In 2016, we are going to have themed issues. These will begin in our summer season so there is plenty of time for people to submit their work.
Below are a short description of the themes we are considering. Below that, you can vote for which themes you want to see in 2016.
Voting ends at 11:59 am CST on Oct 25th!
Themes
All or Nothing – Characters who risk it all. We want to see heists, bets, risky decisions, and tough choices.
Behind the Mask – Superheroes, masquerades, theater – write us a story in which at least one character wears a mask (Note: Masks can be real or metaphoric; though we’d highly prefer real).
Big City – Stories set in teaming metropolises, whether they be real or imaginary.
Circus and Carnival – Give us pieces among big tents, ferris wheels, clowns, and carousels. This can be as innocent or creepy as you’d like, set in traditional carnivals, or imaginary fantasy ones.
Death Comes Knocking – Give us necromancy, ghosts, murder mysteries, and traveling to the afterlife. (Note: stories must NOT violate our rule against tragic LGBT characters or grief-centric pieces. A LGBT character can be a ghost/undead as long as the piece is about something other than how sad it is that they died. Use your discretion – we want to be entertained, not sad.)
Fire and Ice – Arctic wastelands, fire mages, winter tales, and phoenixes. Give us a story revolving around one (or both!) of these opposing elements.
Inhuman – Werewolves, aliens, inter-dimensional creatures, elves, selkies – Write us a piece about characters who aren’t human.
Into the Deep – Take your characters deep beneath the sea. Whether you write mermaids, deep-sea divers, sharks, or a future in which humanity lives in undersea communities – we want to see it! (Note: We would highly prefer stories NOT about the killing or capturing of sea life.)
Myths and Monsters – Dragons, Pegasus, basilisks, oh my! Write a piece about an ancient myth or mythical creature (Note: We’d prefer these myths not be ancient, not retold fairytales. Give us Medusa, not the Little Mermaid.)
Other Worlds – Write a piece set at least partly in another world. Inter-dimensional travel, or an underground subculture. Actual space travel or the realm of Faerie.
Out of Time – Historical pieces, time travel, or someone waking up from cryosleep hundreds of years from now. Give us a glimpse into another time, or a character for whom time does not progress normally.
Sirens and Sailors – Pirates! Mermaids! Write us your best pieces about adventures on the high seas!
Starry Night – Spaceships among the stars, new lovers mingling beneath the moonlight, or an astronomer discovering something incredible. We want your pieces about stars!
Steampunk – Gears, goggles, airships, and more! Submit your best LGBT steampunk pieces.
-Voting is now closed.-