Submission Call: QUEERS DESTROY SCIENCE FICTION!
So there's this new Kickstarter for Queers Destroy Science Fiction. Don't take the name literally; this is an all-QUILTBAG issue of a science fiction magazine. In fact, let me just quote the Kickstarter:
"Queers Destroy Science Fiction! is a special issue of the Hugo-winning magazine LIGHTSPEED 100% written-and edited-by queer creators.
"LIGHTSPEED was founded on the core idea that all science fiction is real science fiction. The whole point of this magazine is that science fiction is vast. It is inclusive. Science fiction is about people, and queer people, no matter how they identify [Gay, lesbian, bisexual, demisexual, asexual, pansexual, intersex, transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer--anyone who fits within the QUILTBAG], are a big part of that. We always have been. We're just sometimes hard to see. So, in the interests of visibility and breaking stuff, here we are to show you just how wide the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity can really be.
"Part of our goal with this project--and indeed, our dearest wish--is to get as many queer creators involved as possible. Show the world that we are legion, we are amazing, and we are a part of the great, glorious landscape of the science fiction genre (right before we burn it all to the ground).
"We're so excited.
"If you're excited too, and not just in the I GOTTA HAVE THIS THING sort of way but in the I GOTTA BE PART OF THIS kind of way, good news! If you write fiction, we're currently open to submissions for the issue. If you don't write fiction, or even if you do, but you want to help out in some other way, the best thing you can do is help spread the word about this campaign. And if you have other ways you'd like to help, we're happy to listen!
"A regular issue of LIGHTSPEED contains an equal mix of science fiction and fantasy short fiction, consisting of 4 original stories, 4 reprints, plus a novella reprint (exclusive to our ebook edition). Each issue also includes a feature interview, a book review column, an artist showcase, and spotlights on the authors who appear in the issue.
"The special issue will contain the following:
* All science fiction (no fantasy)
* 5 original, never-before-published short stories, including original stories by award-winning authors Catherynne M. Valente, Amal El-Mohtar, and John Chu
* About 5,000 words of original flash fiction (about 5 flash stories)
* 2 previously-published short stories
* 1 previously-published novella
* Author Spotlights on our authors in this issue
* Assorted nonfiction features
* An original cover by artist Elizabeth Leggett
"If we successfully fund, the special DOUBLE issue will contain the following additional material:
* 5 additional original, never-before-published short stories (for a total of 10)
* About 5,000 additional words of original flash fiction (for a total of about 10 flash stories)
* 2 additional previously-published short stories (for a total of 4)
* Author Spotlights on the additional authors
* Even more assorted nonfiction features
"Plus, if we unlock one of our stretch goals, the issue will include additional material as well.
"And naturally, all of the above will all be authored entirely by queer creators.
"In the event we massively exceed our goal, we'd like to thank our backers by offering the following stretch goals:"
N.B. This is Gehayi. As of January 15, 2015, at 8:54 p.m. EST, the funding is at $10,436-- enough to unlock the first stretch goal.
Oh, and here's the Queers Destroy Science Fiction Submission Form. It also has answers to some key questions; I'll mention some of them here.
Queer, by the project's definition is anyone in the QUILTBAG--gay, lesbian, bisexual, demisexual, asexual, pansexual, intersex, transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer, you get the idea. It's pointed out that the "A" in QUILTBAG means "ace/on the asexual spectrum, NOT "ally"; hopefully, allies will support the project, but if you're not queer yourself, please don't submit.
If you are eligible, you can submit science fiction short stories, up to 7500 words. No fantasy for this special issue, though if the Kickstarter campaign goes well, the special issues Queers Destroy Fantasy! and Queers Destroy Horror! might be unlocked as well. (Thirty thousand will have to be pledged to unlock the horror issue; $40,000 for the fantasy issue.)
LIGHTSPEED defines science fiction as "science fiction as fiction that speculates on our world, where the basis of that speculation is science, not magic. This includes the social sciences, so dystopias are welcome, as are stories set in post-apocalyptic worlds." Steampunk counts, too, provided that "whatever is powering your cool stuff isn’t magic."
While the editors (Seanan McGuire, Sigrid Ellis and Steve Berman)"want to see diverse queer representation and queer themes," they are "focus[ing] on the identity of the authors and the quality of the story."
Submissions open October 31, 2014 and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 15, 2015.
Other than the fact that (a) the story needs to be by a queer author and (b) it has to be science fiction (no fantasy allowed), please abide by the regular LIGHTSPEED guidelines. The only two things that our guidelines for this or any issue of LIGHTSPEED explicitly forbid are (a) erotica and (b) media-based fiction and/or fan fiction. Anything else is fair game.
"Queers Destroy Science Fiction! is a special issue of the Hugo-winning magazine LIGHTSPEED 100% written-and edited-by queer creators.
"LIGHTSPEED was founded on the core idea that all science fiction is real science fiction. The whole point of this magazine is that science fiction is vast. It is inclusive. Science fiction is about people, and queer people, no matter how they identify [Gay, lesbian, bisexual, demisexual, asexual, pansexual, intersex, transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer--anyone who fits within the QUILTBAG], are a big part of that. We always have been. We're just sometimes hard to see. So, in the interests of visibility and breaking stuff, here we are to show you just how wide the spectrum of sexuality and gender identity can really be.
"Part of our goal with this project--and indeed, our dearest wish--is to get as many queer creators involved as possible. Show the world that we are legion, we are amazing, and we are a part of the great, glorious landscape of the science fiction genre (right before we burn it all to the ground).
"We're so excited.
"If you're excited too, and not just in the I GOTTA HAVE THIS THING sort of way but in the I GOTTA BE PART OF THIS kind of way, good news! If you write fiction, we're currently open to submissions for the issue. If you don't write fiction, or even if you do, but you want to help out in some other way, the best thing you can do is help spread the word about this campaign. And if you have other ways you'd like to help, we're happy to listen!
"A regular issue of LIGHTSPEED contains an equal mix of science fiction and fantasy short fiction, consisting of 4 original stories, 4 reprints, plus a novella reprint (exclusive to our ebook edition). Each issue also includes a feature interview, a book review column, an artist showcase, and spotlights on the authors who appear in the issue.
"The special issue will contain the following:
* All science fiction (no fantasy)
* 5 original, never-before-published short stories, including original stories by award-winning authors Catherynne M. Valente, Amal El-Mohtar, and John Chu
* About 5,000 words of original flash fiction (about 5 flash stories)
* 2 previously-published short stories
* 1 previously-published novella
* Author Spotlights on our authors in this issue
* Assorted nonfiction features
* An original cover by artist Elizabeth Leggett
"If we successfully fund, the special DOUBLE issue will contain the following additional material:
* 5 additional original, never-before-published short stories (for a total of 10)
* About 5,000 additional words of original flash fiction (for a total of about 10 flash stories)
* 2 additional previously-published short stories (for a total of 4)
* Author Spotlights on the additional authors
* Even more assorted nonfiction features
"Plus, if we unlock one of our stretch goals, the issue will include additional material as well.
"And naturally, all of the above will all be authored entirely by queer creators.
"In the event we massively exceed our goal, we'd like to thank our backers by offering the following stretch goals:"
N.B. This is Gehayi. As of January 15, 2015, at 8:54 p.m. EST, the funding is at $10,436-- enough to unlock the first stretch goal.
Oh, and here's the Queers Destroy Science Fiction Submission Form. It also has answers to some key questions; I'll mention some of them here.
Queer, by the project's definition is anyone in the QUILTBAG--gay, lesbian, bisexual, demisexual, asexual, pansexual, intersex, transgender, genderfluid, genderqueer, you get the idea. It's pointed out that the "A" in QUILTBAG means "ace/on the asexual spectrum, NOT "ally"; hopefully, allies will support the project, but if you're not queer yourself, please don't submit.
If you are eligible, you can submit science fiction short stories, up to 7500 words. No fantasy for this special issue, though if the Kickstarter campaign goes well, the special issues Queers Destroy Fantasy! and Queers Destroy Horror! might be unlocked as well. (Thirty thousand will have to be pledged to unlock the horror issue; $40,000 for the fantasy issue.)
LIGHTSPEED defines science fiction as "science fiction as fiction that speculates on our world, where the basis of that speculation is science, not magic. This includes the social sciences, so dystopias are welcome, as are stories set in post-apocalyptic worlds." Steampunk counts, too, provided that "whatever is powering your cool stuff isn’t magic."
While the editors (Seanan McGuire, Sigrid Ellis and Steve Berman)"want to see diverse queer representation and queer themes," they are "focus[ing] on the identity of the authors and the quality of the story."
Submissions open October 31, 2014 and will close at 11:59 p.m. ET on February 15, 2015.
Other than the fact that (a) the story needs to be by a queer author and (b) it has to be science fiction (no fantasy allowed), please abide by the regular LIGHTSPEED guidelines. The only two things that our guidelines for this or any issue of LIGHTSPEED explicitly forbid are (a) erotica and (b) media-based fiction and/or fan fiction. Anything else is fair game.