This Submittable coordinates submissions for both the Parsec Short Story Contest and the Parsec Ink Triangulation anthology. Please make sure you correctly choose the entity you are submitting your story to. Theme, word count, and deadlines are different for each entity.
The Parsec Short Story Contest is sponsored by Parsec Inc., the 501(c)(3) parent organization.
Triangulation is curated by Parsec Ink, a standing committee of Parsec Inc.
Editors: Greg Clumpner and Brandon Ketchum
The annual Triangulation anthology will open for submissions on December 1st, 2023. Poetry and short stories up to 5,000 words will be considered. This year's theme is Hospitium.
Hospitium is a Greco-Roman concept of hospitality, where both the guest and host have an obligation to treat the other with kindness and respect, regardless of external quarrels. We’re looking for outstanding fantasy, science fiction, weird fiction, and speculative horror from both new and established writers.
What would the Red Wedding look like between allied planets vying for domination of the solar system?
Perhaps a journey into Lovecraftian territory… Eat, Pray, Sacrifice?
A parlay between the Elves and Orcs?
Who is the Anthony Bourdain of outer space?
How does a dragon with a gluten allergy react when a sentient mushroom offers their finest fermented ale?
Dazzle us with interactions we have yet to dream of.
Submission Requirements
Submissions Open: December 1, 2023
Submissions Close: February 29, 2024
Word Count: We consider fiction up to 5,000 words, but the sweet spot is 3,000. There is no minimum word count. Stories over 5000 words will be rejected unread.
Genre: We accept science fiction, fantasy, and horror–and enjoy intelligent blends of the three. Stories without a speculative element will not be considered.
We do not accept unsolicited reprints, multiple submissions, or simultaneous submissions. If we reject a story before the end of the reading period, feel free to send another.
We love creative interpretations of our themes, but we do require the stories to be a solid fit.
We run mature content only if we like the story and find the mature content to be integral to it.
Please, no hate-ist stories (or any other -ist), stories with suicide, religious proselytizing or excessive, unwarranted violence.
We do not accept fanfic.
Please send a short bio in the cover letter of your submission. We ignore that until and unless we buy your story.
Poetry Guidelines: No minimum or maximum number of lines, but poems of more than 100 lines will have to be extraordinary to find a place in the anthology. Same Submittable link as prose submissions.
Manuscript Format: Please use the Shunn Modern industry-standard manuscript format. We’re not testing you or trying to make you jump through hoops, but we do want a manuscript that is easy for us to read. We reserve the right to reject a story because it does not adhere to our formatting guidelines.
We accept manuscripts in the following formats: .doc or .docx (MS Word) .rtf (Rich Text Format — generic document format that most word processors can create).
How We Choose
We are a meritocracy. New authors are as welcome as those with a laundry list of accomplishments. But it’s going to be the story that wins us over. Grab us by the lapels, drag us onto that plane, take us for the ride of our lives… but get us back on the ground safely and home in time for dinner.
We aim to read submissions as they are received. If a story doesn’t work for us, we reject it. If we think the story has great potential but isn’t quite there yet, we request a rewrite. The ones we love the most, we hold on to for further consideration. Next, the stories fight it out amongst themselves until we have our final lineup. At which time, final acceptances are sent out. It’s sort of like Enter the Dragon, but without the nunchucks. When a story is accepted, the changes we suggest will typically be minor and/or cosmetic.
Response: Final decisions are made by April 30.
Eligibility: All writers, including those who are known or related to the editorial staff, can submit to Triangulation. That doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily get in, but we are happy to consider their work.
If Your Story Is Accepted
Prose Compensation: We pay a minimum of 3¢ per word. Payment will be either via PayPal or check. $5 minimum payout.
Poetry Compensation: We pay 25 cents per line. Payment will be either via PayPal or check. $5 minimum payout.
Rights: We purchase North American serial rights, Spanish language rights, audio and electronic rights for the downloadable version(s). All subsidiary rights are released upon publication.
Good luck!
John Thompson, Treasurer: Parsec Ink