Short Story, Long
If we're open, there will be a category or two below. If there's nothing below, we're not taking submissions right now. Thanks!
NOTE: Submissions will be open through the end of 2026.
We're generally open for one month at a time, 2-4 times per year. Would love to have a bit more of an organized schedule for these open windows, but still kinda figuring out what would make the most sense. Right now, we're been opening for submissions when we need them + have the time + have gotten through the last batch.
When submissions are open, guidelines usually look like this:
Short stories, 2k-8k words long (with the 3,000-5,500 range being our real sweet spot).
What are we looking for? Honestly, best indicator is to read a story or two we've already published. Second best indicator is to generally be familiar with Aaron's taste and what he's published on HAD, and Hobart before that.
Every published story will be paired with original art, and both writer and artist are each paid $150. (Becoming a paid subscriber helps pay contributors!)
Thank you for all the great reading!
Subscribe to be sure you catch every story and for news about when we'll reopen!
We're trying something a little different this go round and keep submissions open for ~3 months (until the end of the year), rather than the single month window we've done in the past.
Please only submit one story at a time. If you withdraw the story or receive a reply before the call closes, you may submit again.
Guidlines/Notes/Criteria:
- Short stories (fiction), 2k-8k words long (with the 3,000-5,500 range being our real sweet spot)
- We love stories with speculative elements but are not looking for more straightforward fantasy or science fiction (there are much better homes for this work, tbh)
- About AI: In the words of Barrelhouse, "Anyone who uses AI to write something they submit to us is a loser, and we want nothing to do with them."
- Simultaneous submissions are fine. (In fact, they are encouraged. You should be sending your work out to more than one place at a time!) Please just withdraw your piece once it has been accepted elsewhere.
- Every published story will be paired with original art, and both writer and artist are paid $150
The best indicator of what we are looking for is to read a story or two we've already published. In fact, we "require" it! On the submission form page, you will be asked to write "Something about a Short Story, Long story."
As noted there, "Confession: this is indeed something of a blatant attempt to make you compliment us and our taste. That said, it is really, primarily, intended to encourage you to read some of these stories we've published because we so love them. Along the way, this has actually turned into one of the most fun aspects of the journal, Many of you have been so incredibly thoughtful and complimentary about specific stories and we get to share those with their respective authors, and what's better than that?!"
That said, some submitters use this (required) box on the submission form to tell us they haven't read anything on the journal. An odd first impression to make! This used to annoy us but we would still nonetheless give every submission a fair chance and an earnest read. This annoyance has only grown though, and now we'll say: if you can't be bothered to read a story we've published, we can't be bothered to take your submission very seriously.
Thanks!