About Fantabulosa!

We are looking for high-quality, original, unpublished works of (and about) fantasy, science fiction and speculative horror. We publish prose, poetry, non-fiction, and art produced by queer creatives.

Contributors must identify as part of the queer community. We define "queer" broadly, and are not here to police your identity - you know yourself better than anyone. There is also no minimum threshold for your queerness; nobody should worry that they’re “not queer enough”.

We accept submissions from queer authors around the world regardless of nationality. As a London-based publication, we are also seeking to foster UK publishing opportunities for queer SFF, in addition to the better-established North American market, and are prioritising opportunities for queer writers in the UK and the wider world.

We are keen to platform stories that reflect a diversity of queer heritage and lived experience here in the UK and around the world. We are particularly interested in submissions from intersectional and/or marginalised voices, including (but not limited to): trans, non-binary, or intersex writers; black, asian, and writers of colour; aro/ace writers; disabled writers; neurodivergent writers.

We do not accept any AI-generated works.

Equality of access is important to the Editors, so we assess all stories anonymously. Please do not include your name on your manuscript document.

What we’re looking for…

• Queer stories by queer authors, with queer characters, on queer themes. We love stories where the queerness feels integral to what you're doing. That being said, if you're unsure, send it in and let us have a look - don't self reject.

• We love richness, vibrancy, verve and bite. Paint in neon, not pastels.

• Never fear your work is too gay. We love stories that are unapologetically and indelibly queer.

• Have something to say. And do your best to leave us as gibbering emotional (or existential) wrecks.

• The prose matters. Stories should be high-quality and properly proofread.

• Let your imagination run free. We like stories that strongly engage with genre conventions (and subvert them), that cultivate deep and interesting worldbuilding, and show us things wondrous, horrific, and new. 

• Do not be an edge-lord. We have no interest in gratuitous sexual violence or unexamined prejudice. Great stories can grapple with these things, but if you’re using them as window-dressing, it’s not for us.

• Never send us a story without a speculative element. Straight-up horror submissions that contain nothing remotely fantastical or weird will earn our never-ending irritation and a lifetime insta-ban.

Guidelines for Fiction

• Format: Please submit a properly formatted manuscript as a .doc or .docx file. The editors like italics as italics and prefer Garamond to Courier.

• Anonymity: Please do not put your name on your manuscript. All stories are assessed anonymously.

• Rates: 8 cents/word (USD). Payment is made by PayPal as our default option, and we cover all applicable fees.

• Length: 500 to 6,000 words, no exceptions.

• Rights: We buy first world print and electronic rights, and nonexclusive audio, archival and anthology rights. We are not looking for stories that have been previously published elsewhere, including on Patreon or in a newsletter.

• Simultaneous submissions: Yes. However you should withdraw your story on Moksha promptly if your story is accepted by another market.

• Multiple submissions: No, with the following exception: you may submit up to two (2) pieces for consideration if one (1) is specifically for a themed issue of the magazine. (The next themed issue of the magazine will revolve around the idea of Solidarity.)

• Content warnings: Please include content warnings at the top of your submission document, if relevant.

• Past contributors: If you’ve had a piece accepted by us, please wait one calendar year (12 months) from your acceptance to submit again.

• Reprints or translations: We carefully chose reprints amongst the editorial team. We are not currently open to reprint queries or submissions. 

• Withdrawals: If you need to withdraw a story, please do so formally on Moksha.

• Response time: We try to respond to all submissions in 4 weeks. If you haven’t received a rejection or a hold notice 45 days after the submission window closes, please check your spam folder, then query us via our contact form.

Guidelines for Poetry

• Format: Please submit a properly formatted manuscript as a .doc or .docx file. The editors like italics as italics and prefer Garamond to Courier.

• Anonymity: Please do not put your name on your manuscript. All stories are assessed anonymously.

• Rates: $50 (USD) per poem. Payment is made by PayPal as our default option, and we cover all applicable fees.

• Length: Any, but around 150 words is probably a good target. 

• Rights: We buy first world print and electronic rights, and nonexclusive audio, archival and anthology rights. We are not looking for poems that have been previously published elsewhere, including on Patreon or in a newsletter.

• Simultaneous submissions: Yes. However you should withdraw your submission on Moksha promptly if your story is accepted by another market.

• Multiple submissions: You may submit up to three (3) poems at a time, but they must each be submitted separately. 

• Content warnings: Please include content warnings at the top of your submission document, if relevant.

• Past contributors: If you’ve had a piece accepted by us, please wait one calendar year (12 months) from your acceptance to submit again.

• Reprints or translations: We do not accept poetry reprints at this time.  

• Withdrawals: If you need to withdraw a submission, please do so formally on Moksha.

• Response time: We try to respond to all submissions in 4 weeks. If you haven’t received a rejection or a hold notice 45 days after the submission window closes, please check your spam folder, then query us via our contact form.