Embedded Files
Join our mailing list to be notified of upcoming opportunities!
Guidelines
Starspun Lit accepts fantasy stories for kids and young adults. We understand these are broad categories, so just aim for PG to PG-13. If you're unsure if your story qualifies, send it anyways and we'll decide. Don't self reject!
Stories may be up to 6,000 words in length, but stories under 3,500 words are more likely to be accepted.
Stories must be fantasy (adventure, sword and sorcery, literary, high, etc.) and set in a different world. We do not accept urban fantasy. Dark fantasy is welcome but a hard sell.
Stories may not include any extreme swearing, excessive violence, or mentions/explicit depictions of sex.
We accept simultaneous submissions (submitting the same story to multiple markets), provided you let us know in your email. We do not accept multiple submissions (submitting multiple stories to us at a time). Please wait for a response from us before submitting a new story. We do not accept reprints.
Starspun Lit will NOT consider any work created, developed, or assisted with the use of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT or DALL·E beyond basic grammar checking or prompt generation. Attempting to submit AI-assisted works may result in being banned from submitting works in the future.
Submission DOs:
DO have a strong main character.
DO ensure the speculative element is noticeable from the start (if it only shows up halfway through the story, then it will be a hard sell).
DO submit light-hearted and/or emotional pieces. Make us laugh! Tug on our heartstrings!
Submission DON'Ts:
DON'T submit stories revolving around death! This is very important!! This magazine will be donated and read aloud to children at local hospitals so stories of death are absolutely not going to work. Mentions of injury or disease should also be kept to a minimum, but we won't reject stories on the basis of this.
DON'T self-reject! If you are unsure whether your piece fits, then submit it anyways and we will decide.
Attention New and Young Authors!
If you are a new (unpublished) or young (under the age of 18) author, please let us know in your cover letter! We will provide priority consideration for your story.
Ready to submit?
Submit stories as a .doc or .docx attachment to submissions@starspunlit.org (submissions AT starspunlit DOT org). Shared links will not be accepted. Please use standard Shunn manuscript format. You do not need to include your address or phone number.
In the subject line of the email, type "SUBMISSION: [title of story]."
In the body of your email, please include your name and title of the piece. Let us know if you are previously unpublished as we will give your story priority consideration for publication. Please also mention if you are a young author (and congrats on submitting)!
Response times will be a couple of weeks. We try to give as many personal responses as possible, but due to time constraints, we unfortunately won't be able to do so for all submissions. If it has been 1 month without a response, please query and include the name of your story and date sent (if possible). For queries, email office@starspunlit.org (office AT starspunlit DOT org).
P.S. We're listed on The Submission Grinder and Duotrope!
What happens once your story is accepted?
Accepted works will be fully illustrated and published on our website. Once we are further along on our journey, we will start releasing a print anthology at the end of each year. Additionally, if we host a read-aloud at a hospital or clinic near you, we will invite you to join us and read your own work! If you are published by us and would like to submit to a new story for our consideration, please wait 6 months from your initial submission date before submitting again.
At this time, we are unable to pay our authors. We aspire to change this in the future as we believe our authors should be rewarded for all their hard work, but until then, we hope our personalized illustrations can convince you to submit to us!
We can't wait to read your story!
Google Sites
Report abuse