You know how even when you're expecting something it can come as a surprise to you? Today is like that for me. I've known this day was coming, but it didn't seem real until now. This may come as a surprise for those of you who don't get the newsletter, but today is my last day as editor of Novel & Short Story Writer's Market. F&W decided to restructure how we produce the various market books, so I'm moving on to other opportunites. I've loved this job and I'm going to miss it. The blog will continue to be updated by the Writer's Market editors, so look for items from Alice Pope, Chuck Sambuchino and Robert Brewer. Please continue to send in your calls for submissions and questions to nsswmATfwpubsDotcom.

That being said, on with today's feast!

Submissions
General. Every Day Fiction is looking for very short (flash) fiction, of 1000 words or less. There's no such thing as too short— if you can tell a story in 50 words, have at it! All fiction genres are acceptable, and stories that don't fit neatly into any genre are welcome too. "While personal experiences and other non-fiction can be great sources of inspiration, please turn them into fiction for us, or send them elsewhere. Our readership is adult, so children's stories are unlikely to be accepted unless they are relevant to adults as well. On the other hand, we are not impressed by gratuitous sex and violence, or pointlessly foul language; edgy content should be necessary and appropriate to the plot and characters." Payment is token and they don't take reprints. Submit via on-site form.

Horror. Champagne Shivers will re-open to submissions Feb 14. They’re a yearly print magazine looking for “the work of poets, fiction writers, non fiction writers, cartoonists, photographers and artists with the ability to inspire shivers in readers.” Fiction should be 500-2500 words and they’ll pay $3-7 (oh and they do reprints). 

Bizarro. The Dream People, an eclectic biannual e-journal, has a new eddress. They look for flash fiction that is “distinguished by absurdity, irrealism, the grotesque, narrative experimentation, dark humor, & ultimately a cult sensibility. We are looking for high-quality, stylized fiction that escapes the boundaries of reality & attempts to represent the unrepresentable.”

Conferences
Lesley University Writers' Conference is in Cambridge, Mass., July 27-August 1, 2008. The conference supports writers in a collaborative environment that will provide rich stimulation for anyone interested in fiction, nonfiction, children's book writing, and poetry. Enjoy rigorous workshops, guest speakers, faculty readings, craft lectures, publishing panels, and receptions‹all of which will provide extraordinary opportunities to receive feedback on your work from established writers, share ideas, make connections, and take your writing to the next level. Contact: Joyce Wadlington at 617.349.8298 or jwadlingATlesleyDOTedu.

New Magazines
Speculative Fiction. Dog Versus Sandwich is a blog zine based out of Australia. They want 10,000 word stories and pays $50 (AUS). "Dog Versus Sandwich is dedicated to the fantastic, absurd, surreal, obtuse, bizarre,  fandangled, hyperbolic, “slipped streams”, the parable, the duck with the  broken leg, the experimental, the mental, and also stories in which a dog  eats a sandwich (or vice versa)."  
 
General Fiction. Flash Fiction Online is a monthly Web zine out of the USA. They want flash fiction of 1000 words or less and will pay 5¢ a word.  "We're not that concerned about genre. Many of us, including the editor, have a fondness for science fiction and fantasy, but great flash stories aren't always easily classified. If you wrote it, and you love it, then submit it." 

Anthologies
Dark Science Fiction. SpecFicWorld is doing an e-anthology entitles It Came From Planet Mars. They want 1000-12,000 word stories and will pay $5 and a PDF copy (Which since it’ll be a free download is nice).  "Looking for dark science fiction in all styles, mixes, and viewpoints. Please pay attention to the title of the anthology -- it should be obvious what kind of stories we're looking for with this project. Tip: Send only your best. The darker the better." Deadline is April 15, 2008. 

Speculative Fiction. Permuted Press is putting together Robots Beyond. They want 3000-7500 word stories and will pay 1¢ a word and contributor’s copy.  "Speculative fiction is, at its heart, the art of what-if. That's what this collection is all about: Robots beyond the normal sci-fi boundaries, crossing into other genres with their customary logic and precision. Feel free to speculate on the role of robots in the Cthulhu Mythos, or how androids might interact with werewolves, vampires, or zombies. But stretch your imagination, and roam farther a field." Deadline is April 15, 2008

Update on 2008 NSSWM info
The Rejected Quarterly is a semiannual print magazine. Contact Daniel Weiss and Jeff Ludecke, fiction editors, at P.O. Box 1351, Cobb CA 95426 or e-mail bplankton@juno.com. "We want the best literature possible, regardless of genre. We do, however, have a bias toward the unusual and toward speculative fiction. We aim for a literate, educated audience. The Rejected Quarterly believes in publishing the highest quality rejected fiction and other writing that doesn't fit anywhere else. We strive to be different, but will go for quality every time, whether conventional or not."  They are no longer accepting email subs and pay went up to $12.50.

Tattoo Highway has upped their word limit to 2500. "Tattoo Highway  publishes high quality literary prose, both experimental and mainstream, including hypertext and Flash media. Each issue has a theme, and subject matter generally spins off from that. The journal is visually handsome, with unusual graphics. We have no taboos except weak, hackneyed writing. Intended audience: grown-ups who appreciate well-crafted fiction and don't mind an occasional touch of the absurd."

Chronicle Books for Children has changed their submission guidelines: Submit complete ms (picture books); submit outline synopsis and 3 sample chapters (for older readers). Responds to queries in 1 month; will not respond to submissions unless interested. Do not send SASE; send SASP to confirm receipt. No electronic submissions, submissions on disk or fax.

Revolving Door
Harvest Books: Editorial director Tina Pohlman is leaving to join Spiegel & Grau as senior editor, hardcovers, and editorial director, paperbacks.

Harper Children's: Jodi Harris was promoted to editorial director of the Festival imprint. Erin Stein was promoted to her old position of executive editor in the company's Entertainment group.

Simon & Schuster adult trade imprint: Kerri Kolen and Sarah Hochman were both promoted to editor, and David Rosenthal's assistant Nina Schwartz was promoted to assistant editor.

This week I had someone ask me what they need to do get their call for submissions up the blog. All you need to do is send an email to nsswmATfwpubsDOTcom with a short blurb (like the ones you see below) and a link to your web site (if you have one). I'll look it over and post it on an upcoming Friday's Feast.

Also, if you would like to be listed in the next edition of NSSWM, just download the appropriate form off the "market questionnaires" page (to your left under categories and above the search box), fill it out and return in to the NSSWM eddress.

Now that you know what you can do to get your contest, magazine, publishing company or conference listed, let's get to this week's listing. (Oh, and how do you like having the headings in a different color?)

Contests
Literary. While not quite a contest, the US/Japan Creative Artists Residency is a good opportunity. This is a chance to go live in Japan for 5 months and do some in depth research. They want published, accomplished artists. Send in up to 15 pages of a story or novel excerpt, 2 letters of recommendation, a resume and proof of publication by February 1st. 

Literary. The Madison Review sponsors the Chris O’Malley Prize in Fiction. Submit an unpublished story of up to 30 pages and a $10 entry fee by February 1st and you could win $1000.  

Literary/Mainstream. The $50000 Janet Heidinger Kafka Prize for Fiction is given for an outstanding work of fiction published by a woman (US citizen). Publishers must submit 4 copies of the novel or short story collection by February 1st. “We are particularly interested in calling attention to the work of a promising but less established writer.”

Literary. The William Saroyan International Prize is given biennially for a published work of fiction and creative nonfiction. They’re looking for something by a new/emerging author that follows Saroyan’s legacy. “Saroyan’s literary style is characterized by originality, stylistic innovation and what is often described as an 'exuberant humanism'.” The prize is $12,5000 for a novel or short story collection published between January 1, 2005 and December 31, 2007. Send in five copies and a $50 entry fee by January 31st. 
 
Literary. The First Novelist Award, sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth University, is given to honor a first novel published over the last year. Winner receives $1000 and paid travel to participate in a forum at the university. Publishers or author need to submit three copies of the novel by Jan 31st. 

Conferences
Writers at Work is a multi-genre annual conference held in Salt Lake City, Utah held June 23-27, 2008 on the beautiful campus of Westminster College. (It truly is beautiful, and the dorms are really nice. It’s where I did my undergrad, so I know what I’m talking about.) The 2008 faculty includes authors Steve Almond, Victoria Redel and Dean Bakopoulos; agents Kit Ward and Peter Steinberg; editors Ladette Randolph (Univ of Nebraska Press), Rick Campell (Anhinga Press), and Lance Olsen (American Book Review, Western Humanities Review and board Chair of FC2). Workshops and readings happen all week, in addition to signings at local bookstores. They also sponsor a contest with a the prize being cash and partial tuition to the conference. 

I actually worked the front desk in the dorms during this conference several years ago and spoke with many of the authors about their experience, and everyone loved it. Now I’m wishing I had gotten names and contact info for some of the authors I spoke with regularly. ~Sigh~ Here’s to opportunities lost to naïve youth.

Submissions
Literary. Cooweescoowee, a journal of arts and letters published by Rogers State University, is edited by faculty and designed by students in the Communication and Fine Arts’ Graphic Arts program. Submissions considered in poetry, fiction, non-fiction, essay. All accepted manuscripts will be published in the upcoming printed and web issues of Cooweescoowee. Contributors receive two free copies of Cooweescoowee. Submissions deadline of April 1, 2006.

Speculative Fiction. Space and Time Magazine closes its submissions window Jan 31. “We are always looking for creative blends of science fiction, fantasy, and/or horror, but are really open to looking at anything, so long as it is speculative. Stories should be in standard manuscript format and a maximum of 10K words.”  Pays a penny a word.

Speculative Fiction. Reality Complex’s current reading period ends the 15th, and the reading period for issue #4 is June 1 through July 15. “We are looking for enjoyable, character-oriented stories which engage the reader. Please ensure that your story offers a balance of these characteristics." Will consider poetry, flash fiction, comics, serialized graphic novels, etc. Stories should be under 10,000 words and they pay in exposure.

Speculative fiction. Midnight Street has had some delays due to the hospitalization of the editor, but things are getting back under control. Midnight Street is a tri-annual magazine who would like stories of under 6000 words. Payment for UK authors is 2.50 per 1000, non-UK authors by negotiation.

Dead markets: Gallery of Snuff (web site vanished); Dark Reveries; The Rejected Quarterly; Son and Foe; Wedgefic; The Green Muse (web site vanished); On the Night Highways.

Anthologies
Horror. Corpulent Insanity Press is looking for 3000-8000 word stories for Bloody October and they’ll pay $10 flat. "I am especially looking for halloween-esque stories that involve terrifying new beasties. However, that does not mean I want a remake of John Carpenter's Halloween. Originality is a must." Submissions will close when the anthology is filled, and as of January 10 they had four out of 10 slots filled. Publishing date is Oct 2008.

Update on 2008 NSSWM info
From a reader:
Fifty Something Magazine (page 353) has ceased publication.

The Chariton Review (page 238) charges a $5.00 reading fee for all submitted material unless you purchase 2 issues of the magazine ($10.00).

Revolving Door
Penguin Press: Jane Fleming has been promoted to editor.

Random House: Benjamin Dreyer has been promoted to senior managing editor and copy chief.

William Morrow: Katherine Nintzel has been promoted to editor.

Ecco: Millicent Bennett has been promoted to editor.

Del Rey: Chris Schluep has been promoted to senior editor and Keith Clayton has been promoted to editor & licensing manager. 

Holt Children's: Sally Doherty has joined the imprint as executive editor.

Dial Children's: Kate Harrison has joined the imprint as senior editor. Jessica Garrison (formerly Dandino) has been promoted to editor.