CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

Stasis

An anthology of retrofuturistic short fiction with a modern lens

Want to dive into the timeless rifts of science fiction? Bell Press is now accepting submissions for Stasis, an anthology of retrofuturistic short fiction with a modern lens. Stasis invites submissions that bend the rules of temporality: blending past, present, and future.

We seek stories that harness the spirit of retrofuturism, echoing the styles and themes prevalent in early-to-mid-20th-century science fiction while infusing them with the pulse of our modern era. Short fiction is our primary focus, but we welcome genre-bending, stylistically experimental pieces that align with our theme.

Submissions are open to all who embrace the challenge of weaving retrofuturistic aesthetics with contemporary narrative. We especially encourage those from marginalized backgrounds to submit. BIPOC, queer, and disabled voices are integral for this collection to reflect the shifting values of the modern world, particularly in contrast to the white, male-dominated science fiction space of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Anthology editor: Libby Graham

Submissions Guidelines

For this call, we are particularly interested in Canadian authors, though international submissions will be considered. Priority will be given to Canadian work to align with Canadian granting-body requirements. 

All writers are paid in royalties and receive an advance of $15 Canadian prior to publication. Royalties are shared equally among all contributors and are not based on page or word count.  Full payment details are provided in a publication contract. If you would like more details on payment before submitting, please contact Angela at angela [at] bellpressbooks.com.

Submissions should be 500 – 10,000 words. 

To submit, please email info [at] bellpressbooks.com and include:

• your writing attached as a single word document
• a cover letter on the first page of the document introducing your work
• a brief bio included in the cover letter 
• the subject line “STASIS anthology”
• please indicate if yours is a Canadian or international submission

Preferred formatting:

• Times New Roman
• 12 pt. font
• Double spaced
• Word count at the top of the first page

One submission per writer. Multiple submissions will be ignored. Previously unpublished work only. 

Submissions containing racist, sexist, homophobic, ableist, or transphobic content will be immediately rejected. We have zero tolerance for abuse in the writing community and writers who violate this standard will be rejected.

We strongly encourage submissions from BIPOC and LGBTQ2S+ writers.

SUBMISSIONS CLOSE January 10, 2024  Extended to February 1, 2024!

About the editor:

Libby Graham is the short fiction editor of The Sprawl Mag, a (cyber-)feminist, anti-colonial magazine focused on publishing diverse voices in sci-fi and fantasy. Libby is a UFO enthusiast and the owner of a BA in history from Queen’s University. She lives in a cute little apartment with her girlfriend in frigid, friendly Manitoba. Her work has appeared in filling Station and Star*Line.