Michael Bailey's Blog, page 2

FUMPTRUCK – PRE-ORDER NOW!

FUMPTRUCK is now available for pre-order in trade paperback and eBook on Amazon. Will the paperback arrive in time for the holidays? We hope so. If not, it will definitely arrive by Inauguration Day, but the eBook launches on 12/24 and can be downloaded and read sooner. The official release days are as follows (pending any hiccups):

December 17, 2024: Trade paperback.

December 24, 2024: eBook.

Click any of the hyperlinks (or the book image) to take you to the Amazon page. Other distributors are in the works, and those links will be made available as soon as humanly possible.

It is assumed this will be the worst-reviewed book ever produced by Written Backwards because half the U.S. (according to recent election results) will hate it for what it is: truth. But that’s okay, and we should hope for as much. This book is a statement, after all, an incredibly powerful one.

This anthology is already a #1 New Release in Civil Rights and Liberties, as well as #13 in LGBTQ+ Political Issues, and #93 in Corruption & Misconduct in Politics. Let’s keep pushing this book up the ranks, and maybe cause a fuss in other areas, no? We’re only getting started.

All proceeds from this anthology will go a grant (or grants, plural) for a creator (or creators) impacted by this change in U.S. government. So, let’s raise as much as we can and make some noise!

THE FINAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

Dedication“The Hollow Man” by L.A. Spooner (artwork)“Numb” by Anonymous (poem)“Beyond Idiocracy” by Anonymous (fiction)“Armageddon Smiles” by G.O. Clark (poem)“A Somewhat Level-Headed Response to the Recent Election” by Stephen Kozeniewski (essay)“Bol” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, translated by Usman T. Malik (poem)“Inconceivable” by Zoje Stage (fiction)“Put My Dead Daughter on Your Billboard, I Dare You” by Sarah Read (poem)“A Difference of Opinion” by MJ Sydney (nonfiction)“You Can Feel Your Insides Move” by Hannah Rebekah Graves (poem)“The Rot Beneath the Surface” by Robert Dean (nonfiction)“Warrior Song” by Anonymous (poem)“Gut Punch” by Dino Parenti (fiction)“Tyrannus Trump” by Karen Poppy (poem)“Orange Lies Matter” by Pat R. Steiner (artwork)“An Open Letter to Your White Savior Complex” by Sumiko Saulson (nonfiction)“Fumptruck” by Michael Bailey (song) “Pearly Gates” by Jeff Strand (fiction)“Lobster in Chief” by Pedro Iniguez (poem)“Oath of Office” by JG Faherty (fiction)“If the Article ‘Ever Feel Like You’re Living in a Collapsing Society’ Was a Poem” by Tonya Liburd “Mind Cemetery” by Rich Duncan, Jr. (nonfiction)“Cofveve: A Trio of Prose Poems” by Eugen Bacon (illustrated by Elena Betti)The Candidate” by Harrison Demchick (flash fiction)“Trumpy Talk (sung to the tune of “Happy Talk” from South Pacific)” by Elizabeth Massie (song)“Inmate #4547” by Thom Erb (flash fiction)“You Are Trapped in a Coma” and “There Is Nothing Wrong with You” by Holly Lyn Walrath (poems)“Upper Crust” by Michael Paul Gonzalez“The Orange Menace” by Matt Panfil (woodcut), and:“Leader of the Free World” by Matt Panfil (short film, via QR code)“Fetal Attraction” by Amanda Worthington (fiction)“Unnamed” by Dominque Hecq (poem)“The Freedom Faction” by Gordon Linzner (fiction)“Scars” by Teel James Glenn (poem)“I Am Not an Incubator” by Jo Kaplan (nonfiction)“Self-Portrait” by Stevie L. Morley (painting, acrylic)“All Aboard the Traitor Express” by Lindsey Goddard (poem)“Damnatio Memoriae” – Bracken MacLeod (nonfiction)“Address on the Mall” and “Confession” by Indran Amirthanayagam (poems)“Taco Truck” by Nick Kolakowski (fiction)“Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here” by Anonymous (poem)“Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent” by Karuna Das (essay), and:“Peace and Love Fists” (photograph, to accompany the above essay)“Cult” by Jeff Oliver (poem)“The Enemy Within the Kitchen” by Jenny Kiefer (linocut)“Repentance” by Laura Ruth Loomis (fiction)“Little Orange Men” by Kathi Crawford (poem)“America Dark” by Lucas Pederson (fiction)“MAGA” by Max Booth III (poem)“Not the Brightest of Timelines” by Gaius Terentilius Harsa (fiction)“A Martyr Will Come” by Kurt Newton (poem)“The Weaving Dead” by Scott Edelman (fiction)“Falsus Rex” by Anonymous (artwork)“Dump That Chump” by John Palisano (song / music video, via QR code)“Afterwards, Again” by Mari Ness (poem)“The Human Condition” by Vivian Kasley (fiction)“Flours for Sis” by Anonymous (letter)“Terran First” by Ethan Zoey Hedman (fiction)

“Stars in Their Eyes” by Nicholas Ozment (poem)

“Genesis II” by Anonymous (future scripture)“A Broken Promise” by Anonymous (poem)“Post-Op Instructions After Your Mind Control Chip Implantation” by Effie Seiberg (fiction)“The Paradox of Humanity as an Alphabetic List” by Jetse de Vries (list)“The Persistence of Memory” by Joshua Ginsberg (flash fiction)“Midas” by Gwynne Garfinkle (poem)“The Fall of an Empire” by Anonymous (poem / essay / fiction)“Funding Proposal” by David DeGraff (essay)“From Shadows of Tyranny to the Light of Freedom” by Essel Pratt (poem)“My Arrows Are as Plentiful as Dust, My Shield Is as Inevitable as Trash” by et alia laughing and weeping (nonfiction)“Forty-Seven” by Mark Granger (poem) “The Fool on the Hill” by Lisa Morton (fiction)“De-Human (What Have We Done?)” by Anonymous (poem)“Voices Equal Power – Raise Them!” by Anonymous (artwork)

FUMPTRUCK – FINAL TABLE OF CONTENTS

FUMPTRUCK is an anthology for and about the worst (and what will turn out to be the 2nd worst) President of the United States of America. This interesting collection of various works will be edited by Anonymous and published by Written Backwards, perhaps as early as this December.

Submissions loosely opened post-election and closed at the end of November, and now, after only a month, we have a final Table of Contents, and the book is a staggering 392 pages! Yes, we are making this happen incredibly quickly. Contracts are going out now, the book is already in editing and design. With luck, this book will be available before Christmas (pending distribution channels).

This started out as a fun idea before the orange man took office the first time around, and then resurfaced  once it was determined the orange man will resurface like the cancer he is in 2025. There were enough asking for this anthology to happen, and so it is happening. 

The anthology will be published in trade paperback and eBook, and all profit made will fund a scholarship (or scholarships, if enough is raised) for a creator (or creators) impacted by the election.

As you will notice below, there are “Anonymous” contributions, some of which are by bestselling authors and world-renowned artists. If you happen to recognize the contributors (and you will), we ask that you keep it confidential, especially within reviews of the book, as we would like to respect anonymity.

Also, it is assumed this will be the worst-reviewed book ever produced by Written Backwards because half the world (according to recent election results) will hate it for what it is: truth. But that’s okay, and we should hope for as much. This book is a statement, after all, an incredibly powerful one. 

And so, without further ado . . .

THE FINAL TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
Dedication
“The Hollow Man” by L.A. Spooner (artwork)
“Numb” by Anonymous (poem)
“Beyond Idiocracy” by Anonymous (fiction)
“Armageddon Smiles” by G.O. Clark (poem)
“A Somewhat Level-Headed Response to the Recent Election” by Stephen Kozeniewski (essay)
“Bol” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, translated by Usman T. Malik (poem)
“Inconceivable” by Zoje Stage (fiction)
“Put My Dead Daughter on Your Billboard, I Dare You” by Sarah Read (poem)
“A Difference of Opinion” by MJ Sydney (nonfiction)
“You Can Feel Your Insides Move” by Hannah Rebekah Graves (poem)
“The Rot Beneath the Surface” by Robert Dean (nonfiction)
“Warrior Song” by Anonymous (poem)
“Gut Punch” by Dino Parenti (fiction)
“Tyrannus Trump” by Karen Poppy (poem)
“Orange Lies Matter” by Pat R. Steiner (artwork)
“An Open Letter to Your White Savior Complex” by Sumiko Saulson (nonfiction)
“Fumptruck” by Michael Bailey (song) “Pearly Gates” by Jeff Strand (fiction)
“Lobster in Chief” by Pedro Iniguez (poem)
“Oath of Office” by JG Faherty (fiction)
“If the Article ‘Ever Feel Like You’re Living in a Collapsing Society’ Was a Poem” by Tonya Liburd
“Mind Cemetery” by Rich Duncan, Jr. (nonfiction)
“Cofveve: A Trio of Prose Poems” by Eugen Bacon (illustrated by Elena Betti)
The Candidate” by Harrison Demchick (flash fiction)
“Trumpy Talk” by Elizabeth Massie (song)
“Inmate #4547” by Thom Erb (flash fiction)
“You Are Trapped in a Coma” and “There Is Nothing Wrong with You” by Holly Lyn Walrath (poems)
“Upper Crust” by Michael Paul Gonzalez
“The Orange Menace” by Matt Panfil (woodcut), and:
“Leader of the Free World” by Matt Panfil (short film, via QR code)
“Fetal Attraction” by Amanda Worthington (fiction)
“Unnamed” by Dominque Hecq (poem)
“The Freedom Faction” by Gordon Linzner (fiction)
“Scars” by Teel James Glenn (poem)
“I Am Not an Incubator” by Jo Kaplan (nonfiction)
“Self-Portrait” by Stevie L. Morley (painting, acrylic)
“All Aboard the Traitor Express” by Lindsey Goddard (poem)
“Damnatio Memoriae” – Bracken MacLeod (nonfiction)
“Address on the Mall” and “Confession” by Indran Amirthanayagam (poems)
“Taco Truck” by Nick Kolakowski (fiction)
“Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here” by Anonymous (poem)
“Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent” by Karuna Das (essay), and:
“Peace and Love Fists” (photograph, to accompany the above essay)
“Cult” by Jeff Oliver (poem)
“The Enemy Within the Kitchen” by Jenny Kiefer (linocut)
“Repentance” by Laura Ruth Loomis (fiction)
“Little Orange Men” by Kathi Crawford (poem)
“America Dark” by Lucas Pederson (fiction)
“MAGA” by Max Booth III (poem)
“Not the Brightest of Timelines” by Gaius Terentilius Harsa (fiction)
“A Martyr Will Come” by Kurt Newton (poem)
“The Weaving Dead” by Scott Edelman (fiction)
“Falsus Rex” by Anonymous (artwork)
“Dump That Chump” by John Palisano (song / music video, via QR code)
“Afterwards, Again” by Mari Ness (poem)
“The Human Condition” by Vivian Kasley (fiction)
“Flours for Sis” by Anonymous (letter)
“Terran First” by Ethan Zoey Hedman (fiction)
“Stars in Their Eyes” by Nicholas Ozment (poem)
“Genesis II” by Anonymous (future scripture)
“A Broken Promise” by Anonymous (poem)
“Post-Op Instructions After Your Mind Control Chip Implantation” by Effie Seiberg (fiction)
“The Paradox of Humanity as an Alphabetic List” by Jetse de Vries (list)
“The Persistence of Memory” by Joshua Ginsberg (flash fiction)
“Midas” by Gwynne Garfinkle (poem)
“The Fall of an Empire” by Anonymous (poem / essay / fiction)
“Funding Proposal” by David DeGraff (essay)
“From Shadows of Tyranny to the Light of Freedom” by Essel Pratt (poem)
“My Arrows Are as Plentiful as Dust, My Shield Is as Inevitable as Trash” by et alia laughing and weeping (nonfiction)
“Forty-Seven” by Mark Granger (poem) “The Fool on the Hill” by Lisa Morton (fiction)
“De-Human (What Have We Done?)” by Anonymous (poem)
“Voices Equal Power – Raise Them!” by Anonymous (artwork)

SILENT NIGHTMARES – CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS!

Silent Nightmares is no longer open for submissions as of midnight on December 31st, 2024. This anthology of dark holiday horrors will be co-edited by Chuck Palahniuk and Michael Bailey, who are now eagerly sifting the slush for Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year.

Cover artwork by Ben Baldwin.

A portion of the anthology will be filled by invited writers, but submissions open to the public in December. Expect nothing but the best. The list of personally invited writers is incredible.

GUIDELINES (for information purposes only). SUBMISSIONS ARE CLOSED.

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages; 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting.

Original fiction: up to 5,000 words.

Payment: $0.10 / word (ten cents per word) capped at 5,000 words, and a contributor copy of each edition published (hardcover, paperback, eBook, and potentially audiobook and a limited collector’s edition). For collaborative works, payment will be split equally between collaborators.

Rights: First World Rights in English, and audio rights; all print rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection. All other rights remain with the author.

Submission window: December 1st – December 31st, 2024 (31 days, ending midnight your time). This gives you from now until the end of the year to work on something original. Submissions received before or after this window will be auto-rejected and go unread.

Poetry: No.

Reprints: No.

Instant rejections: reprints, excerpts, nonfiction, young adult, poetry, romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, and anything generated by A.I.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of generative artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

No simultaneous or multiple submissions.

Illustrations: Similar to previous Written Backwards titles, accepted stories may include illustrations. If an artist is used, they will be paid professional rates and the use of A.I. will not be allowed,

Publication: 2025 (sometime before the holidays).

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, and potentially audiobook and a limited collector’s edition.

Due to the number of submissions anticipated, non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable.

Allow up to 3 months before inquiring. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is filled.  

HOW TO SUBMIT

Submissions are no longer open.

OTHER INFORMATION

Please do not use this opportunity (as many have in the past) to query about other potential projects. Written Backwards is not open at this time to fiction collections, poetry collections, novellas, novels, anthology ideas, or any other projects.

Written Backwards has always highlighted the work of diverse writers from around the world and will continue to do so, which is why this anthology will open for submissions and will pay professional rates (equal pay and promotion for all writers). While not many like the term “literary,” that is what this anthology is looking for: groundbreaking work that break normal conventions and will stand the test of time, propelling emerging and undiscovered writers into the mainstream.

If unfamiliar with previous Written Backwards anthologies, it is highly recommended to read previous titles, which you can find on the Anthologies page, or anything written by either Chuck Palahniuk or Michael Bailey. Familiarizing yourself will better your chances of landing a spot in Silent Nightmares.

All accepted works will meet active membership requirements for organizations such as the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and others.

All contracts protect the writer.

SILENT NIGHTMARES – OPEN FOR SUBMISSIONS!

Silent Nightmares is now open for submissions through the end of the year. This anthology of dark holiday horrors will be co-edited by Chuck Palahniuk and Michael Bailey, who will be eagerly sifting the slush for Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year.

Cover artwork by Ben Baldwin.

If you want to play along, send a submission using the guidelines below between 12:01 a.m. on December 1st (your time zone) through midnight on December 31st to be considered. Submissions sent after that window will go unread.

A portion of the anthology will be filled by invited writers, but submissions open to the public in December. Expect nothing but the best. The list of personally invited writers is incredible, and both Chuck Palahniuk and Michael Bailey want to showcase your work alongside them.

GUIDELINES

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages; 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting.

Original fiction: up to 5,000 words.

Payment: $0.10 / word (ten cents per word) capped at 5,000 words, and a contributor copy of each edition published (hardcover, paperback, eBook, and potentially audiobook and a limited collector’s edition). For collaborative works, payment will be split equally between collaborators.

Rights: First World Rights in English, and audio rights; all print rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection. All other rights remain with the author.

Submission window: December 1st – December 31st, 2024 (31 days, ending midnight your time). This gives you from now until the end of the year to work on something original. Submissions received before or after this window will be auto-rejected and go unread.

Reprints: No.

Instant rejections: reprints, excerpts, nonfiction, young adult, poetry, romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, and anything generated by A.I.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of generative artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

No simultaneous submissions.

Illustrations: Similar to previous Written Backwards titles, accepted stories may include illustrations. If an artist is used, they will be paid professional rates and the use of A.I. will not be allowed,

Publication: 2025 (sometime before the holidays).

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, and potentially audiobook and a limited collector’s edition.

Due to the number of submissions anticipated, non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable.

Allow up to 3 months before inquiring. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is filled.  

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email  with the story attached (.docx, .doc, .rtf only; no PDF). Feel free to include a short bio and information about your particular demographic (representing the underrepresented is a passion of the editors), but no other information is needed.  

OTHER INFORMATION

Please do not use this opportunity (as many have in the past) to query about other potential projects. Written Backwards is not open at this time to fiction collections, poetry collections, novellas, novels, anthology ideas, or any other projects.

Written Backwards has always highlighted the work of diverse writers from around the world and will continue to do so, which is why this anthology will open for submissions and will pay professional rates (equal pay and promotion for all writers). While not many like the term “literary,” that is what this anthology is looking for: groundbreaking work that break normal conventions and will stand the test of time, propelling emerging and undiscovered writers into the mainstream.

If unfamiliar with previous Written Backwards anthologies, it is highly recommended to read previous titles, which you can find on the Anthologies page, or anything written by either Chuck Palahniuk or Michael Bailey. Familiarizing yourself will better your chances of landing a spot in Silent Nightmares.

All accepted works will meet active membership requirements for organizations such as the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and others.

All contracts protect the writer.

FUMPTRUCK – CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS!

UPDATE: Submissions are now closed (although submission details are included below for reference).

FUMPTRUCK is an anthology for and about the worst (and what will turn out to be the 2nd worst) President of the United States of America, to be edited by Anonymous. Submissions loosely opened post-election and closed at the end of November.

There are no strict guidelines, other than to keep word count on the shorter side to make room for as many contributors as possible, and unfortunately there can be no payment. This will be non-profit, so anything (every last cent) raised will go directly to a scholarship for a creator (or plural, depending funds raised) impacted by this 2nd disaster.

What to send: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, artwork of any kind, letters, essays, scripts, plays, or anything else creative that might make for an interesting contribution (and could actually be printed within a book). Please note that we are receiving a lot of wonderful poetry, but don’t let that deter you if that is your medium.

What’s needed most: nonfiction, open letters, essays, artwork, and experimental pieces.  

 
We are planning to include a lot of artwork, such as this wonderful contribution by L.A. Spooner. There will be work from award-winning artists from around the world, for many were invited and many quickly responded.
 
Do you have something visual you want to contribute: a doodle, a watercolor, or maybe artsy photography? Send it along!
 
This started out as a fun idea before the orange president first took office, and then resurfaced during the last election and fizzled, and finally has resurfaced again now that there will be an orange man in the oval office once again. There were enough asking for this anthology to happen that it could no longer be ignored. So, let’s do this!

 
TABLE OF CONTENTS (so far)


Dedication
“The Hollow Man” by L.A. Spooner (artwork)
“Numb” by Anonymous (poem)
“Beyond Idiocracy” by Anonymous (fiction)
“Armageddon Smiles” by G.O. Clark (poem)
“A Somewhat Level-Headed Response to the Recent Election” by Stephen Kozeniewski (essay)
“Bol” by Faiz Ahmed Faiz, translated by Usman T. Malik (poem)
“Inconceivable” by Zoje Stage (fiction)
“Put My Dead Daughter on Your Billboard, I Dare You” by Sarah Read (poem)
“A Difference of Opinion” by MJ Sydney (nonfiction)
“You Can Feel Your Insides Move” by Hannah Rebekah Graves (poem)
“The Rot Beneath the Surface” – Robert Dean (nonfiction)
“Warrior Song” by Anonymous (poem)
“Gut Punch” by Dino Parenti (fiction)
“Tyrannus Trump” by Karen Poppy (poem)
“Orange Lies Matter” by Pat R. Steiner (artwork)
“An Open Letter to Your White Savior Complex” by Sumiko Saulson (nonfiction)
“Fumptruck” by Michael Bailey (song)
“Pearly Gates” by Jeff Strand (fiction)
“Lobster in Chief” by Pedro Iniguez (poem)
“Oath of Office” by JG Faherty (fiction)
“If the Article ‘Ever Feel Like You’re Living in a Collapsing Society’ Was a Poem” by Tonya Liburd
“Mind Cemetery” by Rich Duncan, Jr. (nonfiction)
“Cofveve: A Trio of Prose Poems” by Eugen Bacon (illustrated by Elena Betti)
“The Candidate” by Harrison Demchick (flash fiction)
“Trumpy Talk” by Elizabeth Massie (song)
“Inmate #4547” by Thom Erb (flash fiction)
“You Are Trapped in a Coma” and “There Is Nothing Wrong with You” by Holly Lyn Walrath (poems)
“Upper Crust” by Michael Paul Gonzalez
“The Orange Menace” by Matt Panfil (woodcut), and:
“Leader of the Free World” by Matt Panfil (short film, via QR code)
“Fetal Attraction” by Amanda Worthington (fiction)
“Unnamed” by Dominque Hecq (poem)
“The Freedom Faction” by Gordon Linzner (fiction)
“Scars” by Teel James Glenn (poem)
“I Am Not an Incubator” by Jo Kaplan (nonfiction)
“Self-Portrait” by Stevie Morley (painting, acrylic)
“All Aboard the Traitor Express” by Lindsey Goddard (poem)
“Damnatio Memoriae” – Bracken MacLeod (nonfiction)
“Address on the Mall” and “Confession” by Indran Amirthanayagam (poems)
“Taco Truck” by Nick Kolakowski (fiction)
“Hell Is Empty and All the Devils Are Here” by Anonymous (poem)
“Now Is the Winter of Our Discontent” by Karuna Das (essay), and:
“Peace and Love Fists” (photograph, to accompany the above essay)
“Cult” by Jeff Oliver (poem)
“The Enemy Within the Kitchen” by Jenny Kiefer (linocut)
“Repentance” by Laura Ruth Loomis (fiction)
“Little Orange Men” by Kathi Crawford (poem)
“America Dark” by Lucas Pederson (fiction)
“MAGA” by Max Booth III (poem)
“Not the Brightest of Timelines” by Gaius Terentilius Harsa (fiction)
“A Martyr Will Come” by Kurt Newton (poem)
“The Weaving Dead” by Scott Edelman (fiction)
“Falsus Rex” by Anonymous (artwork)
“Dump That Chump” by John Palisano (song / music video, via QR code)
“Afterwards, Again” by Mari Ness (poem)
“The Human Condition” by Vivian Kasley (fiction)
“Flours for Sis” by Anonymous (letter)
“Terran First” by Ethan Zoey Hedman (fiction)
“Stars in Their Eyes” by Nicholas Ozment (poem)

“Genesis II” by Anonymous (future scripture)
“A Broken Promise” by Anonymous (poem)
“Post-Op Instructions After Your Mind Control Chip Implantation” by Effie Seiberg (fiction)
“The Paradox of Humanity as an Alphabetic List” by Jetse de Vries (list)
“The Persistence of Memory” by Joshua Ginsberg (flash fiction)
“Midas” by Gwynne Garfinkle (poem)
“The Fall of an Empire” by Anonymous (poem / essay / fiction)
“Funding Proposal” by David DeGraff (essay)
“From Shadows of Tyranny to the Light of Freedom” by Essel Pratt (poem)
“My Arrows Are as Plentiful as Dust, My Shield Is as Inevitable as Trash” by et alia laughing and weeping (nonfiction)
“Forty-Seven” by Mark Granger (poem)
“The Fool on the Hill” by Lisa Morton (fiction)
“De-Human (What Have We Done?)” by Anonymous (poem)
“Voices Equal Power – Raise Them!” by Anonymous (artwork)


 
GUIDELINES 

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages (for anonymous submissions, keep reading); 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting before submitting. If you are submitting anything other than a manuscript, include as an attachment and send a few words for clarity.

Payment: A contributor copy of the paperback edition. We wish we could do more, but this is a charity anthology to raise funds for a creative scholarship (or scholarships, if highly successful), and so all publishing costs and printed books are coming out-of-pocket.

Rights: First World Rights in English or reprint rights, depending on the submission; all rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested for original works, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection, which is always okay. All other rights remain with the author and contracts will protect the writer.

Submission window: November 30th, 2024.

Reprints: Yes, but originals are preferred. The anthology will consist of at east 2/3 original work.

Instant rejections: romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, anything illegal, any works that threaten the lives or safety of others (including the orange turd), and anything generated by artificial means.

ANONYMITY

If you wish to remain anonymous, please state so with your submission. These are (and will be) difficult times, so anonymity will be respected and honored if you choose that option.

If curious about the “Anonymous” contributors already announced, these are NYT bestselling authors, award-winning artists, and others who simply would rather not have their name attached but want to be a part of this project. We only ask that if you recognize any of the anonymous contributions to keep that to yourself.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of generative artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Publication: 2025 (early in the year). The presidential inauguration is held on January 20th, and the president-elect becomes the president immediately after sworn in, so January 20th or soon after is a real possibility. This anthology is happening super-fast!

Formats: Paperback and eBook only.

Due to the number of submissions we are currently receiving, non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable. Allow a few months before inquiring, although we expect quick turnarounds. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is filled.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email 47@nettirw.com with the submission attached. Feel free to include a short bio and information about your particular demographic (representing the underrepresented is a passion of the editors), or your passion behind your submission, but no other information is needed.

More announcements soon . . .

“Voices Equal Power – Raise Them!” (Anonymous)

FUMPTRUCK – OPEN SUBMISSION CALL

FUMPTRUCK is open for submissions. This is an anthology for and about the worst (and what will turn out to be the 2nd worst) President of the United States of America, to be edited by Anonymous. Submissions loosely opened post-election and already the book is close to half-full, but there is still time to be a part of this project. Send anything to 47@nettirw.com. As you can tell by the tentative cover, the contributor list is growing quickly, so sooner is better.

There are no strict guidelines, other than to keep word count on the shorter side to make room for as many contributors as possible, and unfortunately there can be no payment. This will be non-profit, so anything (every last cent) raised will go directly to a scholarship for a creator (or plural, depending funds raised) impacted by this 2nd disaster.

What to send: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, artwork of any kind, letters, essays, scripts, plays, or anything else creative that might make for an interesting contribution (and could actually be printed within a book). Please note that we are receiving a lot of wonderful poetry, but don’t let that deter you if that is your medium.

What’s needed most: nonfiction, open letters, essays, artwork, and experimental pieces.  

 
We are planning to include a lot of artwork, such as this wonderful contribution by L.A. Spooner. There will be work from award-winning artists from around the world, for many were invited and many quickly responded.
 
Do you have something visual you want to contribute: a doodle, a watercolor, or maybe artsy photography? Send it along!
 
This started out as a fun idea before the orange president first took office, and then resurfaced during the last election and fizzled, and finally has resurfaced again now that there will be an orange man in the oval office once again. There were enough asking for this anthology to happen that it could no longer be ignored. So, let’s do this!
 




GUIDELINES 

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages (for anonymous submissions, keep reading); 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting before submitting. If you are submitting anything other than a manuscript, include as an attachment and send a few words for clarity.

Payment: A contributor copy of the paperback edition. We wish we could do more, but this is a charity anthology to raise funds for a creative scholarship (or scholarships, if highly successful), and so all publishing costs and printed books are coming out-of-pocket.

Rights: First World Rights in English or reprint rights, depending on the submission; all rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested for original works, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection, which is always okay. All other rights remain with the author and contracts will protect the writer.

Submission window: Now until filled. At this rate, it could be as early as the end of 2024.

Reprints: Yes, but originals are preferred. The anthology will consist of at east 2/3 original work.

Instant rejections: romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, anything illegal, any works that threaten the lives or safety of others (including the orange turd), and anything generated by artificial means.

ANONYMITY

If you wish to remain anonymous, please state so with your submission. These are (and will be) difficult times, so anonymity will be respected and honored if you choose that option.

If curious about the “Anonymous” contributors already announced, these are NYT bestselling authors, award-winning artists, and others who simply would rather not have their name attached but want to be a part of this project. We only ask that if you recognize any of the anonymous contributions to keep that to yourself.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of generative artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Publication: 2025 (early in the year). The presidential inauguration is held on January 20th, and the president-elect becomes the president immediately after sworn in, so January 20th or soon after is a real possibility. This anthology is happening super-fast!

Formats: Paperback and eBook only.

Due to the number of submissions we are currently receiving, non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable. Allow a few months before inquiring, although we expect quick turnarounds. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is filled.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email 47@nettirw.com with the submission attached. Feel free to include a short bio and information about your particular demographic (representing the underrepresented is a passion of the editors), or your passion behind your submission, but no other information is needed.

More announcements soon . . .

YOU, HUMAN – $1.99 BookBub

You, Human is currently a BookBub selection. Snag the eBook now through November 1st for only $1.99 in the US, UK, Australia, and Canada. Volume 2 will arrive in 2025, so this is a great opportunity to catch up on the first volume.

Bram Stoker Award-winning editor Michael Bailey brings you a genre-bending anthology of dark science fiction and poetry, with fiction illustrated beautifully throughout by world-renowned artist L.A. Spooner, poetry and spot illustrations by the always-impressive Orion Zangara, and an incredible introduction on humanness by New York Times bestselling author F. Paul Wilson. Cover artwork by George C. Cotronis. Also features the Bram Stoker Award-nominated short story “Jupiter Drop” by Josh Malerman. And the anthology itself won the Benjamin Franklin Award.

Amazon: eBook | trade paperback. Also available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and a part of Kindle Unlimited where available.

Barnes & Noble: trade paperback.

Books-A-Million (BAM!): trade paperback

Ingram: trade paperback

And if you enjoy dark science fiction and horror, you might be interested in the following anthologies:

MISCREATIONS: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors, an anthology of dark speculative fiction co-edited by Doug Murano and Michael Bailey. What happens when we make monsters? What happens when we make monsters of ourselves? Grotesque beings lurch from our darkest dreams. Vicious beasts stalk our twisted pasts. Lost souls haunt our deepest regrets. They are the blood on our hands. They are the obsessions in our heads. They are the vengeance in our hearts. They are Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors. Includes a foreword by Alma Katsu and illustrations by HagCult. Nominated for both the Bram Stoker Award and the Shirley Jackson Award.

Amazon: eBook | trade paperback | hardcover. Also available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and a part of Kindle Unlimited where available.

Barnes & Noble: trade paperback | hardcover

Books-A-Million (BAM!): trade paperback | hardcover

Ingram: trade paperback | hardcover

ADAM’S LADDER, an anthology of dark science fiction. The future of humankind as an ever-changing organism is a subject of much debate. Where is our evolutionary path leading? Will the next rung take the form of mental transcendence, will it set humankind on a course toward divinity, or will this uncertain path involve a dark and terrible reversion? Co-editors Michael Bailey and Darren Speegle present eighteen tales that explore the course of evolution, written by some of the best literary minds in the fields of science fiction and horror, such as Laird Barron, John Langan, Tim Lebbon, Lisa Morton, Brian Evenson, and Roberta Lannes. It’s your future.

Amazon: eBook | trade paperback | hardcover (out of print). Also available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and a part of Kindle Unlimited where available.

Barnes & Noble: trade paperback | hardcover (out of print)

Books-A-Million (BAM!): trade paperback | hardcover (out of print)

Ingram: trade paperback

QUALIA NOUS, VOL. 2, an anthology of dark science fiction and fantasy edited by Michael Bailey and featuring artwork throughout by Pat R. Steiner. This second volume of the award-winning Qualia Nous series contains short stories, novelettes, and poetry from established authors and newcomers from around the world. Featuring the imaginations of Chuck Palahniuk, Stephen King, Eugen Bacon, Josh Malerman, Cynthia Pelayo, Lee Murray, Eric LaRocca, Gabino Iglesias, Linda D. Addison, Zoje Stage, Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki, Gary A. Braunbeck, and more.

Amazon: eBook | trade paperback | hardcover. Also available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and a part of Kindle Unlimited where available.

Barnes & Noble: trade paperback | hardcover

Books-A-Million (BAM!): trade paperback | hardcover

Ingram: trade paperback | hardcover

QUALIA NOUS, winner of the Benjamin Franklin Award and nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in an Anthology, is a literary blend of science fiction and horror. Contains short stories, novelettes, and poetry from established authors and newcomers from around the world. Features Bram Stoker Award winning stories by Usman T. Malik and Rena Mason (both tied for Superior Achievement in Short Fiction), as well as stories by Stephen King, Emily B. Cataneo, Erinn L. Kemper, Patrick Freivald, William F. Nolan, Elizabeth Massie, John R. Little, Gary A. Braunbeck, and many others. *Due to contractual obligations/limitations, the eBook does not include Stephen King’s “The Jaunt.”

Amazon: eBook | trade paperback. Also available in the UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, India, Brazil, Mexico, Netherlands, Japan, Poland, and a part of Kindle Unlimited where available.

Barnes & Noble: trade paperback

Books-A-Million (BAM!): trade paperback

Ingram: trade paperback

SILENT NIGHTMARES – OPEN SUBMISSION CALL

Silent Nightmares will be open for submissions the month of December, 2024. This anthology of dark holiday horrors will be co-edited by Chuck Palahniuk and Michael Bailey, who will be eagerly sifting the slush for Haunting Stories to Be Told on the Longest Night of the Year.

Cover artwork by Ben Baldwin.

If you want to play along, send a submission using the guidelines below between 12:01 a.m. on December 1st (your time zone) through midnight on December 31st to be considered. Submissions sent before or after that window will go unread.

A portion of the anthology will be filled by invited writers, but submissions open to the public in December. Expect nothing but the best. The list of personally invited writers is incredible, and both Chuck Palahniuk and Michael Bailey want to showcase your work alongside them.

GUIDELINES

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages; 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting.

Original fiction: up to 5,000 words.

Payment: $0.10 / word (ten cents per word) capped at 5,000 words, and a contributor copy of each edition published (hardcover, paperback, eBook, and potentially audiobook and a limited collector’s edition). For collaborative works, payment will be split equally between collaborators.

Rights: First World Rights in English, and audio rights; all print rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection. All other rights remain with the author.

Submission window: December 1st – December 31st, 2024 (31 days, ending midnight your time). This gives you from now until the end of the year to work on something original. Submissions received before or after this window will be auto-rejected and go unread.

Reprints: No.

Instant rejections: reprints, excerpts, nonfiction, young adult, poetry, romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, and anything generated by A.I.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of generative artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

No simultaneous submissions.

Illustrations: Similar to previous Written Backwards titles, accepted stories may include illustrations. If an artist is used, they will be paid professional rates and the use of A.I. will not be allowed,

Publication: 2025 (sometime before the holidays).

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, eBook, and potentially audiobook and a limited collector’s edition.

Due to the number of submissions anticipated, non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable.

Allow up to 3 months before inquiring. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is filled.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email  with the story attached (.docx, .doc, .rtf only; no PDF). Feel free to include a short bio and information about your particular demographic (representing the underrepresented is a passion of the editors), but no other information is needed.

OTHER INFORMATION

Please do not use this opportunity (as many have in the past) to query about other potential projects. Written Backwards is not open at this time to fiction collections, poetry collections, novellas, novels, anthology ideas, or any other projects.

Written Backwards has always highlighted the work of diverse writers from around the world and will continue to do so, which is why this anthology will open for submissions and will pay professional rates (equal pay and promotion for all writers). While not many like the term “literary,” that is what this anthology is looking for: groundbreaking work that break normal conventions and will stand the test of time, propelling emerging and undiscovered writers into the mainstream.

If unfamiliar with previous Written Backwards anthologies, it is highly recommended to read previous titles, which you can find on the Anthologies page, or anything written by either Chuck Palahniuk or Michael Bailey. Familiarizing yourself will better your chances of landing a spot in Silent Nightmares.

All accepted works will meet active membership requirements for organizations such as the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and others.

All contracts protect the writer.

More announcements soon, but in the meantime, check out the wonderful snowflake image below, also created by Ben Baldwin, which will be used in the anthology.

YOU, HUMAN – CLOSED FOR SUBMISSIONS!

Update 11/01/2024: Submissions are now closed for You, Human, Vol. 2. If you submitted a story, please wait until the beginning of 2025 before inquiring. The guidelines below are for information purposes only for the previously open submission window.

YOU, HUMAN

The first volume of You, Human (2016) won the Benjamin Franklin Award for science fiction and is the most successful and widely-read anthology published by Written Backwards. Josh Malerman’s story “The Jupiter Drop” was also nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction and is currently in development as a major motion picture.

If you need to catch up, it is highly recommended to read the first volume of You, Human before submitting work for consideration.

The second volume will again not only feature legends of the craft but showcase today’s emerging talent, and will be edited by Michael Bailey. The anthology is invite-only around the submission window (with more announcements revealed soon), but submissions are open to the public in September specifically for novelettes.

What does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to be real? What does it mean to exist? What does it mean to be human? Once again, Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics will be re-evaluated and revised to help define humanity, this time by novelettes (7,500 – 15,000 words max).

Three Laws of Humanity:

A human being may not injure another human being or, through inaction, allow another human being to come to harm.

A human being must obey the orders given it by other human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law.

A human being must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws.

GUIDELINES

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages; 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting.

Original fiction: 7,500 – 15,000 words. The sweet spot is 7,500 – 10,000 words. Nothing under 7,500 words will be accepted, and likewise nothing over 15,000 words. No reprints. No poetry.

Accepted genre(s): Dark sci-fi and all blended sub-genres (horror, fantasy, etc.)

Payment: $0.10 / word (ten cents per word) capped at 5,000 words, and a contributor copy of each edition published (hardcover, paperback, and eBook). So, $500 per story. For collaborative works, payment will be split equally between collaborators.

Rights: First World Rights in English; all rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection published after the anthology. All other rights remain with the author.

Submission window: September 1st – September 30th, 2024 (30 days, ending midnight your time). This gives you from now until the end of September to work on something original. Submissions received before or after this window (unless requested) will be auto-rejected.

Exception: Writers previously published in any Written Backwards anthology may submit work at any time, regardless of the submission window. Basically, alumni are always invited.

Reprints: No.

Instant rejections: stories under 7,500 words, stories over 15,000 words, reprints, excerpts, nonfiction, young adult, poetry, romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, and any writing influenced by A.I.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of generative artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please notify if your submission is accepted by another venue. Please only submit one manuscript at a time and wait for a non-acceptance (rejection) prior to submitting again, with no more than 2 submissions total. Depending on the amount of stories received, there may not be an opportunity for a second submission.

Illustrations: Similar to previous Written Backwards titles, accepted stories may include illustrations. If an artist is used, they will be paid professional rates and the use of A.I. will not be allowed,

Publication: 2025 (to be determined).

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, and eBook.

Due to the number of submissions anticipated (typically 1,000 – 1,500, sometimes as high as 2,500), non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable.

Allow up to 3 months before inquiring about a submission. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is full.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email  with the story attached (.docx, .doc, .rtf only; no PDF). Feel free to include a short bio and information about your particular demographic (representing the underrepresented is a passion of the editor), but no other information is needed.

OTHER INFORMATION

Please do not use this opportunity (as many have in the past) to query about other potential projects. Written Backwards is not open at this time to fiction collections, poetry collections, novellas, novels, anthology ideas, or any other projects.

Written Backwards has always highlighted the work of diverse writers from around the world and will continue to do so, which is why this anthology will open for submissions and will pay professional rates (equal pay and promotion for all writers). While not many like the term “literary,” that is what this anthology is looking for: groundbreaking work that break normal conventions and will stand the test of time, propelling emerging and undiscovered writers into the mainstream.

If unfamiliar with previous Written Backwards anthologies that blend science fiction with other genres, it is highly recommended to read previous titles, such as Prisms and/or Adam’s Ladder (co-edited by Darren Speegle), Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors (co-edited by Doug Murano), the original You, Human, or any of the books in the Chiral Mad or Qualia Nous series. Familiarizing yourself with these works will better your chances of landing a spot in You, Human, Vol. 2.

All accepted works will meet active membership requirements for organizations such as the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and others.

Similar to previous Written Backwards anthologies, all contracts protect the writer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (so far):

“Being I” / “Watching You” / “They Become One” by Linda D. Addison
“AI Chronicles: Properties of a Human Curse” by Eugen Bacon
“Time for a (R)Evolution! – A Documentary” by Sachin Baliga
“One Brown Mouse” by Gary A. Braunbeck
“The Touch of an Old Friend’s Hand” by Scott Edelman
“A Hollow Where the Screams Have Gone” by Hailey Piper
“When Did It Happen?” by Erinn L. Kemper
“All the Names You Didn’t Choose” by Ai Jiang

Featuring an introduction by Maxwell I. Gold, with illustrations by L.A. Spooner (fiction) and Orion Zangara (poetry).

More announcements soon!

YOU, HUMAN – OPEN SUBMISSION CALL FOR VOL. 2: NOVELETTES

Written Backwards is open to submissions for You, Human, Vol. 2 for the month of September, 2024. Basically, send a submission using the guidelines below between 12:01 a.m. on September 1st (your time zone) through midnight on September 30th. Any submissions sent before or after that window will go unread and will not be considered.

YOU, HUMAN

The first volume of You, Human (2016) won the Benjamin Franklin Award for science fiction and is the most successful and widely-read anthology published by Written Backwards. Josh Malerman’s story “The Jupiter Drop” was also nominated for the Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in Long Fiction and is currently in development as a major motion picture.

If you need to catch up, it is highly recommended to read the first volume of You, Human before submitting work for consideration.

The second volume will again not only feature legends of the craft but showcase today’s emerging talent, and this time will be coedited by Michael Bailey and Oghenechovwe Donald Ekpeki. The anthology is invite-only around the submission window (with more announcements revealed soon), but submissions are open to the public in September specifically for novelettes.

What does it mean to be alive? What does it mean to be real? What does it mean to exist? What does it mean to be human? Once again, Asimov’s Three Laws of Robotics will be re-evaluated and revised to help define humanity, this time by novelettes (7,500 – 15,000 words max).

Three Laws of Humanity:

A human being may not injure another human being or, through inaction, allow another human being to come to harm.A human being must obey the orders given it by other human beings except where such orders would conflict with the first law.A human being must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the first or second laws.

GUIDELINES

Manuscripts must include contact information on the title page, as well as author name (or pseudonym) and page numbers on subsequent pages; 12pt font, double-spaced; there are no hard guidelines for auto-rejections, but understand the basics of professional manuscript formatting.

Original fiction: 7,500 – 15,000 words. The sweet spot is 7,500 – 10,000 words. Nothing under 7,500 words will be accepted, and likewise nothing over 15,000 words. No reprints. No poetry.

Accepted genre(s): Dark sci-fi and all blended sub-genres (horror, fantasy, etc.)

Payment: $0.10 / word (ten cents per word) capped at 5,000 words, and a contributor copy of each edition published (hardcover, paperback, and eBook). So, $500 per story. For collaborative works, payment will be split equally between collaborators.

Rights: First World Rights in English; all rights revert to the writer immediately upon publication, although 12 months exclusivity is requested, except for inclusion in a personal or “best of” collection published after the anthology. All other rights remain with the author.

Submission window: September 1st – September 30th, 2024 (30 days, ending midnight your time). This gives you from now until the end of September to work on something original. Submissions received before or after this window (unless requested) will be auto-rejected.

Exception: Writers previously published in any Written Backwards anthology may submit work at any time, regardless of the submission window. Basically, alumni are always invited.

Reprints: No.

Instant rejections: stories under 7,500 words, stories over 15,000 words, reprints, excerpts, nonfiction, young adult, poetry, romance, erotica, gore for the sake of gore, violence for the sake of violence, works that contain hate speech or discrimination of any kind other than to fight against such horrible things, and any writing influenced by A.I.

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

All submissions will be checked for the use of artificial intelligence in their creation using detection software and will be automatically rejected if found to include influence. Likewise, any who submit such material will be banned from future submissions to Written Backwards anthologies.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Simultaneous submissions are fine, but please notify if your submission is accepted by another venue. Please only submit one manuscript at a time and wait for a non-acceptance (rejection) prior to submitting again, with no more than 2 submissions total. Depending on the amount of stories received, there may not be an opportunity for a second submission.

Illustrations: Similar to previous Written Backwards titles, accepted stories may include illustrations. If an artist is used, they will be paid professional rates and the use of A.I. will not be allowed,

Publication: 2025 (to be determined).

Formats: Hardcover, paperback, and eBook.

Due to the number of submissions anticipated (typically 1,000 – 1,500, sometimes as high as 2,500), non-acceptances will be announced by way of a form response as quickly as manageable.

Allow up to 3 months before inquiring about a submission. For submissions that reach the “maybe pile,” additional time for consideration will be requested until the anthology is full.

HOW TO SUBMIT

Email  with the story attached (.docx, .doc, .rtf only; no PDF). Feel free to include a short bio and information about your particular demographic (representing the underrepresented is a passion of the editor), but no other information is needed.

OTHER INFORMATION

Please do not use this opportunity (as many have in the past) to query about other potential projects. Written Backwards is not open at this time to fiction collections, poetry collections, novellas, novels, anthology ideas, or any other projects.

Written Backwards has always highlighted the work of diverse writers from around the world and will continue to do so, which is why this anthology will open for submissions and will pay professional rates (equal pay and promotion for all writers). While not many like the term “literary,” that is what this anthology is looking for: groundbreaking work that break normal conventions and will stand the test of time, propelling emerging and undiscovered writers into the mainstream.

If unfamiliar with previous Written Backwards anthologies that blend science fiction with other genres, it is highly recommended to read previous titles, such as Prisms and/or Adam’s Ladder (co-edited by Darren Speegle), Miscreations: Gods, Monstrosities & Other Horrors (co-edited by Doug Murano), the original You, Human, or any of the books in the Chiral Mad or Qualia Nous series. Familiarizing yourself with these works will better your chances of landing a spot in You, Human, Vol. 2.

All accepted works will meet active membership requirements for organizations such as the Science Fiction & Fantasy Writers Association (SFWA), the Horror Writers Association (HWA), and others.

Similar to previous Written Backwards anthologies, all contracts protect the writer.

TABLE OF CONTENTS (so far):

“Being I” / “Watching You” / “They Become One” by Linda D. Addison
“AI Chronicles: Properties of a Human Curse” by Eugen Bacon
“Time for a (R)Evolution! – A Documentary” by Sachin Baliga
“The Touch of an Old Friend’s Hand” by Scott Edelman
“One Brown Mouse” by Gary A. Braunbeck

Featuring an introduction by Maxwell Ian Gold.

More announcements soon!