Black Cat Weekly (Science Fiction)

Submission Guidelines for Black Cat Weekly (Science Fiction)

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a market for both original and reprint fiction. Guidelines for both are different. Please see the appropriate section below.

ORIGINAL FICTION

We love original fiction! We will read human-generated, original science fiction and fantasy stories as long as it meets the following criteria:

SUBJECT: Science fiction or fantasy. We prefer traditionally plotted stories with an action-adventure theme, rather than experimental or literary fiction. Think Andre Norton, Mike Resnick, Robert A. Heinlein, Arthur C. Clarke, Poul Anderson, etc. Golden Age stuff.

RESPONSE TIME: Fast.

TABOOS: No gimmick stories, no surprise endings. PG-13 rating.

FORMAT: Use standard manuscript format. (You know, double spaced, title on first page, page numbers on the upper right-hand corners, etc.)  .rtf or .docx file formats preferred.

LENGTH: 1,500 to 10,000 words preferred, but can go up to 45,000 words.

SIMULTANEOUS SUBMISSIONS: Not for original fiction. You will be banned from this and future projects if we discover we have received a simultaneous submission.

AI-GENERATED FICTION: No. 

ARTWORK: No.

POETRY: No.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS: No. Send your best story. If we pass on it, you may submit another at that time.

DEADLINE: Open. It's a weekly publication, running 260 fantasy and science fiction stories every year. 

PAYMENT: We use a sliding scale based on length, from $15 to $50.

REPRINTS (PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED FICTION)

Yes, we do run some previously published fiction. The rules are:

PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED IN A PROFESSIONAL VENUE: This means it was published in an professionally published, nationally distributed market (such as Asimov's, Analog, F&SF, or an anthology from a major publisher). Original publication must have met SFWA pro membership standards.

PUBLISHED IN 2018 OR BEFORE: We want our audience to have forgotten the story, if they saw it the first go-round.

LENGTH: 1,500 to 10,000 words preferred, but can go up to 45,000 words. Payment: $7.50 to $25.00 (half the rate for original fiction).

POETRY: No.

MULTIPLE SUBMISSIONS: No. If we pass on your story, you may submit another at that time.

DEADLINE: Open. It's a weekly publication, running 260 fantasy and science fiction stories every year. We are always reading, though things may be a tad slower around the holidays.