Note: will not reply to queries if not interested.
Non-fiction published in Strange Horizons should provide an original contribution to the field's discussions. Strange Horizons currently publishes:
Monthly non-fiction of various kinds, including: Original critical and academic essays Reprints of essays that represent significant contributions to SF criticism In-depth interviews In-depth round-table discussions about topics and specific works of interest to Strange Horizons readers Weekly columns: short personal essays on a wide range of topics
Opens for submissions on Jun 4, 2025 (Begins 42 days from now)
Market Types, Lengths & Pay Scale
General
Roundtable discussions
Strange Horizons publishes roundtable discussions of 5,000 to 10,000 words involving between three and five informed commentators Roundtable discussions are an opportunity to explore a subject from multiple perspectives, whether that is a single work, an author's oeuvre, or a theme or tradition within speculative fiction Roundtable discussions should be carefully moderated and edited for flow; they should not simply be a chat transcript or pasted-together email discussion. Contributors should be given the opportunity to ensure they have put forward the best wording of their arguments Examples of roundtable discussions published in Strange Horizons can be found here, here and here.
Originals
5000 to 10000 words
$80/piece
Essay
Columns are standalone personal essays of 1,000 to 2,000 words on topics of interest to Strange Horizons readers. We consider Strange Horizons readers to have wide-ranging interests! In the past we have published columns on:
SF in a wide range of media, from theatre to video games to comics to literature Debates within the SF community, and about the history of the community Broader cultural, political, and technological issues of interest to the SF community
Any of these may be fair game for your column. You can also browse our columns archive to get an idea of the sort of thing we're looking for.
When writing your column, assume an informed but non-specialist audience, and provide an argued point of view. We do welcome convention or conference reports providing an overview of a recent event, grounded in personal experience. However, journalistic summaries should be avoided.
Originals
1000 to 2000 words
$75/piece
Essay
Strange Horizons publishes short original critical and academic essays of 3,000 to 5,000 words about works of speculative fiction, SF history, associated SF theory and criticism, and SF fandom and culture Essays should be aware of previous writing in their area (popular and/or scholarly) and propose an original argument Essays should cite their sources using endnotes (with links to online sources where available). Works discussed may be listed in a bibliography. If appropriate, essays will be reviewed by external specialists in addition to the regular Strange Horizons editorial staff
Originals
3000 to 5000 words
$150/piece
Reprints
3000 to 5000 words
$40/piece
Interview
Strange Horizons publishes interviews with notable individuals within the speculative fiction community, including but not limited to authors, editors, artists, critics, and other commentators Interviews will typically be 3,000 to 5,000 words long and should be presented in a question-and-response format, with a short biographical and contextual introduction, including the date when the interview was conducted A Strange Horizons interview should be a thorough discussion intended for a knowledgable reader. Interviewers must be respectful, and should help interviewees to put forward their points in their most complete and thoughtful form. However, interviewers should not be deferential—an interview is not simply a platform for an individual to promote their work. Questions should be specific rather than generic, and interesting answers should be followed-up rather than left hanging.
Originals
3000 to 5000 words
$90/piece
Market Submission Types
AI Submissions?: Unknown Policy
Electronic Submissions?: Yes
Postal Submissions?: No
Multiple Submissions?: No
Simultaneous Submissions?: No
Translations: Original Language Only
Estimated Response: 28 days
Market-Provided Data
This section can be updated by a representative of the publication. To add a representative, the publication should contact us to request it (no cost).
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.
Count:
There are 2 completed reports in the past 12 months.