Submissions
Submission Guidelines
Innsmouth Free Press is a fictional newspaper publishing faux news in a Lovecraftian/Cthulhu Mythos universe, as well as original short fiction stories. We also feature some of Lovecraft’s classic tales.
There are two kinds of content at Innsmouth Free Press: Monster Bytesand short fiction. Read our guidelines below and our slush tips to get an idea of what we want.
Also check out our art and non-fiction.
Monster Bytes
We are open to submissions.
Innsmouth Free Press publishes Monster Bytes: news stories, opinion pieces, lifestyle articles, reviews, press releases, interviews and letters to the editor, detailing fictional occurrences in and around Innsmouth. Some Monster Bytes take place in other parts of the world. Certain pieces form long epistolary narrative arcs, while others are one-shot stories.
An example of a Monster Byte could be a review of a high-school rendition of the play The King in Yellow.
Writers are free to collaborate and send their Monster Bytes to Innsmouth Free Press. Tell us what the curators at the Arkham Museum of Art are up to, or report on the mysterious murders taking place in Dunwich. We update the Monster Bytes often and hope to maintain a vibrant environment.
For an idea of what we want for Monster Bytes, you can begin by reading A Walking Guide to Innsmouth, as well as some of the Monster Bytes written by our staff members.
Monster Bytes are unpaid, but they are also the easiest way to break into publishing with us. We always need more Monster Bytes than short fiction stories. And you do get a byline.
We ask for non-exclusive electronic rights for Monster Bytes. Length may vary from 300 to 1500 words. Please query for longer pieces. If you are doing a long character or plot arc let us know beforehand. Monster Bytes can be sent all year long, unless we’ve scheduled a Monster Bytes vacation period.
Submitting
To submit a Monster Byte send an e-mail to: innsmouthfp AT gmail.com, with subject line: MB, [Category], [Title]. Please substitute [Category] with the type of story: News, Opinion, Lifestyle, Letters or Reviews.
An example of a correct subject line should read: MB, Lifestyle, Arkham Spring Fashion.
You must be 18 years or older to submit to us.
Replies and Queries
We generally take seven days or less. Query after forty days (When Noah starts sending out doves, drop us a line). If your Monster Byte is accepted we will copy-edit and send you a proof before uploading it.
Fiction
We are open to submissions.
Innsmouth Free Press purchases original short fiction inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraft. We showcase 5 to 7 stories during the Summer, Fall and Winter/Spring.
Some stories are solicited. We also hold open reading periods. Check this page to see if we are reading short fiction. Short fiction sent when we are closed to submissions will not be considered.
No simsubs. No multiples subs. We reply quickly, promise.
Submitting
Please use Standard Manuscript format when submitting. RTF files preferred. Text files also accepted.
To submit a short fiction story send an e-mail to: innsmouthfp AT gmail.com, with subject line: Fiction, title of your story and your name. An example of a correct subject line should read: Fiction, The Very Evil Monster, John Johnson.
Length and Genre
Length of fiction is 300 to 5,000 words.
We have no restrictions on settings or time periods. Henry VIII’s court, Peru, Imperial China, 1920’s Innsmouth, or modern New York are all fine with us. In fact, we like unusual times and settings. Creative is good.
We accept a variety of genres as long as the story is Lovecraftian: historical, SF, horror, satire, dark fantasy, etc. We don’t mind some humor to go with your grim. A little light makes the shadows darker. No erotica please, specially if it involves our friend Cthulhu.
We like reading stuff from and about women and minorities.
Read our slush tips to get a better idea of what we like and don’t like to see.
Payment
Stories selected from the open reading period that are 1,000 to 5,000 words in length are issued a token payment of $10 CAD on publication. Flash fiction under 1,000 words receives $5 CAD.
We will consider reprints, but give high priority to those stories that have not been published on the Internet. When submitting a reprint, please state this, as well the work’s publishing history and confirmation that you retain rights to publish it.
At the end of each Summer, Fall and Winter/Spring period, we hold a poll and ask readers to vote for their favourite story. The top story in each period gets a bonus payment of $50 CAD. That means three bonus payments of $50 are issued each year.
Rights and Contract
We buy first world electronic rights.You must be 18 years or older to submit to us.
Stories are maintained exclusively at our website for four months. Afterward, they are moved into the archives and you are free to sell your story to another publication. We ask that stories remain in the archives for eight months. We would like to keep your story after that time period, but if you wish to have it removed we will take the story down a maximum of 30 days after notification.
Replies and Queries
We try to reply quickly to submissions. Query after forty days if you have not heard from us.
Art
We seldom purchase art. Artists are invited to query and send us a link to their online portfolio to: innsmouthfp AT gmail.com, subject line Art.
Movie and Book Reviews
We don’t pay for movie or book reviews, but we do accept them. If you are interested in reviewing a book or a movie, please query by e-mailing: innsmouthfp AT gmail.com, subject line Review.
Articles, Interviews and Essays
We don’t pay for articles, interviews or essays, but we accept them, too. If you are interested in writing an article about fantastic fiction, please query by e-mailing: innsmouthfp AT gmail.com, subject line Review.
Want to have your book, movie, comic book, graphic novel or game reviewed?
Publishers: if you want your book, movie or game reviewed please contact: publisher AT innsmouthfreepress.com, subject line Publisher.
