This substack almost didn’t come out today — midwest weather be crazy! Regardless, here are some microfiction markets that are open in May — whoop whoop!

Carmen et Error

Word Count: 400 words max
Genre: any
Open: in May
Rate: £5
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

The cause of Roman poet Ovid’s exile was “carmen et error”, a poem and a mistake. We want your poems and your mistakes. Fiction that falls between genres. Weird, wild poems. Anything speculative, daring, or just plain odd.

My take: They had me at ‘weird’…

Strange Pilgrims Micro Contest (short window!)

Word Count: 300 words max
Genre: literary
Theme: announced monthly
Open: 5/1-3 only
Rate: $30

What do they want?

Starting in April, for the first three days of every month, we’ll open for a free, themed writing challenge. One winner — who we feel has written the Micro of the Month — will be selected and published on the last Sunday of the month alongside an editor’s note and a contributor’s note. The winner will receive $30.

We want to explore what makes a piece of writing stand out when the room is small. What happens when you strip a story or a fragment or a moment down to 300 words or fewer? What survives? What can’t help but be there?

The rules are simple: the piece must be 300 words or under, it must respond to the month’s theme (however loosely, however strangely), and it must be submitted within the 3-day window. We’ll reply to everyone within 2-3 weeks (before we announce and publish the winner, of course).

We’ll announce each month’s theme when the window opens — or just before — so you’re not planning weeks in advance. We don’t want you to overthink this! Just let the writing flow.

My take: I love a prompt and a deadline! Fair warning, though: they received 473 submissions in the three days they were open for April’s (inaugural) contest! Those are some steep odds — but you can’t win if you don’t play!

Unfortunately, with such a short window and my self-imposed restriction of sending newsletters once a week, I will miss the theme announcement more often than not. So set yourself a reminder to check back on the first of every month!

Here are some markets that were open last month, and are still open:

100-Foot Crow

Word Count: 100 exactly
Genre: Speculative
Theme: inhuman (or general)
Open: until 5/15
Rate: $.08/wd
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

• Speculative fiction (science fiction or fantasy)

  • Note: We accept horror, but it must have a speculative element, whether science fiction or fantasy.

• Drabbles (100-word stories EXACTLY)

  • Note: We calculate word count using Microsoft Word. If using Google Docs, please manually count your words. It has a truly baffling definition of a word (e.g., “1,000” = 2 words).

• Actual, complete stories

  • Even though they’re only 100-words, drabbles still need all the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, theme, and plot.

Their current theme is “inhuman,” and you can submit two drabbles per call — one themed, and one unthemed.

My take: I’m still trying to crack this market. I’ve subbed seven drabbles, and have received one higher tier rejection.

Orion’s Belt

Orion’s Belt is one of my favorite markets to have never cracked. They previously accepted flash up to 1200 words, I think, but recently separated into both flash (up to 1000 words) and micro (up to 400 words). Yay for a new micro category!

Word Count: 400 max
Genre: literary sci-fi & fantasy
Open: until 5/15
Rate: $.08/wd
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

Literature is a matter of the heart, not just of the intellect. As such, conveying exactly what kinds of stories will delight us is impossible. A story that sounds banal and cliche-ridden in concept can be philosophical and achingly beautiful in execution. Conversely, a story that sounds lovely in concept can fail to move us in execution. Additionally, while we prize elegant, vibrant writing, not every well-written story will appeal to us.

The best way to know what we like is to read what we’ve published in the past. Our past issues are free to read under our “Issues” tab. If you’re only looking for individual stories, check our “Archives” tab. Reading stories published in Strange Horizons and Beneath Ceaseless Skies will also help, as they are the two most popular literary speculative magazines here at Orion’s Belt.

Nonetheless, there are tendencies, formats, and ideas we tend to appreciate. A complete list of these would be too long and granular to be of any real use, but here is an adequate summary:

• Characters who are rogues or tricksters working outside oppressive bureaucratic systems.

• Characters forced to make difficult decisions that may conflict with their moral codes.

• Hard-won optimism, not to be confused with saccharine sentimentality.

• Ecological storytelling that avoids clear answers or easy moralizing.

• The blurring of lines between poetry and prose.

• Extensive allusions to mythology or classic literature.

My take: I sent one micro early on, which got rejected (but with some lovely feedback), and my second micro is now currently in the Submission Queue. If it gets rejected before the deadline, I’ll have time to yeet one more their way…

Shacklebound Books

Word Count: 100 exactly
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Theme: witches & warlocks
Due: 5/31/26
Rate: $5 flat + digital copy
No Sim Subs / Reprints Allowed

• We’re looking for stories of exactly 100 words to the dark fantasy theme of “Witches & Warlocks” for a digital and print anthology.

• We’re looking for five drabbles sent together in one file from each author. Each story must stand on it’s own, and each must use the “Witches & Warlocks” theme in some meaningful way to the story.

My take: I’ve had a couple of reprint drabbles accepted by Shacklebound for no pay, so it’s nice that they’ve switched to at least a token payment. You do have to submit five drabbles at once, but if you have some witch/warlock drabbles lying around, even reprints, consider packaging them up and submitting!

And a Reminder:

I’m looking for some more reprint microfiction from YOU to feature here! Don’t be shy — if you’ve had a micro published, send me a link to it (either message me here, or email me at klmillwriting@gmail.com).

What you can look forward to from Micro Markets: themed and unthemed calls, monthly micro contests, micro-lit mags that are always open, micro-focused anthologies... maybe even some craft essays about writing microfiction and a place to feature YOUR published micros.

So dust off some of your tiny treasures, and let’s send them out into the world!

Here are some microfiction markets that are open in April — let’s get crackin’!

100-Foot Crow

Word Count: 100 exactly
Genre: Speculative
Theme: inhuman (or general)
Open: 4/15 - 5/15/26
Rate: $.08/wd
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

• Speculative fiction (science fiction or fantasy)

  • Note: We accept horror, but it must have a speculative element, whether science fiction or fantasy.

• Drabbles (100-word stories EXACTLY)

  • Note: We calculate word count using Microsoft Word. If using Google Docs, please manually count your words. It has a truly baffling definition of a word (e.g., “1,000” = 2 words).

• Actual, complete stories

  • Even though they’re only 100-words, drabbles still need all the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, theme, and plot.

Their current theme is “inhuman,” and you can submit two drabbles per call — one themed, and one unthemed.

My take: I’m still trying to crack this market. I’ve subbed six drabbles, and have received one higher tier rejection.

Shacklebound Books

Word Count: 100 exactly
Genre: Dark Fantasy
Theme: witches & warlocks
Open: 4/1 - 5/31/26
Rate: $5 flat + digital copy
No Sim Subs / Reprints Allowed

• We’re looking for stories of exactly 100 words to the dark fantasy theme of “Witches & Warlocks” for a digital and print anthology.

• We’re looking for five drabbles sent together in one file from each author. Each story must stand on it’s own, and each must use the “Witches & Warlocks” theme in some meaningful way to the story.

My take: I’ve had a couple of reprint drabbles accepted by Shacklebound for no pay, so it’s nice that they’ve switched to at least a token payment. You do have to submit five drabbles at once, but if you have some witch/warlock drabbles lying around, even reprints, consider packaging them up and submitting!

Anomaly

Word Count: 300 words max
Genre: Sci-Fi
Open: 4/1-4/7
Rate: $.08/wd
No Sim Subs / No Reprints

What do they want?

Anomaly is interested in science fiction stories under 300 words in length, for publication on their Patreon, with the right to collect stories into a future anthology. We're looking for dark and disruptive stories that have strong emotional resonance. We like stories that stick with us after reading, that get us thinking about the twisted use of technologies, the way the world may be, or how characters might react to an evolving technological future.

My take: They’re open the first week of every month, but it doesn’t hurt to include a reminder.

On the Premises Mini-Contest (closing soon!)

Word Count: see description
Genre: any
Theme: the long and short of family arguments
Closes: 4/3/26
Prizes: 1st place: $45 / 2nd place: $35 / 3rd place: $25
Honorable mentions get published, but make no money.

What do they want?

This one is different than their normal calls:

For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story about some kind of family dispute or disagreement… TWICE. Give us a longer version of the story (75-100 words long) and then rewrite that same story into a traditional mini-contest length (25-50 words long). We’re adding a bit of money to the prize pool, since you’re working harder this time.

The contest submission page will have TWO text boxes for your story, each clearly labeled.

Long version of the family disagreement story: between 75 and 100 words.

Short version of the same story: between 25 and 50 words.

My take: I love the OtP mini-contests — again, it’s a wonderful chance to think way outside the box of the prompt and experiment: lean literary, or just be weird. You can also see the results of all the previous contests, to see what makes a ‘winning’ entry for them.

Market Update:

The Good Life Review (featured in February) now charges a $2.50 reading fee for micros. Do with that information what you will…

And a Reminder:

I’m looking for some more reprint microfiction from YOU to feature here! Don’t be shy — if you’ve had a micro published, send me a link to it (either message me here, or email me at klmillwriting@gmail.com).

What you can look forward to from Micro Markets: themed and unthemed calls, monthly micro contests, micro-lit mags that are always open, micro-focused anthologies... maybe even some craft essays about writing microfiction and a place to feature YOUR published micros.

So dust off some of your tiny treasures, and let’s send them out into the world!

Where to submit your microfiction in March? I thought you’d never ask!

Crepuscular

Word Count: 250 words max
Genre: mostly speculative / liminal spaces
Open: always (I think?)
Rate: $.10/wd / $5 minimum
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints
*ANONYMOUS SUBMISSIONS*

What do they want?

Crepuscular is interested in microfiction stories exploring places, characters, and questions buried in the gray areas between this and that, here and there, night and day, alive and dead, evil and good, feminine and masculine, up and down, real and unreal. If you’re not quite sure what that means, lean into that feeling. Or, for more clarity, read one of our seven launch stories beginning October 13.

While we lean toward speculative pieces, we have a love for those in-betweeny pieces that blur genre. We accept horror (both spec and non), fantasy, science fiction, general/literary fiction, and everything in between. Try us!

While we accept any length under 250 words, drabbles are going to be a hard sell for us. Consider if your drabble has a complete story arc and a satisfying conclusion. We find them to be vignettes and abrupt in many cases.

My take: They published my micro, “Persephone Ascending” a couple years ago. Rebecca is wonderful to work with (and I hope they’re still having authors fill out a micro-essay, which is a fun little peek into their featured authors).

Anomaly

Word Count: 300 words max
Genre: Sci-Fi
Open: 3/1-3/7
Rate: $.08/wd
No Sim Subs / No Reprints

What do they want?

Anomaly is interested in science fiction stories under 300 words in length, for publication on their Patreon, with the right to collect stories into a future anthology. We're looking for dark and disruptive stories that have strong emotional resonance. We like stories that stick with us after reading, that get us thinking about the twisted use of technologies, the way the world may be, or how characters might react to an evolving technological future.

My take: I’ve got one rejection so far!

On the Premises Mini-Contest

Word Count: 25-50 words
Genre: any
Theme: circles
Closes: 3/1/26
Prizes: 1st place: $35 / 2nd place: $25 / 3rd place: $15
Honorable mentions get published, but make no money.

What do they want?

For this mini-contest, tell, show, or evoke a complete story between 25 and 50 words long in which circles, one circle, or the idea of circling is important.

My take: I love the OtP mini-contests — again, it’s a wonderful chance to think way outside the box of the prompt and experiment: lean literary, or just be weird. You can also see the results of all the previous contests, to see what makes a ‘winning’ entry for them.

Night Shades

Word Count: 500 words max
Genre: Speculative
Open: randomly, but open as of now
Rate: $75 (up from $65 — yay!)
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

I love how they won’t tell you when they’re open or how long it will last. No, I seriously do — makes for more spontaneous submissions, which for me is better than the ones I overthink for days…

What do they want?

Please read Night Shades to get an idea of what the magazine publishes. Generally, any kind of speculative fiction is fine, but it must have a recognizable speculative element. Sci-fi, horror, and fantasy that’s light on magic are all good bets. I also like slice of life or less plot-driven stories that create a world or a feeling or an image. Urban fantasy is a hard sell for me. I’m not looking for comedic, and I don’t care for stories with a gimmick or ones that play a trope ironically. Your best bet is something genuine and strange, that takes big swings with language, and that takes advantage of the short form rather than strains against it.

My take: Three rejections and counting, with a few things lined up to send...

What you can look forward to from Micro Markets: themed and unthemed calls, monthly micro contests, micro-lit mags that are always open, micro-focused anthologies... maybe even some craft essays about writing microfiction and a place to feature YOUR published micros.

So dust off some of your tiny treasures, and let’s send them out into the world!

If you’re buried under a foot of snow, here are some micro calls to distract you from shoveling. If you’re somewhere warm, please keep it to yourself…

Cursed Morsels

Word Count: 500 words max
Genre: horror
Theme: (see below)
Open: 2/1-2/7
Rate: $.10/wd
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints
*you may submit ONE piece per prompt*

What do they want?

Zine Prompts
For this zine bundle, I’m looking for written pieces about these five prompts:

• Cunty Horrors (cunty horror microfiction and mini-essays about cunty horror)

• Cursed Concerts (fiction and nonfiction)

• Monstrous Dating Profiles

• Batshit LinkedIn Posts

• Nightmare Grifters (horror/weird fiction about nightmarish grifters)

My take: Every once is a while, Cursed Morsels has a submission call for multi-prompts — they accept a handful of stories for each one, which are curated into individual mini print zines. I’ve had two micros accepted before, and Eric (editor) is wonderful to work with!

Anomaly

Word Count: 300 words max
Genre: Sci-Fi
Open: 2/1-2/7
Rate: $.08/wd
No Sim Subs / No Reprints

What do they want?

Anomaly is interested in science fiction stories under 300 words in length, for publication on their Patreon, with the right to collect stories into a future anthology. We're looking for dark and disruptive stories that have strong emotional resonance. We like stories that stick with us after reading, that get us thinking about the twisted use of technologies, the way the world may be, or how characters might react to an evolving technological future.

My take: I’ve got one rejection so far!

The Offing (micros)

Word Count: 10-560 characters (including spaces)
Genre: any
Closes: 3/1/26
Rate: $25-$100 (safe bet it’s closer to $25)
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

Ten- to 560-character (including spaces) works in any genre. You may submit one to five Micros in a single submission. Please submit only once per reading period.

My take: They have other submission categories, open at various times, but this is the only micro (and note that they have a CHARACTER count limit, not word…) I’ve subbed some “weird lit” micros here — no dice so far.

The Good Life Review

Word Count: 500 words max
Genre: fiction, CNF, poetry
Open: in February
Rate: $25
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints
*ANONYMOUS SUBS*

What do they want?

Micro Monday features brief fiction, cnf, and poetry. It’s like a shot of literary adrenaline to jump start your week.

My take: None yet. They are currently closed but say they will open in February…?

What you can look forward to from Micro Markets: themed and unthemed calls, monthly micro contests, micro-lit mags that are always open, micro-focused anthologies... maybe even some craft essays about writing microfiction.

So dust off some of your tiny treasures, and let’s send them out into the world!

100-Foot Crow

Word Count: 100 exactly
Genre: Speculative
Theme: coffee (or general)
Open: 1/15 - 2/15/26
Rate: $.08/wd
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

• Speculative fiction (science fiction or fantasy)

  • Note: We accept horror, but it must have a speculative element, whether science fiction or fantasy.

• Drabbles (100-word stories EXACTLY)

  • Note: We calculate word count using Microsoft Word. If using Google Docs, please manually count your words. It has a truly baffling definition of a word (e.g., “1,000” = 2 words).

• Actual, complete stories

  • Even though they’re only 100-words, drabbles still need all the essential elements of a story: character, setting, conflict, theme, and plot.

Their current theme is “coffee,” and you can submit two drabbles per call — one themed, and one unthemed.

My take: I’m still trying to crack this market. I’ve subbed six drabbles, and have received one higher tier rejection. Off I go to write about speculative coffee…

Night Shades

Word Count: 500 words max
Genre: Speculative
Open: randomly, but open as of now
Rate: $65
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

What do they want?

Please read Night Shades to get an idea of what the magazine publishes. Generally, any kind of speculative fiction is fine, but it must have a recognizable speculative element. Sci-fi, horror, and fantasy that's light on magic are all good bets. I also like slice of life or less plot-driven stories that create a world or a feeling or an image. Urban fantasy is a hard sell for me. I'm not looking for comedic, and I don't care for stories with a gimmick or ones that play a trope ironically. Your best bet is something genuine and strange, that takes big swings with language, and that takes advantage of the short form rather than strains against it.

My take: Looks like a great market! I’ve got two rejections so far, and a few things lined up to send...

Black Hare Press - Dark Moments

Word Count: 100 exactly
Genre: Horror
Theme: Trains, Planes, & Automobiles
Open: 1/1-31
Rate: $.04/wd
No Sim Subs / No Reprints
*ANONYMOUS SUBS*

Explore the terror lurking in motion: locomotives roaring toward impossible destinations, flights haunted by unseen passengers, or cars that hunger for those who dare enter.

Show us travel gone wrong, engines whispering secrets, terminals that breathe, and journeys that refuse to end. Bring us stories filled with dread, isolation, and mechanical menace.

Send your most chilling visions of transit transformed into nightmare realms where every departure risks a final, irreversible descent into fear.

My take: BHP will always have a special place in my heart: they were my first acceptance after I got back into the ‘writing’ thing a couple years ago, and they have published over 25 of my drabbles since then. I will almost always try to come up with something dark and weird for their monthly calls.

In a Flash

Word Count: 500 words max
Genre: CNF (creative nonfiction)
Theme: reunions
Open: 1/1-1/15
Rate: $25
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints

We’re a writing group devoted to flash CNF (creative nonfiction), and we’ve spent the last two years editing each other’s pieces while racking up publishing creds. We love working in flash— the electric way a single sentence, a single short paragraph, a single phrase can change the way you view yourself and the world in the span of a moment. We want to create more opportunities for short flash nonfiction in the literary world, and are excited to do so here.

My take: None yet.

Rat Bag Lit 🐀

Word Count: 100 exactly (drabbles) / 300 max (micros)
Genre: Weird
Theme: multiple (see below)
Open: varies (see below)
Rate: $.01/wd
Sim Subs Allowed / No Reprints (unless specified)
*SUBMISSIONS HAVE A CAP*

Open calls:

• Cupid’s Misfire (open until 1/10/26) - 100 words
  We want the weirdest tales of times when Cupid’s arrow goes astray. Perhaps he hit the wrong person. Or maybe he misjudged the compatibility before he even fired! Who’s brilliant idea was it to give a bow and arrow to a winged baby anyway? So give us the wild, the weird, the wonderful. We’re looking for the stories showing us how it can all go wrong.

• Microfiction (open until 1/10/26)
  Unthemed. Maximum 300 words.

• Rabbit, Rabbit, Rabbit (open until 1/30/26) - 100 words
  Old English folklore promises that if you say “rabbit” three times upon waking on the first of the month, you’ll have good luck. For this call, we’re looking for the weirdest rabbit stories you’ve got. Maybe the white rabbit leads your character on a strange adventure into outer space. Maybe a lucky rabbit’s foot turns out to be unlucky for everyone except one very unexpected character. What happens when a black rabbit hops across your path? Let’s find out.
  *The catch: your submission must include the word “rabbit” three times in your 100-word drabble.

  *Let’s mix it up: you can send up to three drabbles for this call. We’ll consider them separately and as a set.

• Unthemed micros, reprints only (opening 1/15)
  Maybe you have some previously published weird pieces that you’d like to get a little more attention. We rats are all writers and we know it’s not always easy to sell reprints. For this call, we’re looking for reprints only.

  We’ll pay a flat-rate of $1, for any piece up to 300 words.

  These will be for digital publication and consideration in an upcoming Rat Bag anthology.

  Rights must have reverted to you by the date of publication. We’d be happy to credit the original publisher. Please include the original publication details in your cover letter. (If your piece is still under an exclusivity contract, please include the release of rights date in your cover letter.)

  The weirder, the better, as we rats always say.

• Stoner Stories (opening 1/15)
  Stories must be exactly 420 words.

  We all know things get a little weird when marijuana is involved. Make us laugh with your weirdest cannabis-related stories. Whether your characters get into mishaps over munchies, time travel for the dankest bud, or grow their own flower using the finest alien-sourced seed, let’s get wacky with weed. Give us seventies insanity or nineties kitsch or introduce us to the future of pot a few decades from now.

  We’ll be accepting fiction and creative non-fiction for this one.

  Pays $4.20 for digital publication in April.

  We will consider reprints for this one.

My take: I’ve had two drabbles published with them, both when the theme was just so unhinged, I had to submit something.

What you can look forward to from Micro Markets: themed and unthemed calls, monthly micro contests, micro-lit mags that are always open, micro-focused anthologies... maybe even some craft essays about writing microfiction.

So dust off some of your tiny treasures, and let’s send them out into the world!