In addition to the ludicrously specific types of poems and essays it publishes, the online literary journal Radius: Poetry From the Center to the Edge, has begun seeking short fiction.
But as is usually the case, our needs are very specific:
Here’s what we’re looking for:
- We’re looking for a particular breed of pulpy speculative and genre fiction: sci-fi, fantasy, superhero, mystery, noir, action-adventure. Basically, all the stuff your mother and Harold Bloom told you not to read.
- We’re looking for easily identifiable protagonists or group of protagonists: If it’s a character you can see in multiple stories, whose exploits readers might be interested in following in multiple adventures, then he or she is someone we might like to get to know. In short, we’re looking for a modern day Sherlock Holmes, Dracula, Doc Sampson and Batman. We’re looking for iconic new action heroes for the 21st Century that are both fantastic and reflect the world outside our window.
- And speaking of the world outside your window: We’re looking for stories set on contemporary Earth. No fantasy lands or alien worlds, no historical fiction or stories set in the far-flung future. We have no real issue with those sorts of stories. They’re just not what we’re looking for.
- Lastly, and this is a big one: we like to serialize stories over several weeks, so stories have to be able to b e broken down comfortably into multiple parts. We understand this isn’t common practice these days. If we like your story, though, we’re more than happy to work with you to identify develop
- Oh, and one more thing: Radius is committed to diversity. and has a particular interest in stories from groups that might be underrepresented in genre fiction.
Our pilot program features stores by Gary Phillips, Jeffrey DeRego, DeMarco-Barrett and myself.
For more information, visit Radius online at [link] and visit its submissions guidelines at [link]