Pantechnicon want non-fiction writers

This from their forum:

We're currently planning our next three issues - for September and December 2009, and March 2010. I've been tasked with co-ordinating non-fiction for the zine, and I'm now looking for additional article writers and interviewers to contribute to Pantechnicon.We're looking for articles of between 1,000 and 5,000 words on any topic related to science fiction, fantasy, horror or cross-genre - in literature, on film or TV, events - anything which you think might be of interest to Pantechnicon readers. Also, we'd like more people willing to interview those who work within the genre, like writers, TV/film actors / producers / directors, etc. From my own point of view I can tell you that interviewing's a very rewarding thing to do. I'd never interviewed anyone until I did my first interview for issue 2 of Pantechnicon (writer Stephen Gallagher). I've done several since, and I love every minute of interviewing. So if you fancy a go at that, we'd like to hear from you too.If you're interested, or just need more information or have a query, please PM me via the forum or email us at the usual submissions address: submissions@pantechnicon.net

British Fantasy Society competition now open

This competition is open to anyone who has had no more than three pieces of fiction published in paying venues. You don't have to be a member of the British Fantasy Society either, although non-members must pay a £5 admin fee to enter. Nor does the story have to be fantasy - science fiction and horror are equally welcome.

First prize is £50 and publication by the British Fantasy Society. Runner-up prize is £25 and publication by the British Fantasy Society.

Entries should be no more than 5,000 words in length. Deadline is 31 August 2009.

Send all submissions - in standard manuscript format, attached as .doc or .rtf - to shortstorycomp@britishfantasysociety.org. Put "BFS Short Story Competition" as the title of your email.

See here for full competition rules.

The Hub magazine competion extended

The Hub magazine announced its short story competition, Bootstrap SF, back in September last year. The original closing date was 14 May 2009. This has now been extended to 14 June 2009.

Bootstrap SF
The British are an unusual combination of heroism and fatalism, humour and malice. Their Science Fiction is unique, blending pragmatism with sarcasm and death with laughter. For the British, Science Fiction is something subtler than the standard utopias and dystopias, something more concerned with exploring the future with a healthy cynicism.

The genre faces stagnation. Fans who discovered SF in the Sixties and Seventies are now actively resisting the very progress that they embraced when they were younger, cutting out new audiences by relentlessly defending stories which have little relevance to newer, younger readers. SF has built a wall around itself, and for it to survive we must break it down.

The competition is only open to UK-resident writers who have not previously made a professional sale (i.e., 5p or more per word).

First prize is £100, and publication in The Hub #100 (August 2009). Twelve runners-up will also be published in The Hub. No further fee will be paid for either. The winner and runners-up will also be published in a paperback anthology.

Stories must be between 5,000 and 10,000 words, and should be sent as attached RTF files to Boostrap.sf(at)hubfiction.com. See here for details on the required layout of manuscripts, and for information on the judges.

Call for submissions for themed issue of The Future Fire magazine

The Future Fire magazine is looking for submissions for a Feminist Science Fiction themed issue to be published towards the end of this year or beginning of the next. They are looking for "science fiction (or speculative) stories that address issues of gender, sexual identity and sexuality; stories that take the "radical idea that women are human beings" and do something about it; stories that can engage, empower, educate, and inspire men and women alike. And of course stories that challenge our expectations, that avoid cliché, that are beautiful and useful, that are social, political, and speculative cyberfiction."

Indicate in your cover letter that the story is a submission for the Feminist Science Fiction special issue. Stories submitted to the general pile may be considered for the feminist-themed issue, and stories submitted to the theme may be considered for the intervening issues. All submissions should be sent as attachments to fiction(at)futurefire(dot)net. Use the email subject line: TFF submission: Surname, 'Title'.

Payment $20 per story. Stories over 10,000 words are unlikely to be purchased. "Please use a common, easy-to-read font such as Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier, and use no other formatting than italics." Full guidelines are here.

BBC National Short Story Award 2009

The BBC National Short Story Award competition is now in its fourth year. It's not genre, but neither does it exclude genre stories. The competition is only open to writers who "previously have had works of prose fiction, drama or poetry published by a UK publisher (excluding self-publishing) or established printed magazine in the UK or broadcast by a UK national radio station".

Word limit is 8,000 words. Deadline is 5 p.m., 15 June 2009.

First prize is £15,000. Runner-up gets £3,000, and three other shortlisted stories wil lreceive £500 each.

See here or here for more details, entry form and terms and conditions (note: both are Word documents).

Pantechnicon #9 Out Now

... containing stories by two members of the group: 'This Place Sucks' by Steven Poore and 'The Amber Room' by Ian Sales.

At present, the stories are on the web site. A PDF copy of the issue should be made available soon.

Two Anthology Calls for Submission

Ahmed A Khan is looking for submissions to two sf anthologies, one of which is aimed at ten to twelve year olds.

Cheer Up, Universe: "For this anthology, I am seeking ORIGINAL speculative fiction stories (both SF and Fantasy) that make us feel good." Payment: one cent per word up to $15. Deadline: 30 June 2009.

Fun Times in Andromeda: "I am looking for speculative stories aimed at pre-teens. Target readers: precocious kids between the ages of 10-12. The anthology will be fully illustrated." Deadline: 30 June 2009.

See here for details on both anthologies.

Ahmed A Khan has previously co-edited A Mosque Among the Stars.