer teen authors between the ages of 14-18.
Afternoon VisitorThis is an online quarterly publication of poetry, hybrid text, visual poetry, and visual art, and they’re particularly interested in giving space to trans + queer writers in each issue.
Dream Pop JournalThey welcome submissions from marginalized voices, and are especially interested in publishing work from emerging writers working in experimental, non-narrative forms. “Please send us your strange utterings, hybrid works, collaborative pieces, visual poetry, collages, and linguistic inventions. We hope that you will challenge the limits of what literature can be and that you will share your results with us.” They publish poetry, a speculative diary, visual art, as well as visual poetry & erasure. They are open year-round.
Indecent
This is a space for Queer creators and Queer representation. “You do not have to be Queer to submit, but your work should be related to Queer representation”. Also, “If a connection to the Queer community is not readily apparent in your work, let us know your connection in the body of your submission email or your bio.” Send fiction, nonfiction, poetry, art, and multimedia. They have detailed guidelines for each category. They can offer token payment, of $4 or less. They are open to submissions on a rolling basis
Cosmic Double publishes work from underrepresented writers – including, but not limited to, Black, indigenous, & other writers of color; members of the LGBTQ+ community; adopted, displaced, or separated writers; writers without formal education, including high school, college, or masters level degrees; writers with mental or physical disabilities; new & emerging writers. They’re always open for nonfiction submissions (send up to 4 pages); the deadline for fiction and poetry is 1 April 2023 (see Submittable). Details here (guidelines) and here (Submittable).
The Gay & Lesbian Review: Three themesThe Gay & Lesbian Review is a bimonthly magazine of history, culture, and politics targeting an educated readership of LGBT people, and their allies that publishes themed features (2,000-4,000 words), reviews, interviews, and departments. They have announced three themed calls, and they also invite suggestions for future themes.
— The Age of Innocence: Gay life in the time of Wilde
–– The Great Transformation: From bar culture to hookup world
— LGBT Science: New research on gender & sexual orientation
Writers can send proposals or complete pieces. They pay for features ($200) and full-length book reviews ($100).
ALOCASIA
A journal of queer plant-based writing, open on a rolling basis.
Screen Door Review
They only publish work by individuals who are Southern and queer. You can learn more about how they define Southern here. They publish flash fiction and poetry.
smoke and mold: Across/With/Through–Trans Writers in Translation a magazine of trans and Two-Spirit nature writing. You can read more about them here and see their Twitter feed here.
Shortwave Publishing: Wilted Pages – An Anthology of Dark AcademiaT hey want horror, dark fantasy, and science fiction horror concerning: Schools, colleges, universities, and/or other educational institutions; Libraries and books; Laboratories and research facilities; Teachers and students; Scholarship and scholarly life; Esoteric/occult learning; Educational technology; The future of learning; The knowledge economy. Deadline 31st March for submissions from underrepresented voices — people of color, LGBTQ2S+, neurodiverse people, people with disabilities, those of marginalized genders.
Through the Portal: Stories from a Hopeful Dystopia, and other calls They welcome international submission, but 90% of the work for the ‘Through the Portal’ anthology will be from people who live in/have ties to Canada. They want submissions from everyone, emerging through established, and from all communities––including but not limited to LGBTQ2S+, Black, Indigenous, marginalized, culturally diverse, the deaf and disabled.
The Canadian arm of Random House changed their submission policy have opened their policy exclusively to LGBTQIA2S+ and BIPOC writers, as well as those from other traditionally underrepresented communities. They are particularly looking for “High quality commercial fiction in the following genres: literary, romance, speculative fiction, historical fiction, and mystery. Please note that we do not currently accept screenplays, stage plays, young adult fiction, children’s fiction, or picture book queries. All non-fiction submissions must be submitted via a literary agent.” They are open to submissions internationally, this is not limited to Canadians.
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