The Colored Lens
The Colored Lens is looking for short stories that shift perspectives of how we see the world. We are specifically seeking stories that cause the reader reflect, not just on the story, but on how it relates to their own world.
We publish all varieties of speculative fiction, from alternate history, to high fantasy, to nuts and bolts hard science fiction, to dark fantasy, so long as it meets the guidelines above. Whatever the genre, the focus should be used to comment on our world and society rather than exclusively to keep the reader turning pages.
A few things to keep in mind when submitting:
Stories should have a plot. Although we want stories that comment on our world and society, stories should also have a hook, rising action, climax, and resolution, although the handling of those elements can be experimental.
Flash fiction is great, but make sure it has a fully developed plot.
Stories must have a speculative element. It can be slight, but must be present.
Present tense will be a harder sell than traditional past tense. We have published stories in the present tense, and undoubtedly will continue to do so, but stories in the past tense tend to have a higher chance of acceptance.
Sex, violence, and related themes are fine, but those elements should not be the main focus of the story.
We publish all varieties of speculative fiction, from alternate history, to high fantasy, to nuts and bolts hard science fiction, to dark fantasy, so long as it meets the guidelines above. Whatever the genre, the focus should be used to comment on our world and society rather than exclusively to keep the reader turning pages.
A few things to keep in mind when submitting:
Stories should have a plot. Although we want stories that comment on our world and society, stories should also have a hook, rising action, climax, and resolution, although the handling of those elements can be experimental.
Flash fiction is great, but make sure it has a fully developed plot.
Stories must have a speculative element. It can be slight, but must be present.
Present tense will be a harder sell than traditional past tense. We have published stories in the present tense, and undoubtedly will continue to do so, but stories in the past tense tend to have a higher chance of acceptance.
Sex, violence, and related themes are fine, but those elements should not be the main focus of the story.
Market Genres, Styles & Subjects
Genres
FantasyScience Fiction
Market Types, Lengths & Pay Scale
Flash
500 to 1000 words
1 cent/word
Short Story
1000 to 7500 words
Less than 1 cent/word
Novelette
7500 to 17500 words
Less than 1 cent/word
Novella
17500 to 20000 words
Less than 1 cent/word
Market Submission Types
Electronic Submissions?: Yes
Postal Submissions?: No
Reprints?: No
Multiple Submissions?: No
Simultaneous Submissions?: No
Postal Submissions?: No
Reprints?: No
Multiple Submissions?: No
Simultaneous Submissions?: No
Market Response Data
View recent responses from this market
This statistical information is an aggregation of submission data provided by our members. The more data we have the more accurate our
numbers will be so please be sure to log all of your submissions here and not just your rejections or acceptances.
numbers will be so please be sure to log all of your submissions here and not just your rejections or acceptances.
Accuracy:
There are 113 completed reports in the past 12 months.
Averages and Boundaries:
0 min | 8.36 mean avg | 1 median | 101 max days
Responded:
99.11%
Accepted:
7.96% - avg 75 days
Rejected:
91.15% - avg 2 days
(93.20% of rejections are personal)
Rewrites:
-
Dead Letters:
0.88%
Lost/Returned:
-
Never Responded:
-
Withdrawn:
0.88%
Pending:
5 pending responses (0 min | 26 mean avg | 18 median | 83 max days waiting)
Note: pending statistics may skew high if some users neglect their data.
We recommend querying after the time the market suggests to query.
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