Sunday 21 March 2010

Science In My Fiction short story competition

Crossed Genres has announced a short story competition focusing on the science in science fiction. They want people to "write a science fiction or fantasy short story which is inspired by a scientific discovery or innovation made or announced within the past year". Further, "the science must be integral to the story". A links to the relevant article or study must also be provided.

A panel of six judges will pick the finalists. There is $400 worth of prizes to be won. The top three stories will be published on the Crossed Genres web site. The competition runs from 1 April 2010 to 30 June 2010. Results will be announced on 21 July 2010.

Stories of 2,500 to 10,000 words, submitted via the online entry form only - see here.

See here for full details.

Monday 15 March 2010

Jim Baen Memorial Writing Contest 2010

Baen Books and the National Space Society are sponsoring a short story contest in memory of Jim Baen.

They are looking for short stories "of no more than 8,000 words, that shows the near future (no more than about 50-60 years out) of manned space exploration". They want stories which feature "Moon bases, Mars colonies, orbital habitats, space elevators, asteroid mining, artificial intelligence, nano-technology, realistic spacecraft, heroics, sacrifice, adventure"...

First prize is publication on the Baen Books main website, paid at the pro rates. Plus a specially designed award, free entry into the 2010 International Space Development Conference, a year's membership in the National Space Society ($45 level) and a prize package containing various Baen Books, Jim Baen's Universe and National Space Society merchandise.

Second and third prizes are a year's membership in the National Space Society ($45 level), and a prize package containing various Baen Books, Jim Baen's Universe and National Space Society merchandise.

Deadline is 1 April 2010. Submissions should be sent as .rtf attachments to baen.nss.contest@gmail.com. Please put the word SUBMISSION in the subject line. Note that manuscripts should not include the author's name.

See here for full details.

Monday 1 March 2010

NextRead Magazine now open for submissions

A new magazine, due to be launched on 1 May 2010, is now open for submissions. NextRead Magazine is "a themed bi-monthly short story magazine". Each issue will contain six to eight short stories on a given theme. It will be published in both PDF and epub formats, and will cost £1.50 an issue.

Issue #0's theme is "Science Fiction combined with Myth". Deadline for submissions is 14 April 2010.

Word limit is 5,000 words. Submit as attached document - doc, rtf, txt. Submissions are only accepted from people who have pre-bought the issue of the magazine. Token payment for stories published in the magazine, and each issue a story chosen by the editor will receive a book "that fits the theme that edition of the magazine".

See here for more details.