Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 11h

As someone who just began submitting regularly earlier this year, this is completely mind blowing.

I submitted by chance when Strange Horizons opened in Dec 2023 and they held the story for 9 months (no simultaneous submissions) but ultimately rejected it. 🫠 It still hasn’t found home.

Marie Brennan @swantower.bsky.social · 15h

Not that long ago -- probably as recently as ten years? -- most markets were open most of the time. Strange Horizons closed in December to give their editors a break. Other markets would close temporarily if they got behind on slush. But: most of them open, most of the time.

yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 12h

Some stories slip out of you like a slow, easy exhale and some stories emerge like jagged breath, like hyperventilating.

Guess which one I’m writing right now!

(Ok back to it.)

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Night Shades @nightshadesmag.bsky.social · 2d

important news! night shades will open for submissions again this coming friday october 17.

🛸 staying open to fill the calendar, 23 spots. all the details are here : www.nightshadesmag.com/submissions/

Submissions

Night Shades is a fiction magazine that publishes four speculative stories per month. Night Shades is opening October 17, 2025. Staying open until the calendar is full through April. There ar...

www.nightshadesmag.com

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Air and Nothingness Press @aanpress.bsky.social · 4d

Announcing our first open call for 2026 - "Tea or Coffee, Stars, and Gravity" which will ask for hard SF stories with tea or coffee, stars, and gravity all playing a prominent narrative role. Info here - aanpress.com/submissions.... Important: Be sure to read the cover page to the PDF.

Cover image to the book, showing the back of an astronaut in a space suit as he steps off into a psychedelic swirl of cosmic colors and stars. The title circles around the figure.

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Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social · 7d

I'm giving away this signed 1st edition h/b of my new novel (it has a tiny jacket rip which means I wouldn't sell it) to one person who reposts this.

You might like it if you like:
Folkloric creatures
Old records
Intricate psychedelic stories
The idea of circular time

All shares much-appreciated.

Joe McLaren's fabulous cover for Everything Will Swallow You

A close up of the small tear on this first edition of Everything Will Swallow You

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 7d

"She thought she’d wanted to cling to her husband with fingernails and desperate gasps for air, yet now as she stepped into the beckoning darkness, she almost rushed toward the isolation, into a sanctuary where women grieved alone in ritual and mystery."

Precisely my experience.

yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 7d

Having recently experienced a miscarriage, this story holds my heart. Earnest and beautifully written.

Suspension by @elisestephens.bsky.social in @thecosmicbgr.bsky.social

www.thecosmicbackground.com/stories/elis...

Elise Stephens -- Suspension

Content warning: Miscarriage and depression If the proper balance of sorrow (tears) and hope (blood) are mixed in the correct quantity and potency, then for one hour the donor may glimpse the lost ...

www.thecosmicbackground.com

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 12d

Here we go 🔺

A photo of the book Red Rising next to a cat

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 12d

Describing the work back to me is such a boon.

In this case I genuinely didn’t read the story as a “dark” fantasy but now that I know, I can better align where I submit it moving forward.

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 12d

This level of specificity in a rejection always feels like a hug. I know so many editors don’t have the bandwidth to give it and I appreciate all the more when it comes.

We liked the story a lot, but it is not really in line with the vibe and themes we are looking for. It was a little too dark, and themes of servitude, curses, violence, and politics are not really what we do. We really appreciate you giving us the change to read it, though.

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 12d

My partner always says to tack on a hundred years at the start for good measure

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 12d

Ok that’s hilarious 😂😭

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 13d

Ok they had me livid for just a second.

Merriam-Webster @merriam-webster.com · 13d

We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.

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Haven Spec Magazine @havenspec.bsky.social · 13d

Haven Spec Magazine is now open to submissions by authors of historically marginalized backgrounds only!

We want to read more works by Black writers, Indigenous writers, disabled writers, gay and lesbian and trans writers, and other folks whose voices must be heard!

www.havenspec.com/submit/

Haven Spec Magazine, Submission Page

Fiction and Poetry for the 21st Century!

www.havenspec.com

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 14d

“a closed system” (100 words) for @augursociety.bsky.social micro contest. I loved this little challenge.

#AugurMicros2025

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · 14d

Im so sorry, sending strength ♥️

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The Fabulist Words & Art @fabulistmag.bsky.social · 22d

Hey poets! Just a heads-up that The Fabulist will be opening a SPECULATIVE POETRY SUBMISSIONS WINDOW in late November. Woo! Details and links to come; meanwhile, sharpen yr quills, refresh the inkwell and start scratching on that vellum…

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Translunar Travelers Lounge @translunartl.bsky.social · 24d

The story submission portal is open for writers of color. Our first readers are looking forward to seeing them. Please read the guidelines! translunartravelerslounge.com/submissions/

Submissions

Broadly defined, the type of fiction we are looking for is “fun”. [Go to Submissions]

translunartravelerslounge.com

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · Sep 8

wtaf

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Small Wonders @smallwondersmag.com · Sep 7

Small Wonders will be open to original flash fiction submissions this Friday, September 12th. We'll be open through October 31st!

We'll also be closing to reprint flash fiction on Friday, September 12th.

Send us your weird, wild, wonderful little stories with big emotions!

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Augur Society | Augur Issue 8.1 is NOW LIVE ! @augursociety.bsky.social · Sep 5

The Augur Microfiction Contest is BACK for 2025 🏆 until Sep 30!

THE THEME: We want microfiction that bursts open the futures we need to see 🌌 show us the who/what/where of your tomorrows!

More info below ⬇️ and in our bio!

A purple background with a galaxy and birds flying in front of it. A four pointed star is on the top of the image with text below. The text reads: "augur society, Microfiction Contest, stories for the futures we need." A purple bar beneath the text has a symbol of an arrow inside a circle with the text "swipe for guidelines" to the right of it. A darker purple bar at the bottom of the image reads "Enter by September 30, 2025"

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · Aug 28

A double rejection day 😭 but I did like this feedback from FFM first reader:

The scope of this story feels too large for the confines of flash fiction - however, this piece is very confident and shows promise and originality.

yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · Aug 25

Scavengers Reign is such a trip. On E4 but entranced from the start.

Reposted by yasmeen / ياسمين

Fusion Fragment @fusionfragment.bsky.social · Aug 22

The Saros #5 reading period has arrived and the submission gates have been opened! Send us your 500-2500 words speculative fiction stories focused on sound/silence! We'll stay open until we've reached 111 stories submitted.

sarossf.com/submissions/

Saros #5 Reading Period: From August 22nd until we hit 111 submissions

Sound and silence themed speculative fiction stories
$25 CAD for both originals and reprints
Edited by Ariel Marken Jack
500-2500 words

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yasmeen / ياسمين @yasmeenfahmy.bsky.social · Aug 18

still mystified how this entire series was even produced so if anyone has background on this lmk

I’ve seen a few clips of Diego Luna talk about how perplexed he was being seriously considered for rogue 1 but I’d love a more holistic look if that exists