No new submissions for the tracker, alas! I’m still eyeing up the same open calls at the top of my list (sorry WotF, I’ll submit for Q4), as well as a couple others for July that look really interesting:
Phobos – for their fifth issue, “The Uncanny States of America,” they’re looking for short stories and poems that are set in (and could only be set in) America. I’m intrigued by the premise, so it’s something I’m considering and brainstorming around.
Story Unlikely – for their general submissions, they’re seeking very good stories across genres; I’ve been interested in submitting here for a little while, so I might take a stab at it this year.
Neon Hemlock (novella series) – this is a market I’ve been interested in for a while, now. I have a novella project I think might work with them—they’re seeking Science Fiction, Fantasy, Horror, Supernatural, Slipstream, and Weird, particularly that which explores an aspect of queer experience. If I get my novella ready in time for the submission window, I’d love to send something in.
There’re also a couple erotica open calls that I’m thinking of submitting to. I have one erotica piece out under my super-secret pen name, and it was so much fun to write and the editors were amazing to work with.
June has been all about the novel-length projects, though. For my final summer semester of my MFA, I had two long form projects to plot, map, and start. One (my “Next Big Project”) I have been thinking about and building out for a while. It’s a Swords & Sorcery Fantasy project, likely a series, and borrows heavily from the fantasy story I was writing back in my high school years. I’ve managed to plot it with some inspiration from some of the stories I love and got the first couple chapters started. My goal is to have this one fully drafted by the end of September, revised (as far as I can get it) by the end of the year.
My other long form project is a new concept and premise for me and I am so stoked to explore and get to know the world. It’s a Dark Academia Horror/Romance and I can’t wait to see where it will take me. I have most of this one outlined, so I’d like to finish that outline by the end of this month. It will likely sit until next year before I start drafting, though I may try and pick it up in the fall (it’s vying for next with my thesis novel’s sequel and my noir project).
While I’m working on querying the Astromance, drafting the S&S Fantasy, and trying to manifest some short fiction to send out, I’m also jumping back into the revision work on my Historical Fantasy novel. I first wrote this in 2023 during NaNoWriMo, shortly after I was accepted into my MFA program. It was my first (and only) time “winning” NaNo, and I immediately outlined and drafted the next few books in the projected series. I love this premise so much (pirates, faerie, the sea?!) and when I went in to try and revise last year, I just couldn’t get it to work. Revising my thesis novel taught me so much, I’ve had a good amount of time to get some distance from this project, and I think it’s time to bring it back to life. If I can have my revisions done by the end of August, I will be thrilled, but I’m giving myself a little grace—and anticipating some heavy rewrites—so if it takes longer, it takes longer.
I do miss the thrill of submitting short fiction every month, so I really am trying to get back into the short fiction rhythm. This is a great place to say again: one resource that I have found incredibly valuable in navigating open calls and submissions – particularly for publications that have no fee to submit and are paying authors – has been Angelique Fawns’ newsletter. She gathers so many open calls and links, interviews with editors and publishers, and fiction of her own.
The miscellanea:
· I’m working on getting a website up and running, which will house all these posts as well as Patreon—more about that next time for Suffering Sunday (the third Sunday of the month). I may even tell people that I’m doing these posts in case anyone is interested in reading aside from the void. 🙂
· I’m moving tomorrow! I’m so ready to be out of a basement flat; the new place has a balcony and it’s so bougie and there’s a gym and a pool and I can park in a garage (figures that I got hail damage last week, right?) and I am ready.
· I head out to my final residency in Gunnison on the 17th. I’m looking forward to seeing my cohort again, they’re so talented and amazing and I’m lucky to have them as a writing community and friends.
Originally Posted July 5 at 9:20 PM
Whimsy Crossroads 
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