GUIDELINES FOR FICTION

Black Girl Magic is an online magazine published quarterly. We are seeking speculative fiction between 1,000 – 6,000 words.

We are looking for works about and by Black Women. We accept works from others/allies as long as the main character is a Black Female.

Pay rate: CURRENTLY $50/story *we hope to pay professional rates soon! ($.08/word)*

Word limit: 1000-6000 (FIRM) or 250 -500 for our Flash Fiction issues.

Stories must combine an aspect of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Magical Realism, Surrealism, or Horror with a Black Female Main Character.

Multiple submissions: Maximum of two (2) per month (Please submit separately!)

No simultaneous submissions.

We strongly encourage submissions from writers who identify as people of color, women, members of the QUILTBAG* community, and others who are under-represented in Speculative Fiction.

* QUILTBAG is an acronym. It stands for Queer/Questioning, Undecided, Intersex, Lesbian, Transgender/Transsexual, Bisexual, Asexual/Aromantic/Agender, Gay/Genderqueer.

What we publish:

Mainstream fiction with elements of the fantastic mixed in

Dark fantasy / science fiction

Magic realism (“a literary genre or style that incorporates fantastic or mythical elements into otherwise realistic fiction—called also magical realism”)

Surrealism: (“the principles, ideals, or practice of producing fantastic or incongruous imagery or effects in art, literature, film, or theater by means of unnatural or irrational juxtapositions and combinations”)

Don’t be afraid to experiment or to deviate from the ordinary.

What We DON'T PUBLISH:

We are not a market for graphic, violent horror. The “horror” should be subtle and fall in with one or more of the themes above.

Gratuitous/Violent Horror

Weak women being rescued by "Alpha Males"

“Science-as-villain”

Arthurian retellings

Eurocentric faeries/fairytales

Misogynoir

"White Saviors"

"Women in Refrigerators"

New Authors

Black Girl Magic Magazine reserves one slot each month for an author who has never had a professional-rate sale* before. This is to ensure that Black Girl Magic Magazine will always be a welcoming and open market to new/un-established authors.

In addition to publication, an author selected for our New Author Spotlight will be interviewed by Black Girl Magic, with the interview featured on our website & in the magazine.

If you’re eligible for our New Author Spotlight, please check “Yes” on the submission form.

NOTE: The New Author Spotlight doesn’t mean we ONLY publish one story from a new author each month – we’re happy to fill an entire issue with new authors. The Spotlight guarantees that un-established authors are never excluded from Black Girls are Magic Magazine.

* “Professional” refers to any short fiction or poetry sale which paid at least 5¢ per word, or any novel sale which paid at least $2,000.